HomeMy Public PortalAbout02-13-1969 • Page 1
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, FEBRUARY 13, 1969
The Board of Public Works & Safety of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met
in regular session in the Municipal Building February 13, 1969, at the
hour of 9:00 a.m. (est) . Mr. Cecere presiding with the following members
being present: Mr. Hoskins and Mr. Jacobs. The following business was
had to-wit:
Mr. Hoskins moved that the minutes of the previous meeting be accepted,
seconded by Mr. Jacobs and on unanimous voice vote, the motion was carried.
Dog Warden James Ferguson appeared to ask the Board's approval to have
"City of Richmond" stenciled on the sides of his truck. Mr. Jacobs moved
this be approved, seconded by Mr. Hoskins and on unanimous voice vote
the motion was carried.
Mr. 'Ferguson asked for an appropriation for the maintenance of the radio
on his truck. Police Chief Don Strahan said that the Police Department
has done its own maintenance work on the radios but did not have a budget
for replacements. Mr. Cecere suggested that Chief Strahan find out the
cost of putting the Dog Warden's radio in working condition and the Board
would then ask Council for an emergency appropriation.
Mr. Ferguson reported having received a request from the Hagerstown Dog
Warden for instructions in the use of a tranquilizer gun. Chief Strahan
said he approved of this request. Mr. Hoskins moved the request be
granted, seconded by Mr. Jacbos and on unanimous voice vote, the motion
was carried.
Fire Chief Donovan Johnson appeared to ask approval of the appointment of
Captain William Berry as Assistant Fire Chief, effective February 14.
Mr. Berry has been with the Richmond Fire Dept. since 1954. Mr. Jacobs
moved that this appointment be approved, seconded by Mr. Hoskins and on
unanimous voice vote, the motion was carried.
Chief Johnson recommended that Engineer William Meinsen be promoted to
the rank of Captain, effective February 14. Mr. Hoskins moved this
appointment be approved, seconded by Mr. Jacobs and on unanimous voice
vote the motion was carried.
Chief Johnson recommended that Robert Demps be promoted to the rank of
engineer, effective February 14, a promotion in line with his seniority.
Mr. Hoskins moved that the appointment be approved, seconded by Mr. Jacobs
and on unanimous voice vote, the motion was carried.
Chief Johnson recommended that a fire hydrant be ordered placed at the en-
trance to Riley School and Boston Pike, since the nearest fire hydrant
to the school is located approximately 12 miles to the west. Mr. Jacobs
moved this be approved, seconded by Mr. Hoskins and on unanimous voice
vote the motion was carried. The Clerk was instructed to notify the
Water Co. of the Board' s decision.
Chief Johnson asked the Board' s approval to have the Water Co. tag each
fire hydrant which is out of order with a red metal label to aid firemen
in fire fighting. The Water Co. has agreed to do this. Mr. Hoskins moved
this request be approved, seconded by Mr. Jacobs and on unanimous voice
vote, the motion was carried.
Captain Walter Stout of the Traffic Division reported having checked the
billboards on Sheridan according to Councilman Phil Marino' s request.
Captain Stout showed pictures which he had taken, showing that the boards
do not block vision of drivers. He said that they are placed on private
property according to a contract with Porter Signs and the owner of the
lot. He saw no need for any change.
Captain Stout presented a bill for $362.05 for the hardware for signs
for the parking lot at the Municipal Bldg. Mr. Cecere moved for payment
of the bill by the Board of Public Works be approved, seconded by Mr.
Jacobs and on unanimous voice vote, the motion was carried.
Don Bell, Insurance Agent, appeared to suggest to the Board that liability
insurance for the City be increased from $1 million to $5 million, at a
cost to the City of approximately $1600.00 annually. He also brought up
the problem of boiler insurance for the Municipal Bldg. He explained that
Page 2
boiler explosion damage is not covered by fire insurance. He suggested
the insurance to cover $500,000.00 instead of $100,000.00 as the old
policy did. Mr. Hoskins suggested that the Board discuss both insurance
plans with City Council.
Sanitary Engineer W. E. Ross asked what the City should do about car
inspections. Mr. Cecere suggested that the City hold off sending- for
inspection stickers for about two weeks, awaiting a possible decision by
the Legislature.
The City Controller asked for additional appropriation of $350.00 for the
City Clerk' s budget for the salary of the Deputy Clerk, Virginia Cook.
This amount has been deleted from Ordinance 2343-1968 by City Council,
contrary to State Statutes. Mr. Jacobs moved that an Additional Appro-
priation Ordinance be prepared to present to Council, seconded by Mr.
Hoskins and on unanimous voice vote, the motion was carried.
The Board decided to take under advisement a request by Unlimited Services
of America, Inc. , a company which has been placing trash cans around the
streets with advertisements on them to add seven cans in various locations.
The consensus was that, although trash cans are needed, the advertisements
detract from the general appearance and dignity of the City streets, and
that the City would want to control what kind of containers will be used
in the future mall. Sanitary Commissioner, W. E. Ross thought that the
containers would cost the City between $100.00 and $150.00 each to re-
place.
Mr. Toschlog reported that the C.&0. and Penn-Central Railroads have
both patched their tracks at crossings. - Mr. Ross added that another
problem created by the railroads was that of oil leakage at their loading
zones. He said the oil created trouble in the sewers as well as consti-
tuting a fire hazard. -The Board decided to ask the City Engineer to
check with the various City Departments on any complaints they might have
in connection with the railroads and to ask a railroad representative
to come before it when the list was compiled.
Mr. Houser of the Bureau of Buildings appeared in connection with an
order of condemnation issued to Oreille Arnold, owner of the property of
South 15th and "M" Streets. Mr. Arnold had been ordered by the Board to
appear at the present meeting, but was not present. Mr. Cecere moved
that the Board confirm the Building Commissioner's order, the building
being unsafe and unsanitary, and order the structure razed pursuant to
statute, and advertise for bids to demolish it, seconded by Mr. Jacobs
and on unanimous voice vote, the motion was carried.
Mr. Jack DeHamer, manager of McDonald's Drive-In, Mr. McCoy Bell, manager
of the Red Barn, and Mr. Fred Power, owner of Powerhouse, Inc. , appeared
in answer to a request by the- Board- to discuss the problem of litter in
streets near their places of business. All three said they had an ample
number of trash cans- placed on their lots and had clean-up men working
constantly in and around their drive=ins. They said that most of the
problem was caused by school children who carried the trash with them and
dropped it in the streets. They promised to cooperate with the City in
trying to keep the streets clean.
Grace Schmidt appeared on behalf of Mr. Gibson who had received a bill
from the Muncie ambulance service for an ambulance run last summer.
Mr. Gison had suffered an epileptic attack. Mr. Cecere expalined that
epileptic attack were not-included, under the contract, in runs without
charge by the ambulance service, and he recommended that Mr. Gibson pay
the bill.
Mr. Fred Lee, 1101 Hartman, complained that, although his residence has
been annexed by the City, the City does not maintain his street. Mr.
Cecere told him that the. City could do nothing unless the street were
dedicated. He explained that if the street were dedicated, the City
would grade it, but even then it could only be improved under the
Barrett Law. Mr. Lee said he would get the necessary signatures of the
property owners;^concerned to get the City to accept the street as a dedi-
cated street.
Page 3
Mr. Robert Rees of RP&L discussed a complaint by a resident of South
13th Street concerning a light pole located in front of her house.
She complained of the pole being made of wood rather than of aluminum.
He said he has also received complaints from people who wanted wooden
poles rather than metal and that nothing could be done to please each
individual house owner.
Board Chairman, Mr. Cecere, called a meeting of the Council's Street
Lighting Committee for Tuesday, February 18, at 7:30 p.m. in the
Board of Works room.
Mr. Cecere read the following letter:
Board of Works
Richmond, Indiana
Gentlemen:
I wish to express my sincere appreciation for your co-operation
in the training of our patrolman.
We have had this help since the term of Chief Mitrione, and it
has been valuable in our training program.
During my years on the force I have experienced the friendly re-
lationship between the two departments.
Being a samll department the opportunities to repay are few but
I assure you that if that time ever comes, we will be there.
Yours respectfully,
/s/ L. 0. Brankle, Chief
The Board approved on motion by Mr. Hoskins and second by Mr. Jacobs
a request for a transfer within the City Court's budget from Witness
Fees to Extra Help,. and ordered the Clerk to prepare a resolution for
Council.
There being no further business on motion duly made, seconded and
carried, the meeting adjourned.
Andrew C. Cecere, Chairman
Attest: Lotte Hoskins, City Clerk
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, FEBRUARY 20, 1969
The Board of Pub.lic,Works &; Safety of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met
in regular session in the Municipal Building, February 20, 1969 at the
hour of 9:00 o'clock a.m. Mr. Cecere presiding with the following
members being present: Mr. Hoskins, and Mr. Jacobs. The following
business was had to-wit:
Mr. Hoskins moved that the minutes of the previous meeting be approved,
seconded by Mr. Jacobs and on unanimous voice vote, the motion was
carried.
111 David Kelley of. Firestone Stores, 15 South 9th St. appeared to request
permission to place .a . small trailer contining a pig on the sidewalk in
front of his store from Feb. 19 to 22. The Board decided unanimously
that no permit for such use of sidewalks had ever or should be issued,
and the request was denied.
Captain Stout of the Traffic Division read the following request from
John Geiger of the Tarum Shrine Club: