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HomeMy Public PortalAbout9/14/19994. City of Greencastle Pamela S. Jones City Hall Four East Walnut Street Greencastle, Indiana 46135 Clerk - Treasurer GREENCASTLE COMMON COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1999 7:00 P.M. PUTNAM COUNTY LIBRARY Attorney Laurie Robertson and City Engineer Ron Smith. The Greencastle Common Council met in Regular Session Tuesday, September 14, 1999, 7:00 p.m. at the Putnam County Library. Mayor Michael called the meeting to Order at 7:15 p.m. On the Roll Call, the following were found to be present: Councilor Roach, Councilor Hammer, Councilor Baynard and Councilor Masten. Councilor Green was absent. Also present was: City Public Petitions and Comments Don Flint thanked the Police Department for slowing down the speeding vehicles on Shadowlavm, but Mr. Flint stated he still wonders about a stop sign being placed at Hillsdale and Shadowlawn. Councilor Masten stated he lives on Northwood and knows the corner well and feels a stop sign would cause more problems than it would solve. City Attorney Robertson stated she has checked the Federal guidelines regarding stop signs and the guidelines are very specific about not using stop signs for speed control. Mr. Flint asked if a double yellow line could be painted at that corner. This will be looked into. Wally Estes thanked the Police Department for slowing traffic down on South Jackson Street. Councilor Masten addressed a letter in the "Speak Out" column of the Banner Graphic. Councilor Masten stated the person who wrote the letter stated there is "no cost" for the fire department to go out on EMS runs with Operation Life. Councilor Masten stated when the tone goes off everyone is called in and overtime is paid; it is not a "no cost" situation. Department Reports Police Chief Hendrich stated his department has completed 501 hours of continuing education for this year. Chief Hendrich stated he has approached the Prosecutor and requested he look into turning some of the Pre -Trial Deferment Fees over to the Police Department for training. Chief Hendrich explained the department gets $3.00 for every ticket written and prosecuted, but if the defendant is put on the Pre -Trial Deferment program all the fees go into that program and the department does not get their $3.00. Chief Hendrich stated the State has restructured fees for accident reports, etc., and he will submit e a proposal to Council to make sure we are in compliance with the State. Chief Hendrich stated his department is putting together a "Citizens Academy" which will be held • in September or October and will consist of a six to eight week course. Some of the topics to be discussed are: School Violence Home Safety 2000 Readiness Domestic Violence Fraud Chief Hendrich stated schools are open and officers are spending time in both the morning and afternoon helping direct traffic, etc. Chief Hendrich also stated the department is working with the Sheriffs Department on an emergency plan and hope to set up a "mock disaster" sometime in October. Councilor Roach commended the Fire, Police and Street Departments for working together on Saturday to clean up the "spill" created by DePauw. Cemetery Superintendent Randy Robinson stated they have new blacktop on the far northeast end of the cemetery. City Engineer Ron Smith stated the 10th Street Intersection Improvements are complete; Franklin Street has some finishing details for the City side, but the Away Home Shelter Parking Lot and other work at the shelter is still be completed. • Bloomington and Washington Street Intersection, which was suppose to be a simple project has turned out to be a not so simple project, they have run into utilities and a cistern that has to be backfilled before the project can go forward. Engineer Smith reported the 1999 Resurfacing project is complete and McDonald's construction is underway. The plans for Wal -Mart Superstore have been received and are being reviewed at this time. Engineer Smith further stated that he and Acting Wastewater Superintendent Mike Neese are working with consultants on the Wastewater Treatment Plant design. The pavement markings for the new Lone Star intersection are not complete, but they have been hauling aggregate out since Monday. Mayor Michael stated she has asked for a five month extension on the Agreed Order with IDEM and has received a verbal okay, but has yet to receive anything in writing. Attorney Robertson stated the five month extension is on the construction date only. Councilor Masten stated he feels there was a lot of wasted time once the agreement was signed and wondered why the process wasn't started in a more timely manner. Engineer Smith stated the five month extension is for acquiring easements for the Southside Interceptor due to a change in July that mandates all easements be acquired prior to a plan being approved by IDEM. Approval of Minutes Motion to approve minutes from July 13, 1999, Regular Session; July 28, 1999, Special Session; August 10, 1999, Executive Session; August 10, 1999, Regular Session and September 2, 1999, • Special Session, made by Councilor Masten with a correction to August 10, 1999, Regular Session minutes on page 3 approximately three - fourths of the way down "billion" should be "million ". Motion was seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. 