COMMON COUNCIL
MAY 3, 2010 7:00 P.M.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS GIVEN BY EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE.
PRAYER WAS GIVEN BY PASTOR BRYAN HISLER, TRINITY FULL GOSPEL CHURCH.
MAYOR SMALL OPENED THE 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.
MAYOR SMALL READ A LETTER FROM MRS. COPENHAVER'S CLASS THAT HAD ATTENDED THE PRIOR MEETING. EACH CHILD REMARKED WHAT THEY HAD LEARNED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING.
MAYOR SMALL READ A PROCLAMATION, PROCLAIMING MAY 3RD THRU MAY 9TH AS NATIONAL NURSING SERVICE WEEK.
ORDINANCE #3598-
ESTABLISHING FEES FOR SOLID WASTE COLLECTION WAS READ ON FIRST READING BY SANDY YORK.
COUNCILMAN REID MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE. COUNCILADY GOODMAN: SECOND NO ROLL CALL TAKEN
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE WANTED TO AMEND THIS ORDINANCE TO READ:
CHANGE FEES FROM $15.00 TO $12.00 IN SECTION A.
ADD: #8%u2026%u2026%u2026..FEES WILL GO INTO A NON-REVERTING FUND.
#9%u2026%u2026%u2026.COUNCIL WILL REVIEW FEES IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2011.
#10%u2026%u2026%u2026 APPROVAL WAS GIVEN TO THE BOARD OF WORKS TO REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO COMPARE TO THE CITY'S TRASH PICKUP SERVICE.
#11%u2026%u2026%u2026NO OUTSOURCE WITHOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL.
#12%u2026...... A UTILITY SHALL NOT BE TURNED OFF FOR FAILURE TO PAY CURRENT SOLID WASTE WATER FEES PROVIDED WATER AND SEWER FEES ARE CURRENT.
CAROL GOODWIN, RILEY ROAD, SAID SHE WAS CONFUSED. SHE SAID THE FOUNDATION HAD OFFERED TO PAY THE CITY TO GAIN REVENUE BUT WAS DECLINED BY THE CITY. SHE SAID SHE THOUGHT THAT ISSUE SHOULD BE REVISITED.
DAVID WALL, THORNBURG STREET, WANTED TO SEE RECYCLING.
STEVE ANKENY, H AVENUE, SAID HE LIKED THE AMENDMENTS.
JIM RATCLIFF, HARTFORD COURT, SAID THE FEE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROPOSED WHEN THE AUTOMATION TOOK PLACE.
DANNY MARCUM, 407 S. 25TH ST., ASKED IF THIS $12.00 FEE WAS FOR A LARGE AND A SMALL TOTER?
THE ANSWER WAS YES. EVERYONE WOULD PAY THE SAME REGARDLESS OF WHAT TRASH CONTAINER THEY HAD. EVERYONE WOULD BE CHARGED A FEE OF $12.00 ON THEIR UTILITY BILL.
SHERMAN BOLES, CHERRYWOOD AVE., ASKED IF EVERYONE HAD TO PARTICIPATE?
THE ANSWER WAS IT IS UP TO THEM BUT THEY WOULD BE CHARGED THE $12.00 ON THEIR UTILITY BILLING.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THE CITY HAS A CONTRACT WITH THE TRAILER PARK. HE DIDN'T KNOW IF THE CHARGE WOULD BE ADDED TO THE RENT OR WHAT THE OWNERS WOULD DO SINCE EACH TRAILER WILL RECEIVE A TRASH PICKUP ON THEIR UTILITY BILLING. HE SAID THE PAYMENT ON THE BILLING WOULD BE FIRST FOR WATER, THEN SEWER, STORM WATER THEN SOLID WASTE. HE SAID THIS ORDINANCE WAS WRITTEN TO DEAL WITH THE OWNERS. LANDLORDS WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS. IT WILL BE UP TO THE LANDLORD IF HE WANTS IT TO BE PART OF THE RENT, ON RENTALS.
TOM DALTON, JEFFERY STREET, ASKED WHAT IF YOU HAVE CITY UTILITIES BUT NOT TRASH PICKUP SERVICE, THEN WHAT?
