HomeMy Public PortalAbout06-23-1994 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA,JUNE 23, 1994
1 The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met at 9 a.m.Thursday, June 23, 1994,
2 in the Municipal Building in said City. Chairperson Earnest Jarvis presided with Dennis Grimes and Janet Hibner
3 in attendance.The following business was had to-wit:
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5 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 9 AND JUNE 16,1994
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7 The minutes of the June 9 and June 16, 1994 meetings were approved on a motion by Hibner, second by
8 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$493,395.53, most of which was for payroll and payroll
13 taxes. Grimes moved to approve the claims, second by Hibner and the motion was carried on a unanimous
14 voice vote.
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16 REQUESTS
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18 A. Hibner moved to approve the handicapped parking request for Christ Tabernacle Church, second by
19 Grimes and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
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21 B. Grimes read a request from Barry Whalen, project coordinator for Indiana Gas Co., to discuss the
22 relocation of existing underground regulating facilities in the public right of way. Whalen indicated the
23 facilities would be reconstructed above ground at or near the present location. Whalen was present and
24 distributed information packets listing the five locations. He said with the exception of two they would be
25 relocated to basically the same location. He said they wanted to move the one on South 5th and I
26 Street to the north side of the street and get it out of the front of a residence. The other one is located
27 on Middle Drive east of Chester Boulevard and they would like to move it 150 feet east of Chester
28 Boulevard. He said moving that one now would also clear that regulator station if and when Chester
29 Boulevard is widened. If they don't relocate it now, he said, it would more than likely have to be moved
30 if that takes place.
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32 Whalen showed photographs of the stations explaining what each will look like and the kind of piping
33 that will be used. Hibner asked why they were relocating the stations above ground and Whalen cited
34 water problems, blocks being pushed in and the new equipment required will not fit. He noted that all of
35 the valves are equipped with locking devices and the piping serves as a barricade. Chairperson Jarvis
36 commented that the above-ground facilities are not pretty and Whalen noted that this is how the Gas
37 Company supplies low pressure gas to low pressure distributions systems. He said the tallest piece of
38 piping is eight foot. Grimes asked if the Gas Company was proposing in every instance to put these
39 above ground. Whalen cited two instances where they felt there was no way they could bring them
40 above ground. He said on South 4th and E Street,which is an older neighborhood,there is a genleman
41 who lives in a house there who takes a great amount of pride in his yard and this would be right in front
42 of his yard. The other one is at 1696 Capri Lane and that one would end up directly in front of a house
43 because there is nowhere else to move it to.
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45 Chairperson Jarvis told Whalen that all three of them as members of the Board of Works would like to
46 visit a new pit, an old pit and an above ground site.Whalen said the Gas Company is in the middle of a
47 rebuilding program and all this is a part of that. He said the new equipment takes a larger release valve
48 and it would be real hard to keep it underground. Also, he added, it would be easier to operate and
49 maintain. Whalen said the rebuilding program is about half finished, noting that a lot of the other
50 stations are already above ground on private easements. Chairperson Jarvis asked Whalen to talk with
51 City Engineer Bob Wiwi and schedule a time when he and all three of the Board members could go
52 with Whalen to look at the sites mentioned earlier.
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54 CONTRACTS
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56 There were none.
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58 OTHER MATTERS
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60 A. City Engineer Robert Wiwi showed a drawing of a proposed revision of the standard pavement
61 details explaining that the City has standards for sidewalks and different types of construction features
62 and the last time this drawing was revised was in 1988. He noted that it showed three typical sections
63 of pavement that would be approved for use on City streets. He said he was here today to ask for the
64 Board's approval of a major change in the residential streets involving the upgrading to a thicker
65 asphalt and a thicker base of material.
Board of Works Minutes Cont'd
June 23, 1994
Page 2
1 He explained that he feels this is a necessary improvement, noting the reason for the change is that the
2 trash trucks, construction trucks and moving trucks using those streets from time to time are creating
3 problems with maintenance and shortening the lives of the streets. Wiwi said it will have a definite effect
4 on the future subdivisions as to the types of streets the developers put down when they bring their
5 plans to the City Engineer's office for acceptance. This, he said, will upgrade any new streets put in by
6 a developer and the streets should last longer and be less expensive for the City in that it will be a long
7 term savings. Chairperson Jarvis moved to approve the request to change the standard pavement
8 details,second by Grimes and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
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10 B. Hibner said she had a call from Skip Moore at Richmond Power& Light concerning a request from
11 Richmond Community Schools to move a specific street light behind Baxter Elementary School
12 approved by the Board of Works on November 7, 1968 which was labeled priority at that time. She
13 asked John Martin, building and grounds maintenance supervisor for Richmond Community Schools,to
14 enlighten the Board with the plans for expansion of Baxter. He said the School City is in the process of
15 purchasing two properties east of the school at 220 and 216 Lincoln Street. He said the two houses will
16 be torn down to make room for the expansion of the kindergarten, a general classroom and a
17 multi-purpose room on the east side of the existing school building.
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19 Martin said he will be back before the Board with a request to ask for the abandonment of
20 approximately 80 feet of an alley behind the houses mentioned. Hibner noted that all requests for
21 vacations of alleys go to Common Council. Martin said the street light is on a pole which serves only the
22 house at 220 Lincoln Street and the light needs to be removed. The pole needs to be removed and the
23 light needs to be taken down for the planned construction, Martin said. Hibner asked if the street light
24 was installed to protect the school and Martin said he felt that was the intent. However, he added, he
25 was surprised to find that the City has incurred the cost of operating the street light since 1968.
26 Chairperson Jarvis asked Martin if the School City will agree to pay for the removal of the pole,
27 explaining that not long ago an owner of a private business here in the City got a price of $800 quoted
28 from RP & L to do that. Hibner moved to approve the discontinued use of the pole with the stipulation
29 that the School City pay the charges if there are any, second by Grimes and the motion was carried on
30 a unanimous voice vote.
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32 C. Major John Farmer came forward at the invitation of Chairperson Jarvis and explained that Cuno,the
33 new German Shepherd dog who arrived this past week who will be used strictly for narcotics detection
34 and public relations, is still getting a thorough going over by the veterinarian to make sure he is
35 physically fit.
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37 Major Farmer also noted that he received a letter from the Indiana Department of Transportation
38 regarding the Walmart entrance in which they did not recommend a turn restriction. He said he will
39 provide the Board a copy of that letter as well as a copy of the investigation report of the accident which
40 occurred at the airport over the Memorial Day weekend.
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42 PUBLIC COMMENTS
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44 A. Sgt.Janice Passmore reminded motorists to be on the lookout for pedestrians now that school is out.
45 She also noted that moped operators have the right to move in the same lanes as automobiles even
46 though they are not operated by a licensed driver and require no license. However, she said, they must
47 abide by the same rules as those who operate vehicles.
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49 Chairperson Jarvis asked Sgt. Passmore if she had received any feedback on how the four-way stop is
50 working at South 16th and E Streets. She answered that it appears to be working and has had no report
51 of any accidents there recently.
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53 ADJOURNMENT
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55 There being no further business, on a motion duly made seconded and passed and carried on a unanimous
56 voice vote,the meeting was adjourned.
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63 Earnest Jarvis, Chairperson
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ATTEST:
Norma Carnes, Clerk