HomeMy Public PortalAbout05-07-1992 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND. INDIANA.
MAY 7, 1992
1 The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met in regular session on Thursday,
2 May 7, 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
6 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 30.1992
7
8 The minutes of the previous meeting were approved on a motion by Jarvis,second by Grimes and carried on a
9 unanimous voice vote.
10
11
12 APPROVAL OF CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT
13
14 Claims submitted by the City Controller for approval of payment included $42,061.73 for contractual services
15 and supplies and $373, 253.90 for such things as payroll, payroll taxes, postage and other contractual services.
16 On a motion by Grimes,second by Jarvis the claims were approved and carried on a unanimous voice vote.
17
18
19 CONTRACTS
20
21 A. Vickie Stevens, purchasing manager of the Department of Finance, gave the six sealed bids for
22 aggregate and bituminous materials to Jarvis for opening. Milligan noted the time and date was 9:05
23 a.m. May 7, 1992, and bids had been received on time as specificed through public notice that all bids
24 had to be in by 9 a.m. The bids were received from American Aggregates, Ashland Petroleum Co.,
25 Stonehenge Concrete and Gravel Co., Barrett Paving, Richmond Concrete Division and Contractors
26 United. After all were read, Jarvis made a motion to take the bids under advisement with the intention
27 of awarding the bid at the next meeting,seconded by Grimes and carried on a unanimous voice vote.
28
29 B. Grimes presented a summary of the bids which had been received for the impound and abandoned
30 vehicle storage needs of the City, noting that three companies had submitted bids. They were Pardo
31 Wrecking Service -$153 payable to the City Controller in three equal installments, May 15, 1992, 1993
32 and 1994; H & H Wrecker Service, $1,704 payable in three installments of $568; and Stamper
33 Wrecking Service, $150 in three equal installments of$50 each. After review of the bids and reading a
34 letter from Bob Goodwin, director of planning and redevelopment, noting that the only wrecker service
35 and vehicle impound storage area which meets the ordinance requirements is Stamper Wrecking
36 Serivce, Grimes made a motion to accept the bid from Stamper, second by Jarvis and carried on a
37 unanimous voice vote.
38
39 C. Grimes brought the Board up to date on an agreement the City had made with the Indiana
40 Department of Natural Resources through a grant application to plant 300 trees in designated spots
41 throughout the city. He reported that one bid had been returned after going through the purchasing
42 procurement process of soliciting bids and that t was from Rose City Nursery.The grant the city applied
43 for and received was for$20,000 and the bid received from Rose City Nursery was also in the amount
44 of $20,000. Cost of the trees would be $13,500 and the labor would be $6,500. Grimes noted that he
45 had attended the Street Tree Commission meeting the day before where the bid had been discussed
46 and heard a commitment made by Jarvis, director of the department of public works, that the
47 maintenance of the trees would come through the street department. Based upon that information,
48 Grimes made a motion that the bid be accepted. Before seconding the motion,Jarvis gave a history of
49 what has happened to the trees in Richmond. As of 1988, he said, the count was 631 trees that had
50 been cut, 188 had been planted, leaving a minus of 449; in 1989, 161 were cut, 171 planted, leaving
51 a minus of 433; in 1990, 171 were cut, 81 planted, leaving a minus of 543; and in 1991, 173 were cut
52 100 planted, leaving a minus of 616.Jarvis said the grant will make a great dent on the minus side of
53 the tree count, although 125 have already been cut so far this year. He seconded the motion but
54 before the vote, Milligan called on Robert Delaney, president of the Street Tree Commission, one of
55 several private citizens who volunteer in this capacity. Delaney said the City does have an aging street
56 tree problem. He noted that the local commission had been formed in 1986, and the City finds itself 780
57 trees behind. It is not a problem only in this City, he said, but throughout the world. Milligan recognized
58 the secretary of the Street Tree Commission, Leslie Ducey, in the audience as well as Don McBride,
59 Common Council's representative on the commission, and Jad Daggy. The motion was carried on a
60 unanimous voice vote.
61
62
63 PROPOSAL BY THE BOARD
64
65 A. Milligan distributed copies of the resolution requesting the Mayor to rename Williamsburg Pike to
Tom Raper Way. In doing so, he commented on the standing room only crowd attending the meeting.
Board of Works Minutes Cont'd
May 7, 1992
Page 2
1 Milligan explained that under the law in Indiana the Mayor of the city has the authority to rename
2 streets. Also, under the law the Board of Public Works and Safety discharges all the proprietary
3 responsibilities. Milligan read the resolution that he had prepared as follows:
4
5 Whereas the Public Works responsibility of this Board requires the prudent use of tax funds for the
6 construction, maintenance and replacement of city streets,and Whereas the Safety responsibility of this
7 Board requires the expenditure of tax funds for the security of all persons using the city streets, and
8 Whereas the manifest responsibility of this Board is to attract and encourage private investment in the
9 development of industry, business, housing, education and other valuable institutions for the economic
10 well-being and quality of life in the city, Now Therefore, in recognition of the investment of millions of
11 dollars over the past 28 years by Thomas R. Raper in the development of his business enterprises and
12 making persons throughout the continent of North America aware of the existence and location of
13 Richmond, Indiana, and the recent donation by the Tom Raper Foundation of a quarter-million dollars to
14 the Wayne County, Indiana, Foundation's Civic Hall Renovation Fund, it is hereby resolved that
15 Williamsburg Pike should be renamed Tom Raper Way, and Be it further resolved that Mayor Roger
16 Cornett is hereby requested to exercise his authority pursuant to Indiana Code 36-7-4-405 (c) to
17 accomplish this result.
18
19 Milligan called on Richmond's Postmaster Jay Kitchel to clarify regarding the manner in which the
20 postal service approaches the change of names of any street within the city.
21
22 Kitchel said in this situation, if enacted,the city will notify the post office and it will honor both names for
23 a period of one year. After that year,the official address will be the new name. One problem down the
24 road is that new employees may not be familiar with the old name. He said he had no objections to the
25 resolution and could foresee no major problems.
26
27 Milligan invited those in the audience in support of the resolution to speak first, followed by those who
28 object to the proposal and to limit their remarks to two minutes. Speaking in support of the resolution
29 was Orville Allen,president of the Economic Development, who noted Tom Raper's employment of 145
30 individuals, his nationwide advertising and noting the importance of name recognition in economic
31 development, especially for Richmond.
32
33 Dennis Powell, president of Bank One and a member of the Economic Development board, followed
34 up on Allen's statement about name recognition. He said there are about 60 banks scattered around the
35 nation and when he attends presidents' councils, invariably he hears the comment that an individual
36 makes about knowing where Richmond is because that's where Tom Raper is. He sees that as
37 valuable in the economic efforts of the City. He also reminded those attending that this action is
38 traditional, asking them to look around the city, county state and country where a lot of streets are
39 named after someone.
40
41 Ray Crim, president of the Richmond Redevelopment Commission, spoke for the adoption of the
42 resolution, noting that for many years Richmond has been the benefactor of Tom Raper's advertising,
43 saying that Tom Raper, Exit 149 A, the school bus factory, where the roses grow and Richmond,
44 Indiana are synonymous. He added that Tom Raper's advertising has made that area Tom Raper's
45 area. He noted that this community needs to encourage successful business people to reinvest back
46 into the community and that's what Tom Raper has done, time and time again. He concluded with the
47 comment that he feels renaming the road is appropriate recognition.
48
49 Charles Nelms, chancellor at Indiana University East, offered his observations from the perspective of
50 being involved in higher education where there is a long standing practice of renaming things in honor
51 of people. He said the action is an emotional matter and suggested that in the future an ad hoc
52 committee be appointed to review each renaming request and to make a recommendation. He
53 suggested that action be done as quietly as possible so as not to create community division and not
54 create embarrassment to the person involved. He added that it need not be confidential but should be
55 professional. He suggested that committee use four basic pieces of criteria: service and or leadership,
56 presence and contribution, quality of life contribution and spirit of community support as evidenced by
57 the philanthropic behavior of the person. In noting Raper's contributions, Nelms said he has donated
58 $20,000 to help with the dislocated worker project that has been a combined effort on the part of IU
59 East and Ivy Tech which has had 150 participants. Additionally, Nelms said Raper will be Indiana
60 University East's largest donor this year with $40,000 for scholarships and another $10,000 for the
61 dislocated workers.
62
63 Speaking against the resolution was Jerry Bratton of Mid Central Products on Williamsburg Pike who
64 agreed with recognizing Tom Raper for his generous contribution but disagreed with the changing of
65 the name because of how it affects his business and other businesses on Williamsburg Pike. He
estimated his expense of reprinting stationery and changing in advertising programs at around$20,000.
He proposed that the Board find another method to recognize Raper's contributions so that it does not
affect taxpayers, business owners and the ongoing growth of the City.
Board of Works Minutes Cont'd
May 7, 1992
Page 3
1 Don Blair, general manager of Perfect Circle, also spoke agains the resolution. He said he was not
2 3
questioning the character of Tom Raper but was opposed to the method of recognition. His objection
was based on the changes he would have to make in documentation, computer links and billing and
4 shipping documents. He added that he had just spent $40,000 on a brochure campaign and business
5 cards. He said it hasn't been fun during the recession and he was tired of fighting the battles. He said
6 Perfect Circle provides over 700 jobs in Wayne County and in 1991 spent over 45 million dollars in the
7 community. He estimated his cost at $50,000 if the name was changed. He also presented a petition
8 containing 300 signatures of those against the action.
9
10 Joe Pierce, HBR Health Care owner, said he had recently moved his business here from Greensburg,
11 Ind. and knew of the inconvenience of changing addresses. He cited thousands of dollars of expense
12 in changing literature with that move, noting that he does business throughout the United States,
13 Canada, Europe and South America. He said he contacts about 16,000 nursing homes on a mailing
14 basis, sending national advertisement periodicals, corporate profiles, trade sheets and brochures. He
15 said he knows that Raper has done good deeds and is a good business man, but he did those deeds
16 for his benefit with Richmond also benefitting. He estimated the cost to change in the thousands of
17 dollars, adding that it takes a long time to generate the change. He asked the Board to consider
18 recognizing Raper in some other manner.
19
20 Larry Stevens, plant manager of Perfect Circle Sleeve Casting plant, commended Raper on his past
21 economic monetary gains he's made in the Richmond community. He added that his plant employs
22 about 275 people and last year paid out$10 million in wages and spent about $21/2 million to vendors
23 out in the community as well as paid $210,000 in real estate and property taxes. He said he didn't
24 understand why the businesses on Williamsburg Pike were not canvassed to see how they felt. He
25 brought samples of brochures and literature, estimating close to $10,000 to $20,000 just to get the
26 paper work taken care of.
27
28 Charles Carter of State Farm Insurance voiced three major concerns about the action. He was the
29 businesses were not consulted which offended him and made him feel that he was taken for granted;
30 he asked who was going to pay for the large signs which would be needed on 1-70 to note the change;
31 and through a telephone call he learned that he was welcome to attend the meeting but the action was
32 what he called a done deal.
33
34 In response, Milligan said it was not a done deal and he had no idea who told Carter that it was a futile
35 exercise to attend the meeting, calling it a misrepresentation. He added that the Board was there this
36 morning to make the decision. He added that the Indiana Department of Transportation has complete
37 control over signage.
38
39 Garrett Boone,who called himself a professional volunteer, noted his agreement with Nelms about how
40 to go about renaming streets in the future. He gave an example of his personal frustrations when
41 working with the Gorge Park project and learning that Whitewater Boulevard had been renamed Hub
42 Etchison Parkway. Although he agreed it had some positive value it also had a downside. He had been
43 equally impresed with the accomplishments of Raper and the comments about the hardships imposed
44 on the businesses. He suggested alternatives such renaming the interchange the Raper Interchange or
45 Raper Ramp.
46
47 Don Wamsley of State Farm Insurance noted that he wasn't opposed to recognizing Tom Raper, but
48 with the exception of Alcoa which was not willing to sign the petition, every business on the street was
49 opposed to the road being renamed. He cited the short notice, adding that a year ago when the former
50 administration asked the businesses how they felt about the street being renamed and they had voiced
51 their reasons against it they heard nothing more about it. He felt the businesses had been pretty much
52 ignored and suggested that if the City decided to build a stature of Tom Raper on the Promenade he
53 would donate to that but asked the Board to leave the street alone.
54
55 Milligan interjected that the reason for the meeting was to build a record, noting that it was important
56 that those persons for and against would have an opportunity to voice their concerns and adding that it
57 is a part of the democratic process.
58
59 Fritz Shoemaker, manager of MACK Trucking, spoke against the resolution citing a struggling business.
60 He said he has 10 employees who need jobs and he is working hard to make ends meet. He said he
61 has has customers nationwide and a change of address could run somebody out of business. He
62 added that the change could set his business back two years.
63
64 Shirley Jordan, manager of Alcoa Federal Credit Union, said her business answers to the National
65 Credit Union Association and is required to make a profit which she said is in jeopardy if the name
change takes place.
Board of Works
May 7, 1992
Page 4
1 Bill Hahn, member of the board of directors of Alcoa Federal Credit Union, suggested the Board
2 rename Rich Road which would not affect that many people but still recognize Raper.
3
4 Nelms asked if the Board would be voting this morning. Milligan answered in the affirmative.
5
6 Jim Ladd, owner of the property adjoining Tom Raper, said he was concerned that the people making
7 the decision to rename the street are not the ones involved in doing business on Williamsburg Pike and
8 would not be affected as those businesses will be.
9
10 Nelms suggested that the Board, in light of the comments made, have further discussion to consider
11 what had been said.
12
13 Milligan reminded those attending that the laws of the state of Indiana require the Board to conduct its
14 business and decision-making in public and that the print media as well as the electronic media have an
15 opportunity to be present as well as all persons affected and those who have a general interest. He
16 added that the Board would proceed to take a vote on the proposal.
17
18 Gene Allen, member of Common Council, commented she had had several calls about the resolution,
19 all against it.
20
21 Jarvis said one of his major concerns was cost,but Kitchel alleviated that with his comments.
22
23 Larry Presley,co-owner of Allied Cosmetics,said he hated to bring out negative comments but asked if
24 streets are for sale in Richmond or does Mayor Cornett's administration after receiving a donation
25 compensate someone with a favor. He asked that the Board make a compromise.and allow some time
26 to elapse before making a decision.
27
28 Milligan said he could respond very quickly to Presley's comment, noting that Rapers donation was
29 made to the Wayne County Foundation for the express purpose of the Civic Hall Renovation not to the
30 City of Richmond.
31
32 Lee Wilson, owner of Pine Square office building, asked the Board to pick another street to name for
33 Tom Raper. He, too, was concerned about the economic impactand wanted to go on record abaoui
34 sharing his concern about the expence.
35
36 Boone asked if the Board had to vote either positively or negatively or did it have the option to defer its
37 decision.
38
39 Answering Boone, Milligan quoted the late Harry Truman and his comment of if you can't stand the heal
40 get out of the kitchen. He added that the Board votes either yes or no.
41
42 Grimes made the motion to approve the resolution and made the recommendation to the Mayor tc
43 rename Williamsburg Pike to Tom Raper Way, second by Jarvis and carried on a unanimous voice
44 vote.
45
46 REQUESTS
47
48 A.After hearing a request from Fire Chief Jim Sticco to advance Curtis Bane to the rank of Firefighter I,
49 Jarvis made a motion to accept the promotion, second by Grimes and carried on a unanimous voice
50 vote.
51
52 B. Jarvis brought before the Board a letter from the Department of Parks and Recreation requesting
53 banners be placed throughout the city for the upcoming Pig Out scheduled for May 22 and May 23 in
54 the South 10th Street Park. Attached was a list of all the locations for the banners. Jarvis said he had
55 no problem with any of the locations other than the one at the city building and added that if assistance
56 was needed for hanging the banners the street department could help. Jarvis made a motion to that
57- effect, second by Grimes and carried on a unanimous voice vote.
58
59 C.Grimes read a letter from the AIDS Task Force requesting the use of the east side of the city building
60 at 2 p.m. May 17 for about an hour-long candlelight service. Grimes made a motion to approve the
61 request,second by Jarvis and carried on a unanimous voice vote.
62
63 D. Grimes also read a letter from Student Activities at Earlham preparing for a folk concert to be held
64 from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. May 17. Grimes made a motion for the request to be approved,second by Jarvis
65 and carried on a unanimous voice vote.
Board of Works Minutes Cont'd
May 7, 1992
Page 5
1 E. Handicapped Parking Permit requests heard by the Board included those from Anita Estes at 121
2 North 15th Street; Betsy Garner at 22 North 20th Street; Carl Burkhardt at 402 South 7th Street;
3 Bernice Spicer at 409 North 18th Street and Kathryn Crawley at 407 North 17th Street. On all five of the
4 requests, Jarvis made a motion to approve the requests, second by Grimes and carried on a
5 unanimous voice vote.
6
7 F. Jarvis noted that he had received a telephone call concerning two handicapped workers employed
8 by the county working in the basement of the courthouse who used the South Third Street entrance.
9 Those signs noting handicapped parking had been removed and they had received tickets from the
10 Traffic Division. Jarvis said he contacted Major Myers and Captain McClure of the Traffic Division of
11 the Richmond Police Department who investigated. Myers contacted the county and suggested they
12 apply for parking permits for the two employees. Major Myers t appeared before the Board, explaining
13 the situation and suggested that the Board entertain the motion that the two spaces would be
14 designated and reserved but ask that it be handled just like the residential requests, submitting the
15 request each year on an annual basis. Jarvis made the motion to authorize the street division to make
16 two signs to place on the west side of the courthouse for those two handicapped employees,second by
17 Grimes and carried on a unanimous voice vote.
18
19 OTHER MATTERS
20
21
22 A. Grimes noted the highlights of a report presented by Fire Prevention Chief Wayne Jackson for the
23 month of March. He cited activities for the month included fire extinguisher classes at Richmond State
24 Hospital, an evacuation program at Heritage Regency, and giving assistance to the Rushville Fire
25 Department. He also noted that he and Chief Sticco had met with the Economic Development Board
26 regarding the possibility of Richmond becoming a future site of a new public safety training academy.
27 Jackson also noted he had attended a meeting about above ground storage tanks in the state of
28 Indiana.
29
30 B. Jarvis introduced Steve Higinbotham, community corrections department of Wayne County, who
31 32
gave a brief background on the program noting that it is a term used for alternative sentencing. He said
Wayne County has participated in the program since 1988 and it is funded through a grant from the
33 Department of Corrections. He has five full time employees and receives transfers from the courts. The
34 individuals are sentenced to perform community service labor tasks for non profit or governmental
35 entities throughout the county. Locally, he said his clients are regularly assigned to help the street
36 department, washing police cars, painting trash cans on Promenade and cleaning the yard at the
37 museum.
38
39 C. Milligan told the Board that Carl Napier, owner of a building at 306 North 15th Street, had been
40 notified Oct. 18, 1991 that he was in violation of the unsafe building ordinance and was asked to do
41 certain things or the Board would order the demolition of the building. He noted that money spent to
42 date by the City included $736 to seal the building and $622.50 to clean up the premises and $91 on a
43 title search. It was Milligan's recommendation that the Board ask Napier to appear at its May 21st
44 meeting.
45
46 PENDING MATTERS
47
48 A.Jarvis noted the Traffic Division had no objections to the request by Tom Glennen of Idlewild Drive to
49 approve closing the street May 24, July 4 and Sept. 6, making the motion, second by Grimes and
50 carried on a unanimous voice vote.
51
52 - B. Jarvis also reminded the board about the South Sixth Street sidewalk problems. He said Bill Smith
53 of the street division is prepared to meet with the board any time. Milligan suggested that hearing be
54 set for May 28 to give an opportunity to send notices to those individuals involved.
55
56 C. Police Chief Dennis Rice reported that he had contacted local auctioneer Jim Kottyan about the
57 items at the old police garage which had been discussed by the Board at its last meeting. Kottyan had
58 advised Rice that it would be a waste of time and money to offer the items for auction. Rice said he had
59 been offered $50 for the old radio equipment. Jarvis made a motion to authorize Rice to sell the used
60 radio equipment,second by Grimes and carried on a unanimous voice vote. Continuing, Rice noted that
61 in the April report from the Richmond Police Department crimes had decreased 18 percent within the
62 first four months of 1992. He added that case clearances had decreased and the number of arrests had
63 increased and that one third of the budget had been spent.
64
65
Thomas Milligan, Chairman
ATTEST:
Norma Carnes, City Clerk