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HomeMy Public PortalAbout10/08/2002City of Greencastle • City Hall One North Locust Street P.O. Box 607 Greencastle, Indiana 46135 Pamela S. Jones Clerk- Treasurer GREENCASTLE COMMON COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2002 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL The Greencastle Common Council met in Regular Session Tuesday, October 8, 2002, 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. Mayor Michael called the meeting to Order at 7:00 p.m. On the Roll Call, the following were found to be present: Councilor Roach, Councilor Hammer, Councilor Sedlack, Councilor Liechty and Councilor Rokicki. There were no Public Petitions or Comments. Department Reports Fire Chief Newgent stated his department has visited TZ, Ridpath and Deer Meadow Schools for Fire Prevention Week. • Councilor Sedlack questioned Planner VonTress about the progress on the U.S. Cellular Tower. Planner VonTress stated it will not be on the Clearwater property. Mr. Clear has stated he will not allow it to be placed there and the property is being bought on contract. Councilor Sedlack questioned Street Commissioner Miles about a couple of trees at 705 or 707 East Seminary. Street Commissioner Miles stated the tree at 711 East Seminary.will be trimmed, not taken down. Street Commissioner Miles then discussed the tree at 623 East Seminary that was taken down. Street Commissioner Miles stated the tree was evaluated by a licensed arborist at the request of the resident, Mr. Rich Rubin. Mr. Rubin was present at the meeting and stated he was concerned about the tree after it had been struck by lightening. He contacted Street Commissioner Miles to have it checked out. Street Commissioner Miles stated he has digital pictures of the tree as it was being taken down and there were several hollow spots found. Mr. Rubin stated he was present as the tree was being taken down and it was gone. Mr. Rubin further stated he is having two other trees evaluated also. Betty Foxx, 726 East Seminary Street, stated there was a small tree taken down in front of her house and no top soil has been put down. Street Commissioner Miles stated that will be taken care of Water Superintendent Dale asked residents to be easy on the water. September was a very heavy pumping month, stated Superintendent Dale, and we haven't had much rain to replenish the O supply. Park Superintendent Weinschenk distributed his report at the meeting. Director Weinschenk ® invited everyone to the one year anniversary celebration of the Emerald Palace. Cake and punch will be served. Director Weinschenk stated the contract for the Skatepark construction has been signed and the start date is October 21, 2002. Director Weinschenk stated the Park Board is still in negotiations with Pepsi regarding their contract. There will be a minimum of three (3) machines in the Park, any machines above that must be approved by the Park Board. Motion to approve minutes from the August 13, 2002, Regular Session, was made by Councilor Hammer, seconded by Councilor Liechty. Vote was unanimous. Motion to approve Claims was made by Councilor Liechty, seconded by Councilor Hammer. Vote was unanimous. Phi Delta Theta, 446 Anderson Street, request for Noise Ordinance Waiver on two events was presented. The first event is on October 12, 2002 for a Mechanical Bull from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Representatives from Phi Delt stated they will notify neighbors by letter which will include their phone number. Councilor Roach requested they also notify dispatch and give them their phone number also. Councilor Hammer asked that the request be reduced to midnight. The second request is for November 16, 2002 for a Monon Bell Party from 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Councilor Hammer asked that this request also be reduced to midnight. Councilor Sedlack suggested the approval for the November 16th event be contingent upon complaints from the October 12th event. Phi Delta was asked to come to the November 12th Council meeting for a ® determination on the November 16th event. Councilor Sedlack made the motion to approve the request with the above amendments and contingencies, seconded by Councilor Rokicki. Vote was unanimous. Steve Fields, Coordinator Putnam County PIE Coalition, was present to request permission to tie Red Ribbons around light polls on the Courthouse Square October 23rd -31st. Motion to approve made by Councilor Hammer, seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. Main Street Greencastle, Inc. submitted a memo requesting additional street closings for the Taste of Greencastle event October 12th. Volkswagen Parade drivers would like to park along Franklin Street eastward from Indiana to Vine Street and, if necessary, down Indiana Street from the square to Columbia Street. The request also includes closing the block of South Indiana Street in front of the Fire Department from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for foot traffic around the Smoke House. Motion to approve this request was made by Councilor Roach, seconded by Councilor Liechty. Vote was unanimous. At the request of Daniel and Barton a motion to table the Daniel and Barton request for street lighting in Glenview Subdivision was made by Councilor Roach, seconded by Councilor Rokicki. Vote was unanimous. CT Jones updated the Council on the progress of Accounting and Utility Billing Systems project. ® CT Jones stated four vendors have been interviewed and narrowed down to two potential vendors. Several staff members have taken field trips to Ohio and Illinois to see the software being used in a live environment. Second interviews have been set with the Sanderson CMI and ® InCode to ask additional questions in order to make a recommendation to Council. We have also discussed the network design with Computer System Integration Corporation and HOP.Com. We should have our recommendation ready for the November Council meeting. Mayor Michael stated the Greencastle High School will be having their Homecoming Parade October 11, 2002 and have requested a route from the bus barn on Indiana Street to Washington Street heading east. The parade will take approximately 15 -20 m nutes and the school has requested that three to four police cars be available for escort. Motion to approve made by Councilor Roach, seconded by Councilor Hammer. Vote was unanimous. Ordinance 2002 -12, An Ordinance Reducing the Speed Limit Within The City of Greencastle, Indiana, Putnam County, second reading. Mayor Michael read the Ordinance due to changes since first reading which are included on the Ordinance: - Hillcrest Drive from Arlington Avenue to its terminus (instead of Shadowlawn Ave) - Cresent Drive from Hillcrest to its terminus - Meadow Drive north from Hillcrest to Crescent Drive and South from Hillcrest to Shadowlaw Avenue (instead of Meadow Drive from Hillcrest to Crescent Drive) - Crescent Court from Crescent Drive to its terminus - Locust Street from Seminary to Berry - Seminary Street from Bloomington to Wood - Anderson from Locust to Bloomington ® Mayor Michael stated this is a very emotional and sensitive issue to many people and she has heard issues of concern. Mayor Michael further stated that she cannot support the 20 mph on Seminary Street. Councilor Sedlack stated this Ordinance has two purposes: it cleans up three streets, other than school zones that have been signed without an Ordinance and with the School Zone Ordinance will allow the removal of fourteen 20 mph signs that should not have been placed in the first place. Councilor Sedlack made the motion to adopt Ordinance 2002 -12 with corrections, seconded by Councilor Hammer. Councilor Roach stated that all neighborhoods in Greencastle have children and speeding is a issue that needs to be addressed. Councilor Roach further stated that we are a Nation of laws and home rule does not allow the Council to address these concerns without certain steps being taken. If we pass Ordinance 2002 -12, we will be breaking State Law and have an unenforceable speed limit - we need to look at other alternatives. Councilor Roach stated he cannot legally support this Ordinance. Councilor Liechty stated this Ordinance does contain two separate issues: Streets already signed without an Ordinance and Seminary Street speed limit. Councilor Liechty stated that if Seminary Street standards are applied to other streets there would be many that would be lowered to 20 mph. Councilor Rokicki thanked everyone who has contacted him on this issue, but the experts have told us that 20 mph on Seminary Street is not enforceable. Councilor Rokicki stated he will ® continue to support "Children Present" signs and ask Chief Hendrich to enforce the 30 mph speed limit. Councilor Hammer stated there are good reasons to reduce the speed limit and compelling reasons not to reduce the speed limit. A lot of territory has been covered in the past year. Councilor Hammer further stated he has walked the area on weekends and evenings and has not seen kids or speeding cars. Councilor Hammer thanked the neighborhood association for the work they have done. Councilor