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HomeMy Public PortalAbout04-26-1968 - Special Meeting Bd. of Public Works and Safety Minutes (4-25-68) Mr. Cecere told Mr. Epping that in the future the City will expect the Gas Company or any company that digs holesin the streets to completely resurface the street when they are finished instead of patch-jobs. Mr. Carl Crocker, 517 South 17th Street, presented a petition to the Board for curb, gutter and street surfacing on South 17th Street between "E" and "F" Streets. Mr. Cecere referred this to the Engineer's Department for investigation, seconded by Mr. Hoskins and on unanimous voice vote was carried. Mr. John McMahon from the Hoosier Store asked the Board for replacement of their side- walk from Main Street, north to the alley on the east side of North 6th Street. Mr Cecere stated that he would have the Street Department fix this sidewalk with asphalt as the City did not want to spend too much money at this time, not knowing that the Redevelopment Commission Plan would offer in the future. The Board ordered the Clerk to advertise for bids for street department materials. Mr. Richard Brantner of Brantner Realtors asked the Board to reduce the width of South 19th between "J" and "L" Streets from 70 feet to 50 feet. Mr. Brantner also asked to pave the north half of South "J" Street and curbs and gutters for Garwood Road. Mr. Cook of the Engineering Department was asked to investigate these requests and report to the Board. Mr. Harold Cope, Vice President of Earlham College, and John Sweitzer, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds, appeared before the Board to report an overflow from a sewer on college property. They want the City to extend the overflow pipe to Clear Creek. Mr. Cook was ordered by the Board to get the figures on replacing this pipe. Mr. Cecere told the Board of Works that Council should be asked to take the North "D" Street One-Way Traffic Ordinance out of the Committee as a whole, as there were five accidents at this intersection since January 1st. Mr. Donald Cook told the Board that the bridge supervisor of Penn Central stated that the one walkway on the North 19th Street overpass could not be removed to make the bridge wider as it did not have proper supports under it to handle traffic. The Penn Central bridge supervisor will appear at the next Board of Works meeting to tell of plans for a new bridge on North 19th Street. Mr. Charles Mosey, owner of Mosey Mfg. Co. , appeared before the Board and stated that tanks have been installed to absorb any leaking hydraulic oil in the future. The IRC&D Motor Freight asked the Board for a no-parking sign on the east side of South 2nd from "A" to the alley. Mr. Cecere referred this to the Traffic Division for study. Mr. W. P. Lingle asked the Board's permission for a 60-foot curb cut at South 9th and "I" Street for a Dolly Madison Cake Distributing Center, and also a 40-foot curb cut at his home at South 9th and "H" Street. These curb:, cuts have been checked and approved by the Traffic Division and Mr. Cecere made a motion they be allowed, seconded by Mr. Cook and on unanimous voice vote was carried. There being no further business on motion duly made, seconded and carried, the meeting adjourned. (:;?cotwo, /s/ Joseph Hoskins, President Attest: /s/ Harold W. Ryan, City C rk -x*********x x x***********c-************ -*-*-*-*-ac********* ********************************** SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA APRIL 26, 1968 A Special Meeting of the Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in City Hall, Friday, April 26, 1968, at the hour of 11:15 A.M. (EST). Mr. Hoskins presiding with the following members being present: Mr. Cecere and Mr. Cook. The following business was had to-wit: The Board suggested that the following letter be sent to Mr. E. E. Linburg, Vice President of the Richmond Gas Corporation, by police carrier since information about the gas mains in the downtown area had not been received by the Board, as promised by the Richmond Gas Company. Bd. of Public Works and Safety Special Meeting 4-26-68 Mr. E. E. Linburg April 26, 1968 Richmond Gas Corporation 33 South 7th Stre-t Richmond, Indiana Dear Sir: Please be advised that the Richmond Board of Public Works and Safety, in a special meeting held on Friday, April 26, 1968, decided that because of the fear and anxiety created by the indiscriminate cutting of streets in the downtown area which strongly suggests gas leakage throughout the area, there is a general concern which can only be alleviated by the IIIcessation of the flow of gas into the downtown core area. Therefore, pursuant to the authority of the Board of Public Works and Safety, the Richmond Gas Corporation is hereby ordered to stop the flow of gas in the downtown area from 3ed Street to 12th Street and from North "A" Street to South "A" Street. If this order is pot immediately complied with it will be necessary to petition the Public Service Commission of the State of Indiana to order the cessation of the flow of natural gas into this area. Your prompt compliance with this order will be beneficial to all concerned. Very truly yours, /s/ Jospeh E. Hoskins, President Board of Public Works and Safet Mayor Byron E. Klite made the following News Release: News Release Mayor Byron E. Klute April 26, 1968 The primary concern of Richmond City Officials continues to be the safety and well-being of the citizens o this community. Every effort is being made to prevent a repetition of the disaster that struck Richmond on April 6, 1968. City officials we, e responsible for initiating and coordinating efforts aimed at ascertaining the cause of the explosion. We are responsible for protecting the area and the return to order in this community. The city administration will not tolerate the continuation of a situation that is alive with fear, rumors, and great anxiety. Therefore, I am requesting the Richmond Board of Public Works and Safety to order the Richmond Gas Corporation to stop the flow of natural gas into the downtown area until all gas pipelines have been thoroughly inspected and those which are in a state of disrepair replaced. Ham also recommending to the Board of Public Works and Safety that all pipe- lines in the designated redevelopment area be removed and replaced prior to the rebuilding of the downtown area. Every effort will be made to rebuild not only the immediate area which was destroyed in the April 6th explosion, but to rebuild the faith of the people of our community in the safety of the core area. Efforts to determine the cause of the disaster have been carried.. on unceasingly. Shortly after the explosion, representatives of the State Fire Marshall' s office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were at the scene taking down statements from victims of the disaster and from eyewitnesses. The bomb squadron from Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, quickly determined that the explosion was not caused by a bomb. IIIMembers of the Richmond Fire Prevention Bureau and police detectives took statements, pictures, and evidence that could be used to determine the cause. Many official agencies helped to collect evidence. On Monday and Tuesday, April 8 and 9, an official Board of Inquiry was formed to determine the cause of the explosion. This board is still sifting and studying the evidence. It has collected statements from a great many people, gathered evidence from all over Richmond, and run down every lead. Experts from outside the state have come to Richmond to examine what evidence we have obtained and to help in the investigation. For example, Joe Kuchta of the Federal Bureau of Mines, spent three days here, April 22 to 24, inspecting the damage and looking 't the evidence. Mr. Kuchta took pieces of evidence back to Washington with him for further study. As soon as the official board of inquiry reports to County Prosecutor Wayne Tash and to the Richmond Board of Public Works, the report will be made public. Until that time, the City administration will do all it can to ensure the safety of our downtown area and to restore the confidence of our citizens as to the safety of the core area. Bd. of Public Works and Safety Special Meeting 4-26-1968 The Board moved upon recommendation of Captain Stout of the Traffic Division that all parking on South "A" Street on both sides of the street, from 3rd to 18th, will be pro- hibitied. The Street Department will paint the lines on South "A" Street and it will be 3-lane traffic east. The Street Department was also ordered to remove the parking meter posts. There being no further business on motion duly made, seconded and carried, the meeting adjourned. /�' f cr; 7i /2 .a ..�. /s/ Joseph Hoskins, President Attest: /s/ Harold W. Ryan, City rk -x*x x x-sac************x x x x x x x*3x x x*-*********x x x***********x x x-** *********************x x x BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, MAY 3, 1968 The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met in regular session in the City Hall, Friday, May 3, 1968, at the hour of 2:00 o'clock P,M.(EST). Mr. Hoskins presiding with the following members being present: Mr. Cecere and Mr. Cook. The following business was had to-wit: Mr. Hoskins moved the Minutes stand as read, seconded by Mr. Cook and on unanimous voice vote was carried. Fire Chief Donavon Johnson presented the following resignation to the Board of Public Works and Safety for action: April 24, 1968 To: Board of Public Works Gentlemen: I respectfully request to be placed on retirement effective April 29, 1968, at which time I will have completed 20 years, 3 months, and 29 days. Respectfully, /s/ Keith Burdsall111 Captain Richmond Fire Dept. The Board ordered .the Clerk to write a letter of appreciation to Mr. Keith Burdsall. Police Chief Donald Strahan recomimended .to the Board that Gary Robert Coning, age 21, be appointed to the position of probationary patrolman on the Richmond Police Depart- ment; appointment effective May 6, 1968. Mr. Cook moved this man be accepted, seconded by Mr. Cecere and on unanimous voice vote was carried. Mr. Hoskins welcomed Mr. Caning to the police force. Captain Walter Stout of the Traffic Division asked the Board to eliminate the three parking places on the north side of Main in the 700 block. Mr. Cecere moved this be done, seconded by Mr. Cook and on unanimous voice vote was carried. Captain Stout asked the Board for permission to put parking restriction back 50 feet on the northwest corner of South 13th and "F" Street, 50 feet on the southwest corner of South 13th and "F" Street, and 60 feet on the southeast corner of South 13th and "F" Street. Mr. Cecere moved this be done, seconded by Mr. Cook and on unanimous voice vote was carried. Captain Stout also asked the Board' s permission to remove the three remaining parking places on west side of North 8th in the first block by the Y.M.C.A. Mr. Cecere moved this be done, seconded by Mr. Cook and on unanimous voice vote was carried. Captain Stout asked the Board' s permission for no-parking on the east side of the street in the 100 block South 2nd from "A" to alley. Mr. Cecere moved this permission be granted, seconded by Mr. Cook and on unanimous voice vote was carried. Captain Stout asked the Board for permission for auxiliary police to ride in traffic car on secondArick. Mr. Cecere stated that they tuld sign a waiver of responsibility of the City or be covered by insurance before they ride in the police car, seconded by Mr. Cook and on unanimous voice vote was carried. Mr. and Mrs. Earl Kline of 107 South 2nd Street appeared before the Board to enter their protest on the removal of parking on South 2nd Street as it would be detrimental to their vacuum sweeper business.