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID IF YOU LIVE WHERE THERE IS NO CITY TRASH PICK UP, NOT AVAILABLE TO YOU, WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND HE ASKED MR. DALTON TO COME IN AND LOOK AT ORDINANCE #3583 AND SEE IF TRASH PICK UP IS AVAILABLE TO YOU. HE DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE IF MR. DALTON DID NOT LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THERE IS A COST REDUCTION BY SIZE ON ANNEXATION. AS YOU INCREASE YOUR SIZE, YOU INCREASE YOUR DUMP FEES, FUEL COST, MANPOWER COSTS. YOU HAVE TO COMPARE THE ECONOMY SCALE, THE MORE PEOPLE, THE MORE REVENUE VERSES HOW MUCH MORE YOU HAVE TO ADD IN YOUR COST. JUST LIKE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, IF THE TOWN WOULD GROW, YOU WOULD HAVE TO HIRE MORE FIREMEN. THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A COST RATIO.
MR. DALTON SAID THOSE LIVING OUT OF THE CITY LIMITS DON'T HAVE A CHOICE ABOUT CITY WATER AND SEWER.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID THE ORDINANCE READS, YOU LIVE WITHIN THE CORPORATE DISTRICT.
COUNCILMAN KIDD DISCUSSED PAYMENT BY ONE CHECK THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE TOTAL BILL FOR THE UTILITIES. HE SAID IF YOUR BILL IS $30.00 AND YOU WRITE A CHECK FOR $10.00, PAYING PARTIAL. THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE AN ORDER WHERE THAT MONEY GOES.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID WE WILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH A PRIORITY APPLICATION OF THE FUNDS. FIRST TO WATER, SECOND TO SEWER, THIRD TO STORM WATER AND FOURTH TO SOLID WASTE.
WE NEED TO GET THIS WORKED OUT FIRST, SAID COUNCILMAN KIDD.
COUNCILADY MALONE SAID WHERE SHE LIVES ON KOVACS DR., THERE ARE 8 HOMES THERE, WITH 5 HOUSES NOT CONNECTED TO THE CITY. THERE ARE ONLY 3 THAT HAVE CITY UTILITIES. HOW WILL THEY GET A BILLING FOR TRASH PICKUP?
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THEY SHOULD BE GETTING A STORM WATER BILL. IF NOT, THEY SHOULD BE. WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
MAURIE GOODWIN, RILEY ROAD, IF SOMEONE DOES COME UP WITH A PARTIAL CHECK, THIS DOES TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE FINAL READING. HE APPROVED OF THE TRASH FEE, HOWEVER HE FELT THERE SHOULD BE RECYCLING. HE SAID HE WOULD PAY EXTRA FOR CURB SIDE RECYCLING.
MAYOR SMALL SAID ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS IN THE TRASH COLLECTION WAS PEOPLE PUT BOXES INTO THEIR TOTERS WITHOUT COLLAPSING THEM SO THE TOTER IS 50 TO 60 PERCENT AIR. HE SAID HE WAS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR 3 RIVERS AND HE HAS ASKED THAT IF NEW CASTLE WAS TO RECYCLE CARDBOARD, ON A GIVEN DAY, TAKE THEIR CARD BOARD BOXES, COLLAPSE THEM, AND A TRUCK TAKE THEM TO A DUMPSTER WHERE WE WOULD TRANSFER INTO . WE ARE LOOKING INTO THAT FOR CARDBOARD.
WILLARD DAILEY, S. 24TH ST., SAID THE CARDBOARD SHOULD BE TAKEN SOMEPLACE AND SOLD.
MAYOR SMALL SAID YOU HAVE TO PAY THE RECYCLING CENTER IN MUNCIE TO GET RID OF THE CARDBOARD OR ANY OTHER RECYCLABLES YOU TAKE THERE.
YOU DON'T MAKE MONEY OFF OF THAT. IT IS STRICTLY A SERVICE.
MR. DAILEY ASKED WHAT THE STORM WATER FEE WAS.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THAT FEE WAS ENACTED BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT REQUIRES US IN THE NEXT 20YEARS TO SEPARATE OUR STORM WATER FROM OUR SANITARY WATER. SO WE HAVE TO BILL OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS. WE WILL BE BUILDING NEW STORM SEWERS. WE HAVE BUILT SOME ALREADY. THEY STARTED DURING MAYOR BOLES ADMINISTRATION. WE JUST PAID FOR A LARGER SEWER WHEN THEY DID 18TH STREET. THAT WAS PAID FOR WITH THAT MONEY. IT IS THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRES TO MEET THE CLEAN WATER ACT.
KATHLEEN WOODWARD, 10TH ST., LIKES RECYCLING. PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE EDUCATED TO RECYCLING.
