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HomeMy Public PortalAbout05-21-1987 4): )1-4 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, MAY 21,1987 1 The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met in regular session May 21, 1987 at 2 the hour of 9:00 A.M. in the Municipal Building in said City. Mr. Brown presided with Mr.Willis in attendance. 3 Absent:Ms. Silberstein. The following business was had to-wit: 4 5 UNSAFE BUILDING HEARING CONTD-400 KINSEY STREET 6 7 Due to the absence of Mr. Dennis Bronston, Code Enforcement Officer, Mr. Brown requested the item be 8 delayed on the Agenda. 9 10 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 14,1987 11 12 Mr. Willis moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as prepared, seconded by Mr. Brown and on 13 unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. 14 15 APPROVAL OF CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT 16 17 Mr. Willis moved to approve claims for payment in the amount of 490,434.44, seconded by Mr. Brown and on 18 unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. 19 20 TABLED ITEMS 21 22 Residential Handicapped Parking-216 North 11th Street 23 24 The request of Carolyn Appleby for a residential handicapped parking space at 216 North 11th Street was 25 returned to the Board. The Board was informed that Captain Williams had inspected the situation and the 26 request meets the guidelines and approval was recommended. 27 28 Mr. Willis moved to approve a residential handicapped parking space at 216 North 11th Street,seconded by Mr. 29 Brown and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. 30 31 PUBLIC REQUESTS AND COMMENTS 32 33 Requests for Temporary Closing of North 11th for Block Party 34 35 The request of Ms. Lucinda Wright for a temporary closing of the 900 Block of North 11th Street was presented. 36 The request for a family birthday celebration on May 30, 1987 between 1:00 PM and 10:00 PM. 37 38 Mr. Brown requested the item be tabled for one week in order that Ms. Wright contact persons residing in the 39 area to see if there are any problems with the request. 40 41 Mr. Willis moved to table the request for a temporary closing of the 900 Block of North 11th Street to May 28, 42 1987 in order that residents in the area be contacted for input, seconded by Mr. Brown and on unanimous voice 43 vote the motion was carried. 44 45 Unsafe Building Hearing Cont'd-400 Kinsey Street 46 47 Mr. Brown returned to the Agenda Item regarding the unsafe premises at 400 Kinsey Street. 48 49 Mr. Brown opened the Continuation of an Unsafe Building Hearing on a structure located at 400 Kinsey Street. 50 51 The Clerk administered the oath to give testimony to Mr. Dennis Bronston, Code Enforcement Officer. 52 53 Mr. Bronston informed the Board that on May 6, 1987 he was able to obtain an Inspection Warrant from Judge 54 Griffis and an inspection of the premises had been made on May 7, 1987. Mr. Bronston stated he was 55 accompanied by the Richmond Police Department and the Richmond Fire Department on the inspection. Mr. 56 Bronston stated in his report that it was the recommendation of his office, that due to lack of maintenance, 57 exposure to weather and damage to the interior that the cost of remodeling and repairing this structure would 58 exceed the value of the property. ` 59 60 Mr. Dave White, Fire Department Inspection Specialist, stated in a report that he suspected attempted arson in 61 the structure along with other violations of the Fire Prevention Code. 62 63 Mr. Bronston recommended to the Board that the Order to wreck and remove the unsafe premises be affirmed. 64 65 Mr. Brown gave opportunity for the owner of record or other interested parties to comment. There was no one in I6 Board of Works Minutes Cont'd May 21, 1987 Page 2 1 attendance to speak. 2 3 Mr. Brown asked if the owner of record had been contacted and Mr. Bronston explained that many attempts have 4 been made by his office, the Clerk's Office and the City Attorney and they have been unsuccessful. He stated 5 he was able to speak to Mrs. Sharon Werner Bailey, owner of record, and she expressed no interest in the 6 property. Mr. Bronston explained they have also spoken with the bank in New York holding the mortgage on the 7 property and the bank is not interested in selling the property unless they can recoup the mortgage. He feels 8 they would rather write the property off as a bad investment. 9 10 Mr. Brown commented that all involved have been given ample opportunity to come forward and there has been 11 no interest shown in the property. 12 13 In response to Mr. Willis regarding how long the Board had been dealing with the Order, Mr. Bronston stated the 14 Order had been issued in January, 1987. 15 16 Mr. Willis moved to affirm the Order issued on property located at 400 Kinsey Street to wreck and remove the 17 dwelling within forty-five (45) days of receipt of the Order,seconded by Mr. Brown and on unanimous voice vote 18 the motion was carried. 19 20 PUBLIC REQUESTS AND COMMENTS CONTD 21 22 Petition from Residents Regarding Activities at Sugar Shack 23 24 Mr. Brown acknowledged a petition from twenty-eight (28) residents stating: "We the undersigned, having been 25 awakened at all hours of the morning from 12:00 AM to 5:00 AM, and having phoned the Richmond Police 26 Department to complain regularly, hereby request that the Sugar Shack be closed or that the noise level and 27 vulgar language and displays be controlled." - 28 29 Speaking in support of the petition was Councilmember Lynn Morris. Ms. Morris informed the Board that the 30 residents of the area have been in regular contact with her and Councilmember Williams along with complaining 31 to the Richmond Police Department. She said Mr. Albert Howell circulated the petition and that a lot of the 32 activity is taking place on a vacant lot across the street from the Sugar Shack. 33 34 Mr.Willis asked about the location of the Sugar Shack and what is happening. 35 36 Mr. Albert Howell of 320 North 9th Street, informed the Board that the Sugar Shack opens up around 12:00 AM 37 and every Friday and Saturday nights there is constant activity until early morning. He said the residents have 38 complained to the Police, but when the police arrive the activity has ceased. Mr. Howell stated he has been 39 informed the Sugar Shack is not a legitimate operation but rather a"boot leg"operation. 40 41 Police Chief Nimitz stated he was aware of the problems and they have taken measures to correct them. He 42 stated he personally spent time in the area during a two week period and when the police are called the problem 43 does quiet down and when they leave it starts again. He stated there is no evidence it is a"boot leg"operation 44 and the department had tried to get assistance from another agency without success. Chief Nimitz suggested 45 the owners of the properties involved be directed to appear before the Board to give account of the problems and 46 how to solve the problems. He said the lots involved are private property and the Police have been refused 47 access by one of the owners. 48 49 Mr. Willis asked if there was probable cause and Chief Nimitz stated there was and a few arrests have been 50 made. He said they have to be invited to enter private property unless an emergency situation exits. Chief 51 Nimitz indicated the attempts to stop the problems are also unsuccessful without the cooperation of the property 52 owners. 53 54 Another resident of the area, wishing to remain anonymous, informed the Board that the problems occur outside 55 of the Sugar Shack. The person stated that gangs stand on the street corner yelling and cursing and are there 56 even during the day time hours. 57 58 Mr. Willis asked if they contact the Police when the problems occur and Mr. Howell indicated he has contacted 59 the local police and State Police. 60 61 Mr. Brown asked that the Police continue to monitor the situation. 62 63 In response to Ms. Morris, regarding the drinking of alcohol outside the bar, Chief Nimitz stated there was no law 64 against open alcoholic beverages on the streets. He said they will continue to make an effort to solve the 65 problem and encouraged the residents of the area to continue notifying the Police. Board of Works Minutes Cont'd May 21, 1987 Page 3 1 Ms. Morris asked about not identifying the location of vehicles over the air in order that they could not pick up 2 the information on scanners. She said the problem is more than a nuisance, but also includes indecent 3 exposure and the residents should not have to live under those conditions. 4 5 Chief Nimitz commented the Police Department also needs public support to be able to prosecute a case. He 6 said the residents need to file complaints and be willing to testify in Court. 7 8 Mr. Howell stated he has seen numerous times the Police respond to a complaint,but do not enforce the laws. 9 10 Chief Nimitz again requested the Board to have the property owners involved appear before the Board. 11 12 Mr.Howell also complained to the Board regarding dogs in the neighborhood that he is unable to get help with. 13 14 Mr. Willis stated he would rather have a discussion with the attorneys, Chief of Police and Board of Works 15 members and then make a public commitment to get the area cleaned up. Mr.Willis stated he would also check 16 the complaint on the dogs. 17 18 Mr. Bronston stated that the City Zoning Ordinance limits a total of five adult dogs on any one property. 19 20 Mr. Willis moved to table the petition from for action on the Sugar Shack and to confer with the Attorneys for 21 guidance,seconded by Mr. Brown and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. 22 23 Mr.Willis indicated they would try.to have some recommendations within the next two(2)weeks. 24 25 DEPARTMENT REQUESTS AND COMMENTS 26 27 POLICE DEPARTMENT 28 29 Hiring of Gloria J. Brown as Probationary Police Officer 30 31 Police Chief Nimitz read the following letter to the Board: 32 33 Board of Public Works and Safety 34 35 Gloria J. Brown,Age: 27, 137 1/2 South 14th Street, Richmond, Indiana is recommended for hiring as a 36 Probationary Police Officer as of April 27, 1987, due to being assigned to Special Investigations. 37 38 She has successfully completed written examinations, background investigation, physical 39 qualifications and had been accepted by the Police Pension Board and been approved by the Police 40 Merit Commission. 41 42 /s/Joseph A. Nimitz 43 44 Mr. Willis moved to approve the hiring of Gloria J. Brown as a Probationary Police Officer effective April 27, 45 1987,seconded by Mr. Brown and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. 46 47 The congratulations of the Board is extended to Ms. Brown. 48 49 LAW OFFICE 50 51 Driveway Complaint-341 South 31st Street 52 53 M. Kathleen Stevens of 228 South 31st Street requested the Board to investigate a driveway being installed at 54 341 South 31st Street. Ms. Stevens stated in her letter that the persons owning the property do not have a 55 permit for the driveway installation and she also objects to the location of the driveway and would like then to 56 move the driveway twelve feet south of the present location. 57 58 Mr. Dennis Bronston reported to the Board that he had talked with Mr. Phil Jenkins about the Driveway Permit 59 and Mr.Jenkins will start proceedings to apply for the permit. 60 61 Mr. Willis stated that Ms. Stevens was also upset about the location of the driveway due to a boundary dispute 62 and the driveway will be located along a disputed property line and over a sewer line to Ms.Stevens property. 63 64 Mr. Bronston indicated the driveway was not yet poured and Mr. Willis indicated that with the permit would the 65 Board have the right to ask the owner to relocate the driveway. � `�^ Board of Works Minutes Cont'd May 21, 1987 Page 4 1 No action will be taken until the Driveway application is presented to the Board. 2 3 Spring Grove Fire Services Agreement 4 5 The Agreement between the City of Richmond and Spring Grove for fire services for 1987 was presented to the 6 Board. The Agreement has been approved by the Town Board of Spring Grove and will be for the annual sum of 7 22,500.00. 8 9 Mr. Willis moved to approve and execute the Agreement for Fire Department Services between the City of 10 Richmond and Spring Grove for 1987, seconded by Mr. Brown and on unanimous voice vote the motion was 11 carried. 12 13 PERSONNEL OFFICE 14 15 Leave of Absence for Richard Null 16 17 Director of Administrative Services, Sue Roberson, requested the Board to approve a one (1) month leave of 18 absence for Richard Null for personal reasons. The leave would be without pay and would be from May 8, 1987 tc 19 June 8, 1987. 20 21 Mr.Willis moved to approve a leave of absence for Richard Null from May 8, 1987 to June 8, 1987,seconded by 22 Mr. Brown and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. 23 24 MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS 25 26 TRASH PICK UP FOR MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY 27 28 Mr. Willis announced that due to the Memorial Day Holiday on May 25, 1987 the regular pick up for trash for that 29 day would be scheduled on Tuesday, May 26, 1987. He also announced that due to the summer weather trash 30 pick up would start at 6:00 AM through Labor Day. 31 32 Mr.Willis also announced that the large orange containers are available for neighborhood clean up and will be 33 delivered to an area if persons will contact the Sanitary District forty-eight hours in advance. Mr. Willis said they 34 prefer to accommodate a one block area with the containers and have used them in 15 to 16 areas to date. 35 36 ADJOURNMENT 37 38 There being no further business,on a motion duly made,seconded and passed the meeting was adjourned. 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 John Brown,Vice President 46 47 48 49 ATTEST: 50 Mary Merchanthouse,City Clerk 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65