HomeMy Public PortalAbout10-13-1994 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, OCTOBER 13, 1994
1 The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met at 9 a.m. Thursday, October 13,
2 1994, in the Municipal Building in said City. Chairperson Earnest Jarvis presided with Dennis Grimes and Janet
3 Hibner in attendance.The following business was had to-wit:
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5 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 29 AND OCTOBER 6, 1994
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7 The minutes of the September 29 and October 6, 1994 meetings were approved on a motion by Hibner, second
8 by Grimes and carried on a unanimous voice vote.
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10 CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT
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12 Claims submitted by the City Controller's office were for $777,051.84 most of which was for payroll and payroll
13 taxes as well as various supplies and contractual services. Grimes moved to approve the claims, second by
14 Hibner and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
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16 REQUESTS
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18 A. Hibner moved to approve the handicapped parking requests for Janet A. Trimble on North C Street
19 and Elmer F. McKee on South 12th Street, second by Grimes and the motion was carried on a
20 unanimous voice vote.
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22 CONTRACTS
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24 A. City Attorney Thomas Milligan presented agreements for utility easements along South 37th Street
25 for the Board's approval, explaining that it is a standard procedure and enables the utilities to put their
26 services inside the right of way which the City has purchased and is in the process of developing into
27 South 37th Street. He said those utilties, which include RP & L, TCI, GTE, Richmond Sanitary District,
28 Indiana American Water and Indiana Gas, will be extended as customers are acquired and is all a part
29 of the street construction process. Hibner moved to enter into the six utility agreements, second by
30 Grimes and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
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32 Milligan presented to the Board for adoption Resolution 7 - 1994, explaining that it is to clarify the
33 question with regard to the legal status of Dana Drive and Dana Parkway. He said it refers to
34 Resolution No. 3 - 1994 which was adopted by the Board on July 7, 1994, explaining that both exist as
35 part of the municipal street system. He said there is a transaction pending for the sale of some of the
36 land along Dana Parkway and the prospective purchasers of that land wanted a further clarification. He
37 explained further that what the resolution does is simply to incorporate a recent survey which the
38 private parties have paid for.
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40 Milligan said that although the City has not paid for any part of the survey, it benefits the City in that it is
41 a comprehensive survey of 12 to 13 tracts that were acquired all in separate transactions for the
42 construction of Dana Parkway and the renaming and redesignation of Dana Drive. He said all this has
43 been a part of the City's street system since it was completed a year ago and will continue to be
44 maintained, drained, signed and patrolled by the various City departments. Following his
45 recommendation for adoption, Hibner so moved, second by Grimes and the motion was carried on a
46 unanimous voice vote.
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48 OTHER MATTERS
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50 A. Francis Daniels, serving as the spokesman for the Christian Men's Fellowship group attending the
51 Board meeting, noted the group's concerns about what goes on in the City. He said Andrew Cecere,
52 former City Attorney, had been designated to express some of those concerns today.
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54 Cecere explained that the group is an organization to provide a basis for fellowship among Christian
55 men everywhere and its object according to the by laws is to develop a more alert, eager and
56 serviceable citizenship. He said about 30 members meet quite regularly on Thursday mornings at
57 Townsend Community Center and are interested in what happens in the community, in the schools,
58 and in the government and it a good group and worthwhile belonging to. He noted he was there to
59 discuss the Nicholson School project and asked the status of the $50,000 grant from the Indiana
60 Housing Authority. He further stated that the need for housing is something that everyone seems to be
61 concerned with.
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63 George Sawyer, retired attorney and also a member of the group, said he was raised in the north part
64 of the City and attended Nicholson School as well as Test Junior High School and Richmond High
65 School. He added that he had lived across the street from Townsend Community Center and it had
been a great influence in his young life.
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Board of Works Minutes Cont'd
October 13, 1994
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3 Sawyer expressed concern that there was some indication that there is a possibility that the school will
4 be made into a center for the youth, which, he said, would be in direct competition with Townsend
5 Community Center. In his opinion, he said, it is the nucleus which holds that part of the community
6 together in that it reaches out to all types of people.
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8 Chairperson Jarvis said the Mayor is in favor of what is happening at Nicholson School.Grimes said he
9 had spoken with the Indiana Housing Finance Authority about the progress, noting that there was a 10
10 percent requirement for a local match and that $1,000 had been put up by the Housing Authority and
11 $4,000 by the local banks. He said the grant application had been reviewed and there are severasl
12 ideas floating around about what can be done with the school building. In conjunction with that, Grimes
13 said, the Richmond Housing Authority had been adamant in that the area should be reserved for
14 housing in some fashion.
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16 Grimes added that the Etta J. Lundy Subdivision south of Townsend Community Center and west of
17 Nicholson School, will be the spot for individual stick-built homes next year. He said it had also been
18 approved by the Department of Commerce and a land developer from Louisville about the possibility of
19 converting the school building into low to moderate income housing apartments. He added that they
20 have a track record of having a very successful conversion of a school building in Louisville, Ky. and
21 one under renovation in Birmingham, Ala.
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23 Grimes said he would anticipate through the $50,000 feasibility study grant the area would be looked at
24 and financed through 60 percent Historic Tax credits which would mean going through the necessary
25 steps to get it listed on the National Register which would qualify it for the Historic Tax credits. He noted
26 that the other 40 percent would be financed through private investment.
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28 Cecere asked how long it would take to process the feasibility study and whether it was the purpose of
29 the study to determine whether or not to make apartments out of it. Grimes answered that the purpose
30 of the feasibility study is to look at the total package which included the financing and structure. He
31 noted that the land developer felt the structure of the building is in better shape than the one they
32 started with in Louisville. He said the City wants to be able to look at it from all aspects to make sure it
33 is the right thing to do in the community. He added that the Department of Commerce has written a
34 letter of recommendation for this project to the Indiana Housing financing board.
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36 Grimes also said the likelhood of the grant being approved is good with a time frame for completion of
37 the study around three to six months. Chairperson Jarvis noted that one of the problems with the six
38 houses in the Etta J. Lundy Subdivision was that the restrictions were so strict they could not get people
39 qualified which resulted in giving the money back to the state. He added that this is yet another
40 approach to still get houses on that property. Cecere noted that his group would be monitoring the
41 progress.
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43 Hibner said the goals and objectives as far as the City and the neighborhood, are similar, because both
44 are interested in enhancing the Nicholson School and Townsend Community Center are in the most
45 viable way so that overall the goals of wanting a vibrant neighborhood and economically progressive
46 area and good substantial housing to improve that area are similar. She said she would encourage the
47 group to offer its views and its input on those types of things. Cecere expressed his appreciation for the
48 Board members'time.
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50 B. Chairperson Jarvis said the Potter's excavating request on the agenda would be rescheduled.
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52 C. Ruth Mills-Varnell, director of the Art Association of Richmond, expressed her concern about the
53 traffic on Garwood Road during the 10 days the decorator's show house at 200 Garwood Road will be
54 open to visitors. She said the event is a fundraiser to raise operating and educational funds for the Art
55 Museum and explained that during the time of organizing the event the parking and traffic had been
56 discussed but they did not realize the importance of the traffic until the last minute. She said during the
57 opening night preview event tonight there will be about 100 people and her real concern is the cars
58 coming in and out of the driveway and how to make it safer for the visitors. She said one of the things
59 considered was to direct visitors to make only a right hand turn out of the driveway, noting that her
60 reason for appearing before the Board was to ask for advice and help in solving a potential hazard in
61 the community.
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63 Sgt. Janice Passmore of the Traffic Safety Division stated that the home is located in a hilly area and
64 some additional lighting is needed and possibly a caution sign in each direction indicating a congested
65 area ahead. She agreed with the right turn only sign, adding that what is needed is someone at the site
to make sure the motorists do observe the sign. She also said that assigning a police officer would
mean in excess of 90 hours of man-hour overtime and the Richmond Police Department budget is very
strict.
Board of Works Minutes Cont'd
October 13, 1994
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3 Chairperson Jarvis asked Mills-Varnell if there was anyone within the Art Association organization who
4 could handle such an assignment. She answered that it was a possibility. Chairperson Jarvis said the
5 Board could provide the signage or caution barricades and the right turn sign to put in the driveway and
6 so moved, second by Grimes and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. General hours for
7 the event, Mills-Varnell said, will be from 11:30 a.m.to 7:30 p.m.for 10 days starting Friday.
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9 ADJOURNMENT
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11 There being no further business, on a motion duly made seconded and passed and carried on a unanimous
12 voice vote,the meeting was adjourned.
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18 Earnest Jarvis, Chairperson
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23 ATTEST:
24 Myra Miller, Deputy Clerk
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