MARY LOGAN, N.18TH ST., SAID THE CITY IS GOING TO BUY ANOTHER TRUCK. THE TRUCKS WE HAVE NOW, SHE SAID MAYOR YOU SAID THESE TRUCKS ARE BROKEN DOWN. WHEN THESE TRUCKS THAT WERE JUST PURCHASED ARE PAID FOR THEY WILL BE SEVEN YEARS OLD. IF MAINTAINED PROPERLY, THEY SHOULD LAST 30 YEARS IS WHAT WAS SAID AT THE LAST MEETING. NOW 15 TO 20 YEARS. HAVE OUR TRUCKS THAT ARE NOW 8 OR 9 YEARS OLD, HAVE THEY NOT BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY?
SUPERINTENDENT HAMILTON SAID HE COULD NOT ANSWER FOR ANOTHER DEPARTMENT. HE TOOK OVER THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 2 MONTHS AGO. HE SAID IN HIS DEPARTMENT, ALL EQUIPMENT IS ON A PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. THE EMPLOYEES DO THE MAINTENANCE ONCE A WEEK. THEY HAVE TO SIGN OFF ON IT AND TURN IT BACK IN. IF SOMETHING IS BROKEN OR NOT TAKEN CARE OF, THERE WOULD BE DISPLINARY ACTION TAKEN.
MRS. LOGAN SAID SHE KNEW WE HAD TO HAVE A TRASH FEE. HER PROBLEM WITH THE FEE IS THE PURCHASE OF THE NEW TRUCKS AND MEN LAID OFF. SHE SAID TO MAYOR SMALL, YOU SAY WE ARE GOING TO SAVE $179,000.00 THIS YEAR BY PURCHASING THESE TRUCKS. WHAT WE ARE BEING ASKED TO PAY FOR, WE KNOW THAT IS NOT A FACT.
DAVE BOCKOVER, I AVE., DISCUSSED RECYCLING. HE SAID YOU MIGHT TRY TO EDUCATE THE PEOPLE, BUT THEY DON'T LISTEN. THEY THROW EVERYTHING IN THE RECYCLING BIN AS IF IT WERE A DUMP. HE SAID THERE IS NO MONEY IN RECYCLING CARD BOARD. THE COMPANIES THAT TAKE THE CARD BOARD IS JUST STORING BECAUSE THE COUNTRIES THAT DID BUY, ARE NOT AT THE PRESENT TIME. IT ENDS UP IN A LAND FILL.
MAYOR SMALL SAID WHEN WE TAKE TO THE LAND FILL, WE PAY A TIPPING FEE OF ABOUT $30.00 PER TON. IF WE TOOK RECYCLING TO MUNCIE, WE WOULD BE PAYING CLOSE TO $40.00 A MONTH.
EARL HUFFLEY, TAXPAYER IN WARD 7, SAID COMMENT WAS MADE TO BEAUTIFY THE CITY, THERE WOULD BE 2 DRIVERS THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF ALL THE TRASH PICK UP. WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THESE PROMISES?
MAYOR SMALL SAID WE WOULD BE UP TO 3 DRIVERS WITH THE THIRD TRUCK.
MR. HUFFLEY SAID THERE IS ONE WAY HE WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THE FEE FOR TRASH. IF WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN THIS TRASH FOOLISHNESS, OFFERED IT TO THE PUBLIC TO PROTECT OUR FELLOW WORKERS, WE WOULD HAVE HAD MUCH LESS INDEBTNESS, WHY WASN'T THIS AN OPTION?
MAYOR SMALL SAID WE HAD TO REDUCE MANPOWER BECAUSE OF THE CUTS THE CITY HAD TO MAKE. WE HAD 3 MEN ON A TRUCK, NOW WE HAVE 1 MAN ON A TRUCK. THAT IS WHERE THE SAVINGS IS.
MILDRED WHITE, BROWN ROAD, SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW HOW THESE LAID OFF PEOPLE WERE GOING TO LIVE. SHE SAID THIS HAS TO STOP.
NORMA DISHMAN, 11TH ST., SHE WANTED TO KNOW IF SOMETHING COULDN'T BE DONE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE TRASH PICK UP.
COUNCILMAN HAHN SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT. HE ASKED TO MEET WITH THE SPECIAL ISSUES COMMITTEE AFTER THIS MEETING. HE SAID THERE WERE TWO MORE MEETINGS BEFORE PASSAGE AND THE COUNCIL WOULD STUDY THIS ORDINANCE. WE DON'T WANT TO LAY PEOPLE OFF OR CUT SERVICES BUT DO YOU DO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.
JOYCE DAVIS, SO. 14TH ST., WONDERED WHY OTHER CITIES SUCH AS CONNERSVILLE DOESN'T PAY AS MUCH FOR TRASH AS NEW CASTLE.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THEIR MANPOWER COSTS ARE CHEAPER. THEY ARE NON-UNION.
COUNCILMAN REID MOVED TO AMEND THIS ORDINANCE. COUNCILMAN KOGER : SECOND
ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE. AMENDED.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE AS AMENDED ON FIRST READING.
COUNCILMAN KIDD: SECOND ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE. PASSED AND ORDERED.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
PRESIDENT SANDY YORK
SAID SHE WAS APPROACHED BY A GENTLEMAN WHO GOES TO THE SENIOR CENTER AND HE SAID THEY WERE GETTING TICKETED FOR PARKING BECAUSE SOMEONE COMPLAINED ABOUT THEM STAYING ALL DAY ON WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. HE SAID HE HAS A PARKING PASS, BY THE MAYOR.
MAYOR SMALL SAID, BY MISTAKE, LAST WEDNESDAY THERE WERE TICKETS GIVEN OUT TO PEOPLE FROM THE SENIOR CENTER, WHO HAD THE YELLOW STICKER ON THEIR VEHICLE. THEY WERE ON RACE STREET AND ON BROAD STREET. THE OFFICER TORE UP ALL THE TICKETS. WE HAVE SENT OUT A LETTER, TO THE CENTER, SAYING BECAUSE OF THE PARKING RESTRICTIONS ON BROAD STREET, AND INDOT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR YELLOW STICKERS, TO EXCUSE THE PEOPLE, THEY HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THOSE STICKERS ARE NOT VALID FOR PARKING ON BROAD STREET.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID SHE WAS DRIVING ON STATE ROAD 103 AND NOTICED THAT A PROBLEM WAS BEING FIXED BY GRADEX. SHE SAID THE BRAND NEW HIGHWAY HAS CUTS IN IT.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THEY ARE REQUIRED TO FIX THE CUTS. BECAUSE OF THE LEADER LINE THAT WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID SHE HAD A COMPLAINT ON A PROPERTY AT 2530 BRENTWOOD. NEEDS ATTENTION FROM BUILDING INSPECTOR'S OFFICE.
COUNCILADY GOODMAN
SAID A FAMILY NOTIFIED HER THAT THEY NEED A SIGN FOR THE CHILDREN'S SAFETY ON SWATHMORE DRIVE. THE CURRENT SPEED LIMIT IS 30 MPH AND THEY WERE INTERESTED IN GETTING THAT LOWER.
HAVE POLICE CHECK THIS OUT FOR A WEEK.
COUNCILADY MALONE
SAID SHE RECEIVED A CALL FORM MARY COX, 2626 S. 19TH ST., THERE WHERE YOU TURN OFF FAIRMONT ONTO SOUTH 19TH, THERE ARE NO STOP SIGNS. SHE HAS A PETITION WITH 17 NAMES, REQUESTING A "CHILDREN AT PLAY" SIGN.
THIS WAS GIVEN TO THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE FOR STUDY.
COUNCILMAN KOGER
SAID HE ASKED ABOUT THE CUT OUTS ON BUNDY AVE..
MAYOR SMALL SAID THE CITY WOULD BE PAVING 156 STREET CUTS WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
COUNCILMAN REID
POLICE CHECK ON SWATHMORE AND MIDWAY, STOP SIGN AT 21ST AND F AVE., FAIROAKS AND LYNNDALE, A CHILDREN AT PLAY SIGN, TAKE THE FLASHING LIGHT AT 14TH AND CHURCH AND MAIN AND CHURCH, HAVE THEM SET SO THE 14TH STREET AND MAIN STREET STAY YELLOW. JUST THE SIDE STREETS FLASH RED. HE SAID THE POLICE HAVE BEEN OUT ENFORCING THE TRAFFIC ORDINANCES AND DOING A GOOD JOB.
COUNCILMAN HAHN
REMARKED HOW NICE IT WAS TO RECEIVE COMMENTS FROM MRS. COPENHAVER AND HER CLASS. HE SAID THE CHILDREN ARE THE LEADERS FOR TOMORROW.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
KATHY HAMILTON SAID THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED WITH THE CLEAN UP. SHE SAID THEY PICKED UP APPROXIMATELY 12,000 LBS. OF TRASH. SHE REMINDED EVERYONE AS OF JUNE 26TH, THERE IS AN OUTLIVING AND GARDEN SHOW. SHE SAID THEY NOW HAVE 4 VICTORY GARDENS.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO ADJOURN.
COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND
