HomeMy Public PortalAbout07-16-1992 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND. INDIANA.
JULY 16. 1992
1 The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met in regular session on Thursday,
2 July 16, 1992 in said City. Thomas Milligan presided with Earnest Jarvis and Dennis Grimes in attendance. The
3 following business was had to-wit:
4
5 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 9,1992
6
7 The minutes of the previous meeting were approved on a motion by Jarvis, second by Grimes and carried on a
8 unanimous voice vote.
9
10 APPROVAL OF CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT
11
12 Claims submitted by the City Controller for payment were $119,353.55 which included $39,747.82 for fire
13 protection (water bill for hydrants);also$3,781.26 which included the telephone bill;also$760,572.60 for payroll
14 and payroll taxes.Grimes made the motion to approve the claims,second by Jarvis and carried on a unanimous
15 voice vote.
16
17 REQUESTS
18
19 A. Jarvis read a handicapped parking request made by Mae McNew at 226 South 11th Street and
20 recommended the request be renewed,second by Grimes and carried on a unanimous voice vote.
21
22 CONTRACTS
23
24 A. Grimes reported on the result of the review of the two bids submitted last week for the purchase of
25 two used dump trucks for the street division. The first from Studebaker Buick of Richmond was for
26 $39,525, but further review by the Purchasing Manager Vicki Stevens and Jarvis identified $2,200 for
27 painting and another$1,424 for pumps that needed to be added to the trucks bringing the grand total
28 of the bid to $43,149. The second bidder, Tom Ruble Truck Sales of Monroeville, submitted a bid for
29 $41,400. Jarvis said it was the recommendation of the manager of the street division, Bill Smith, that
30 the bid be awarded to the second bidder since it is the lowest and most responsive. Grimes moved to
31 award the bid to Tom Ruble Truck Sales for $41,400, second by Jarvis and carried on a unanimous
32 voice vote.
33
34 B. Bids for the removal of the underbrush,trash and debris in the alley off North J Street between North
35 13th and North 14 streets were read by Grimes. Bidders were Out On A Limb Tree Service for $850;
36 Potter Construction for$910; and Whitewater Valley Tree Experts for$600. All three were reviewed by
37 Purchasing Manager Vicki Stevens who recommended the bid be awarded to Whitewater Valley Tree
38 Experts for being the lowest and responsible bidder. Grimes made a motion that Steven's
39 recommendation be accepted,second by Jarvis and carried on a unanimous voice vote.
40
41 Milligan asked Jarvis to explain about the problem of that particular alley since it is representative of a
42 number of alleys that over the years have not been improved or continued to be used and maintained.
43 He said it is a problem in the older neighborhoods where alleys were a part of the plat which has not-
44 been so in the past 50 years since no alleys have been platted in subdivisions.
45
46 Jarvis said he had been requested by the Department of Law to look at the alley in question but he
47 was unable to find it until he talked with City Engineer Robert Wiwi who consulted a map of the city.
48 Returning to the area Jarvis said he found the alley totally overgrown with brush next to the property
49 fences and no hardtop.One area, however, at the entrance to the alley has been planted in grass and
50 is evidently being cared for by a resident. After noting that it was a project that he couldn't take the
51 time to put either the street or sanitary workers on he met with the three contractors and actually
52 walked the property lines with them.Jarvis said he accompanied Inpector Earl Liebert on a ride around
53 the city and found a number of similar alleys. Milligan pointed out that it is the City's reponsibility to
54 clean out those alleys that have never been improved and have fallen into such a state of disrepair and
55 initiate through the property owner the vacation of the alley.When that happens the alley ceases to be
56 a public way and becomes a part of the real estate belonging to the property owner to maintain. He
57 noted that four alley vacations had gone before Common Council as well as the Plan Commission and
58 it is the current administration's policy to pursue that type of resolution. However, not all those alleys
59 can be vacated. The City will have to acquire the right of way in some to accommodate movement of
60 the sanitation trucks.
61
62 OTHER MATTERS
63
64 A. Milligan explained the Infill Housing project, using a grant received in 1990 from the Indiana
65 Department of Commerce,specifically geared for building housing units in areas where vacant lots
I
Board of Works Minutes Cont'd
July 16, 1992
Page 2
•
1 exist in established neighborhoods in an effort to restore the housing stock for middle and lower income
2 families. Both conventional built homes and so-called modular homes had been considered and the
3 final decision was to settle on the package known as the manufactured home which is manufactured off
4 the premises, parts moved in by trucks and with the use of cranes set on a permanent foundation.
5 Milligan noted that in no way were they to be mistaken as mobile homes.
6
7 He explained that the Inf ill Housing Task Force has been chaired by Councilmember Etta Lundy and
8 the project has always been centered in the Second District which Lundy represents. The Task Force
9 had originally considered three different sites in the North Richmond area which included North G
10 Street between North 13 and North 14th streets, North J Street and North 16th Street North of North J.
11 The decision was to place the units in one location using the land bordered by North 12th and North
12 12th and North G Street on land owned by Townsend Community Center to the North on North 12th
13 Street. The land was purchased originally by Richmond Community Schools for a new Nicholson
14 School site and lies directly west of the present Nicholson School building which has been leased for
15 the past several years to the O.I.C. organization. Then it was sold by RCS when it was decided not to
16 rebuild the school. It was acquired from those owners by the Urban Enterprise Association which is a
17 not-for-profit group affiliated with the city but not actually a part of the city.
18
19 Milligan said the state has approved the City's use of $30,000 from the income from previous housing
20 projects as a local participation together with the $300,000 grant for a total project cost of $330,000 to
21 be used for the proposed seven manufactured homes. In order to do that, it was necessary for the city
22 to purchase the land and the state approved the release of those funds which makes the city now in the
23 position of being the owner of the land. The city is paying $25,000 for the land and an additional$5,000
24 available through the local program will be used for infrastructure improvements in the area.
25
26 The land is part of what was known as Eunice Moffitt Moore's addition, Trueblood's subdivision and
27 North 13th Street between North G and North H Street which had been vacated by the Board of Works
28 in March 1977. These former residential lots and the vacated street is the area which is proposed to be
29 replatted by the Board of Works as owner and developer of the area. Milligan said the plat is to be
30 designated the Etta Lundy Subdivision in recognition of the persistent efforts of Lundy in bringing the
31 project into reality. The project will be before the board next week because the bid packages are due in
32 July 23 for the seven houses to be constructed. Milligan said it was necessary today for the Board to
33 approve the plat as prepared by the department of engineering which has to go before the Plan
34 Commission under the subdivision ordinance for public hearing Tuesday, July 28. Jarvis asked if the
35 sanitary and storm sewer situation had been addressed and resolved.
36
37 City Engineer Robert Wiwi said his department was in the process of investigating the area and
38 addressing those needs. He said the existing sidewalks are in good condition but curb work will be
39 necessary. In answer to Grimes' observation about one vacant lot, Milligan said an additional house
40 was anticipated in the future.
41
42 Speaking to Jarvis's question about potential buyers was Tracey Dawkins, Housing Coordinator for the
43 project, who said applications had been received and those being considered included a two-member
44 household, a three-member household and four five-member households. She's waiting on credit
45 reports, noting that five out of the six potential buyers may qualify. Milligan noted that to comply with the
46 requirements of the grant it is necessary to have 30 beneficiaries live in the seven homes. Families are
47 invited to lease the properties with the idea of becoming the home owner in five to seven years. Milligan
48 said the City has no intention of owning the houses indefinitely. The purpose is to convert them to
49 private ownership as soon as the individuals can come up with the down payments and work with the
50 private sector banks. Jarvis made the motion to approve the plat, second by Grimes and carried on a
51 unanimous voice vote.
52
53 Captain Danny McClure questioned the range of prices on the sale of the houses and Milligan said the
54 original cost is expected to range somewhere around $42,000 to $45,000. The eventual sale price in
55 five to seven years will be based on the appraisal at that time. The original cost will be known next
56 week when the original bids come in. Landscaping will be included and is part of the specifications.
57
58 B. Jarvis reported on a visit he made to the Townsend Center area after the appearance of Francis
59 Daniels at the July 9 Board of Works meeting. He said Daniels indicated there was still a speed
60 problem but Jarvis noted signs are posted. He suggested that the Traffic Division look into the matter.
61
62 ADJOURNMENT
63
64 There being no further business,on a motion duly made,seconded and passed the meeting was adjourned.
65
Thomas Milligan, Chairman
ATTEST:
Norma Carnes, City Clerk