Sedlack quoted former Mayor Richard Daley, "The experts, what the hell do they know? ". Councilor Sedlack stated he feels the City Attorney is taking an unnecessary narrow reading of the law and thinks the Ordinance should be passed. At this time the floor was opened to the public. Several people were in favor of the 20 mph speed limit and several were opposed. Councilor Hammer stated he would like the streets that are currently signed 20 mph without Ordinance to be investigated and take whatever action is needed. Vote as follows: Councilor Roach, no; Councilor Hammer, no; Councilor Sedlack, yes; Councilor Liechty, no and Councilor Rokicki, no. Ordinance 2002 -12 was defeated 1 -4. Ordinance 2002 -13, An Ordinance Establishing Election Districts for the City of Greencastle, Indiana, Putnam County, second reading. Mayor Michael requested this Ordinance be tabled stating the numbers have to be balanced by population not voters. Motion to table made by Councilor Hammer, seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. Ordinance 2002 -14, An Ordinance Fixing the Salaries of Elected Officers of the City of Greencastle for the Year 2003, first reading. This has been changed back to the original ® Ordinance. Councilor Hammer stated the Council salary should be $3,200.00 instead of $3,300.00 and in Section 2 & 3 the Council salary should be $520.00 for the water and sewer portions instead of $540.00. With that amendment, Councilor Hammer made the motion to approve, seconded by Councilor Rokicki. Vote as follows: Councilor Roach, no; Councilor Hammer, yes, Councilor Sedlack, no; Councilor Liechty, yes and Councilor Rokicki, yes. Ordinance passed 3 -2. Ordinance 2002 -15, An Ordinance Approving the Vacation of Alleys and Rights of Way Located near East Street and Union Street, first reading, was read by Mayor Michael sans the legal descriptions. There were three corrections to make on the legal descriptions on page two under East Street it should read Plat Book 2, page 52, and under Center Street it should read Plat Book 2, page 52. Motion to approve with corrections made by Councilor Rokicki, seconded by Councilor Liechty. Vote was unanimous. Ordinance 2002 -15, Ordinance Authorizing The City of Greencastle, Indiana To Issue its "Adjustable Rate Economic Development Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2002A (Round Barn Manor Apartments Project) and its Taxable Adjustable Rate Economic Development Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2002B (Round Barn Manor Apartments Project)" and Approving Other Actions In Respect Thereto, first reading. Motion to waive reading Ordinance 2002 -16 was made by Councilor Hammer, seconded by Councilor Roach. Mayor Michael read the Ordinance by Title only and stated the City is just a pass through agency for these bonds. Motion to approve ® made by Councilor Rokicki, seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. Mayor Michael stated the Council needs to appoint a member to the Economic Development Commission prior to the next meeting. Councilor Roach nominated Eric Bernsee to the be the ® appointment to the Economic Development Commission, seconded by Councilor Rokicki. Mr. Bernsee declined the nomination. A Special Meeting was set for Monday, October 28, 2002, 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. Resolution 2002 -35, A Resolution Selling Surplus Property To New Market Fire Department, was read by Mayor Michael. This Ordinance transfers the old Smoke House to the New Market Fire Department for $1,000.00 (One Thousand Dollars) which will be deposited in the General Fund. Councilor Sedlack requested his name be added in place of Norm Crampton and the date be changed from September to October. Motion to approve with corrections made by Councilor Roach, seconded by Councilor Liechty. Vote was unanimous. Resolution 2002 -36, A Resolution Authorizing Application Submission and Local Match Commitment, read by Mayor Michael. Motion to approve made by Councilor Roach, seconded by Councilor Sedlack. Vote was unanimous. Resolution 2002 -37, A Resolution Authorizing Transfer of Appropriation in the 2002 Budget of the City of Greencastle, was read by Mayor Michael. Clerk - Treasurer Jones corrected the appropriation number in the Park and Recreation for Tires and Tubes from 204001314 to 204001222. Motion to approve with correction was made by Councilor Rokicki, seconded by Councilor Hammer. Vote was unanimous. ® Motion to adjourn at 10:10 p.m. was made by Councilor Hammer, seconded Councilor Sedlack. Vote was unanimous. Nancy A. NIchael, Mayor ATTUT: Pamela S. Jones, 11