March 24, 2008

The Ellettsville, Indiana, Town Council met in regular session on Monday, March 24, 2008, at the Fire Department Training and Conference Room. Dianna S. Bastin called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. David Drake led the Pledge of Allegiance and Phillip Smith led in prayer.

Roll Call: Members present were Dianna S. Bastin, Vice-President; David Drake, Brian Mobley and Phillip Smith. Sandra Hash, Clerk Treasurer; Mike Spencer, Attorney and Rick Coppock, Town Engineer were also present. Dan Swafford was called away for a family emergency.

Supervisors Present: Jim Davis, Jim Ragle, Tony Bowlen, Mike Farmer, Jeff Farmer and Frank Nierzwicki were present.

Approval of the minutes

Dianna Bastin entertained a motion for the approval of the minutes for the Regular and Executive Meetings March 10, 2008. David Drake made a motion we approve those two minutes. Phillip Smith seconded. Motion carried.

Action to Pay Accounts Payable Vouchers

David Drake made a motion we pay the Accounts Payable Vouchers. Phillip Smith seconded. Motion carried.

Proclamation for the Edgewood Basketball Team

Dianna Bastin thanked Coach Brown, Coach Farmer and the Edgewood Seniors for attending the meeting. Dianna read the proclamation in its entirety. The Edgewood High School basketball team finished the season with a school record of 23 wins, had the best overall two-year regular season record in the state, completed a third straight perfect Western Indiana Conference Championship title season and participated in the prestigious Hall of Fame Classic defeating Class 4A’s number one team. The Edgewood team included senior Indiana All-Star candidate Garrett Butcher who is now the All-time leading scorer in Monroe County. The 2007-2008 Edgewood High School basketball team represented their school and entire community with class and dignity, bringing statewide recognition to the high school and the Town of Ellettsville. The Town Council congratulated the team for a successful and prestigious season and hereby proclaims the entire month of April 2008 shall be observed as Edgewood High School Basketball Month.

Dianna asked Jeff Farmer to introduce the coach and the seniors. Coach Jay Brown thanked the Town Council for the Proclamation and the honor. The basketball team is pleased and grateful with the support they received from the school, administration and community.

Dianna thanked Steve Sturgeon of the Ellettsville Journal for the statistics and help in the writing of the Proclamation. Edgewood represents Richland Township, Bean-Blossom and the Town of Ellettsville.

Resolutions

Resolution 05-08 Dispose of Surplus Property for the Police Department

Tony Bowlen, Marshal for the Town of Ellettsville asked to dispose of three vehicles; 1996, 1999 and 2000 Crown Victoria. Tony pointed out the resolution stated there were two 1999 vehicles. They would like to dispose of these cars, after all the equipment is taken out, on e-bay. The Police Department will be receiving three new cars next month.

David Drake entertained a motion we adopt Resolution 05-08 with the amendment of the year of one of the vehicles. Brian Mobley seconded. Roll call vote: Dianna Bastin – yes; David Drake – yes; Brian Mobley – yes; Phillip Smith – yes. Motion carried 4-0.

New Business

Bloomington Leadership Project to develop Community Center in Ellettsville

Cheryln Crees introduced the people in her group; Jeff Baldwin, Nova Cardin and Kelly Wise. Ms. Crees explained Leadership Bloomington Monroe County is a program started in the 1980’s as a partnership between the IU School of Continuing Studies and the City of Bloomington. This is an eight month course that meets twice a month and as part of the group, a social service project needs to be completed. Her group chose to do a Community Center for the Town of Ellettsville and Richland Bean-Blossom area. The basic premise is to have a family center with a focus on mentoring, education and life skills development for the youth. They would like the facility to serve as an after-school program and utilize part of the Eagles Landing site. With this project, they will be partnering with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Club, Girls, Inc., Rhino’s Youth Center and the Head Start Program. Their purpose is to put all the agencies together under one “umbrella’ and make one center in Ellettsville. They are hoping to have transportation from the school to the center, a low annual membership fee (approximately $40) per year per child, diversity of programs and a centrally located facility.

Jeff Baldwin, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington pointed out not many places in this country at the local government level do you see prayer, the pledge and calling out local heroes. This is a source of pride for this community. A community center would be a great opportunity for the youth. Mr. Baldwin hi-lighted some of the results of a survey taken by 131 different residents of the community:

· 49% of the children participate in NO after school program

· 74% believe there is not enough youth programming

· 90% believe Ellettsville should have a community center

· 64% of the children would require transportation of some type to the center

· 93% would encourage others to use the community center

· 51% would be willing to volunteer

· 47% would be willing to assist

Mr. Baldwin and his group are very excited about this and feel this is something that should happen in Ellettsville. They are doing the research to make sure this program has a strong foundation to ensure success. Mr. Baldwin listed the names of the people who are in support of this community center; school principals, library managers, social workers and directors of all the Bloomington facilities involved. Mr. Baldwin presented eight letters of support and read two aloud; one from Ms. Wise and the other from Mickey Needham, Ellettsville Library Branch Manager. Mr. Baldwin quoted the number of youths that have been served in the past by the different agencies and presently could not:

· Big Brothers/Big Sisters could not serve 40 youth because of the location

· Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington currently can not serve 32 children

· Girls, Inc. have 10 children not able to be served

Jeff Baldwin is using tonight’s presentation as a “springboard” to accomplish their goal. His group has completed the initial legwork, spoke with community members, developed a business plan and has toured a potential site. They are asking the Town Council to be their advocate; a component to the Ellettsville Youth Community Center by encouraging the citizens and business community to participate and invest in its success.

Beth Krouse, Executive Director for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of South Central Indiana spoke as a parent of an Edgewood sixth grader and two Edgewood High graduates. She would like the Town to support this community center. The schools’ extended day program has a waiting list since the start of the school year. There is a need that needs to be addressed and filled. Ms. Krouse knows a number of families that have moved to Ellettsville from Bloomington who are used to the different supports and activities with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters programs. She sees this as a great need and hopes the Town will rally around it.

Steven Kain, School Superintendent offered his support to this effort. This would not detract from the current after school programs in any way. The School Corporation plans to provide transportation from the schools to Eagles Landing.

Frank Nierzwicki, Director of Planning Services has been contacted regarding the Community Center. This is something that is needed in Ellettsville and is in the Comprehensive Plan. The I-69 Planning Grant will include a Community Development Planner that will work with this program and also the School Corporation. Frank has a lot of confidence with this group.

Brian Mobley had a business at Eagles Landing and wants everyone to be aware of the supervision of the children; will they be busy, contained and not hanging out causing problems. There is a need for in-house policing.

Monroe County Election Board request permission to use the Ellettsville Fire Station as a polling place for Richland 1 & 8

Sandra Hash received a letter from Jim Fielder, Secretary Monroe County Election Board requesting to use the Fire Station Conference Room as a polling location on both Tuesday May 6 and November 4, 2008. Phillip Smith stated during the last election there was a meeting the night before causing some conflict between the two. Sandra Hash stated the Parks Board has already changed their schedule.

Dianna Bastin entertained a motion to allow the Election Board to use the Ellettsville Fire Station as a polling place for 1 & 8. David Drake made a motion that we do so on May 6^th and November 4^th. Brian Mobley seconded. Motion carried.

Supervisor Comments

Jim Ragle, Ellettsville Street Department is asking to start the advertising and bidding process for a new street sweeper with vacuum cleaner for the Stormwater Utility. The financing will be a lease to purchase for 5 or 7 years. Dianna Bastin does not see a problem and said to start the research.

Jim Davis, Ellettsville Fire gave an update on the van they put on e-bay. It had a minimum reserve of $2,500 and sold for $2,550 to a retired Ford Motor employee out of Cleveland.

Jim went over the Fire Department’s year end report. The emphasis was on aerial training. The Fire Department made 1,579 emergency responses of some type; mostly medical assisted calls. The Fire Department provides a back-up ambulance to Bloomington Hospital with 300 going out last year. The net worth of the volunteer firemen services was $25,000 and with the contract being $5,000 a year. Dianna complimented Donya on putting the report together.

Tony Bowlen, Ellettsville Police asked Council approval for perspective Reserve Officers. Eric Chaudion introduced three candidates who all have prior law enforcement experience; Nathan Martin, Bobby Johnson and Dan Emerick.

Brian Mobley made a motion to accept them into the Reserves for the Ellettsville Police Department. David Drake seconded. Roll call vote: Dianna Bastin – yes; David Drake – yes; Brian Mobley – yes; Phillip Smith – yes. Motion carried 4-0.

Privilege of the Floor

Steve Kain thanked the Town of Ellettsville Street Department and Jim Ragle for removing the sand and salt from the streets around the school complex.

Adjournment

David Drake made a motion to adjourn. Phillip Smith seconded. Motion carried. Dianna Bastin adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m.