The City of New Castle, Indiana

COMMON COUNCIL 

MAY 16, 2011                       7:00 P.M.

 

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS GIVEN BY EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE.

PRAYER WAS GIVEN BY CLAY MORGAN, TABERNACLE OF PRAISE CHURCH,

MUNCIE, INDIANA.

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

 

 

COUNCIL REPORTS:

PRESIDENT YORK - ASKEDD ABOUT THE TWILIGHT CLUB, AN APARTMENT HOUSE AT 18^TH AND A AVE., AND A BURNED OUT HOUSE BETWEEN 21^ST AND 22^ND STREETS ON GRAND AVE.

      BUILDING INSPECTOR HALL SAID ALL 3 WERE ON THE DEMOLITION LIST.

 

COUNCILADY GOODMAN - ASKED ABOUT CHUCK HOLES, ESPECIALLY ONE AT 225 S. 11^TH.  SHE SAID IT WAS SO LARGE AND WAS DOWN TO THE ACTUAL BRICK.

      MAYOR SMALL SAID HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT AND GIVE IT TO THE STREET DEPARTMENT.  HE SAID THE MAXPATCHER HAD BEEN DOWN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS BUT IS NOW GOING AGAIN.  HE SAID RIGHT NOW THEY ARE DOING THE CHUCK HOLES ON THE PRIMARY STREETS.

 

COUNCILMAN KIDD - ASKED ABOUT THE PARKS BOARD MEETING AND THAT THEY AGREED TO RAISE THE RATES THIS YEAR AT THE SWIMMING POOL.  HE ASKED ATTORNEY COPENHAVER, IS THAT A RECOMMENDATION AND DOES IT HAVE TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL?  HE SAID HE WANTED TO CLEAR ONE THING UP.  HE SAID THEY CALL IT SCHOLARSHIP, WHICH MEANS UNDER PRIVILEDGED FAMILIES THAT QUALIFY UNDER THOSE TERMS, THEN YOU CAN GET A MEMBERSHIP UNDER THE OLD ORDINANCE FOR $40.00.  NOW WE ARE GOING TO RAISE THAT.  HE SAID HE WASN'T AGAINST THE RAISE BUT HIS PROBLEM WITH THE WHOLE THING IS THE MONEY. SOMEONE WENT TO THE FOUNDATION AND DONATED MONEY TO HELP RELIEF FOR PEOPLE WHO DOESN'T HAVE THE $40.00 TO BUY A MEMBERSHIP.  IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ORDINANCE, NOTHING THAT WE HAVE PASSED HERE.  THERE IS CONFUSION WITH THE NEW RECOMMENDATIONS, IF THAT IS NOT FUNDED, THEY WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE $40.00 FROM THE CITY.

       DIRECTOR DAVIS SAID AS LONG AS THERE WAS FUNDING AT THE FOUNDATION,

WE WILL SEND THE PEOPLE THERE FIRST IF THEY QUALIFY.  IF THAT MONEY RUNS OUT, THEN WE OFFER THE OTHER PROGAM.

       COUNCILMAN KIDD ASKED IF THAT WAS OFFERED UP FRONT OR IF THEY ASK FOR IT.

        DIRECTOR DAVIS SAID IT IS COMPLETELY UP FRONT.  THE MONEY IS NEARLY ALL GONE.

        COUNCILMAN REID ASKED IF THEY ARE STILL ELIGBLE FOR THE REDUCED FEE, THEY WOULD STILL PAY THE $40.00?

        DIRECTOR DAVIS SAID, CORRECT.

        MAYOR SMALL SAID THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PARK BOARD WAS
$50.00 INSTEAD OF $40.00.

         PRESIDENT YORK ASKED WHEN THE RAISE WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE.

         MAYOR SMALL SAID AT THE NEXT PARK BOARD MEETING, THE SECOND

TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH.  MAYOR SMALL SAID THE RECOMMENDATION WILL COME BEFORE THE BOARD OF WORKS AND THE COUNCIL IN TWO WEEKS.  HE SAID THE OTHER RECOMMENDATION WAS ABOUT THE REDUCED RATES THAT COME THROUGH THE FOUNDATION.  THE CITY PAYED $100.00 FOR SEASON TICKETS.  THE REASON BEING THAT THE REDUCED RATE PEOPLE ON OCCASION KEEP THE FULL RATE PEOPLE MAX OUT THE POOL.  THAT IS A CONCERN.

         COUNCILMAN KIDD ASKED HOW THEY KNOW THAT.  HOW DO THEY KNOW WHO'S WHO WHEN THEY COME IN?

         MAYOR SMALL SAID IT WAS THE JUDGEMENT OF THE LIFE GUARD AND STAFF.

PARTICULIARLY WHEN THEY HAVE PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY HAVE A SEASON PASS AND I CAN'T GET IN.  THE STAFF KNOWS THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THERE ON REDUCED RATE.

         COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID HE HEARD THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME TO OUR POOL FROM OUT OF TOWN.

         MAYOR SMALL SAID WE HAVE A LOT.  THAT CAUSES A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

         COUNCILMAN KIDD ASKED ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE LOW INCOME PEOPLE TO PAY THE FULL AMOUNT?

         MAYOR SMALL SAID NO, NOT WHEN THEY ARE GIVEN THE SCHOLARSHIPS.

THE SCHOLARSHIPS FEE IS FOR THE FULL AMOUNT.

         COUNCILMAN KIDD ASKED HOW YOU WOULD KNOW TO KEEP ME OUT.

         MAYOR SMALL SAID YOU COULDN'T IF YOU HAVE A SEASON PASS.  ALL PASSES LOOK THE SAME. 

         COUNCILMAN KIDD ASKED ABOUT THE DOCUMENTATION NEEDED TO GET A PASS.

         DIRECTOR DAVIS SAID THEY HAD TO PROVIDE LAST YEARS TAX RETURN.

         COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID THERE ARE SO MANY WHO DON'T PAY TAXES.

         PRESIDENT YORK SAID IF THE KIDS GET FREE LUNCHES AT SCHOOL THAT COULD BE DOCUMENTED.

         DIRECTOR DAVIS SAID SOMETIMES SOMEONE MAY BE TURNED AWAY IF THEY CAN'T PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION.

 

COUNCILADY MALONE - SAID BACK TO THE POT HOLES.  THERE IS A LARGE POT HOLE IN FRONT OF THE VILLAGE PANTRY AT 25^TH ST AND GRAND AVE.  IT IS VERY BAD.

 

COUNCILMAN REID - ASKED ABOUT A HOUSE AT 17^TH AND WOODWARD WHICH IS A BURN OUT.  HE ASKED IF THAT HOUSE WAS EVER GOING AWAY.

         BLDG. INSP. HALL SAID HE WOULD CHECK IT OUT AND GET BACK TO COUNCILMAN REID.

         COUNCILMAN REID WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND CHILDREN THAT PLAY THERE.

         PRESIDENT YORK ASKED IF THERE WASN'T SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO THE OWNER BEING AS IT IS A BURN OUT. SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO SEE A TIME LIMIT PUT ON AS TO WHEN THE HOUSE MUST BE REMOVED.

         ATTORNEY COPENHAVER WILL DRAFT AN ORDINANCE.

         COUNCILMAN REID ASKED IF THE CITY HAS ANY TYPE OF REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS OR PUBLIC BUILDINGS, THAT THERE IS AN X PERCENTAGE OF THE ESTIMATED VALUE FOR THE SIZE OF THE BOND.

         ATTORNEY COPEHAVER SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW IF INDIANA HAD SUCH A THING.  HE SAID THE ONLY TIME HE HAS SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS WHERE YOU HAVE RARE CASES WHERE INDUSTRY WOULD COME IN AND WOULD SAY WE WANT THIS AREA REZONED FOR AN UNIQUE USE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE A REGISTRATION BOND.  FIRST THIS WOULD BE COUNTER PRODUCTIVE TO WHAT YOU ALL WANT TO DO.  IF NEW CASTLE IS THE ONLY

COMMUNITY IN CENTRL INDIANA THAT REQUIRES A BOND THAT WOULD NOT BE A GOOD IDEA.  HE SAID HE WOULD LOOK AT THAT BUT IT WAS LIKE FEES THAT YOU CHARGE PEOPLE.  THERE ARE DIFFERENT NAMES FOR THEM.  CAPACITY FEES OR WHATEVER FOR YOUR SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT OR UTILITIES.   YOU ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE IT REQUIRES MORE CAPACITY ON YOUR ROADS, YOUR UTILITIES, YOU HAVE TO PAY MONEY UP FRONT TO BE A CAPACITY FEE.

HE SAID, THAT'S FINE AND SOME PLACES CAN GET AWAY WITH IT, LIKE NOBLESVILLE, BUT HE WASN'T SURE NEW CASTLE CAN WHERE WE ARE DYING TO HAVE INDUSTRY.

         MAYOR SMALL SAID WHEN THE ETHENOL PLANT WANTED TO COME INTO MOUNT SUMMIT, ONE OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT WAS

IN THE EVENT IT DID NOT BECOME AN ETHENOL PLANT WITHIN FIVE YEARS

IT WOULD BE REVERTED BACK TO AGRICULTURAL LAND.

         MAYOR SMALL SAID THAT HE AND COUNCILMAN KIDD WERE ON THE THREE RIVERS BOARD AND AT A MEETING THEY WERE TOLD THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THEIR BUILDING A TOTAL LOSS.  THEY RECEIVED OVER ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THEIR SETTLEMENT.  THERE WAS ALSO ADDED TO THAT, TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE DEBRIS.  ASSUMING IT WAS DEMOLITION. 