11 • • General Business Motion to approve claims made by Councilor Baynard, seconded by Councilor Masten. Vote was unanimous. A request for parking exemption on Berry Street and permission to close Warren Street between Highland and Berry Street for a port-a -let, October 2, 1999, for the 25th Annual Berry Street Flea Market was granted on a motion by Councilor Roach, seconded by Councilor Baynard. Vote wa! unanimous. Councilor Masten asked Engineer Smith and Street Commissioner Miles to check into Warren Street to see if it is platted as a street. Councilor Masten stated that if it is platted as a street we need to deal with whatever problems there are. Mainstreet Greencastle representatives were present to request funding in the amount of $7,500.00 (Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars) for the operating budget for 2000. Sue McCune stated the task force feels the increased activity merits a $2,500.00 increase over the $5,000.00 funding from the City in 1999. Mainstreet is once again in need of office space, etc. due to expansion in membership and activities. Councilor Baynard asked if Mainstreet has tried to raise the additional $2,500.00 through members. Ms. McCune stated they have increased their membership base and have collected over $11,000.00 in membership dues this year. Councilor Masten stated he would be willing to agree to the $7,500.00 funding request with the stipulation that Mainstreet agree to not raise their request above the $7,500.00 for the next three years. A Resolution will have to be passed by both Council and CACFID to grant this request. Edith Welliver, Director of Mainstreet, stated she doesn't want to limit their request to $7,500.00 for three years due to increased activities. Sue McCune stated they would take this request to their task force. Ordinance 1999 -12, An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 1997 -21, City of Greencastle, Indiana, Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual and Creating Section 3:18, second reading. Motion to approve made by Councilor Roach, seconded by Councilor Masten. Vote was unanimous. Ordinance 1999 -14, Ordinance for Appropriations and Tax Rates, second reading. Clerk - Treasurer Jones reported the following corrections in line items stating these corrections do not effect the budget totals: Board of Works Insurance Park Overtime Admission & Concessions Communication & Transportation Cemetery Tires & Tubes $115,500.00 not $115,000.00 $ 750.00 omitted $ 25,620.00 not $ 25 $ 4,640.00 not 4,460.00 300.00 Total for Supplies 10,050.00 Park Bond & Interest $172,200.00 not 3,000.00 not 10,500.00 not $172,000.00 Motion to approve with the above corrections made by Councilor Masten, seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. • Ordinance 1999 -15, An Ordinance Amending Section 8 -22 of the Greencastle City Code, first reading, was read by Mayor Michael. Motion to approve made by Councilor Masten, seconded by Councilor Hammer. Vote was unanimous. Ordinance 1999 -16, An Ordinance Amending Article 4, Section 7 -50 of the Greencastle City Code, first reading, was read by Mayor Michael. Councilor Roach made the motion to approve with changes in the last sentence of the third paragraph to strike the word "sole" and the word "and ". Motion was seconded by Councilor Masten. Vote was unanimous. Resolution 1999 -31, A Resolution Reappropriating Insurance & Fire Service Charge Fund Reimbursement, was read by Mayor Michael. Motion to approve made by Councilor Roach, seconded by Councilor Hammer. Vote was unanimous. Resolution 1999 -32, A Resolution Authorizing Additional Appropriation, was read by Mayor Michael. Clerk - Treasurer Jones explained this additional appropriation is for a backhoe for the Street Department. The Council approved using monies appropriated for an Animal Control Truck to purchase the backhoe and the appropriation name is still "Animal Control Truck ". Motion to approve made by Councilor Roach, seconded by Councilor Baynard. Vote was unanimous. Resolution 1999 -33, A Resolution Authorizing Transfer of Appropriation in the 1999 Budget for • the City of Greencastle, was read by Mayor Michael. Motion to approve made by Councilor Masten, seconded by Councilor Hammer. Vote was unanimous. Mayor Michael read a Memo distributed by Police Chief Hendrich regarding Selective Speed Enforcement which reads as follows: To: Mayor Nancy Michael From: Jim Hendrich Date: September 8, 1999 RE: Selective Speed Enforcement Nancy, In response to the complaints voiced at the last city - council meeting, a proposal to pay overtime to officers to slow the speed of citizens in Greencastle was requested. Each shift was given the task of identifying target locations in the city which represent high accident areas or high volumes of traffic who chronically exceed the speed limit. The areas, which represent the greatest concerns, are within the school zones at the high school and TZ elementary. The next area is the route from Jackson Street south to the Veterans Highway and east to Indianapolis Road. The third area is one, which receives the most publicity, Shadowlawn corridor from Jackson Street to Indianapolis Road. Indianapolis Road east of • Franklin Street rounds out the top four. The times that traffic move through the city must also be addressed. According to observations by • officers as well as data from actual arrests, focus on 6am -9am and 4pm -8pm Monday- Friday would have the greatest impact on traffic. There are concerns citywide at various times which also need to be patrolled. We would make this a part of the overall plan. We have diverted time away from patrol this past month to validate the need expressed by the citizens. As reflected in the month end report, our citations are up 240% from July. It has been the objective of this memo to provide you and the council some information to consider. We can spend a lot of time looking at the problem from a variety of data, but we recognize the fundamental need for safety in our community. The bottom line for some is money. How much will cost? The plan calls for three additional officers to assist the normal staff to patrol the more than 50 road miles within Greencastle. The estimate for overtime expenses for the time periods indicated earlier would be $315.00 per day. This figure is based on 21 manhours times $15.00 per hour (time and half) rate for overtime. Each officer will be required to make a minimum of four (4) contacts for moving violations each hour. This would total eighty -four (84) warnings or arrests each day of operation. It is our belief that a minimum of thirty days be committed to this project. We would review the data with the council to see if it would need to continue. We would encourage the citizens to voluntarily slow down to reduce the obvious impact of a massive enforcement initiative. Respectively, Jim • Chief Hendrich stated we would not have to spend this money if drivers would just slow down. Councilor Roach stated this 240% increase in tickets has been accomplished by shifting manpower. From the memo, Councilor Roach continued, it would cost the City $9,450.00 (Nine Thousand Four Hundred Fifty Dollars) for 30 days. Would we be better off adding another "Fast Cop ", Councilor Roach questioned. Councilor Roach stated he has a concern regarding the quota system. Chief Hendrich replied that four contacts per hour is standard with any type of operation such as this including Operation 55 and Operation Pullover. Councilor Masten suggested Chief Hendrich and Clerk- Treasurer Jones check into the current overtime budget and see what can be done. Councilor Baynard stated he feels we should take a wait and see attitude; with arrests up 240% since July, it must have made a difference. Attorney Robertson asked Council to look over the draft Weed Ordinance included in their packets and to call her with any comments or changes. Motion to adjourn made by Councilor Masten, seconded bLCouncilor Baynard. Q�C.0 wtd 7 A ST: A. Mi ael, Mayor A�'EST: ' • Pamela S. Jones, C er =' reasurer City of Greencastle Two East Walnut Street 0 Greencastle, Indiana 46135 Memo To: Mayor Nancy Michael From: Jim Hendrich Date: September 8, 1999 Re: Selective Speed Enforcement Nancy, Police Department Tel. (765) 653 -2925 Fax (765) 653 -5514 In response to the complaints voiced at the last city- council meeting, a proposal to pay overtime to officers to slow the speed of 0 the citizens in Greencastle was requested. Each shift was given the task of identifying target iocations in the city which represent high accident areas or high volumes of traffic who chronically exceed the speed limit. The areas, which represent the greatest concerns, are within the school zones at the high school and TZ elementary. The next area is the route from Jackson St south to the Veterans Highway and east to Indianapolis Rd. The third area is the one, which receives the most publicity, Shadowlawn corridor form Jackson St to Indianapolis Rd. Indianapolis Road east of Franklin St. rounds out the top four. The times that traffic move through the city must also be addressed. According to observations by officers as well as data from actual arrests, focus on 6am- 9am and 4pin -8pm Monday - Friday would have the greatest impact on traffic. There are concerns citywide at various times which also need to be patrolled. We would make this a part of the overall plan. We City of Greencastle Two East Walnut Street Greencastle, Indiana 46135 Police D epartment Tel. (765) 653 -2925 Fax (765) 6535514 have diverted time away from patrol this past month to validate the need expressed by the citizens. As reflected in the month end report, our citations are up 240% from July. It has been the objective of this memo to provide you and the council some information to consider. We can spend a lot of time looking at the problem from a variety of data, but we recognize the fundamental need for safety in our community. The bottom line for some is money. How much will cost? The plan calls for three additional officers to assist the normal staff to patrol the more than 50 road miles within Greencastle. The estimate for overtime expenses for the time periods indicated earlier would be 315.00 per day. This figure is based on 21 man - hours times 1.5.00 per hour (time and half) rate for overtime. Each 0 officer will be required to make a minimum of four (4) contacts for moving violations each hour. This would total eighty -four (84) warnings or arrests each day of operation. It is our belief that a minimum of thirty days be committed to this project. We would review the data with the council io see if it would need to continue. We would encourage the citizens to voluntarily slow down to reduce the obvious impact of a massive enforcement initiative. Respectively, Jim