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HomeMy Public PortalAbout11-03-2003PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2003 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., Monday, November 3, 2003, in the Council Chambers in said City. President Bing Welch presided with the following Councilmembers present: Howard "Jack" Elstro, Etta J. Lundy, Karl Sharp, Bruce Wissel, Larry Parker, Stephen H. Rabe, Phil Dickman and Sarah "Sally" Hutton. The following business was conducted: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PRAYER BY JANET WAGNER OF THE EARLHAM STUDENTS JEWISH COMMUNITY ROLL CALL Nine present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councilmember Parker moved to approve the minutes of the October 20, 2003 meeting, second by Councilmember Sharp and the motion was carried on a voice vote. PRESENTATIONS, MEMORIALS, REMONSTRANCES, PETITIONS AND INTRODUCTIONS MOTIONS OR RESOLUTIONS. (MUST BE IN WRITING) A. The Clerk read RESOLUTION NO. 11 — 2003 — A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ANNEXATION OF CERTAIN PROPERTY INTO THE TOWN OF CENTERVILLE City Attorney Bob Bever explained that this comes to Council because of a state law that whenever a town anticipates or plans to annex an area that is within three miles of a second class city, that second class city has to give its consent to such annexation. He continued, saying that in reviewing their petition, Mayor Shelley Miller saw that there would be no problem with the principal places being annexed which are located north of Centerville. However, he said, the question came up into the two-mile jurisdictional fringe areas which would make the Centerville two mile fringe further out than it currently is which could cause overlap on a two mile fringe area with the city on the west side. He said it was the desire to reach an agreement as to who would have zoning and planning control over some of that additional overlapped two mile area that the Mayor determined to recommend to Council that this resolution be sent to the Plan Commission. Representing Centerville was Dan Wandersee, the President of the Town Council, who commented that the town of Centerville is looking at moving its boundaries and that is an issue that is before this Council, adding that the issue on the two mile fringe needs to be taken up with the County (Wayne). After much discussion on the subject with Wandersee and Eugene Cates, the Centerville Building Commissioner in charge of planning and zoning, President Welch stated that the resolution would be sent to the Plan Commission as recommended by the Mayor. Neither Wandersee nor Cates could be convinced that the issue on the two mile fringe would not be decided by the County. COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR Mayor Shelley Miller gave out information about the tax reassessment workshops that have been held throughout the neighborhoods in the City, noting that there has been a good turnout of a lot of concerned property owners. She said discussion has centered around the timing of the property tax bills and any potential impact that might be experienced in some of the neighborhoods. She added that from the response they have gotten from the County, a number of citizens have looked into the deductions they are entitled to and have been inquisitive about those issues. She said that at 7 p.m. Thursday, November 6, the last workshop of this kind will be held in Council Chambers. Councilmember Parker had a question about animal control, saying that he had received a call from an individual who asked about the service on the weekend. Mayor Miller said that in recent months the hours had been increased to cover evenings and Saturdays, adding that if the call came in on Sunday, the police officers on duty would handle that. Councilmember Parker responded by saying that the person answering the phone doesn't know that and Mayor Miller said they would make sure that that information is passed along. REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY Minutes of the Board of Works meetings of October 9 and 16, 2003 were in the Council packets Common Council Minutes Cont'd November 3, 2003 Page 2 REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES REPORTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS President Welch said that at the last meeting he asked Councilmembers to consider the re -appointment of Eric Marsh to the Police Merit Commission and Councilmember Wissel had prepared an application for re- appointment for Marsh. Councilmember Parker moved to re -appoint Marsh to the Police Merit Commission, second by Councilmember Hutton and the motion was carried on a voice vote. Additional appointments recommended by Bob VanPelt, Vice President of the Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau, were presented by President Welch. The three chosen for re -appointment are Linda VonPein, Dana Weigle and Linda Porter. He said he would see that copies of his recommendation would be in the Council packets for Councilmembers to see before the next meeting. President Welch stated that a meeting has been arranged by the Visioning Committee of Wayne County to meet with the Richmond Community Schools Board and the Superintendent on November 24, 2003 for a full committee discussion between Council, School Board, Superintendent and the Mayor. He said he will confirm the 6:30 p.m. time and the meeting will be held at Richmond Community Schools. President Welch asked all ofthe students in the audience from Gary Weir's government class at Richmond High School to stand so they could be on camera. 7] N 11 D►kR►[® WK41129 D1I "a a N Dkll 1111201 Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinances No. 85 and 87 - 2003, second by Councilmember Lundy and the motion was carried on a voice vote. ORDINANCE NO. 85 — 2003 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 85 — 2003 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE ANNEXING CERTAIN CONTIGUOUS LANDS INTO THE CITY OF RICHMOND Explaining the ordinance was City Attorney Bob Bever, saying that this is a voluntary annexation in an area known as Roaming Hills that has already gone into the Richmond Sanitation district but owners of that property asked that it be voluntarily annexed. President Welch said the ordinance would be sent to the Plan Commission to act upon at its November meeting. ORDINANCE NO. 87 - 2003 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 87 — 2003 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL, ACCEPTANCE, AND APPROPRIATION OF A GRANT FROM THE UNITED WAY OF WHITEWATER VALLEY Explaining this ordinance was Carol Miller, coordinator of Widowed Persons Service, requesting Council's approval of a $5,000 grant, adding that this is approximately one fifth of the total WPS budget. Councilmember Lundy moved to advance Ordinance No. 87 — 2003 to second reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Elstro and the motion was carried on a voice vote. The Clerk read Ordinance No. 87 —2003 on second reading. President Welch declared the ordinance on public hearing. There being no comments either for or against the ordinance, Councilmember Hutton moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Dickman and the motion was carried on a voice vote. Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 87 — 2003 to third and final reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Rabe and the motion was carried on a voice vote. The Clerk read Ordinance No. 87 — 2003 on third reading. Ordinance No. 87 — 2003 was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote Common Council Minutes Cont'd November 3, 2003 Page 3 ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND ENGROSSMENT ORDINANCE NO. 84 — 2003 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 84 — 2003 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL OF A STATEMENT OF BENEFITS FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR DEDUCTIONS UNDER I.C. 6-1.1-12.1 Explaining this ordinance was Councilmember Wissel who said the ordinance is an abatement request for Productivity Fabricators Inc. He added that Councilmembers should be familiar with this corporation since they have had a few requests from it in recent years. He said the request is for a 10-year abatement on equipment and has an estimated value of $250,000. He recommended approval of the request. President Welch declared the ordinance on public hearing. John Odom, president of the corporation, spoke in favor of the ordinance, saying that it is extremely important to a small company to receive an abatement, adding that he appreciated all the support given to him by this Council in the past. There being no further comments either for or against the ordinance, Councilmember Elstro moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Lundy and the motion was carried on a voice vote. Councilmember Lundy moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 84 — 2003 to third and final reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Elstro and the motion was carried on a voice vote. The Clerk read Ordinance No. 84 — 2003 on third reading. Ordinance No. 84 — 2003 was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS CALL FOR ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, on a motion duly made, seconded and passed, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 P.M. ATTEST: Norma Schroeder. Clerk Bing Welch, President