 

COUNCILMAN REID SAID THE CLERK TREASURER'S OFFICE HAS SENT US THE FINANCIAL REPORTS.  HE ASKED THAT WE ADD A UNANIMOUS CONSENT ITEM TO EVERY CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.  HE ASKED THAT THEY BE ATTACHED TO THE COUNCIL MINUTES AND REMAIN AS PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD.

PRESIDENT YORK: SECOND     ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE.                   PASSED AND ORDERED.

 

 

STEVE HACKER, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SOUTH MOUND CEMETERIES, GAVE A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE CEMETERY, BEGINNING WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT

THAT BEGAN IN 1859.   SUPT. HACKER THEN GAVE A 30 MINUTE PRESENTATION ON A PLAN TO POUR 18 INCH WIDE CONTINUOUS CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS THAT WOULD RUN ACROSS THREE SECTIONS OF WEST LAWN ADDITION TO SOUTH MOUND CEMETERY. HE PRESENTED BAGS OF SOIL FOR THE COUNCIL TO SEE HOW POOR THE SOIL IS IN WEST LAWN.  THE CONSISTENCY AND COLOR OF THE SAMPLES FROM SECTIONS IN WEST LAWN ADDITION REVEALED THE NEED FOR EXTRA STABILITY THERE, FOR SAFETY REASONS AGAINST CAVE-INS AND COLLAPSES AND WOULD DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT ON MAINTENANCE.

        COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID HE WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF THE CONTINUOUS FOUNDATION IF PEOPLE HAD THE OPTION OF BUYING NORMAL PLOTS.

        SUPERINTENDENT HACKER SAID PEOPLE WOULD HAVE THAT OPTION.  HE SAID THAT THE CEMETERY WOULD POUR ONE ROW AT A TIME, USING REVENUE FROM THE EXISTING ROW TO PAY FOR THE NEXT.  HE SAID THE FOUNDATIONS WOULD BE AT GROUND LEVEL AND WOULD ALSO CREATE A MORE UNIFORM APPEARANCE FOR THE CEMETERY.  HE ADDED THAT FAMILIES WOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEIR MONUMENTS TO BE PLACED.

       SUPT. HACKER SAID THE CITY WOULD SELL PLOTS ALONG THE FOUNDATION FOR $250.00 EXTRA.  HE SAID THAT AMOUNT IS LESS THAN WHAT MOST COMPANIES CHARGE TO POUR INDIVIDUAL FOUNDATIONS AND THE FOUNDATIONS COULD PRODUCE $10,000.00 EXTRA PER ROW FOR THE CITY.  HE SAID THE CONTINUOUS FOUNDATIONS ARE A NECESSITY FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CEMETERY.

       COUNCILMAN KOGER EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE FOUNDATIONS THAT ARE THERE NOW; THEY WERE PUT IN WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE COUNCIL.

       SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE TOTALLY IN FAVOR OF THE CONTINUOUS FOUNDATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE OPTION WAS OFFERED.

       COUNCILMAN REID THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA FOR A PUBLIC HEARING SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE COULD BE INFORMED AND THEY COULD COME AND GIVE THEIR OPINION.

       COUNCILMAN KOGER SAID THAT WOULD ALSO GIVE THEM THE OPTION OF BUYING NOW.

       CITY ATTORNEY COPENHAVER WILL PREPARE A DRAFT FOR COUNCIL TO STUDY.

       MAYOR SMALL ASKED THE PUBLIC FOR COMMENTS.

       GREG YORK, WEARLY MONUMENTS, STATED THAT THERE WERE PROS AND CONS.  HE SAID THESE FOUNDATIONS ARE USED IN FLORDIA SO THAT THEY WON'T HAVE TO BE REPLACED.  HE SAID CONCRETE IS HARD AND IT CRACKS.  THIS WILL STABILIZE THE GROUND.  HE LIKED THE IDEA OF CHOICE AND TO BE ABLE TO PUT UP A HEADSTONE RIGHT AWAY.

       REX PECKINPAUGH, SCHOOL TEACHER, FELT IT WOULD BE DURABLE AND PEOPLE WOULD BE HAPPY WITH IT.

       COUNCILMAN REID SAID GROUND LEVEL MAKES SENSE AND THE OPTION IN ANOTHER SECTION IS GOOD.  HE THOUGHT A WAIVER SHOULD BE SIGNED.

       ALLEN BRAMLET, CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRAT CENTRAL COMMITTEE, STATED THAT CONTINUOUS POURED FOUNDATIONS WOULD BE GREAT.

 

PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO ADJOURN.

COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND