HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-10-1970 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, SEPTEMBER 10 , 1970
The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Richmond,.
Indiana, met in regular session in the Municipal Building,
of said City, September 10, 1970 at the hour of 9: 00 a .m.
Mr . Cecere presiding with Mr . Howell present , The following
business was had to-wit:
111 Mr . Howell moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting,
seconded by Mr . Cecere and on unanimous voice vote the motion
was carried.
Traffic Captain Paul Martin reported that the traffic count does
not warrant the signal at N . 12th and "F" Streets . He said he
has not completed a count at "G" Street intersection . The Board
asked him to complete his report within 30 days and report back
and action would be taken on both traffic signals at the same
time.
Captain Martin said he would check into the parking situation
at "H" and "I" Streets , between Boyer and Ridge and report to
the Board, as per request from Councilman Hilligoss .
Al Blankenbaker , representing the Richmond Industrial Center,
complained about a break in the storm sewer at N . 13th and
"E" Streets , the water coming through the foundations . Sani -
tary Commissioner Ed Ross said he would look into it .
Fire Chief William Berry reported that the Fire Prevention Bureau
has won second place for its scrap book when it was entered in
state-wide competition with the State Chiefs ' Ass ' n . The scrap
book will be expanded and entered in National competition in
October . Mr . Cecere congratulated Fire MarshalGreen and Captain
Griffin on the fine work .
Assistant Police Chief Major Doren recommended that James Everett
be appointed Special Police with jurisdiction on the Earlham
campus , all college-owned buildings and grounds within the City
and the streets adjacent to the campus, effective September 10,
1970. Mr . Howell moved the Board approve the appointment, second-
ed by Mr . Cecere and on unanimous voice vote the motion was
carried .
Captain Martin recommended that right turns be permitted on RED
after stopping at the following intersections:
A. 16th and East Main Streets-east bound on Main Street
B . Southwest 5th and National Road-west bound on National Rd.
C . Northwest 5th and Peacock Rd. -south bound on Northwest 5th .
D . 4th and East Main St . -west bound onto City Parking Lot .
Mr . Howell moved the Board approve the Traffic Division recommen-
dation, subject to State Highway approval where needed, seconded
by Mr . Cecere and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried .
Mr . Cecere congratulated the Police Department for making an
arrest involving the sale of drugs . Mayor Klute stressed the fact
that the cooperation of the public is needed to apprehend
violators . Major Doren said that most of the time people will
not reveal sources . Mr . Cecere said other law enforcements
agencies , such as the prosecutor ' s office, could make people
testify before grand juries .
Park Superintendent Don McBride appeared to discuss the burning
of trash in Glen Miller Park . _ Stanley Vigran, also requested to
attend, was unable to be present . Mr . Cecere explained that the
Park is not exempt from obeying the City Ordinance. Mr . McBride
explained that there is only one trash truck and there is no place
to take the trash on Sunday . He said a packer had been promised
Board of Works Minutes
September 10, 1970
Page 2
from the Sanitary District but the Park only had it on two week-
ends . Mr . Cecere said that the Park ' s problem in relation to
trash is no different from that of other citizens, and the
burning must be stopped . He said everyone appreciates the clean
conditions of the Park, but burning is not the answer . Sanitary
Commissioner Ed Ross said there had been a misunderstanding and
the packer should have been available. Mr . Cecere said that Mr .
McBride should communicate with Mr . Ross in case the packer is
not available in the future.
Mr . Cecere reported that an offer has been made from J . & J .
Marine & Sales for a strip of land owned by R . P . & L . on S . 9th
Street, of $1 ,500 .00 . The land has been appraised . Mr . Cecere
moved the Board take the offer under advisement, seconded by
Mr . Howell and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried .
Will Reller, representing the Richmond Gas Co. , representatives
of the Water Co. and of John-Manville appeared to protest the
contemplated use of explosives by contractors building a sanitary
sewer on N . W. 2nd Street . The Board had during its last meeting
given permission to use explosives where necessary, provided the
contractor exhaust all other possibilities of digging the sewer .
Representatives of the Engineering Construction Co. , contractors,
said that they intend to take every precaution and would only
use enough charges to loosen the rocks . They intend to leave
the other burden, which would protect the area from flying rock .
They said there are water and gas mains in the area, in fact,
they said some of the lines would have to be relocated so as
not to conflict with the sewer . They said that they did not
think the blast would distrub pipelines six to eight feet away .
Mr . Lord of the Water Co. said some of the Water Co. pipes are
on the rock, although the practice is now to lay them in a bed
of sand .
Mr . Reller explained that the gas main which could be affected
serves 5,000 people in the N . W. area of town and many industries,
including John-Manville. He said the Engineering Construction
Co. suggested they cut off the lines which might be subject to
damage, however the line involved is an 8" and a 12" main . He
explained that Johns-Manville depends on gas 24 hours a day and
even a short interruption could result in a loss of money running
into the millions . Perfect Circle and Wayne Works are also
involved . It was also suggested that a Gas Company service man
be in attendance to shut off gas in case of an emergency, but
Mr . Reller explained that that would necessitate several crews
of men . The pressure of an explosion could loosen or crack the
joints or pipes . Mr . Reller reminded the Board that in its orig-
inal motion granting permission to use explosives , it required
that all other means of removing the rock be first explored,
and he said that the work could be done with the means of a hole
ram, although it would be more expensive and slower . He said
it would be impossible to take out both gas mains at the same
time. Mr . Lord said that in case-of damage the entire West
side could be without water . Mr . Hutton, distribution engineer
for the Gas Company said the work could be done without blasting.
Mr . Thorpe of Johns-Manville explained that his company is the
largest user of gas in the City . He said that if the gas were
shut off for as long as one hour , .iJohns-Manville would have to
shut down completely for from two to six months .
The contractor showed his certificates of insurance, but Mr .
Reller said that the insurance was for $1 million, whereas the
possible damage could be much more severe .
Mr . Cecere explained that the Board is not concerned with incon-
veniencing anyone in order to build ithe sewer since the sewer
is a necessary addition to the community, but he did not feel
Board of Works Minutes
September 10, 1970
Page, 3
that this is a matter of convenience but of safety . He said
the issue is whether the Board feels it can jeopardize one
or more industries through the possibility of human error .
The contractor said that blasting is an accepted method of
removing rick and if the Board does not accept it it will cost
the taxpayers money . Mr . Cecere said that in case one of the
mains is damaged the cost would be much more. He said the Board
must make a judgement on the facts available, which are that
there is a possibility of danger and that alternate ways are
available beside the use of explosives . Mr . Cecere moved the
Board does not allow the contractor to dynamite unless it can
be done without damage to utility lines with appropriate guar -
antees , or unless there is no other way the rock can be moved,
seconded by Mr . Howell and on unanimous voice vote the motion
was carried .
The contractor representative said that the job cannot be done
at the price quoted without using explosives . Mr . Cecere told
him that the rock was there at the time the bid was submitted
and nothing was mentioned in the contract concerning blasting
as a condition of the price .
There being no further business, on motion duly made, seconded
and passed, the meeting was adjourned .
/s/ Andrew Cecere, President
ATTEST: Lotte Hoskins , Clerk of the Board