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HomeMy Public PortalAbout11/10/1998City of Greencastle • City Hall Four East Walnut Street Greencastle, Indiana 46135 Pamela S. Jones Clerk - Treasurer GREENCASTLE COMMON COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1998 7:00 P.M. PUTNAM COUNTY LIBRARY The Greencastle Common Council met in Regular Session Tuesday, November 10, 1998, 7:00 p.m. at the Putnam County Library. Mayor Michael called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. On the Roll Call, the following were found to be present: Councilor Roach, Councilor Hammer, Councilor Green, Councilor Baynard and Councilor Masten. Also present was City Attorney Trudy Selvia. PUBLIC HEARING - Resolution 1998 -36, A Resolution Reaffirming Resolution 1998 -35 and Declarine An Economic Revitalization Area and Recommended Tax Deduction (Lear Operations Corporation; d.b.a.: Lear - Greencastle). John Lame, Controller for Lear Corporation was present as well a Bill Dory from the Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center. Mr. Dory stated this Resolution reaffirms Resolution 1998 -35, passed by the Council at their October 20, 1998 meeting, and allows for five year tax abatement on $11,074,053.00 for new equipment installed at • Lear beginning November 1998 and continuing through December 2000. Motion to approve Resolution 1998 -36 made by Councilor Masten, seconded by Councilor Green. Vote was unanimous. Ordinance 1998 -28, An Ordinance Authorizing the Acquisition, Construction, and Installation by the City of Greencastle, Indiana, of Certain Improvements and Extensions to the City's Sewage Works, the Issuance and Sale of Revenue Bonds to Provide Funds for the Payment of the Costs Thereof, the Issuance and Sale of Bond Anticipation Notes In Anticipation of the Issuance and Sale of Such Bonds, and the Collection, Segregation and Distribution of the Revenues of Such Sewage Works and Other Related Matters, Ist reading. Mayor Michael read by title only. Tom Pitman, Baker and Daniels, stated this Ordinance is designed to kick -off the process allowing the City to borrow money for interim financing for preliminary work to be completed on the Wastewater Treatment Facility. This ordinance allows the City to borrow up to 5900,000.00 in Bond Anticipation Notes (BAN'S). This is short term borrowing and is done in anticipation of a larger bond issue in which the BAN's would be paid off. Mr. Pitman also provided a proposed timetable. Councilor Masten asked if 2010 is the first year in which the bonds can be refinanced. Mr. Pitman stated "not really, an advance refinancing can be done." This is not applicable if the funding is through SRF, only on the open market. Mr. Pitman stated this ordinance allows for interim financing, but you have to go through all the steps you go through to do permanent financing. These provisions are required by State law - the short term lender is relying on long term financing for the BAN'S to be paid back. The City also needs flexibility to modify the Ordinance as needed. There will be another Ordinance for long term financing that will be more • specific. This funding allows for drawdowns so that no interest will accrue until the money is drawn. Motion to waive reading and approve Ordinance 1998 -28, made by Councilor Masten, ® seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. A copy of Ordinance 1998 -28 was left at the Putnam County Library desk for public viewing in addition to the two copies in the Clerk - Treasurer's Office. A Special Meeting was set for November 17th, 4:00 p.m., at the City Fire Department for second reading of this Ordinance. Public Petitions and Comments Leslie Hansen expressed her concern regarding a handicapped parking space on the south side of Washington Street. Attorney Selvia stated this has been addressed and she has modified the Ordinance approximately three times. There are many issues of where and how this spot should be. City Engineer Smith stated they are trying to advance on the intersection work and are considering parking around the square as part of this process. We need to figure out the best spot for a handicapped spot before doing any ramping so that it can be done right the first time, Engineer Smith explained. Councilor Hammer stated we need to do something. We have already exhausted the construction season for this year. The two most logical spaces are left of the crosswalk or a parallel spot just east of the intersection on the south side of Washington Street. Attorney Selvia stated she will have the Ordinance prepared for a parallel spot east of the intersection on the south side of Washington Street for the November 17 Special meeting. Councilor Roach expressed concern over large vans obstructing the view of drivers and asked if the turning radius at the intersection of Washington and Jackson Street allows for a chair lift on the • driver's side of a vehicle. Councilor Roach stated the Council needs more information, but the Ordinance could be drafted with a handicapped spot east of the intersection on Washington Street and can always be amended if needed. Mayor Michael stated she has received many calls regarding the recycling program and requested John Cook and John DeYoung of Refuse Handling be present at this meeting to discuss this issue. Ken Decker representing the Clean City Committee was also present. Mr. Cook stated the