HomeMy Public PortalAbout10-16-2000 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF RICHMOND,INDIANA,MONDAY,OCTOBER 16,2000
The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session at 7:30 p.m. Monday,
October 16,2000,in the Council Chambers in said City.President Larry Parker presided with the following
Councilmembers present: Howard "Jack" Elstro, Etta J. Lundy, Bruce Wissel, Karl Sharp, Bing Welch,
Paul Combs,Phil Dickman and Sarah"Sally"Hutton.The following business was conducted:
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PRAYER BY COUNCILMEMBER HUTTON
ROLL CALL
Nine present.
Councilmember Wissel moved to amend the agenda and add Resolution No.4—2000 and Resolution No.5
—2000,second by Councilmember Hutton and the motion was carried on a voice vote.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Councilmember Welch moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 2 and the special
meeting of September 28,second by Councilmember Sharp and the motion was carried on a voice vote.
PRESENTATION OF REMONSTRANCES, PETITIONS, MEMORIALS, INTRODUCTIONS,
MOTIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
President Parker said Council had received a petition from "Family First," regarding the possibility of
adding the words "sexual orientation" as an amendment to Ordinance No. 63 —2000. He said now is the
time to present any other petitions because none will be accepted after this time.
COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR
Mayor Shelley Miller talked about the demolition of the old Main Street Bridge,stating that the City would
be in contact with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) saying they had a timetable within
the next couple of weeks about the project and how long it should take.The second project,she said,is that
the City Engineer's office received information from INDOT that funding has been identified for the fiscal
year of 2000—2001 to assist the City in an 80 percent match to widen Hodgin Road from Windsor Place
east to South 37th Street.
City Attorney Bob Bever reminded President Parker that Resolution No. 5 — 2000 might want to be
addressed early in the agenda.With that,President Parker recognized Bever to make that presentation.
Bever pointed out that in their copy of the resolution it should read Resolution No. 5—2000, not 1999, as
printed. He explained that this is a "cleanup" resolution, stating that the City is getting requests for tax
abatements in the new industrial park and in reviewing the records he found that that area of the City has
never been formally declared as an Economic Revitalization Area. He said going back in history,these tax
abatements are all prerequisited and required to be in such an area, and he explained that this was the area
that was annexed back in 1994 and was never added to the Economic Development Areas. He said this
resolution takes the legal description from Phase 1 of the Midwest Industrial Park and declares that to be an
Economic Revitalization Area which would now make valid any of the tax abatement that would be before
Council tonight,including Ordinance No.73—2000.
Councilmember Elstro moved to adopt Resolution No.5—2000, second by Councilmember Lundy and the
motion was carried on a voice vote.
REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY
President Parker said the minutes of the meetings of September 21 and 28, 2000 were included in their
packets.
REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS
REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES
REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES
REPORTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
October 16,2000
Page 2
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
Councilmember Hutton said she has talked with the owners of the property where she has had complaints
of people parking in the front yard and has discovered that the people living there have a fairly large
family. She said there are eight children,five of whom live with them and all have vehicles. She said when
they first moved in they were parking on the street and the neighbors complained so they pulled into their
yard. Within the past couple of weeks, she said, they have started making a parking pad which is graveled
now, but, by spring will be paved and have some shrubbery around it. She added that this, hopefully,
should take care of the problem.
Councilmember Combs reported that he was looking into a situation on behalf of a constituent who has a
concern in a residential area in which there is a large van that seems like an advertisement other than
simply a vehicle that is being parked there. He said he just wanted to bring it to the attention of Council to
reassure those individuals in that neighborhood that he was looking into it.
ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING
Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and read by titles only Ordinance No. 74 — 2000 and
Ordinance No.76-2000,second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was carried on a voice vote.
ORDINANCE NO.74—2000
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 74 — 2000 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE
APPROVAL OF A STATEMENT OF BENEFITS FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR
DEDUCTIONS UNDER I.C.6-1.1-12.1
Planning Director Bob Goodwin explained that this ordinance replaced Ordinance No. 35 — 2000, which
was on second reading, but was withdrawn because sufficient changes had been made after it had gone
through Planning Commission that he felt it warranted a new ordinance to come back through Council.
President Parker said this ordinance would go before Planning Commission at its October 26 meeting and
return to Council.
ORDINANCE NO.76—2000
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 76 — 2000 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE
APPROVAL OF A STATEMENT OF BENEFITS FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR
DEDUCTIONS UNDER I.C. 6-1.1-12.1
Councilmember Wissel explained that this ordinance deals with a tax abatement request for a 10-year
abatement for new manufacturing equipment from Ahaus Tool and Engineering.He said it is estimated that
this would create one new job and retain 135,and the estimated value of the new equipment is$225,000.
ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND ENGROSSMENT
ORDINANCE NO.35—2000
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 35—2000—A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP
AT THE SOUTHEAST C ORNER OF INDUSTRIES ROAD (EXTENDED) AND CHESTER
BOULEVARD,RICHMOND,INDIANA(WITHDRAWN)
President Parker said Council had received a letter as well as notification from Goodwin to withdraw
Ordinance No. 35 —2000 as well as Ordinance No. 44 — 2000. He asked the Clerk to proceed and read
Ordinance No.55—2000.
ORDINANCE NO.55—2000
The Clerk read Ordinance No.55—2000—A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP
AT 1607 CHESTER BOULEVARD,RICHMOND,INDIANA
Councilmember Wissel reported that the Planning Commission had held public hearing on this ordinance
and heard Jim Backmeyer speak in favor of it, explaining that it deals with putting in a medical office,
making it necessary to rezone the area from R-1 to R-2.He said the staff liked the parking arrangement and
it was recommended through a unanimous vote to support the change.
President Parker declared the ordinance on public hearing. Backmeyer was present to answer questions
from Councilmembers. There being none and no one speaking against the ordinance, Councilmember
Elstro moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Wissel and the motion was carried on a voice
vote.
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
October 16,2000
Page 3
Councilmember Lundy moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No.55—2000 to third and final
reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Hutton and the motion was carried on a voice
vote.
The Clerk read Ordinance No.55—2000 on third reading.
Ordinance No.55—2000 was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote.
ORDINANCE NO.70—2000
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 70 — 2000 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE
APPROVAL OF A STATEMENT OF BENEFI'1 S FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR
DEDUCTIONS UNDER I.C. 6-1.1-12.1
Councilmember Combs announced that he would have a report at the next Council meeting.
ORDINANCE NO.71—2000
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 71 — 2000 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE
APPROVAL OF A STATEMENT OF BENEFITS FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR
DEDUCTIONS UNDER I.C.6-1.1-12.1
Councilmember Wissel explained that this is a request for a 10-year tax abatement for new manufacturing
equipment made by Gold Star Coatings and they estimate that the new equipment would allow them to
increase their employment by four jobs and retain 67. He added that the estimated value of the new
equipment is in excess of$900,000. He said Brad Ballinger, material handling supervisor, took him on a
tour of the plant,explaining that the company does the coatings for metal dies as well as for different gears
and work primarily with the automotive industry. However, they do supply local firms such as Mosey
Manufacturing and Amcast and wages are above the industrial average. He said the Tax Abatement
Committee recommended approval.
President Parker announced that Ordinance No. 71 — 2000 was on public hearing. There being no
comments either for or against the ordinance, Councilmember Welch moved for engrossment, second by
Councilmember Combs and the motion was carried on a voice vote.
Councilmember Welch moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No.71 —2000 to third and final
reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Combs and the motion was carried on a voice
vote.
The Clerk read Ordinance No.71—2000 on third reading.
Ordinance No.71—2000 was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote.
ORDINANCE NO.73-2000
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 73 — 2000 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE
APPROVAL OF A STATEMENT OF BENEFITS FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR
DEDUCTIONS UNDER I.C. 6-1.1 - 12.1
Councilmember Wissel explained that this ordinance dealt with a request from Fickenshear America LLC
and the City of Richmond was added as one of those requesting the benefit. He said the company is a
manufacturing injection molding and they have been in Indiana since 1996. Under this request, he said,
they are planning on adding 40 new jobs and retain 26, adding that it is well above our average industrial
wage, has good benefits and is located in the Midwest Industrial Park. He said he had met with the
president of the company and went over the numbers they had requested and as a result of that conversation
they need to adjust some of the numbers. He said Bever has presented Council with an amended form,
noting that under real estate the request would now be $3 million and $5 million under the new
manufacturing equipment.He recommended approval.
Councilmember Wissel moved that the ordinance be amended to read as stated above, second by
Councilmember Sharp and the motion was carried on a voice vote.
President Parker announced that the ordinance was on public hearing. There being no comments either for
or against the ordinance,Councilmember Elstro moved for engrossment,second by Councilmember Welch
and the motion was carried on a voice vote.
Councilmember Wissel moved to suspend the rules and read Amended Ordinance No. 73 —2000 on third
and final reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Sharp and the motion was carried on a
voice vote.
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
October 16,2000
Page 4
The Clerk read Amended Ordinance No.73—2000 on third reading.
Amended Ordinance No.73—2000 was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote.
ORDINANCES ON THIRD READING
RESOLUTION NO.4—2000
Councilmember Wissel read Resolution No. 4—2000—A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE HIRING
PRACTICES FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND EMPLOYEES
"WHEREAS, the City of Richmond has and will continue to seek the most qualified individuals for all
positions of employment hired by the City;and
"WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of all citizens for City government to recruit and hire those
individuals who are most capable of performing the tasks associated with any job position;and
"WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Common Council for the City of Richmond to express its intent and
direction regarding the hiring policies for city employees.
"NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, it is the intent of Common Council that all positions of
employment hired by the City of Richmond be hired, retained and/or terminated based solely upon merit
and an individual's ability to perform those responsibilities associated with such employment, and pursuant
to all applicable national,state and local legal requirements."
Councilmember Wissel moved to adopt the resolution, second by Councilmember Welch and the motion
was carried on a voice vote.
ORDINANCE NO.63—2000
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 63 —2000—A GENERAL ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 35 OF
THE CITY CODE REGARDING THE CITY'S AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAM
Comments were heard from Councilmembers Elstro and Lundy who said they would be voting against the
ordinance, and Councilmember Combs who said he would be voting for the ordinance. Councilmember
Hutton commented that she would continue to fight until everyone is not discriminated against.
Ordinance No. 63—2000 was adopted on a roll call vote of 6 in favor and 3 against. Those voting against
were Councilmember Elstro,Lundy and Hutton.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
CALL FOR ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business,on a motion duly made,seconded and passed,the meeting was adjourned.
Larry Parker,President
ATTEST:
Norma Schroeder,Clerk