COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 6, 2009 7:00 P.M.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS GIVEN BY ALL IN ATTENDANCE.
PRAYER WAS GIVEN BY PASTOR PAUL DAVIS, OPEN ARMS CHURCH.
MAYOR SMALL CONGRATULATED REV. DAVIS AND HIS CHURCH MEMBERS FOR ALL THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE TO THE CHURCH BUILDING. HE SAID THE CHURCH WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE TWO BLOCKS ON BROAD STREET.
APPLAUSE OF AGREEMENT WAS GIVEN BY ALL THAT WAS PRESENT.
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.
ORDINANCE #3573
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING FEES OR COSTS FOR THE USE OF PARK SHELTERS WAS READ BY TITLE ONLY ON SECOND READING BY SANDY YORK.
COUNCILADY GOODMAN MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE.
ORDINANCE #3573 DIED DUE TO A LACK OF A SECOND.
ORDINANCE #3574
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE #3566 WAS READ IN FULL ON FIRST READING BY SANDY YORK.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE. COUNCILMAN HAHN: SECOND
DISCUSSION: COUNCILMAN REID ASKED ABOUT THE DRAW BOND. HE SAID, COULD IT BE USED AS A LINE OF CREDIT FOR ANY PURPOSE?
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID NO, THIS IS ALL TIED TO THE ORIGINAL BOND ORDINANCE. IT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR PURPOSES THAT WERE SET OUT IN THE
ORIGINAL BOND ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION ON GARNER STREET. ALL PROVISION IN THE BOND ORDINANCE REMAINS THE SAME.
THE ONLY THING THAT CHANGES HERE IS IT WOULD BE LIKE A CONSTRUCTION LOAN. YOU WOULD ONLY DOWN ON THE MONEY AS YOU NEED IT TO PAY BILLS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY INTEREST ON THE ENTIRE AMOUNT FROM DAY ONE. YOU PAY INTEREST ON THE MONEY AS YOU DRAW DOWN.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL INTENT WHEN WE PASSED THAT ORDINANCE. WE WOULD ONLY USE WHAT WE NEEDED AT THE TIME. THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN NOW, WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE WHOLE AMOUNT AT ONE TIME.
COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID THEN IN OTHER WORDS, THOSE DRAWS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR GARNER STREET PROJECT.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THAT IS RIGHT AND WHATEVER IS LEFT OVER CAN BE USED ON THE EASTSIDE BY-PASS PROJECT. IF YOU DON'T PASS THIS, THE ENTIRE AMOUNT WILL BE BORROWED.
COUNCILMAN REID ASKED IF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD FEEL BETTER IF THERE WAS A SECTION THAT STATED THAT THESE BONDS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR GARNER STREET AND THE EASTSIDE BY-PASS?
PRESIDENT YORK SAID THAT THIS WAS IN THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE. THIS ORDINANCE IS JUST AMENDING A SMALL SECTION IN THAT ORDINANCE.
ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE PASSED AND ORDERED.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND READ ORDINANCE #3574
ON SECOND READING BY TITLE ONLY. COUNCILMAN HAHN: SECOND
ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE. SUSPENDED
ORDINANCE #3574-AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE #3566 WAS READ BY TITLE ONLY ON SECOND READING BY SANDY YORK.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING. COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND
ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE. PASSED AND ORDERED.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND READ ORDINANCE #3574
ON THIRD AND FINAL READING. COUNCILMAN KIDD: SECOND
ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE. SUSPENDED
ORDINANCE #3574-AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE #3566 WAS READ BY TITLE ONLY ON THIRD AND FINAL READING BY SANDY YORK.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE ON THIRD AND FINAL READING.
COUNCILADY GOODMAN: SECOND
ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE. PASSED AND ORDERED.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE HAD AN ORDINANCE THAT AMENDS ORDINANCE #3537, WHICH IS THE POOL FEE ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT. HE ASKED THAT IT BE CONSIDERED TONIGHT.
ORDINANCE #3575- AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE #3537 WAS READ IN FULL BY COUNCILMAN REID.
COUNCILMAN REID MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE. COUNCILMAN KIDD: SECOND
DISCUSSION: COUNCILMAN HAHN ASKED IF MOST OF THIS WAS IN THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE. HE SAID IF THE WORDING WAS CHANGED, A MEMBER OF THE AQUATIC CENTER BOARD MEMBER SHOULD BE HERE. HE ASKED IF ANY OF THOSE MEMBERS WERE NOTIFIED TO BE HERE TONIGHT SO WE COULD AMEND THIS TONIGHT.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID IT WAS IN THE COURIER TIMES THAT IT WOULD BE DISCUSSED TONIGHT.
COUNCILMAN HAHN SAID HE KNEW IT WAS IN THE PAPER BUT HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THEY WERE TO PASS AN ORDINANCE TONIGHT, SOMEONE FROM THE AQUATIC CENTER SHOULD BE HERE. WE ESTABLISHED AND SET UP THAT BOARD GIVING THEM FULL REIGN TO THEM.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID THAT OUT OF THE CITY, ABOUT 60% OF THE PEOPLE, ACCORDING TO THE STATISTICS THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS, HAVE PEOPLE THAT LIVE AT OR BELOW 135% OF POVERTY AND WE HAVE ONLY 3 FAMILIES IN THE CITY THAT ARE GETTING ELIGIBILITY ASSISTANCE OR HAVE BECOME QUALIFIED INCOME ELIGIBLE AT THE AQUATIC CENTER. THAT'S A PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE ABOUT, WHATEVER THE PERCENTAGE IS, THERE SHOULD BE THE SAME PERCENTAGE RECEIVING REDUCED RATES AT THE AQUATIC CENTER.
COUNCILMAN REID AND COUNCILMAN KIDD HAVE BOTH SPOKE WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE HENRY COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND THE CITY HAS TRIED TO RECAPTURE THE $60.00 PORTION OF THE DISCOUNT FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. THAT IS NOT IN LIEU OF OUR INTENTION. WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE CONTACT US THAT IS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING INFORMATION FROM THE AQUATIC POOL STAFF. THERE IS A PROCEDURAL PROBLEM AND MAYBE WE WEREN'T CLEAR ENOUGH IN OUR ORIGINAL ORDINANCE. WE HAVE WORKED TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING MORE EXPLANATORY. ARE WE EXCLUDING PEOPLE OUT OF IGNORANCE OR BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THAT TYPE OF PEOPLE IN THE POOL. IF IT IS THE SECOND PART, HE WAS OFFENDED TO IT AND MIFFED OFF BY IT.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID SHE FELT EXACTLY AS COUNCILMAN REID. NO ONE TO BE EXCLUDED. BUT, SHE SAID SHE WAS LOOKING AT THE ELIGIBILITY. EVERYBODY AND HIS BROTHER ARE THERE.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID IF SOMEBODY LIVES TOGETHER IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD, SUCH AS GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN, HISPANIC COMMUNITIES HAVE EXTENDED FAMILIES LIVING TOGETHER, SO DO A LOT OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES. BY NOT INCLUDING THOSE, THE ARGUMENT COULD BE MADE THAT WE ARE BEING DISCRIMINATORY AGAINST THOSE ETHNIC GROUPS. HE SAID HE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. HE SAID AS LONG AS THE FAMILIES LIVED TOGETHER, IT WASN'T LIKE SAYING YOU AND YOUR FOUR NEIGHBORS CAN COME IN.
COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID MOST ALL PAY TAXES AND WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYONE EXCLUDED BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GO. THE FUND WAS SET UP AT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND WE REALIZE THAT THERE ARE SOME FAMILIES THAT CAN'T AFFORD THE FORTY DOLLARS. SO THERE WAS A FUND SET UP, HOPEFULLY WE CAN REFURBISH THAT FUND , AND EVERYBODY WILL HAVE THE CHANCE AND NOBODY WILL BE TURNED AWAY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.
PRESIDENT YORK ASKED HOW MANY HAVE APPLIED FOR ASSISTANCE THIS YEAR?
MAYOR SMALL SAID ONLY 3. HE SAID REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE POOL WAS AT THE BOARD OF WORKS MEETING THIS MORNING AND HE ASKED AT THAT TIME AND THERE HAS BEEN ONE ADDITIONAL. NOW WE HAVE 4.
COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID THAT PEOPLE GO TO THE POOL TO GET INFORMATION. THEY GET NO INFORMATION AND THE STAFF AT THE POOL HAS NOT BEEN INFORMED CORRECTLY.
COUNCILADY MARLOW SAID THAT SHE WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT NO ONE KNEW ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIPS WERE FOR AND ABOUT THE APPLICATIONS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FILLED OUT AT THE POOL.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID WITH THIS ORDINANCE, WE ARE MAKING DRASTIC CHANGES. SHE SAID SHE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ELIGIBILITY. IF ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN ONE HOUSEHOLD, THERE HAS TO BE SOME MONEY COMING IN SOMEWHERE. IF THAT IS THE CASE, ARE THEY REALLY ELIGIBLE FOR THIS.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID THAT WAS PART OF THE ISSUE. MAYBE THAT NEEDS TO BE AMENDED. WE LIMIT THIS SOLELY TO INCOME TAX RECORDS. THERE MAY NOT BE ANY TAX RETURNS, LOST RETURNS OR MAYBE WORKING FOR CASH.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID SHE HAD ONLY ONE PROBLEM WITH THE AMENDED
ORDINANCE. GATHERING AND INCLUDING ALL THE REST OF THEM IN.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID TO THE COUNCIL, YOU CREATED A STATUTORY PARK BOARD. THE PARK BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY AND SHOULD ORIGINATE WITH THE PARK BOARD. YOU CAN RECOMMEND TO THE PARK BOARD. IT GOES FROM THE PARK BOARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION. THEY STARTED THE BOND ORDINANCE. THEY FIRST PASSED THE BOND ORDINANCE. THAT IS WHERE THIS SHOULD START.
COUNCILMAN KIDD ASKED IF THE PARK BOARD DOESN'T AGREE TO IMPLEMENT THIS.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THE PARK BOARD IS UNDER STATE LAW. ALL THE RULES ARE SET UP BY STATE CODE. TAKE THIS TO THEM. NOT MUCH HAS BEEN CHANGED. THE ONLY THING THE FOUNDATION WAS CO9NCERNED ABOUT WAS THEY DIDN'T WANT TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHO GOT THE FOUNDATION MONEY. THAT WOULD THE CITY IN A REAL AWKWARD POSITION. SO IF THE FOUNDATION OR A CHURCH GROUP OR SOMEBODY WANTED TO GIVE A $40.00 TO PEOPLE AND LET THEM DECIDE, THEN LET THOSE PEOPLE COME IN AND APPLY.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT TO FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO US THE AQUATIC CENTER SAID THEY STILL WANTED THE $40.00 AND THE DONATOR WOULD PAY THE $60.00. THAT IS NOT OUR INTENTION.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THE ONLY SCHOLARSHIP DISCUSSION WAS WITH THE HENRY COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. HE SAID THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS WHAT THE FOUNDATION WANTED TO DO. THE REASON THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS BECAUSE THE FOUNDATION DIDN'T SELECT PEOPLE. THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS TO REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR WHAT IT CUT, BUT THEY NEVER UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS WAS TO PICK PEOPLE TO GET IN. THE QUESTION WAS,"HOW DO YOU PICK THE PEOPLE THAT GET THE FOUNDATION MONEY." IT CAN'T BE A POOL DECISION, IT CAN'T BE THE CITY'S DECISION, SO IT HAS TO BE UP TO THE FOUNDATION. KEEP IN MIND, WE HAVE ONLY BEEN OPEN A YEAR.
COUNCILMAN KOGER SAID WHY IS A COUNCILPERSON RECEIVING A PHONE CALL ABOUT SOMEBODY NOT BEING ADMITTED TO THE POOL? THEY SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE ANSWER AT THE AQUATIC CENTER. THE POOL MANAGER SHOULD HAVE KNOWN EXACTLY WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND WHERE TO DIRECT THEM. THEN THEY CALL CITY HALL AND STILL DON'T GET THE RIGHT ANSWER, THEN THEY CALL US.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER ASKED IF THE COUNCILPERSONS HAVE TALKED TO THE STAFF AT THE POOL. HE SAID HE DIDN'T THINK ANYBODY WAS BEING TURNED DOWN.
COUNCILMAN KOGER SAID MAYBE THE ANSWERS SHOULD BE COMING FROM THE MAYOR SINCE THEY ARE HIS EMPLOYEES. THERE IS NO REASON FOR US TO BE GETTING A PHONE CALL ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS AT HOME. WE DON'T MANAGE THE CITY FROM THAT BASIS. DO WE WANT TO HELP THE CITIZENS OUT, ABSOLUTELY? AN ANSWER SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THEM WHEN THEY GO TO THE POOL OR CALLING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THAT IS WHAT INSTITUTED THIS.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY HAD BROCHURES THERE ARE NOT.
COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID HE TALKED WITH SHELLY ROGERS. HE SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS. HE SAID HE ASKED ABOUT THIS THE FIRST TIME. HE SAID SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. IF THEY DON'T KNOW, HOW CAN THEY PUT YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH TO GET AN APPLICATION FOR THE REDUCED RATES.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE WOULD RESEND HIS MOTION.
COUNCILMAN REID MADE A NEW MOTION TO FORMALLY RECOMMEND THIS ORDINANCE TO THE PARK BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION AT THEIR NEXT MEETING. SOME COUNCIL PERSONS WILL BE THERE TO DISCUSS OUR CONCERNS. COUNCILADY MALONE: SECOND.
PUBLIC DISCUSS:
MARY LOGAN, CITIZEN OF NEW CASTLE, BECAME AWARE ON THE 20TH OF JUNE ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. SHE WAS TOLD ABOUT AN APPLICATION. SHE SENT FAMILY MEMBERS TO THE POOL TO ASK FOR A REDUCED FEE APPLICATION. MY FAMILY MEMBERS WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOT SUCH A THING. LATER, SHE WENT TO THE POOL AND ASKED FOR A REDUCED APPLICATION. THE LADY AT THE DESK SAID THERE WAS NO SUCH APPLICATION. SHE SAID SHE ASKED WHERE TO GET AN APPLICATION. THE LADY SAID I DON'T KNOW. A LIFEGUARD BEHIND HER SAID, I CAN GIVE YOU THE FEE SCHEDULE. ON THAT SCHEDULE WAS A PARAGRAPH ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND. THE PARAGRAPH SAID: STEP 1%u2026.COMPLETE THE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION. SHE THEN ASKED FOR THE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION. THE LADY TOLD HER SHE HAD THE APPLICATIONS. MS. LOGAN SAID SHE DOESN'T KNOW IF IT'S A LACK OF TRAINING OR THE FACT THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS. HER CONCERN WAS NO ONE IN THIS CITY SHOULD BE TURNED AWAY. MOST PEOPLE WOULD HAVE WALKED AWAY.
PEOPLE ARE BEING TURNED AWAY. SHE SAID THERE ARE A LOT OF CHILDREN IN THIS CITY WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM THE USE OF THE POOL. ONLY 3 HAVE REDUCED FUNDS. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, THEIR UNDERSTANDING WAS THE CITY WAS WANTING THEM TO PAY THE $60.00. SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE IN THE FUTURE. EVERYBODY HERE PAYS TAXES AND THOSE WHO RENT AND PAY THE LANDLORD IS PAYING TAXES ON THE PROPERTY. MS. LOGAN SAID SHE HOPED THE DAMAGE COULD BE AND WOULD BE REPAIRED. SHE ALSO SAID, A FAMILY IS NOT ALWAYS WHO YOU CAN CLAIM ON YOUR TAXES.
COUNCILMAN HAHN ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ON THE APPLICATION WHOM TO CONTACT OR HOW? HE ASKED THAT THIS BE ADDED TO THE APPLICATION.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THE CITY HAS HAD NOT CONTACT WITH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS HANDLED BY THE NON-PROFIT ASSOCIATION LAST YEAR. THIS HAS BEEN BETWEEN THE FOUNDATION AND THE NON-PROFIT. WE INHERITED EVERYTHING FROM LAST YEAR WHEN THE CITY SUDDENLY BECAME MANAGER RATHER THAN THE NON-PROFIT FUND RAISING. HE SAID HE ADMITTED THAT THE BUCK STOPS WITH HIM. HE SAID HE WAS NOT AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS, BUT ARE AWARE OF THEM NOW. HE SAID MISTAKES HAVE BEEN MADE THROUGH IGNORANCE.
COUNCILMAN HAHN APOLOGIZED TO MS. LOGAN FOR WHAT SHE HAD TO GO THREW WITH. HE SAID IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
RUTH PHELPS, BOARD MEMBER FOR ANCHOR. SHE SAID SHE APPROACHED THE POOL MANAGER AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO SCHOLARSHIPS OR DISCOUNTS. NOTHING TO OFFER THIS YEAR. SHE WAS REFUNDED HER MONEY FOR THE PUNCH CARD SHE HAD BOUGHT. SUPPOSEDLY 10 PEOPLE WERE TO GET IN ON ONE PUNCH BUT WHEN THEY WENT SWIMMING, ALL 10 PUNCHES WERE USED AT ONCE.
EDDIE HAGER SAID THIS WAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUE. WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUE, IT FELL APART. HE FOUND FAULT WITH THE COUNCIL BECAUSE HE DIDN'T THINK THE COUNCIL DOES WHAT IT SHOULD BE DOING. HE SAID THE COUNCIL'S JOB WAS "FOLLOW UP." HE SAID THE COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE A MEMBER OF THE PARK BOARD HOW THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM GOING. HE SAID WESTMINSTER WOULD LIKE TO PASS OUT BROCHURES ABOUT THE POOL AND THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM BUT WAS NEVER FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH. WE ARE STILL WILLING TO GIVE THEM OUT TO THE 370 KIDS. WE COULD HAVE GIVEN THEM FREE PASSES TO THE POOL. HE SAID THEY WERE SOLD THIS PROJECT FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE. HIS ENDING STATEMENT WAS, EXCEPT FOR THE POOR.
COUNCILMAN HAHN ASKED MAYOR SMALL TO TALK WITH THE PARK BOARD AND SEE IF THEY WILL APPROVE IT AND SEND IT BACK TO COUNCIL.
ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE. ONE VOTE NAY (GOODMAN)
RECOMMENDATION TO THE PARK BOARD
MAYOR SMALL SAID FOR INFORMATION THOSE ON THE PARK BOARD:
PRESIDENT JOANNE McCORKLE, JIM COLE, JERRY HYDEN AND BRAD CROWE.
THEY WILL MEET IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON JULY 14TH AT 4:00 P.M.
MAYOR SMALL SAID HE WOULD GO TO THE POOL TOMORROW AND SEE THAT THEY HAVE THE APPLICATIONS FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID HE WANTED TO CLEAR A POINT. HE SAID THAT THE FOUNDATION HAS ABOUT $1,500.00 AS OF NOW. ONCE THIS MATTER IS SETTLED, USING THE $40.00 TO GET INTO THE POOL, THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ARE GOING TO DONATE TO THE FUND SO THERE WILL BE MONEY ALL THE TIME. THE $1,500.00 WILL GO IN A HURRY. OTHERS WHO WANT THE HELP, THE FOUNDATION WON'T HAVE IT.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID THERE WERE THREE CHANGES. CLARIFICATION THAT THE CITY WON'T TRY TO GET THE $60.00 FROM THIRD PARTY DONORS. THE LOOSING OF THE ELIGIBLE AS WHAT CONSTITUTES A HOUSEHOLD, THAT IS A LITTLE BIT LOOSER AND THERE IS A LOOSING UP AS TO OF WHAT A HOUSEHOLD HAS TO PRESENT TO BE QUALIFIED FOR THE INCOME AND SOME SORT OF STATEMENT TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
STORED AT THE POOL. THERE IS A BUNCH OF KIDS IN THERE DEALING WITH DATA AS AN ADULT. HE SAID THERE WAS NO WAY IF I WANTED ADMISSION TO THAT OR NOT, THAT HE WOULD TAKE HIS TAX RETURN IN THERE AND GIVE A COPY OF THAT TO A BUNCH OF PEOPLE AT THE POOL. WHO KNOWS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO IT. THOSE ARE THE CHANGES AND NOTHING DESIGNED TO CHANGE THE OVERALL FEEL OF WHAT WE WERE WANTING AND THAT WAS TO MAKE IT SO THAT ANYBODY THAT WANTED TO USE THE POOL, COULD AND IF THEY NEEDED HELP FINANCIALLY, TO DO THAT.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
PRESIDENT YORK SAID SHE WISHES COUNCILADY GOODMAN WELL AND HOPE HER NEW DAUGHTER HAS ARRIVED BY THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID KATHY HAMILTON IS WELL KNOWN, AND ASKED COUNCILMAN KIDD TO INVITE THE ADMINISTRATION TO HEAR HER SPEAK ABOUT POVERTY ON JULY 13TH, AT THE HENRY COUNTY HOSPITAL, FROM 8:00 A.M. TO4:30 P.M..
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM JEFF LIMBACK, ABOUT THE TRASH TRUCKS THAT THE CITY IS LEASING. HE READ THE LETTER. THE LETTER STATED THAT MR. LIMBACK'S COMPANY ALSO PLACED A BID WITH THE CITY OF SEYMOUR. OUR BID WAS $251,000.00 EACH. WE ALSO BID ON THE TORTS @ $50.15 EACH FOR A TOTAL OF $401,200.00. BEST EQUIPMENT WAS NOT THE LOW BIDDER. HE SAID THAT THEIR BID WAS $127,605.00 LOWER.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE CONTACTED MR. LIMBACK AND EXPLAINED THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING THE COUNCIL DID. HE SAID WE DID NOT ACTUALLY DO BIDS FOR THOSE TRUCKS.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THAT WAS CORRECT. WE PIGGYBACKED OFF OF SEYMOUR'S BID.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID IT MAY BE POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE BID PROCESS THAT THEY UTILIZED WITH THE BID THEY WENT WITH. DID THE CITY MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS THE BEST DEAL?
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN WELL ADVISED TO PUT SPECS OUT OURSELVES. THE SEYMOUR BID, IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY COMPLY WITH THE STATUTE, HE GOT ALL THEIR STATUTORY ADVERTISEMENTS AND INFORMATION. THE CITY OF LAWRENCE HAS PURCHASED UNDER THEIR BID. THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE CAN'T BID IT OUT OURSELVES. THE STATUTE ALLOWS YOU TO PURCHASE UNDER SOMEONE ELSE'S BID. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE CITY DID. IT WAS COST EFFECTIVE. THIS MAN SHOULD HAVE CONTESTED THE BIDDING IF HE KNEW THAT BEST EQUIPMENT WAS NOT THE LOW BIDDER. LEGALLY, WE CAN GO ON SEYMOUR'S BID. WE ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO OUR OWN SPECS AND BIDDING.
COUNCILMAN KOGER SAID IN OTHER WORDS, THAT $127,000.00 DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO THE CITY.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID HE COULDN'T SAY WHY SEYMOUR CHOSE THE BIDS THAT THEY DID.
COUNCILMAN KOGER ASKED WHY WE PIGGYBACKED ON SEYMOUR AND DIDN'T OPEN IT UP?
MAYOR SMALL SAID IT WAS THE TIME ELEMENT.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE SUGGESTED TO MR. LIMBACK TO TALK TO SOME ONE IN SEYMOUR AND FIND OUT ABOUT THE BIDDING. HE SAID IT IS TO LATE TO RE-BID.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THAT WAS RIGHT. THE ONLY WAY WE COULD GET THIS ACCOMPLISHED BY AUGUST 1ST , WAS TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF SEYMOUR'S BID. HAD WE ADVERTISED, WE MIGHT BE TALKING OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER AND WE WOULD BE LAYING OFF A LOT OF PEOPLE TO GET THAT BUDGET BALANCED. STARTING AUGUST 1ST, WE WILL BE SAVING $140,000.00 THIS YEAR.
PRESIDENT YORK ASKED IS THERE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE LOW BID IS NOT TAKEN?
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID YES. GENERALLY THE LOW BID IS TAKEN BUT
THERE ARE OTHER REASONS SUCH AS NOT HAVING ANYONE TO MAINTAIN THE EQUIPMENT OR THE COMPANY HAVING A BAD REPUTATION. THE REASON THEY DIDN'T CONTEST THE SEYMOUR GRANT, TOLD HIM THAT THEY DIDN'T DISAGREE WITH THE SEYMOUR AWARD.
MAYOR SMALL SAID WE HAVE PURCHASED AND WORKED WITH BEST BEFORE.
GETTING TWO SWEEPERS LAST YEAR, ONE FROM BEST AND ONE FROM NORTHERN.
MS4 BOBBY YORK SAID THAT NORTHERN FILED A COMPLAINT AND NOW THEY ARE THE PROBLEM CHILD. BEST EQUIPMENT IS NOW TAKING CARE OF BOTH SWEEPERS.
COUNCILMAN HAHN REQUESTED THAT REV. PAUL DAVIS PRAY FOR COUNCILADY GOODMAN AND HER TO BE BORN DAUGHTER. ALL IN ATTENDANCE PRAYED.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION:
REV. PAUL DAVIS STATED THAT THERE IS A HOUSE NEXT TO HIS CHURCH'S PARKING LOT THAT THEY ARE VERY INTERESTED IN. HE SAID IT IS BOARDED UP BUT STILL HOUSES DRUG ADDICTS, DRUNKS ETC. HE SAID IT IS VERY BAD AND SOMEONE COULD FALL IN THE HOLES IN THE FLOOR AND FALL TO THE BASEMENT. HE SAID THEY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE PROPERTY AND WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO DEMOLISH IT AND CLEAN THE AREA. HE ASKED FOR THE CITY'S HELP.
THERE IS A DEMOLITION ORDER.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID HE WOULD TRY TO FIND OUT WHO THE OWNER IS.
THERE IS A LEGAL REMEDY. IF WE TEAR IT DOWN, WE CAN PUT A LIEN ON IT, HAVE IT SOLD AT SHERIFF'S SALE, THEN ACQUIRE PROPERTY OR BID ON IT FOR THE AMOUNT OF OUR LIEN, THERE IS A WAY TO DO IT. YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO TEAR IT DOWN. WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN GET DONE.
EDDIE HAGER APPEARED BEFORE THE COUNCIL STATING THERE WERE TWO THINGS HE WANTED TO BRING UP. HE ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL THAT IS FOLLOWING UP AND WORKING WITH THE CITY ON THE RANDY NEAL CASE WITH THE JUNK YARD?
COUNCILMAN HAHN SAID THAT WAS IN COURT. THE COUNCIL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID IF ANY COUNCIL PERSON WANTS TO SEE WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON, HE WOULD SHARE THAT WITH THEM.
COUNCILMAN HAHN SAID IT IS IN THE JUDGE'S HANDS.
HE SAID HIS SECOND QUESTION WAS IN REFERENCE TO THE NSP GRANT THAT WAS AWARDED TO THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE. HE SAID HE HAD BEEN TRYING TO GET COPIES OF THAT GRANT. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE DOES NOT HAVE A COPY. HE SAID HE DIDN'T GET A CALL BACK FROM JENA DAVIS AND THEN WENT TO STAR DEVELOPMENT AND DID NOT GET A RESPONSE BACK FROM THEM. HE SAID HE CONTACTED THE LT. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN INDIANAPOLIS, THEY SENT HIM A FILE BUT THREE FOURTHS OF THE COPY HE COULD NOT COPY. HE SAID HE PUT IN A REQUEST FOR A HARD COPY. HE STILL HASN'T GOTTEN THAT.
HE SAID WE HAVE FEDERAL GRANTS THAT ARE BEING ASKED FOR ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE WAY THE PROGRAM IS SET UP RIGHT NOW, ALL THAT IS REQUESTED IS THE MAYOR'S SIGNATURE. THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT THE COUNCIL. THE ONE THING HE SAW IN THE GRANT WAS A LETTER FROM SANDY YORK, SIGNED AS THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT. NO ONE ELSE SIGNED IT. IT WAS A LETTER OF SUPPORT.
HE SAID EVERY PERSON HE TALKED TO IN THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE, HAS COMMENTED, WHY WOULD WE PUT APARTMENTS IN DOWNTOWN NEW CASTLE. WHO LIVES IN DOWNTOWN NEW CASTLE? HOW COULD THEY AFFORD IT? WHEN YOUR DEALING WITH HOUSING FUNDS, AND IT WAS PURCHASED FOR LOW TO MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES. IN THAT PROCESS, WE DID NOT SEE A SUPPORT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. THERE WERE MANY LOW TO MIDDLE INCOME PROGRAMS THAT WERE NOT AWARE THESE GRANTS WERE BEING PURSUED. THE FIELD OF PLAY WAS COMPETIVENESS AMONGST THE EASTSIDE DEVELOPMENT AND DOWNTOWN. IT IS OBVIOUS WHO GOT CHOSEN BY THE ADMINISTRATION, NOT BY THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE OR THE CITY COUNCIL OR THE CITIZENS. THERE ARE ONLY TWO PLANNING GRANTS ALLOWED IN NEW CASTLE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. WE ARE NOW, NOT NECESSARILY BARRED FROM APPLYING FOR A PLANNING GRANT, BUT WE ARE UNQUALIFIABLE. THOSE PLANNING GRANTS HAVE BEEN EARMARKED BY THE MAYOR TO GO TOWARDS CITY PROJECTS. NOT NEEDED PROJECTS AS FOR THE DESIRE OF THE COUNCIL OR CITIZENS OF NEW CASTLE. BUT, WE ARE BARRED FROM PURSUING ANY KIND OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BELMONT AREA OR ANY OTHER AREA INSIDE NEW CASTLE, BECAUSE YOU ARE ONLY ALLOWED TWO GRANTS. ONE WILL BE COMING OFF IN 2010 AND ANOTHER IN 2012. HE SAID HE WASN'T SURE WHAT THE MAYOR'S PLANS ARE OR THE EDC DIRECTOR'S PLANS ARE. WE ARE BARRED FROM ANY KIND OF PLANNING GRANT WHICH IS THE FIRST STEP TO A HOUSING GRANT. HE SAID HE WAS WORKING ON SOMETHING WITH WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY CENTER SINCE 2004. NOW WE CAN NOT EVE GET STEP ONE UNTIL 2012 OR 2014. HE SAID WITH THAT SAID, THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS GOING TO SIGN OFF AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE AWARE OF THAT LETTER. HE SAID HE KNEW TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS GRANT WAS APPLIED FOR. ALONG WITH THAT, THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS APPLIED FOR OR AWARDED. UPON IT BEING AWARDED, THAT IS WHEN HE BEGAN TO LOOK INTO THE PROJECT. HE SAID ANY BODY CAN MAKE NUMBERS LOOK TOWARD THE GOAL THEY WANT TO MEET. WITH THAT SAID, HE CONTACTED THE LT. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LISTED SOME CONCERNS WITH THE NSP GRANT. HIS CONCERN WAS WITH THE ECONOMY THE WAY IT IS. IN BY NO MEANS HE SAID, UNDERSTAND AND CLEARLY UNDERSTAND, GO ON RECORD, I AM NOT PROTESTING THE NEW CASTLE 2.7 MILLION DOLLARS GRANT. HE IS PROTESTING THE WAY NEW CASTLE WENT ABOUT PURSUING THOSE GRANTS BECAUSE WHEN A GRANT ADMINISTRATOR IN INDIANAPOLIS AND WASHINGTON D.C. IS LOOKING AT THESE GRANTS, THEY TAKE EVERYTHING AT FACE VALUE. THEY DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS LOCAL POLITICS INVOLVED, LOCAL FRIENDSHIPS INVOLVED OR BI-PARTISAN. THEY LOOK AT WHAT IS WRITTEN ON THE PAPER AND TAKE IT AT FACE VALUE. HE SAID THE GRANT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES. I ASKED THE GRANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR A COPY AND HE SAID,"WHY DO YOU WANT IT?" HE SAID HE ANSWERED ALL THESE QUESTIONS JUST TO SEE THE APPLICATION THAT WAS FOR MY COMMUNITY. HE SAID HE COULD SEE FRUSTRATION.
HE SAID HE WOULD BE FILING AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT WITH THE NSP GRANT ADMINISTRATOR, WITH THE LT. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND WITH HUD. THAT COMPLAINT IS NOT THAT NEW CASTLE GOT 2.7 MILLION DOLLARS. IT IS NOT TO DEMEAN WHAT THE WORK JENA DAVIS HAS DONE. WHAT THE MAYOR HAS DONE. THE COMPLAINT WILL BE CLEARLY STATED HOW IT WAS AWARDED AND HOW THAT PROGRAM PRESENTED ITSELF AS A GRANT WRITER AND A GRANT ADMINISTRATOR IN THE GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS. THE LOW ECONOMIC FAMILY WILL NOT BE ECONOMICALLY LIVE IN DOWNTOWN NEW CASTLE. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. THEY ARE NOT EFFICIENT UNITS. NICE UNITS BUT NOT EFFICIENT. THE CITY OF ANDERSON SPENT ALMOST 25 MILLION. THE CITY OF MUNCIE SPENT 12 MILLION ON DOWNTOWN UNITS. THEY HAVE FAILED. LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES CAN NOT LIVE THERE. HE SAID HE SPOKE TO THE DESIGNER AND THE DESIGNER SAID THOSE ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES. THEY ARE GOING TO BE AT MARKET RATE. THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION WITH THIS. IT IS GOOD NEWS THAT NEW CASTLE GOT 2.7 MILLION DOLLARS BUT THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE THIS GOES ANY FURTHER. HE ASKED THAT 2 COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PIGGYBACK ALONG WITH THE MAYOR TO SEE THAT THE I'S ARE DOTTED AND THE T'S ARE CROSSED.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID SINCE SHE WAS THE ONE THAT WAS ADDRESSED HERE, SHE SAID SHE WROTE A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THE GRANT, FOR THE WESTMINSTER GRANT. I WROTE A LETTER IN MY CAPACITY BECAUSE SHE REPRESENTS WARD 1 WHERE THERE HOMES WERE GOING TO BE ADDED. SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT REAL QUICK. SHE SAID SHE DID NOT WRITE THAT LETTER FOR EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER. SHE SAID HER TITLE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND WHEN SHE IS ASKED TO WRITE A LETTER OF SUPPORT, SHE WILL ADDRESS IT THAT WAY UNTIL SHE IS VOTED OUT BY HER FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MAYOR SMALL SAID TO MR. HAGER, YOU WERE ASKED TO PUT YOUR REQUEST IN WRITING FOR THE APPLICATION. IS THAT CORRECT?
JEANA DAVIS SPOKE TO MR. HAGER STATING SHE DID RETURN HIS CALL AND HE SHOUTED AT HER ABOUT THE GRANT. SHE SAID YOU DID NOT ASK ME FOR A COPY. THERE IS A FORMAL PROCESS TO REQUEST A COPY OF THE GRANT APPLICATION AND YOU KNOW THAT. SHE SAID AS OF YET, SHE HAS NOT SEEN THE REQUEST.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING. JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T COME TO IT, THAT IS NOT OUR FAULT. IT WAS A LEGAL PUBLIC HEARING. YOU COULD HAVE COME AT THAT TIME BEFORE WE SUBMITTED THE GRANT AND EXPRESSED YOUR CONCERN. YOU DID NOT DO THAT.
MAYOR SMALL SAID WE HAD A SITE VISIT FROM THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE GIVING THE GRANT, OCRA. OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AND RURAL AFFAIRS. HE SAID THAT MS. DAVIS AND HE SPENT AN ENTIRE DAY WITH THEM. THEY WERE LOOKING FOR COMMUNITIES THAT WERE ON THE VERGE OF TIPPING. HE SAID WE WALKED THE STREETS OF BELMONT WITH THEM. THEY LOOKED AT BELMONT AND SAID THIS COMMUNITY HAS TIPPED. WE WANT A COMMUNITY THAT IS ON THE VERGE OF TIPPING, SO WE CAN RESCUE IT. WE ARE NOT ONLY DOING THE BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN, WE ARE DOING NEARBY RESIDENTS. THE FIRST CONSTRUCTION YOU SEE WILL BE OF HOMES WITHIN 2 OR 3 BLOCKS OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHICH WILL GO TO LOW INCOME PEOPLE. PEOPLE WITH 50% A M I. YOU CAN'T GET MUCH LOWER THAN THAT AND BE ABLE TO BUY A HOUSE. THAT IS NOT MARKET VALUE FOR THE APARTMENTS DOWNTOWN, THEY ARE 120% A.M.I. YOU MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE AN INCOME OF $45 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO QUALIFY. PEOPLE WILL COME.
E D C DIRECTOR JEANA DAVIS SAID THAT THE GRANT COVERS ALMOST THE ENTIRE CITY OF NEW CASTLE, EXCEPT FOR A SMALL AREA OVER BY THE CEMETERY. SHE SAID THAT THIS WEEKEND, SHE WALKED THE ALLEYS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THIS TOWN AND YOU DON'T THINK THERE IS POVERTY THERE, YOU ARE SADLY MISTAKEN. YOU ARE SADLY MISTAKEN. SHE SAID SHE WAS SORRY THAT HE NEEDED TO CONTEST THIS GRANT AND TO GO TO THE STATE AND RUIN OUR CHANCES OF FURTHER GRANTS. THE CITY COUNCIL WAS A PART OF THIS. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WAS A PART OF THIS. WE HAD THE CITY'S REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AS PART OF THIS AND THE NEW CASTLE PRESERVATION COMMITTEE AS PART OF THIS. YOU COULD HAVE COME TO ANYONE OF THOSE MEETINGS BUT YOU CHOSE NOT TO. YOU WAITED UNTIL WE WERE AWARDED TO MAKE ANY KIND OF NOISE AT ALL.
PRESIDENT YORK ALLOWED MR. HAGER TO SPEAK AGAIN. SHE TOLD HIM HE HAD 2 MINUTES. HE DID ENOUGH RAMBLING TONIGHT.
MR. HAGER SAID HE WAS SORRY IF PRESIDENT YORK THOUGHT HE WAS RAMBLING. HE SAID THAT IS THE REASON THAT HE WAS THE ONLY ONE HERE. THIS IS THE KIND OF RECIPIENT THAT WE GET. HE SAID MS. DAVIS WAS CORRECT AND HE WAS CORRECTING HIMSELF AS WELL. HE SAID MS. DAVIS DID GIVE HIM A RETURN CALL IN REFERENCE TO HIS FIRST CALL. THE SECOND CALL WAS TO THE MAYOR AND YOU JUMPED ON THE PHONE. WE TALKED FOR TWO HOURS AT ONE TIME.
MS. DAVIS SAID THEY WORK CLOSELY WITH JEFF AT WESTMINSTER. WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING, THE WAY THIS GRANT IS SET UP, IF THERE IS ANY PROGRAM SET UP, WE HOPE WE CAN SHIFT IT OVER TO WESTMINSTER AND THE BELMONT AREA. WE ARE PURSUING THAT. IN FACT THE HEAD OF THE STATE SPENT EXTRA TIME WITH US AFTER THE AWARD, AND HE WAS SO ENCOURAGED WITH OUR PROJECT. HE WANTS TO GET INVOLVED IN OUR PROJECT. HE SAID HE WOULD LOOK INTO THIS AND SEE IF WE WERE ABLE TO SEND IT OVER TO WESTMINSTER BELMONT AREA. WE CARE ABOUT THAT AREA. WE CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE THERE. WESTMINSTER HAS BEEN WAITING FOR A PLAN TO BE SUPPLIED BY YOU. THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT. WE ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU. WE WANT THE BEST FOR THAT AREA. WE WANT THE BEST FOR OUR CITY. WE NEED YOUR HELP. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN?
MR. HAGER SAID, " DID YOU KNOW WHY WE CAN'T PUT A PLAN TOGETHER?" BECAUSE IT TAKES THIRTY TO FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS TO COVER THE GRANT. MR. MAYOR TO SIGN OFF ON THAT GRANT REQUEST. WE CAN'T GET THAT GRANT BECAUSE NEW CASTLE IS ONLY ALLOWED TWO OPEN GRANTS.
MS. DAVIS SAID WE DID NOT SPEND 30 THOUSAND DOLLARS ON THIS PLAN. WE CAME UP WITH A PLAN ON OUR OWN. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE HELPED WITH THAT PLAN. YOU SAID YOU ARE A GRANT WRITER. YOU CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING ON YOUR OWN. OCRA IS WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU.
MR. HAGER SAID THEY HAVE BEEN IN DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH OCRA, HUD AND CDBG, ON A REGULAR BASIS.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID KEEP IN MIND, SO MANY OF THESE GRANTS REQUIRE CERTAIN MATCHES. THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND DOES NOT HAVE MONEY FOR MATCHES. WE HAVE SOME TIFF DOWNTOWN MONEY THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR MATCHES. THAT HAS TO BE USED FOR DOWNTOWN PROJECTS. PART OF THIS IS THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS TO MATCH UP WITH THE GRANT APPLICATION. TRYING TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF WHAT WE CAN WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. SO TAKING $5,000.00 AND TURNING IT INTO $50,000.00, THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO. SO THAT IS WHY THE NEW CASTLE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AGREED TO SPONSOR THIS MATCH. IT IS NOT TO DEPRIVE BELMONT OR ANY PART OF THE TOWN. MAXIMIZE THE DOLLAR.
MR. HAGER SAID HE APPRECIATED THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO DO THAT. THE ONE THING HE WANTED TO ADDRESS IN REFERENCE TO JENA DAVIS'S COMMENT. HE SAID HE WASN'T HERE TO CONTEST THE 2.7 MILLION DOLLARS THE CITY GOT. NOT HERE TO CONTEST THE PROJECT. THE PROJECT WILL BE GREAT BUT HE DIDN'T THINK IT IS WHAT WAS NEEDED IN THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE. THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE NEEDED, WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT RETAIL BUILDINGS. WITH THE GRANT AND MATCH IT WILL BE A LITTLE OVER 4 MILLION DOLLARS.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THAT THIS GRANT WAS FOR HOUSING. THE RDC MONEY IS USED FOR RETAIL. THAT'S ALL IT CAN BE USED FOR. THE TOTAL OF THE RDC MONEY IS LESS THAN A MILLION DOLLARS.
MAYOR SMALL SAID TO MR. HAGER, OH, YOU HAVE SEEN THE APPLICATION?
MR. HAGER SAID HE ACTUALLY SEEN PARTS THROUGH THE E-FILES THAT WAS GIVEN TO HIM. HE SAID HE COPIED FOUR OF THOSE FILES. THE OTHER EIGHT HE COULD NOT COPY. HE SAID HE GUESSED HE WOULD HAVE TO RELY ON THE KINDNESS OF MAYOR SMALL. HE SAID THAT THE MAYOR SHOULD HAVE THE APPLICATION AVAILABLE TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE OR AT THE LIBRARY.
MAYOR SMALL SAID TO MR. HAGER, YOU HAVE ALIENATED YOUR NAME FROM OCRA TO THE POINT THAT HE DIDN'T THINK BELMONT WILL EVER GET A GRANT IF YOUR NAME IS ATTACHED TO IT. ALSO, YOU SAY THE CITY IS NOT HELPING YOU. THIS VERY CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A TAX ABATEMENT FOR BELMONT HOMES. HE SAID HE LED THE CHARGE A YEAR AND A HALF AGO TO GET HOMES IN BELMONT. AT THE TIME, THERE WERE 11 HOMES AND WENT TO 20. WE THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS GOING WELL. THE PROJECT DIED. THE VERY PEOPLE WHO AWARDED THIS OCRA GRANT TOLD US TO DROP BELMONT. WE WOULD NOT GET THE GRANT IF BELMONT WAS IN THERE. THE UNIQUENESS OF THIS WHOLE THING IS WHY WE GOT THIS MONEY. IF WE WOULD HAVE TRIED FOR 300 HOMES IN A SUBURB, WE WOULDN'T HAVE GOT IT. THEY TOLD US THAT BECAUSE WE HAD THIS MARRIAGE OF DOWNTOWN HOMES AND BUSINESSES WITH NEARBY HOMES. IF YOU WANT TO GET ANYTHING FOR BELMONT DONE,
TAKE A DIFFERENT PATH AND WORK WITH PEOPLE, NOT AGAINST THEM.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE HAD A QUESTION. WHERE ARE WE WITH LOIT?
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID LOIT WAS ADVERTISED ON JULY 7TH WITH A PUBLIC HEARING ON JULY 20TH. IF YOU PASS IT, THE COUNTY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THE SAME RESOLUTION AT THEIR MEETING ON JULY 27TH.
COUNCILMAN REID ASKED WHAT HAPPENED IF IT DOESN'T PASS.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS IT ALONE. WE COULD PASS AND THE COUNTY COULD KILL IT.
COUNCILADY GOODMAN ASKED IF THE PERCENTAGE WAS ENOUGH TO HELP.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID AFTER THE CALCULATIONS, ABOUT ½ MILLION.
A LOT OF JOBS COULD BE SAVED. THE REVENUE AVAILABLE FOR THE CITY'S BUDGET AND THE COUNTY BUDGET. 2.5 % OF L O I T, MATCH IT OR GREATER OF PROPERTY TAX REPLACEMENT. IF YOU DON'T PASS IT OR THE COUNTY DOESN'T PASS IT, IT WILL FAIL. THE LITTLE TOWNS CAN'T SAVE IT.
COUNCILMAN KOGER SAID HE AND COUNCILMAN REID ATTENDED A COMMISSIONERS MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO. HE SAID THIS WAS PUT ON THEIR PLATES. TO INITIATE LOIT AND TO PASS LOIT. HE SAID THE COUNTY COUNCIL MET THE SAME DAY AND WAS PUTTING THE BURDEN ON THE CITY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT WE HAVE MORE TO LOOSE AS A CITY THAN THEY DO AS A COUNTY WITH ARE EMERGENCY SERVICES. BOTTOM LINE.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID IT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE DIFFERENCE WHO PASSES IT FIRST.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID THE LAST TIME LOIT CAME UP, THE COUNTY KILLED IT.
THE CITY DID NOT BRING IT UP THEN BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH VOTES. WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THE RESOLUTION WILL BE ON THE AGENDA AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ON JULY 20TH.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED FOR ADJOURNMENT.
COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND
