HomeMy Public PortalAbout4/28/1993 specialGREENCASTLE COMMON COUNCIL
Special Session
April 28, 1993
The Greencastle Common Council met in special session on Wednesday, April 28, 1993 at 7:30
p.m. at Tzouanakis Intermediate School. On call of the roll the following members were shown to be
present: Councilor Jerry Calbert, Councilor Tom Roach, Councilor Sue Murray, Councilor Mike
Rokicki, Councilor Charles Miles. City Attorney John Zeiner and City Engineer Joe Woody were also
present.
Public Petitions and Comments:
Mr. James Harvey Young requested that Council address passage of a resolution of intent to
consider the closing or vacating an alley in conjunction with the Indiana Asbury Towers United
Methodist Home, Inc. Project, noting that the alley runs on the south side of Lots 83 and 86 and on
the north side of Lots 84 and 85. He also noted that Asbury Towers is built on a portion of said alley
now. Council agreed to insert Resolution 1993 -8 into the agenda after consideration of Ordinance
1993 -1 and Ordinance 1993 -2.
Recommendations and Requests from Officers and Departments:
Ordinance 1993 -1, Ordinance Authorizing the City of Greencastle to Issue Its "Taxable
Economic Development Revenue Bonds, Series 1993 A (Indiana Asbury Towers United Methodist
Home, Inc. Project)" and Approving Other Actions in Respect Thereto, was presented to the
Common Council and was read by title only by Mayor Harmless. Councilor Murray moved to approve
Ordinance 1993 -1 as presented. This motion was seconded by Councilor Miles and was carried by
® the following vote:
AYES: Councilor Calbert, Councilor Miles, Councilor Murray, Councilor Roach, Councilor Rokicki.
NAYS: none
Mayor Harmless declared Ordinance 1993 -1 to have been passed and adopted this date.
Ordinance 1993 -2, Ordinance Authorizing the City of Greencastle to Issue Its "Economic
Development Revenue Bonds, Series 1993 B (Indiana Asbury Towers United Methodist Home, Inc,
Project)" and Approving Other Actions in Respect Thereto, was presented to the Common Council
and read by title only by Mayor Harmless. Councilor Roach moved to approve Ordinance 1993 -2
as presented. This motion was seconded by Councilor Calbert and was carried by the following vote:
AYES: Councilor Calbert, Councilor Roach, Councilor Murray, Councilor Miles, Councilor Rokicki.
NAYS: none
Mayor Harmless declared Ordinance 1993 -2 to have been passed and adopted this date.
Resolution 1993 -8, Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Greencastle, Indiana,
was presented to the Common Council and read in its entirety by Mayor Harmless. Councilor Roach
moved to approve Resolution 1993 -8 as presented. This motion was seconded by Councilor Murray.
Discussion ensued concerning the time frame of the Plan Commission and Common Council action
concerning the alley vacation and utility casements in the area. On call for the question the motion
was carried by the following vote:
AYES: Councilor Calbert, Councilor Roach, Councilor Murray, Councilor Miles, Councilor Rokicki.
NAYS: none
Mayor Harmless declared Resolution 1993 -8 to have been passed and adopted this date.
Ordinance 1993 -3, An Ordinance Annexing Certain Territory to the City of Greencastle,
Putnam County, Indiana Pursuant to the Voluntary Petition of Bret D. Hurley and Lee R. Pingleton,
was presented to Council and read by title only by Mayor Harmless. Councilor Miles moved to
approve Ordinance 1993 -3 as presented. This motion was seconded by Councilor Roach and was
carried by the following vote:
AYES: Councilor Miles, Councilor Roach, Councilor Rokicki, Councilor Rokicki, Councilor Murray
NAYS: none
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® Mayor Harmless declared Ordinance 1993 -3 to have been passed and adopted this date.
Councilor Rokicki, in regard to the Putnam County Jail Project, presented a detailed
explanation of his concerns about city participation in the project which included the following: the
fact that CEDIT distribution is based on state statute to allow that capital improvements, in regard
to economic development, are not born by property taxes, the capital needs of each of the towns and
city in Putnam County, possible options for Putnam County officials in regard to the project, and the
possible impact on city property taxes with the designation of Putnam County as recipient of a
portion of the city's distribution.
Mayor Harmless noted that city government cannot raise property taxes above the 59b per year
increase in maximum levy allowed by the state, except in the case of debt service which also must be
approved by the State Board of Tax Commissioners.
Councilor Roach asked what the projected tax rate is for a property tax funded jail project.
County Commissioner Dennis O'Hair noted the estimates to be $34 per hundred for a fifteen year
bond issue and $34 per hundred for a twenty year bond issue. Councilor Roach continued that it may
be financially better for his constituents if the jail were funded by property taxes.
Karen Everett, county resident in the Fillmore area addressed the Council concerning the need
for additional funds to finance county road improvements. Councilor Rokicki responded that he
understands the need as the city has had to levy a $.15 per hundred Cumulative Capital Development
Lax and a $.24 per hundred Motor Vehicle Highway property tax in addition to the state distribution
of gasoline tax to maintain the current level of service in regard to streets. Councilor Miles noted that
® everyone has a lot of needs, but is concerned about city taxes going up.
Councilor Calbert expressed a concern about the site location issue, stating that as along as the
jail is built inside the county it is a county decision. He further discussed the need for more public
meetings of the full Council in order to be better informed. Councilor Roach added that some First
Ward constituents had expressed a concern about the downtown location. Mayor Harmless noted that
the jail committee meetings were informational, with the information reported back to Council.
Councilor Murray stated that level of participation is in no way based on site location and that
the issue is a moral and ethical one, in that the city cannot be isolationists. She suggested contributing
$100,000.00 per year of the city's CEDIT distribution to the Putnam County Jail Project, noting that
this amount plus approximately 90% of the county's CEDIT distribution would fund the proposed jail
project without additional county property taxes. Councilor Roach noted that he did not intend to
structure his consideration of participation based on no participation from the other towns in the
county.
Scott Davis, City of Greencastle resident, asked if the city has capital improvement needs and
was given a projected list of those needs. Discussion ensued concerning the funding issues and the
prioritization of those projects. Mr. Davis asked if the city could afford to contribute $100,000.00
per year. The Clerk - Treasurer responded that each of the projects would have to be prioritized by
the Council and then financed as possible with whatever funding mechanism available.
David Hurst, City of Greencastle resident, noted that his initial reaction is that the city, as
well as all the units in the county, is at maximum levy and not able to afford it. He considered a six
figure contribution to be tremendously generous. He also noted that he, as a city resident could
® endorse a contribution as long as it is not too high.
Further discussion continued in regard to level of contribution, including the concern of
Councilor Roach of not dedicating an amount until the tax is in place and an amortized schedule is
available. Councilor Roach then moved to contribute zero until the project is finalized. This motion
was lost due to lack of a second. Mr. Bob Lowe, County Attorney noted that the county needs to
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• know the level of participation in order to move forward with the project and avoid litigation.
Mr. Bobby Albright, former mayor, noted that the county's 196,000,000. assessed value also
includes the city's $51,000,000. assessed value and that the county has already benefited from the
city's efforts. He encouraged the two entities to get it worked out.
Mr. Charlie Cooper expressed a concern to keep the jail project off property taxes and
encouraged the city and county to work together on this issue.
Councilor Roach moved to contribute to the jail project $50,000.00 per year for a period of
five with option to renew. This motion was lost due to lack of a second.
Councilor Calbert expressed a concern in regard to determining a level of contribution prior
to any final figures concerning the jail project itself. He then moved to contribute $75,000.00 of the
city's CEDIT distribution per year for a period of five years with option to renew at five year
intervals toward the debt service of a bond issue for the jail project with the stipulation that with the
current estimated annual debt service payment being $570,571.00 any reduction to that estimated
annual debt service payment would thereby reduce the city's $75,000.00 annual contribution
proportionately. Councilor Roach seconded this motion. Mr. Lowe stated that he would have to
check with bond counsel concerning the five year option, and felt that funding for the entire term
of the issue was necessary to obtain the best rating. A call for the question produced the following
vote:
AYES:Councilor Calbert, Councilor Roach
NAYS:Councilor Murray, Councilor Miles, Councilor Rokicki
• The motion was not carried
Councilor Rokicki then moved to insert into Resolution 1993 -9 a contribution of $75,000.00
per year of the city's CEDIT distribution for the first five years then $50,000.00 per year of the city's
CEDIT distribution for (lie balance of the term of the bonds issued to finance the Putnam County Jail
Project not to exceed twenty (20) years. This motion was seconded by Councilor Calbert and was
carried by the following vote:
AYES: Councilor Rokicki, Councilor Calbert, Councilor Murray, Councilor Miles
NAYS: Councilor Roach
Resolution 1993 -9, A Resolution Approving the Designation of Putnam County as the
Recipient of a Portion of the City's Share of the County Economic Development Income Tax, was
presented and read with the insertion of the previous motion in its entirety by Mayor Harmless.
Councilor Rokicki moved to approve Resolution 1993 -9 as read. This motion was seconded by
Councilor Miles and was carried by the following vote:
AYES: Councilor Rokicki, Councilor Miles, Councilor Calbert, Councilor Murray
NAYS: Councilor Roach
It was the consensus of Council to allow the street closings so requested of the weekend of
May 14 and May 15 for the Heritage Preservation Fair under the direction of Police Chief Jack
Hanlon and Street Commissioner Jim Wright.
With no further business, Councilor Murray moved for adjournment. This motion was
seconded by Councilor Miles, was carried by an aye u nanius vo and the meeting was adjourned
at 10:25 p.m. L /
® Michael M. Harmless, Mayor
ES
udi[ Berry, AMC, Clcr18 reasurer