biggest problem they have is co- mingling of chipboard and cardboard with glass, cans, bottles, etc, in the bins. Mr. Cook stated that Refuse is trying to educate customers by showing them what they are doing wrong and showing them how to recycle correctly. Mr. Cook stated that either he or a staff member goes to the houses of those complaining to show them how to recycle correctly. Councilor Roach stated that the enforcement issue on recycling is rather new and questioned why City Hall's phone number is listed for questions or complaints. Mayor Michael stated she wants the customers to call City Hall so they can log complaints. Councilor Roach stated he feels the education is working and applauds Refuse for what they are doing. Department Reports Fire Chief O Hair reported Gordon McCalister has been hired as the 13th firefighter pending PERF approval. Councilor Roach requested that mutual aid from other departments be added to the monthly fire report. • Police Chief Jim Hendrich stated he has a full plate and asked for Council's patience. Chief Hendrich stated he is looking forward to 1999, has long and short term goals and continues to O move forward. Chief Hendrich is currently assessing the department and will keep Council informed. Park Director Staton reported they are looking for 2nd - 6th grade girls for the basketball program. Cemetery Superintendent Robinson presented Council with a letter explaining a pilot program at the Cemetery. Beginning December 1, 1998, the Cemetery will start holding funeral services in the Abbey Building. This will keep the tents out of Cemetery and will protect people from the weather as well as being safer. Superintendent Robinson stated he will keep the Council informed of feedback. City Engineer Smith stated the 1998 CIP projects are coming to a close, Autumn Glen Assisted Living Quarters will begin construction this winter and Bloomington and Southern Highway will be expanding within 5 years. Engineer Smith reported that design work for the 1999 CIP projects for Franklin Street and 10th Street and Indianapolis Road intersection has begun and the Wastewater Treatment Plant work is on going. Mayor Michael requested setting up department retreats for 1999. These will be set at a later date. Councilor Roach commended Habitat for Humanity on the new houses they built on Johnson Street and asked what has happened to Plan and Zone enforcement, in particular, the house on ® Johnson Street. Councilor Roach stated the Council passed an Ordinance which included tines, but nothing is being done. The Council can only pass the Ordinances, they cannot condemn. We need enforcement, Councilor Roach continued. Approval of Minutes Clerk- Treasurer Jones stated there were no minutes available at this time. Approval of City Claims Motion to approve City claims made by Councilor Baynard, seconded by Councilor Masten. Vote was unanimous. Ordinance 1998 -14, An Ordinance Fixing the Salaries of Elected Officers of the City of Greencastle for the Year 1999, second reading. Motion to approve made by Councilor Roach, seconded by Councilor Hammer. Vote was unanimous. Kim Hyten from Emergency Management Agency and Russ Evans from Local Emergency Planning Commission were present to discuss tornado sirens. Mr. Evans stated two sirens would cover most of the City, but would not cover the industrial area east of town. They are in hopes that the industries would be willing to help with sirens in that area. The agencies have currently collected $6,000.00; $3,000.00 from a golf scramble and $3,000.00 from Wal -Mart. Mr. Evans stated LEPC and EMA have helped collect $54,288.00 from FEMA for the City for the 1996 and 1998 severe storms. The cost of the sirens is $10,500.00 without poles or installation. The cost of poles is approximately $1,000.00 each and installation is approximately $2,800.00 each. They are hoping to get the poles and installation donated. Mayor Michael asked about maintenance. Bobbi Richardson from CMI stated there is a $900.00 maintenance fee for 3 years. Mr. Evans stated he is hoping maintenance will be a team effort. Police Chief Jim Hendrich stated if we are looking at spending this kind of money we should look at all options and avenues. Councilor Masten suggested this be taken under advisement. Resolution 1998 -37, A Resolution Authorizing Additional Transfer of Appropriation Between Classifications of Appropriation in the 1998 Budget of the City of Greencastle, was read by Mayor Michael. Motion to approve made by Councilor Hammer, seconded by Councilor Green. Vote was unanimous. Mayor Michael stated she met with Tom Dixon and Mark Freeman regarding the DePauw University Parking issues, but have not heard of any resolutions at this time. Councilor Roach stated he asked at the last meeting to have someone present to discuss this issue. We need to bring it back and have Council informed of what's going on. Councilor Roach requested CT Jones write a letter inviting Tom Dixon and Mark Freeman to the December 8, 1998 Council meeting for discussion on parking issues. Council Comments Councilor Hammer stated the Tree Board is planting 38 hardwood and ornamental trees on ® Northwood and Greenwood. Councilor Masten stated the Foundation is looking at rescheduling meetings for every other month. Being no further business, motion to adjourn made by Councilor Hammer, seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. C