HomeMy Public PortalAbout01-07-1991 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND. INDIANA, JANUARY 7, 1991
1 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session on January 7, 1991 at the
2 hour of 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers in said City. President Hutton presided with the following
3 Councilmembers present: Elstro, Lundy, Brookbank, Hankinson, McBride, Parker, Morris and Paust.
4 Absent: None. Representatives of the following media were in attendance: WKBV/WFMG, WHON/WQLK
5 and Palladium Item. The following business was had to-wit:
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7 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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9 SILENT DEVOTIONS
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11 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 17. 1990
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13 Councilmember Brookbank moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as prepared, seconded
14 by Councilmember McBride and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
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16 COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR
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18 Mayor Waltermann thank all those who worked through the recent ice and rain storms and indicated
19 Richmond residents were fortunate since there were 2,000 people in Indiana still homeless.
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21 Mayor Waltermann especially thanked Battalion Chief Joe Perkins with the Richmond Fire Department. He
22 reported to the Council that Battalion Chief Perkins had suggested opening up shelter for any persons
23 needing it and then continued to notify persons of the availability of the shelter made available at the
24 Richmond Community Senior Center. The Mayor said that Mr. Perkins also checked back with people to
25 see if they needed any additional assistance.
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27 Mayor Waltermann said that Mr. Bill Reynolds and the Richmond Sanitary District crews and Mr. Bill Smith
- 28 and the Street crews also did excellent work under the circumstances.
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31 PRESENTATION OF REMONSTRANCES. PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS
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33 None were presented.
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35 REPORTS FROM CITY DEPARTMENTS
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37 None were presented.
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39 REPORTS FROM OTHER OFFICES
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41 None were presented.
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43 REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY
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45 Ms. Carrie Hauptstueck asked Council to refer to the minutes for information and she would be glad to
46 answer any questions.
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48 Councilmember Brookbank thanked the Board for the warning signs placed at South 16th and E Streets.
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50 Councilmember Paust requested information on the insurance program and the prescription card for
51 employees. He asked why this contract was not bid and the same contract was kept along with how many
52 dollars were spent on the contract.
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54 Ms. Hauptstueck reported that-there was an administration fee for the prescription card at.05 cents per card
55 and no monthly contract payments were made. She said there was no written contract and State law allows
56 insurance programs be handled without bidding.
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58 Ms. Hauptstueck said the current vendor(Hooks) also met reporting requirements with three reports monthly
59 on usage. She said the only other local plan is with the Medicine Shop and employees can go there with
60 20%off. She said no one else has a plan, but if we had a better proposal it would be possible to get out of
61 the agreement with Hook's. Ms. Hauptstueck said the fact that Hook's is located in other cities is a benefit to
62 some of our employees.
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64 Councilmember Paust stated that there were other suppliers interested that have spoken with Ms.
65 Hauptstueck and they were notified the City would stay with Hook's without giving anyone else an
66 opportunity. He said if local people were interested they should be given a chance.
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Common Council
January 7, 1991
Page 2
1 Ms. Hauptstueck said that anyone contacting her has been requested to put a proposal in writing and present
2 it to the City. She said she has only had one inquiry this year.
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4 Councilmember Parker asked if there had been any word from the State on a possible signal at Toschlog
5 Road and Ms. Hauptstueck reported that she nor Mr.Wiwi had heard anything.
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7 REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES
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9 None were presented.
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11 REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES
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13 None were presented.
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15 REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COUNCIL COMMITTEES
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17 None were presented.
18
19 MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
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21 Council Comments or Complaints
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23 Councilmember Elstro stated he would like to receive some feedback from the Planning Office when
24 complaints were referred to that office. He said they had been notified that Dana Leas is the contact person
25 for complaints and he would like a report on old complaints.
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27 Mayor Waltermann asked if the complaints were done by telephone and Councilmember Elstro said they
28 were,but the Council had requested a form.
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30 Mayor Waltermann told the Council they would be receiving the form this week.
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32 Councilmember Elstro said he would like to know the disposition of the trailer park on South Q Street.
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34 Mayor Waltermann said the Council would be receiving a complaint form and would receive a follow up in
35 writing.
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37 Councilmember Morris commented on the calls about flooded basements during the recent rains. She said
38 the calls came from all parts of town and asked that the Common Council and the Board of Sanitary
39 Commissioners and employees meet to come to a resolution to the problem. She said in the past seven
40 years the same area continually flood and made special reference to the problems on Straightline Pike.
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42 Councilmember Morris said she would like to know what can be done to solve the problems and see if the
43 investment can be made to resolve this. She said the people affected deserve more than the cursory look
44 that has been given and there will be neighbors from the affected areas at the next meeting.
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46 Councilmember Morris requested Mayor Waltermann to bring a request to the Sanitary Board and other
47 appropriate authorities to meet with the Council regarding this issue.
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49 Councilmember Paust asked about the Birth to Five Process and said he would like information shared with
50 the Council regarding the persons in each school area and what is available.
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52 Ms. Merchanthouse shared some information and Councilmember Brookbank requested the Director of Birth
53 to Five to give a report at the next meeting of Council.
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55 Sewer Flooding Problems-Craig Pennington
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57 Mr. Craig Pennington spoke with the Council regarding flooding of this basement four times. He said he has
58 made many phone calls to local and state officials trying to get the problem solved. He reported that many
59 people have come to see the damage, but nothing has been resolved and it is causing a financial burden on
60 him.
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62 Mr. Pennington stated that on January 3, 1991 he had 2 1/2 ft. of sewer water in his basement and Mr.
63 Reynolds of the Sanitary District finally indicated they had a problem to solve.
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65 Mr. Pennington said he did not know what to do. He said if the City had a problem, they should assume the
66 responsibility and he should be compensated for his damages.
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Common Council Minutes Cont'd
January 7, 1991
Page 3
1 President Hutton asked if Mr. Pennington had been to the Sanitary Board and he said he had not.
2
3 President Hutton recommended he attend a Sanitary Board meeting and also that Councilmember's Morris
4 suggestion for a meeting of both boards was good.
5
6 Councilmember McBride told Mr. Pennington he had similar problems and solved them with the installation
7 of a flapper trap.
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9 Mr. Pennington said he had received estimates on a sump pump, but he was currently having trouble
10 keeping up with bills and doing repairs.
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12 North Richmond Services-Johnny Douglas
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14 Mr.Johnny Douglas addressed the Council regarding problems with service by the City in North Richmond.
15 He said there were piles of leaves never picked up and they have washed into the drains and stop them up.
16 He said there needs to be enforcement of the trash ordinance since people put trash out several days early
17 and it gets torn up and spread around. Mr. Douglas commented that no one knows when streets are to be
18 swept and if the schedule was known people could move their cars.
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20 Mr. Douglas also complained of the high weeds in vacant lots and junk in yards with no attention from
21 inspectors.
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23 President Hutton inquired about street sweeping and Mr. William Smith told the Council that the City was
24 sweeping when it was not snowing, but it was had to do in the winter. He added they worked on leaf pick up
25 until the first snow and are now hand loading leaves as necessary.
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27 Mr. Douglas asked about utilities tearing up streets and not repairing them and Mr. Smith agreed that was a
28 problem and they were working to better coordinate these activities and use a standard procedure to replace
29 with concrete or hot mix.
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31 Councilmember Paust said he has had several conversations with Mr. Smith regarding the City doing the
32 repairs to the street cuts and requiring the utility companies to reimburse the City in order to keep all repairs
33 to specifications.
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35 Councilmember Lundy thanked Mr. Douglas for sharing his concerns with Council. She said when members
36 of Council refer complaints and they are not acted on, it looks bad for Council.
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38 Councilmember McBride commented that if Mr. Smith was to do all that Council expected,the Council would
39 need to allocate funds for more personnel.
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41 President Hutton said a lot of the services were not being done by the Street Department.
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43 Councilmember Elstro asked if permits were needed to do street cuts and Mr. Smith said they were and
44 most utilities were pretty good about the permits, but he felt if they do the excavations and the City repairs, it
45 would be more uniform.
46
47 Councilmember Morris commented that she has requested in the past that utilities submit their capital
48 projects list to the City for better coordination.
49
50 In response to the City Attorney regarding the City's ability to repair and bill for the repairs, Mr. Metzger said
51 that would not be allowable under the present ordinance.
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53 President Hutton asked that Mr. Smith and Mr. Metzger look into the Ordinance.
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55 N.W. Richmond Sewer Problems
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57 A Mr. Johnson, of North West A Street, spoke with the Council regarding 10" of water in his basement and
58 the problems in the area of NW 8th and 11th Streets. He said the problem was common to the entire
59 neighborhood and felt it was facilitated by westward drainage from Dennis and Parkview to the west and the
60 lack of catch basins. Mr. Johnson said he had heard the sewer line was too small to handle and storm
61 water.
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63 Mayor Waltermann said they had just allowed a 200,000.00 contract for that area, but Mr. Judge felt it was
64 for the South West area.
65
It was suggested that Mr.Johnson also attend a meeting of the Board of Sanitary Commissioners.
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
January 7, 1991
Page 4
1 RESOLUTIONS
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3 None were presented.
4
5 ORDINANCES
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7 ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING
8 •
9 Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinances No. 1, 2, 3, and 4-1991 on first
10 reading by title only, seconded by Councilmember McBride and on unanimous voice vote the motion was
11 carried.
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14 ORDINANCE NO.1-1991
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17 The Clerk read on first reading by title only Ordinance No. 1-1991 - AN ORDINANCE RATIFYING THE
18 PROFESSIONAL NEGOTIATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE RICHMOND PROFESSIONAL
19 FIREFIGHTERS INC., LOCAL 1408 AND THE CITY OF RICHMOND, PROVIDING FOR THE LONGEVITY
20 PAY FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS; AND AMENDING AMENDED ORDINANCE NO. 37-1990 TO SET
21 SALARIES FOR CERTAIN APPOINTED OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.
22
23 Councilmember McBride recommended Council approve Ordinance No. 1 and Ordinance No.2, both having
24 been settled in negotiations and agreed by all involved including himself as a member of the negotiating
25 team.
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27 Councilmember Morris moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinance No. 1-1991 on second reading,
28 seconded by Councilmember McBride and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
29
30 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 1-1991 on second reading.
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32 President Hutton announced the ordinance was on public hearing.
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34 There being no comments, Councilmember Brookbank moved for engrossment of Ordinance No. 1-1991,
35 seconded by Councilmember Paust and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
36
37 Councilmember Morris moved to suspend the rules and move Ordinance No. 1-1991 to third and final
38 reading and read by title only, seconded by Councilmember McBride and on unanimous voice vote the
39 motion was carried.
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41 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 1-1991 on third and final reading by title only.
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43 Ordinance No. 1-1991 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
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45 Ayes: Elstro, Lundy, Brookbank, Hankinson, McBride, Parker, Morris, Paust and Hutton (9)
46 Nays: None
47
48 ORDINANCE NO.2-1991
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50 The Clerk read on first reading by title only Ordinance No. 2-1991 - AN ORDINANCE RATIFYING THE
51 PROFESSIONAL NEGOTIATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FOP BARGAINING UNIT AND THE CITY
52 OF RICHMOND, INCLUDING ESTABLISHING THE LONGEVITY OF RICHMOND POLICE OFFICERS;
53 AND AMENDING AMENDED ORDINANCE NO. 37-1990 TO SET SALARIES FOR CERTAIN APPOINTED
54 OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.
55
56 Councilmember Morris moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinance No. 2-1991 on second reading,
57 seconded by Councilmember McBride and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
58
59 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 2-1991 on second reading.
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61 President Hutton announced the ordinance was on public hearing.
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63 Speaking for Ordinance No. 2-1991 was Mr. Mark Smith, Chairman of the FOP Bargaining Unit. Mr. Smith
64 thanked all involved in the negotiations and expressed his gratitude that the contract was settled prior to the
65 1991 salary ordinance being passed.
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Common Council Minutes Cont'd
January 7, 1991
Page 5
1 There being no further comments, Councilmember Morris moved for engrossment of Ordinance No. 2-1991,
2
3 seconded by Councilmember Paust and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
4 Councilmember Morris moved to suspend the rules and move Ordinance No. 2-1991 to third and final
5 reading and read by title only, seconded by Councilmember McBride and on unanimous voice vote the
6 motion was carried.
7
8 The Clerk read Ordinance No.2-1991 on third and final reading by title only.
9
10 Ordinance No.2-1991 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
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12 Ayes: Elstro, Lundy, Brookbank, Hankinson, McBride, Parker, Morris, Paust and Hutton (9)
13 Nays: None
14
15 ORDINANCE NO. 3-1991
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17 The Clerk read on first reading by title only Ordinance No. 3-1991 - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
18 CHAPTER 95 OF THE RICHMOND CITY CODE.
19 -
20 President Hutton announced the Ordinance would be advertised for public hearing.
21
22 ORDINANCE NO. 4-1991
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24 The Clerk read on first reading by title only Ordinance No. 4-1991 - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
• 25 CHAPTER 154 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, BEING ORDINANCE NO. 2325-1968, COMMONLY KNOWN
26 AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA PROVIDING FOR THE
27 REZONING OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 910, 912 AND 914 MENDLESON DRIVE FROM R-2 SINGLE
28 FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICT TO C-2 COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.
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30 President Hutton announced the Ordinance would be assigned to Plan Commission for public hearing.
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32 ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING
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34 ORDINANCE NO.99-1990
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36 The Clerk read on second reading Ordinance No. 99-1990 - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CERTAIN
37 PROVISIONS OF THE POLICE MERIT COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND.
38
39 The Proof of Publication was presented and found to be in order. Councilmember Brookbank moved to
40 accept and file the Proof of Publication,seconded by Councilmember McBride and on unanimous voice vote
41 the motion was carried.
42
43 President Hutton announced the Ordinance was on public hearing.
44
45 Speaking for Ordinance No. 99-1990 was Dr. Jack Portzline, Chairman of the Police Merit Commission. Dr.
46 Portzline told the Council he was in favor of the proposed amendments to the Merit Commission. He said
47 the changes were considerable, but all factions were in favor and in total agreement including the Merit
48 Commission,the Police Officers and the Chief of Police.
49
50 Dr. Portzline told the Council the amendments makes the Merit Commission Ordinance free of gray areas so
51 it will not be open to question or challenge. He said that Section 18 of the existing ordinance was too
52 cumbersome and needed to be streamlined from the outdated procedures. He stated that these changes
53 were gratifying an all were in agreement with the changes.
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55 Mr. Mark Smith told Council he was president of the FOP when the members adopted the changes and all
56 were looked at very seriously. He recommended adoption of the ordinance.
57
58 There being no further comment, Councilmember Brookbank moved for engrossment, seconded by
59 Councilmember McBride and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
60
61 Councilmember Morris moved to suspend the rules and move Ordinance No. 99-1990 to third and final
62 reading and read by title only, seconded by Councilmember McBride and on unanimous voice vote the
63 motion was carried.
64
65 The Clerk read Ordinance No.99-1990 on third and final reading by title only.
66
67 Ordinance No.99-1990 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
68
69 Ayes: Elstro, Lundy, Brookbank, Hankinson, McBride, Parker, Morris, Paust and Hutton (9)
Nays: None.
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Common Council Minutes Cont'd
January 7, 1991
Page 6
1 ORDINANCE NO.102-1990
2
3 The Clerk read on second reading Ordinance No. 102-1990 - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AMENDED
4 ORDINANCE NO. 39-1990 ESTABLISHING A DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS FOR
5 THE CITY OF RICHMOND, WAYNE COUNTY, INDIANA.
6
7 Mayor Frank H. Waltermann presented a memo to the Council to request withdrawal of this ordinance from
8 the agenda.
9
10 Councilmember Brookbank moved to strike Ordinance No. 102-1990 from the agenda, seconded by
11 Councilmember Morris and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
12
13 ORDINANCES ON THIRD READING
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15 None were presented.
16
17 ANNOUNCEMENTS
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19 President Hutton announced a Committee of the Whole for January 19, 1991 at 9:00 AM to meet at the City
20 Building for a tour of possible central garage locations.
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22 ADJOURNMENT
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24 There being no further business, on a motion duly made, seconded and passed, the meeting was
25 adjourned.
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31 Sarah Hutton, President
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37 ATTEST:
38 Mary Merchanthouse, City Clerk
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