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HomeMy Public PortalAbout12-14-1995 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND. INDIANA. DECEMBER 14. 1995 1 The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met at 9 a.m.Thursday, December 14, 2 1995, in the Municipal Building in said City. Vice Chairperson Jan Hibner presided with Earnest Jarvis in 3 attendance. Chairperson Dennis W.Grimes was absent.The following business was had to-wit: 4 5 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 7.1995 6 - 7 The minutes of the December 7, 1995 meeting were approved on a motion by Jarvis, second by Hibner and 8 carried on a unanimous voice vote. 9 10 CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT "' '_-` 11 12 Claims for payment submitted by the City Controller's office included$71,506.46, $535,569.01 and $10,753.96, 13 all for miscellaneous items. Also submitted was a claim for$125,000 as a repayment to the Sanitary District; 14 $60,000 for health insurance claims; and $8,000 for the prescription card claims. Vice Chairperson Hibner 15 moved to approve the claims,second by Jarvis and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 16 17 REQUESTS 18 19 A. Requests for handicapped parking spaces made by Perry Jones on North 17th Street, Ronald Davis 20 on South 8th Street, Pauline Smith on North 8th Street and Helen Billheimer on South J Street were 21 read by Vice Chairperson Hibner who noted that Traffic Safety Division had made a stipulation on the 22 request made by Smith. They stated that the sign needs to be located in the first parking space on 23 North 8th Street north of North C Street. Vice Chairperson Hibner moved to approve all four requests 24 with that stipulation,second by Jarvis and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 25 26 B. City Attorney Thomas Milligan advised the Board that the Firefighters Collective Bargaining 27 Agreement had been signed by Jerry Purcell, Tom Shook and Tim Clark, representing the Richmond 28 Fire Department, with Ron Cross acting as attorney for the City. He stated that the agreement will be 29 signed by the Mayor after the Board takes its action and recommended the Board's approval. Vice 30 Chairperson Hibner explained the agreement called for a 41/2 percent increase for the period between 31 January 1, 1996, through December 31, 1996, and an additional 4 percent through the following year. 32 She noted the retiree insurance benefits which gives a$2,000 allowance for eligible retirees as defined 33 as those individuals who retire after January 1, 1996. She moved to enter into the two-year contract, 34 second by Jarvis and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 35 _-__,.:• 36 C.Jarvis stated that in answer to a request by Carpenter Mfg.for additional storage space,the City had 37 agreed to rent, on a month-to-month basis, the old police garage on Garden Avenue that has been 38 empty for some time.Jarvis said there is 7,800 square feet in the building and the City is charging 50 39 cents per square foot which amounts to a storage fee of$325 per month. He said Carpenter has signed 40 the agreement and is ready to move its things today and he recommended approval.Jarvis so moved, 41 second by Vice Chairperson Hibner and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 42 43 D. A letter from Major John Farmer of the Richmond Police Department was read by Jarvis who noted 44 that it concerned the security agreement between the Richmond Housing Authority and R.P.D. Major 45 Farmer said the agreement makes a provision for foot patrols at the sights controlled by the Housing 46 Authority. Milligan explained that it is a continuation of services and the Housing Authority actually pays 47 the City for the officers who are off their duty shifts. He added that the Housing Authority is a 48 not-for-profit entity and is part of the federal government. He said the City is compensated in full for the 49 added salary paid to the officers who volunteer to do this. Major Farmer said there is a change which 50 calls for the Housing Authority to provide an office space in the Northwood complex area to allow the 51 residents in that area the opportunity to contact the officer there in the complex and advise the officer of 52 any problems. He said the change was made to increase the quality of the service to the residents. 53 Milligan noted that the other change is the increase of the hourly rate, noting that officers are on an 54 assigned basis made by the operation major. He also noted that the old contract specified the hours to 55 be worked and this one removes those hours and allows flexibility to respond to the activity in the area. 56 The units involved are Northwood, Southwood and Westwood. Jarvis moved to enter into the 57 agreement, second by.Vice Chairperson Hibner and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice 58 vote. 59 60 E.Vice Chairperson Hibner brought before the Board an interlocal agreement between the City_and the._; 61 Wayne County Weights and Measures, noting that the Wayne County Commissioners had alrear!y 62 signed it.She said the agreement provides for weights and measures service by the City inspector who 63 will be assigned to both Wayne County and the City until all the routine functions of weights and 64 measures have been accomplished. She said the City will be paid $10,000 by the County for those 65 services and moved to enter into the agreement, second by Jarvis and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. • Board of Works Minutes Cont'd December 14, 1995 • Page 2 . • 1 F. A request made by Faith-Trinity United Methodist Church, 2900 West Main Street, on behalf of its 2 live Nativity scene was read by Jarvis who noted that the annual event is scheduled to take place from 3 6 to 8:30 p.m. December 17 and December 18. The request was for help with controlling the traffic, 4 Jarvis said. He read a letter from Captain Chambers of the Traffic Safety Division who stated that the 5 cones should not block the vehicles wanting to make left turns and that having an on-duty officer did not 6 look too favorable at this time.Captain Chambers suggested they use off duty police or sheriff's officers 7 and that volunteers not attempt to direct the traffic. Jarvis so moved, second by Vice Chairperson 8 Hibner and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 9 10 CONTRACTS 11 12 A.Award Bids 13 14 1.Jarvis stated that the awarding of the fuel and gasoline contract for 1996 will be held until next 15 week. 16 17 2.The towing rotation contract for 1996 and 1997 was brought to the Board by Jarvis who explained 18 that Christopher Auto Repair had asked to be dropped off the list temporarily, leaving five companies 19 in the rotation.They include H &H Wrecker Service,Owens Towing, Pardo's Service, Stamps" Inn 20 and Steele's Wrecker.Jarvis moved to enter into the contract,second by Vice Chairperson Hibner -=--- 21 and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 22 23 3. Vice Chairperson Hibner noted that three firms had submitted proposals for doing the Industrial 24 Development Grant audit. She explained that the City had received a grant award of$150,000 through 25 the Indiana Department of Commerce to assist Transilwrap-in its expansion and the state requires an 26 independent certified public accountant audit before it releases the final 20 percent of the grant award. 27 Vice Chairperson Hibner said proposals had been received from Fennimore & Associates for$2,850, 28 Geo.S.Olive Co. $2,390 and Brady,Ware&Schoenfeld for$1,500.She noted that all three firms meet 29 the audit requirements and referred to a letter from Clay Miller, grants administrator in the Department 30 of Finance, recommending Brady, Ware & Schoenfeld:as the lowest bidder with the work to be 31 completed by January 30, 1996. She so moved, second by Jarvis and the motion was carried on a 32 unanimous voice vote. 33 34 OTHER MATTERS 35 36 A. In announcing the residential parking permit hearing, Vice Chairperson Hibner explained that on 37 October 19, 1995 a request had been received by the Board for a parking permit area on South West E 38 from South West 3rd to South West 4th Street and South West 3rd from South West D Street to South 39 West E Street.She noted that the Board has met all the requirements, including the notification sent by 40 the City Clerk's office to all the residents in that area. 41 42 Appearing before the Board was Mary Baldwin of 412 South West 3rd Street who was against issuing 43 the permits, saying it was not a good idea because there are not:that many high school students 44 parking in her area. 45 46 Also speaking against the issue was Pat Tucker of 429 South West 3rd Street who stated that she was 47 uncertain as to what it was all about Vice Chairperson Hibner explained that some residents, 17 in all, 48 had signed a petition requesting the Board of Works assign a residential parking permit area to that 49 area. She added that what it means is that the homeowners will need to get a$3 permit from the City 50 Clerk's office to park there from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m: Monday through Friday, which keeps the high 51 school students or anyone else from.parking.there.' Vice Chairperson Hibner said the sticker is a 52 permanent one,but if the homeowner changes cars a new sticker can be issued.Tucker said she lives 53 in the middle of the block and has a handicapped sticker which means she has no parking problem but 54 she is concerned about the others who live in the area 55 56 Marie Foreman,301 South West E Street,said three years ago when a petition was brought around for 57 this same thing she refused to sign it because she thought the youngsters should have a place to park. 58 However,she has noted since then,that there seems to be plenty of space in the high school parking lot 59 and she has had difficulty backing out of her driveway.because of parked cars. She is also concerned 60 about the litter which she attributed to the students. 111 61 62 Melanie Falcone,418 South West 3rd Street, said she had no problem at her house but she knows that 63 South West E Street is bad, citing problems encountered by her daughter who catches a bus in that 64 area. She agreed that something needs to be done on South West E Street. William.Baldwin, 412 65 South West E Street,said he is against it because he has four vehicles. s Board of Works Minutes Cont'd December 14, 1995 Page 3 • 1 Vice Chairperson Hibner read a letter from Beverly Medford, 404 South West 3rd Street, noting that 2 she was unable to attend the meeting but she has a handicapped sign and license plate. She 3 suggested giving tickets to the students and possibly even giving tickets to their parents. She said there. 4 is enough parking available in the high school parking lot, adding that she is against the perinTts. 5 . 6 Vice Chairperson Hibner said a decision is not required today, noting that the Board has 10 or 15 days 7 to decide. Captain Chambers said his main concern is that if this is made into a designated area it 8 means more manpower to control the larger area.Also, he said, his officers have found some residents 9 who don't even bother to get permits and don't understand when they get tickets. Vice Chairperson- 10 Hibner said she had visited the area and found nine cars on South West E and 19 on South West 3rd 11 Street, with most of these being in tl}e-corner area of South West 3rd and South West E. She also 12 noted there are 36 houses on the affected part of South West 3rd and 10 on South West E Street. She 13 suggested the request be taken under advisement. Jarvis commented that the Richmond Community 14 Schools system had not seen fit to enforce the parking in the parking lot east of the high school and 15 Hibner added that the Board had tried to work with the school but had received no cooperation. 16 17 Police Chief Dennis Rice added his comments, stating that the parking enforcement officer can be 18 redirected to check that area the first thing in the morning when the students are going to school. He 19 also noted that Rick Thalls is the school liaison officer and would be able to help if needed as well as 20 the patrol officer who is assigned to that district. 21 22 B.Jarvis commented that the Board had not been aware of the problem on the North 20th Street curve 23 until the recent media coverage. Captain Chambers had submitted a letter to the Board, Jarvis said, 24 after an investigation of the area by the Traffic Safety Division, stating that in the past five years only 25 one accident had been reported and that was the one November 30, 1995. He said after conducting 26 four traffic surveys it was found the average northbound speed was 31.295 m.p.h., adding that any 27 speed in excess of 37 m.p.h. is too fast. 28 29 Captain Chambers further stated that earlier this year chevron arrows had been installedti!ony_;; :_> 30 curve which measures 509 feet. He also stated that an improvement would be to install a sign indicating 31 to northbound motorists just prior to Hawkins Road that the left lane must turn left and the installation 32 of a sign indicating that the road narrows just past the intersection. He added that he felt the installation 33 of guard rails or speed reduction actions be held pending further study of the traffic. Jarvis asked 34 Captain Chambers if his department had received any calls concerning vehicles running up onto the 35 property of residents in that area and Captain Chambers said he was not aware of any, but, in most 36 cases like this these things are not reported. 37 38 Norma Jean Frady, 1908 North J Street, noted several incidents where vehicles had run into the yards 39 leaving tire marks. She said there is loose gravel on the street which also creates vehicle control 40 problems. She presented a petition containing 87 names of people concerned about the problem. Vice 41 Chairperson Hibner suggested that residents report any incident pertaining to the problems with the 42 curve so the City could have a record of what is happening in that area. Erica Frady, 1908 North J 43 Street said her bedroom is in the front of the house and when she hears the squeal of tires it frightens 44 her. She added that she feels a guard rail would protect her as well as others in the area. She added 45 that she feels the squealing tires is a good indication of the possible loss of control. 46 47 Jarvis suggested the problem be taken under advisement until the Board members can visit the area 48 with the Traffic Safety Division as well as the Police Chief so they can take a good look at the area. He 49 added that the installation of a guard rail is a one time thing and cautioned that it is not an attractive 50 addition to a neighborhood. He suggested that it be placed on the agenda for next week and that 51 recommendations be made at that tiame. 52 53 C.A letter requesting the removal of a loading zone at 183 Fort Wayne Avenue was read by Jarvis who 54 noted that this Board had approved that loading zone a year or two ago but it had proved to be more,, 55 harmful than good. The Carpet Brokers stated that several of their customers had received tickets f- 56 parking there and they felt they could do without the loading zone. Jarvis moved to remove the loading 57 zone sign,second by Vice Chairperson Hibner and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 58 111 59 D.Vice Chairperson Hibner reported that a request had been made by Fire Chief Jim Sticco to hold the 60 East Central Indiana Emergency Services School Extrication Class at Fire Station No.4 garage Friday 61 and Saturday,January 6 and January 7, 1996. She so moved, second by Jarvis and the motion was 62 carried on a unanimous voice vote. 63 64 E.Jarvis said the Board had been advised by Leslie Ducey, president of the Street Tree Commission, 65 that the City had been praised for the work done in 1995 installing and maintaining the street trees. She said she traveled to Indianapolis to accept an award from the Indiana Urban Forest Council designating the Street Tree Commission the Outstanding Civic Group for 1995. • • • Board of Works ; . December14, 1995 Pag.e,4 • • 1 F. Bishop Francis Daniels,'spokesman for the Christian Men's Fellowship of Wayne County, stepped 2 forward with several members of the group and stated the reason for their visit was to recognize both 3 Mayor Roger Cornett and Police Chief Dennis Rice for their participation in the group. _4 • 5 James Stevens, President of the group, asked Mayor Cornett to step forward to receive a plaque in 6 recognition of his service to the citizens of this community. In response, Mayor Cornett said it had 7 been a big honor for him to have the privilege of living in a community with such a group which 8 endeavored to make life here better. Daniels presented a plaque to Chief Rice in recognition of his 9 many years of service. Chief Rice responded that is had been an honor to be a part of the group,- - 10 adding that Daniels has been a mentor of his for years as wells as a good friend. He said all members 11 of the group set an example for all of us to follow, noting they never let negatives control their lives. He 12 concluded by saying their friendship means a great deal to him. 13 14 Stevens said he watches the Board of Works on WCTV and is aware of what is going on in the City. He 15 stated that he would give Mayor-elect Dennis Andrews an invitation to join the group and sit in on the16 meetings„adding that it is not a racial group but for all Christian men. 17 18 G.Jarvis moved to accept the Richmond Police Department report for November 1995 into the record, 19 second by Vice Chairperson Hibner and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. 20 21 PUBLIC COMMENTS 22 23 Chief Rice commented that he is retiring the last week of February in 1996 but he willbe on vacation for the next 24 few weeks. He thanked the Board for its help over the past four years and praised Mayor Cornett for the things 25 he has done. Vice Chairperson Hibner responded that Chief Rice had made the Board's job easier because of 26 his support. 27 28' ADJOURNMENT 29 30 There being no further business, on a motion duly made seconded and passed and carried on a unanimous 31 voice vote,the meeting was adjourned. 32 33 34 • 35 36 37 38 - Janet Hibner, Vice Chairperson 39 40 41 42 43 44 ATTEST: 45 Norma Schroeder,City Clerk 46 47 • 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 • 59 60 • . 61 62 63 64 65