COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 4, 2010 7:00 P.M.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS GIVEN BY ALL IN ATTENDANCE.
PRAYER WAS GIVEN BY REV. BOBBY SLAGLE, CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH.
MAYOR SMALL OPENED THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
ROLL CALL:
SANDY YORK PRESENT
ANGIE GOODMAN PRESENT
JAMES KIDD PRESENT
MARY MALONE PRESENT
MARK KOGER PRESENT
VAUGHN REID PRESENT
RICHARD HAHN PRESENT
MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
PRESIDENT YORK ANNOUNCED THAT THE ELECTION OF THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR 2010 WAS THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
COUNCILMAN KIDD NOMINATED SANDY YORK FOR PRESIDENT.
COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT. COUNCILMAN HAHN: SECOND.
ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE. PASSED AND ORDERED.
PRESIDENT YORK OPENED THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATIONS FOR VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL.
COUNCILMAN REID NOMINATED COUNCILMAN KOGER FOR VICE-PRESIDENT. PRESIDENT YORK: SECOND
ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE. PASSED AND ORDERED.
ORDINANCE #3564
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING FOUNDATION FEES AT THE CEMETERY WAS READ IN FULL ON FIRST READING.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID IT HAD BEEN REQUESTED THAT THE COUNCIL DISCUSS THIS TONIGHT.
THERE WAS NO MOTION TO PASS. THE COUNCIL DISCUSSED THE ORDINANCE.
MAYOR SMALL MADE A FEW STATEMENTS AS WHY THIS ORDINANCE WAS BEING BROUGHT FORTH. MAYOR SMALL SAID THAT THE MOST CRITICAL REASON FOR DOING THIS IS SECTIONS D, E, AND F OF THE WESTERN PART OF WEST LAWN. HE SAID IT HAS VERY UNSTABLE SOIL AND DIGGING GRAVES THERE WHERE THE FOUNDATION HAS MOVED, HAD MONUMENTS TOPPLE INTO AN OPEN GRAVE WHILE IT WAS BEING DUG. THE SOIL IS NOT GOOD LIKE IT IS IN THE REST OF WEST LAWN AND SOUTH MOUND. IN SOUTH MOUND, YOU DIG A HOLE THAT IS NICE AND SAFE. MAYOR SMALL SAID THERE HAS BEEN A ONE RIBBON FOUNDATION THAT HAS BEEN LAID IN SECTION E AND GOES THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE SECTION. IT COST ABOUT $2,000.00 TO POUR THE CONCRETE. IT COVERS 50 TO 54 PLOTS AT $250.00 EACH. IT IS MONEY THAT WILL GO INTO THE PERPETUAL MAINTENANCE FUND. BY SELLING THESE PLOTS, THE EXTRA $250.00 COULD BRING IN A MILLION DOLLARS IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS. HE SAID THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CEMETERY SELF-SUFFICIENT.
COUNCILMAN KIDD ASKED ABOUT THE FOUNDATION SHIFTING.
STEVE HACKER SAID THE FOUNDATION WAS 32 INCHES DEEP AND WAS CUT EVERY 4 FOOT. EVERY SPACE IS SCORED.
DISCUSSION CONTINUED ABOUT THE CONTRACTORS OR SOMEONE ELSE POURING THE FOUNDATION.
COUNCILMAN KOGER SAID BE DIDN'T THINK THE COST WAS THE PROBLEM; IT WAS THE LOOKS OF THE CEMETERY MONUMENTS. MOST PEOPLE WANT IT TO LOOK UNIFORMITY. PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO SEE A CHANGE.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE HAD CONCERNS. PEOPLE THINK THOSE BIG ROWS OF CONCRETE MAKE THE CEMETERY LOOK UGLY. NOW, IF A HEADSTONE OR FOUNDATION BREAKS UP, IT IS UP TO THAT PERSON TO FIX IT OR REPAIR IT. WITH THESE CONTINUOUS FOUNDATIONS, EVENTUALLY THEY WILL BREAK DOWN. HERE YOU HAVE A ROW WITH 54 PLOTS WITH HEADSTONES THE CITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO IN AND FIX THIS THING AT THEIR COST. HE SAID IT MAY BE IN 30 TO 50 YEARS BUT IF WE HAVE SECTIONS LIKE THAT, HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST THE CITY TO REPLACE THEM AFTER THE TOMBSTONES ARE THERE. HIS NEXT CONCERN WAS THAT THIS WAS NOT PASSED AS ORDINANCE
SO THE CITY CAN'T CHARGE THE FEE. BUT THE CITY CHARGED FOR THIS ANYWAY, COMPLETELY DISREGARDING BOTH LEGAL COUNCIL AND THE WISHES OF THE COUNCIL. NOW WE ARE TURNING THIS AROUND AND SAYING WE WANT TO DO THIS. THE COUNCIL GOT CIRCUMVENTED, THEY GOT CAUGHT. THE ONLY REASON THE COUNCIL GOT CAUGHT, THIS ORDINANCE WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA AND THAT CONCERNED HIM.
MAYOR SMALL SAID IT WAS NOTHING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DID; IT WAS A BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATION. WE WERE NOT AWARE THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING. WE THOUGHT IT HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. ALL MONEY HAS BEEN REFUNDED. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE LIABLE AT ANY TIME THAT A MONUMENT COLLAPSES INTO A GRAVE. IT HAS HAPPENED AND WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE DISAGREED WITH THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. THE CITY DID NOT OPEN AND CLOSE THE GRAVES BEFORE. THEY HAD A COMPANY COME IN AND WERE PAID TO DO THAT.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID THE OPENING AND CLOSING HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE WITH US PAYING THE CONTRACTOR TO DO IT. THAT WAS AT ONE TIME AND NOW WE ARE USING CITY EMPLOYEES.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID BUT WE WERE STILL LIABLE.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID YES.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID WE WERE SAVING MONEY BY DOING IT IN-HOUSE.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THAT TRADITIONALLY, THE GRAVES WERE 48 INCHES WIDE. NOW, IN THESE THREE SECTIONS, THEY ARE 44 INCHES. OFTEN THERE ARE NO MORE THAN A 2 INCH CLEARANCE BETWEEN VAULTS. YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING WHEN THEY DIG.
COUNCILMAN REID WAS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE CITY WOULD BE TAKING AWAY FROM CONTRACTORS IF WE DID OUR ON FOUNDATIONS AND PUT THE MONEY INTO THE PERPETUAL MAINTENANCE FUND. HE SAID IF THE SERVICE IS NOT BEING OFFERED, HE SAW NO REASON TO OFFER IT. WE ARE TAKING BUSINESS OUT OF THEIR HANDS.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID IDEALLY, THE CEMETERY WILL BE THERE FOREVER. THE INTEREST FROM THE MAINTENANCE FUND WILL MAINTAIN THE CEMETERY.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE DIDN'T SEE THE CEMETERY BEING SELF-
SUFFICIENT. HE SAID IN THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST; SELL THE CEMETERY TO A PRIVATE COMPANY.
MAYOR SMALL SAID WE ARE NOT SELF- SUFFICIENT BUT OUR EXPENSES ARE EQUAL TO THE INCOME. WE COULD BECOME SELF-SUPPORTING.
COSTS WERE DISCUSSED IN THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SOIL.
COUNCILMAN HAHN SUGGESTED THAT A CONSERVATIONIST BE HIRED.
DECISION WAS MADE TO GIVE THIS TO THE CEMETERY COMMITTEE FOR STUDY AND THE CITY ACCOUNTANT WILL GATHER NUMBERS FOR THE COUNCIL.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THERE WAS A MASTER PLAN FOR THE CEMETERY AND THE COUNCIL SHOULD FIND IT AND STUDY IT. IT WAS PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE.
NO MOTION WAS MADE ON ORDINANCE #3564.
COUNCIL REPORTS:
PRESIDENT YORK ASKED COUNCIL MEMBERS IF THEY WANT TO SERVE ON THE SAME COMMITTEE, PLEASE LET HER KNOW. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE, LET ME KNOW.
COUNCILMAN KIDD ASKED ABOUT THE PUBLIC WORKSHOP WITH UMBAUGH AT THE LIBRARY.
MAYOR SMALL SAID CITY OFFICIALS WILL BE THERE AND THE PUBLIC IS INVITED BUT WILL NOT BE SPEAKING. THEY CAN SIT AND LISTEN.
COUNCILMAN KOGER ASKED IF WE PAID UMBAUGH $35,000.00 TO RECOMMEND CUTS IN THE BUDGET.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID THAT PART OF THE PRICE IS FOR A FOUR HOUR WORKSHOP.
COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID WITH AN INDEPENDENT STUDY, THEY RECOMMEND CUTS TO THE COUNCIL. IT IS SO MUCH EASIER TO GO ALONG WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS THAN IF YOU MAKE THEM YOURSELF. THE STUDY IS A GREAT IDEA.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE HAD LEARNED A LOT ABOUT COST SAVINGS ON INSURANCE PLANS AND WANTED THE CITY'S INSURANCE AGENT JOSH ESTLE TO COME AND TELL WHAT THOSE SAVINGS WERE.
COUNCILMAN REID ASKED WHEN TO EXPECT THE STATE OF THE CITY'S ADDRESS AND DISCUSSION OR A FINANCIAL REPORT TO THE COUNCIL.
MAYOR SMALL SAID NOT UNTIL FEBRUARY. IT WILL BE AFTER WE HAVE THE WORKSHOP. HE SAID WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY TO MAKING DECISIONS ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE SHORTFALL.
COUNCILMAN HAHN WISHED EVERYONE A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HOPED THE COUNCIL COULD CONTINUE TO GROW THIS YEAR.
MAYOR SMALL SAID, WE HAVE HAD THE GOOD NEWS, NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS. WE WERE AWARE FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT 1.7 MILLION FROM OUR BUDGET FOR 2010. LAST WEEK, WE GOT OUR TAX DRAW AND IT WAS OVER A MILLION DOLLARS SHORT. WE HAD SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO CARRY US OVER BUT WE AREN'T LOOKING AT CUTTING 1.7 MILLION, NOW IT IS 2.7 MILLION. DON'T KNOW THE EXACT REASON FOR IT BUT WE HEAR THAT IT HAD TO DO WITH ASSESSMENT ERRORS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT PAID THEIR TAXES. WE HAVE A LOT OF SERIOUS WORK TO DO. OUR SAVINGS FROM HEALTH CARE, WE MAY ONLY HAVE TO CUT 2 MILLION.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE WANTED THE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES, IN DEPTH, FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF FEES AT THIS BUDGET WORKSHOP. HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE GOING TO BE, BOTH SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM. HE WANTED THE CEMETERY TO BE INCLUDED INTO THE WORKSHOP. HOLD OFF ON AN ORDINANCE UNTIL WE HAVE SOMETHING. LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, HE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE THEY WILL FIND 2 MILLION DOLLARS WITHOUT CUTTING THE CITY'S WORK FORCE. NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR THAT BUT%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026
MAYOR SMALL SAID THE SPREAD SHEET THAT HE GAVE THE COUNCIL, ABOUT USER FEES, IF IMPLEMENTED, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT $160,000.00 PER YEAR. IT WILL BE MOSTLY FEES.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID THAT INDIANAPOLIS WAS RAISING ALL FEES TREMENDOUSLY. ALL CITY'S ARE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION. HE SAID HE HOPED THE STATE WOULD WAIT ANOTHER COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE THEY TRY TO ADD THE PROPERTY TAX CAPS INTO THE CONSTITUTION. THE RURAL AREAS ARE SUFFERING. HE AGREED WITH TOM SAUNDERS AND ON THAT. THE SCARY PART IS THE GENERAL PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THE CONSEQUENCES WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE PROPERTY TAX CAPS. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ABSORB IT SO FAR, BUT THERE COMES A TIME WHERE WE CAN'T ABSORB IT ANY MORE. WE CAN OUTSOURCE ALL WE WANT, CUT AND ADD MORE FEES BUT SOMETIME SERVICES ARE GOING TO GET CUT BECAUSE PEOPLE WON'T BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THEIR FEES. AS A COUNCIL PERSON, HE HOPED THEY WOULD TALK ABOUT THIS AT THE WORKSHOP.
PUBLIC:
ROD LEFEW APPEARED BEFORE THE COUNCIL STATING HE WAS REPRESENTING RESIDENCE OF MONROE STREET, WANTING TO CHANGE THE NAME OF MONROE STREET TO CHARLIE STREET. HE SAID THAT CHARLIE WILLIAMS, A RESIDENT OF MONROE STREET BRINGS THE RESIDENCE OF THIS SHORT STREET TOGETHER AND DOES EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE WHO LIVES THERE. HE SAID MR. WILLIAMS HAS PANCREATIC CANCER AND THE RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE TO SHOW THEIR APPRECIATION BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. HE SAID THE RESIDENTS WOULD STAND ALL COST.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID A HISTORICAL SEARCH WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE ON THE SUB-DIVISION. THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE MANY CHANGES MADE. WE WILL COME UP WITH A PROTOCOL.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID THAT SHE AND THE TWO AT-LARGE COUNCILMEN WILL WORK ON THIS.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THAT A SIGN COULD BE ERECTED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY IN THE SUB-DIVISION.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED FOR ADJOURNMENT.
COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND.
