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City Council Meeting Minutes - 4/4/2011

COMMON COUNCIL 

APRIL 4, 2011      7:00 P.M.

 

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS GIVEN BY EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE.

PRAYER WAS GIVEN BY DALE COLE, MEMORIAL BAPTIST 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 PROCLAMATION, PROCLAMING THE MONTH OF APRIL, 2011, AS MONTH OF THE YOUNG CHILD.  THE WEEK OF APRIL 10 TO APRIL 16, 2011, IS PROCLAMED AS THE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD.

 

ORDINANCE #3620
AMENDING SALARY ORDINANCE #3610 (UTILITY CLERKS) WAS READ BY TITLE ONLY ON SECOND READING BY SANDY YORK.

      PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING.  COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND

       DISCUSSION:  NORMA DISHMAN, 645 S. 11TH ST., STATED SHE DIDN'T THINK ANYONES SALARY SHOULD COME FROM THE STORM WATER FUND.  SHE ASKED WHY THE WATER FUND WAS IN TROUBLE.

       MAYOR SMALL SAID HE WOULD NOT SAY THAT WATER IS IN TROUBLE, BUT, THE UTILITY WOULD HAVE LOTS OF MONEY IF FEES WERE RAISED.  WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME.  WE ARE TRYING REDUCTION IN FORCE AND OTHER MEASURERS. 

       MRS. DISHMAN SAID WHEN TOM NIPP WAS MAYOR; HE HAD TO RAISE THE RATE.  HE HAD TO.  SHE SAID SHE WAS ALL FOR THAT.  COUNCIL WAS TO REVIEW EVERY FOUR YEARS.  WE PAID $35,000.FOR A STUDY.  SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT IF COUNCIL RAISED THE RATE, IT MIGHT HAVE TO BE HIGHER THAN EXPECTED.  SHE DISCUSSED THE SALARY SPLIT IN THE WATER OFFICE AND DIDN'T THINK IT SHOULD BE DONE, COMING FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

        MAYOR SMALL ASKED WHAT DEPARTMENTS.

        MRS. DISHMAN SAID THE 8% OUT OF THE STORM WATER FEE.

        ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THAT THESE PERCENTAGES REPRESENT ACTUAL USE OF CLERICAL PERSONNEL BY THE RESPECTIVE UTILITIES.  ASSUMING THAT ALL OUR UTILITIES ARE FINE FINANCIALLY, THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE RECOMMENDED BECAUSE IT REFLECTS THE PORTION USE OF SERVICES BY THE UTILITIES.  THE BILLING STAFF IS UTILIZED BY ALL OF OUR UTILITIES.  THIS ALLOCATES THE STAFFS COST, BASED UPON BILLING USE, TO THE UTILITY THAT USE THAT STAFF.  THIS IS NOT DESIGNED TO RAISE MORE REVENUE.  IT WILL ALLOCATE THE COST FOR THE EXPENSE BETWEEN THE GROUPS THAT UTILIZE THAT EXPENSE.  IT USE TO BE 50% AND 50%.  SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN ANTIQUATED BECAUSE WHAT WAS DONE 50-50 DID NOT HAVE THE STORM WATER UTILITY AND SANITARY UTILITY THAT ALSO USES THE CLERICAL  SERVICES.  THIS WILL NOT BRING ANY MORE MONEY IN TO THE CITY.

IT JUST PORPORTIONATES THE EXPENSE BASED UPON THE USERS OF THAT SERVICE.

        MRS. DISHMAN ASKED WHAT KIND OF SERVICES?

       ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THEY SEND OUT ALL THE BILLINGS. 

        COUNCILMAN REID SAID THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CLERICAL OVERHEAD ASSOCIATED WITH THE UTILITIES.  JUST BECAUSE IT IS ON A COMPUTER DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE IS NO STAFF COST WITH THAT.  YOU STILL HAVE TO CHECK ALL THE BILLS, THERE ARE ADJUSTMENTS AND ALL THE MONEY THAT IS CREDITED TO THE ACCOUNT HAS TO BE MANUALLY DONE.  THERE ARE REPORTS THAT HAVE TO BE MANUALLY PERFORMED THAT TELL THE COMPUTER TO DO X OR Y, AND PREPARE THE BILLS FOR THE NEXT TIME.  THERE IS A RECONCILING PROCESS THAT HAS TO OCCUR.  THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OVERHEAD.  HE SAID HE THOUGHT THERE WAS TWO SEPARATE ISSUES HERE.  IT IS EASY TO GET THEM CONFUSSED.  #1.  HAS THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE CREATION OF THE STORM WATER UTILITY AND NOW THE CREATION OF THE SANITARY UTILITY.  BEING FAIR, HOW THEY ALLOCATE THE COST OF THE UTILITY OFFICE WHICH IS CHARGED WITH COLLECTING THOSE FEES AND KEEPING TRACT WITH THE RECONCILING OF THE REVENUE AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.  #2.  HE SAID HIS PERSONAL OPINION, WE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE ADVICE OF THOSE WHO DID THE RATE STUDY, EVEN IF WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECESSION, WE SHOULD HAVE DONE SOME SORT OF RATE INCREASE TO ADJUST FOR THE THREE YEARS THAT HAVE PASSED.  THE ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL DID DECIDE THAT BECAUSE THE ECONOMY WAS SO BAD, WE KNEW OTHER CUTS WERE COMING, AND OTHER CHARGES WERE GOING TO HAVE TO COME ON, AND KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED ON THE PROPERTY TAX SIDE, NO ORDINANCE NEVER MADE IT TO A PRESENTSTION IN A COUNCIL MEETING.  HE SAID WITH THAT SAID, IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IS SOMETHING GOING TO HAVE TO BE DONE, THT WOULD BE THE THING TO DO, SOONER THE BETTER BECAUSE, LIKE MOST PEOPLE I'D RATHER SEE SMALLER INCREASES THAN A BIG ONE.

        ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THAT SINCE THE CITY IS IURC REGULATED, WHICH COUNCIL CHOSE NOT TO OPT OUT.  WHEN YOU ARE IURC REGULATED, THEN YOU HAVE TO PRESENT A CASE TO THE IURC.  THERE ARE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, THE RATE COUNCIL, YOUR ACCOUNTANTS, FILING FEES AND CHARGES BY THE IURC.  THAT IS ONE REASON TO OPT OUT.  WHAT COUNCIL AT THAT TIME WAS THEY WANTED THE IURC TO CONTINUE TO REVIEW OUR RATES?  HE SAID IT WAS IRONIC BECAUSE HE HAD FOUND THE PRESSURE OF THE CITIZENARY TO KEEP RATES LOW ON OUR LOCAL COUNCIL IS MUCH GREATER THAN ANY PRESSURE THAN CAN BE PLACED ON THE IURC.  MOST LOCAL UTILITIES UNDER CHARGE.  MOST PRIVATE UTILITIES CHARGE MORE.  THAT IS THE NATURE OF THE BEAST.  HE SAID IF A UTILITY IS PRIVATIZED, IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE IURC.

         SHERMAN BOLES, 2813 CHERRYWOOD AVENUE, SAID HE HOPED THAT THE CITY WOULD DROP OUT OF THE IURC.  HE SAID THE IURC DOES NOTHING FOR THE CITY ACCEPT COSTS THE CITY ABOUT $50,000.00 WHEN WE GO TO DO ANY KIND OF RAISE.  HE SAID AS FORMER MAYOR, HE LOWERED THE SEWER RATE 10% WHEN IT WAS NOT A REGULATED IURC UTILITY.  HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO THAT WITH THE WATER BUT WE DIDN'T DROP OUT IN TIME AND THE COST WAS SO MUCH.  HE SAID HE HAD A FIRM, CROWE CHEZIC, THAT WANTED TO COME IN AND WANTED HIM TO HIRE THEM.  HE SAID HE WOULD LET THEM KNOW WHEN HE NEEDED THEM.  HE SAID HE LOST THE ELECTION, AND MIKE HARKLESS OF CROWE CREZIC CAME IN HERE AND TOLD YOU WHAT A TERRIBLE SHAPE THIS UTILITY WAS IN.  HE SAID THEY WILL ALWAYS DO THAT.  IF THEY DON'T TELL YOU THAT, THEY DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY.  HE SAID HARKLESS WOULD HAVE TO GET A REAL JOB IF HE DIDN'T COME OVER HERE AND TELL YOU HOW BROKE WE ARE AND HOW TELL YOU HOW AWFUL OUR UTILITY WAS, HE HAVE TO GET HIM A JOB TO LIVE ON.  INSTEAD HE TELLS YOU THAT, YOU BELIEVE IT, AND HE GETS A HUGH, HUGH PERCENTAGE.  THE IURC DOES NOTHING FOR YOU.  HE SAID IF PROPER RECORDS ARE KEPT, AND HE WAS SURE THERE WAS, AND ANOTHER GUY RUNS THE PLACE LIKE IT SHOULD BE, YOU CAN KNOW WHAT THE FINANCIAL SHAPE YOUR UTILITIES IS IN.  YOU SAY NIPP RAISED THE RATE BECAUSE HE HAD TO.  HE SAID IT WASN'T BECAUSE HE DIDN'T LEAVE HIM ANY MONEY.  HE SAID HE LEFT SEVEN AND ONE HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN THE UTILITY FUND.  HE SAID HE WOULD BET ANYBODY A THOUSAND DOLLARS

IF THEY COULD PROVE HIM DIFFERENT.  HE SAID HE DIDN'T THINK AN ORDINANCE ON ETHICS WHICH WAS PROPOSED BY JOHN NIPP WASN'T NECESSARY.  HE SAID THE STATE IS GOOD AT THAT.  THEY RUN A TIGHT SHIP.  THERE IS ENOUGH REGULATIONS.

       MR. BOLES ALSO COMMENTED ON HAVING SOMETHING TO HONOR OUR  NEW CASTLE GRADUATES THAT ARE PLAYING BASKETBALL TONIGHT AS THE" BUTLER BULLDOGS."

       MAYOR SMALL SAID A PARADE IS BEING PLANNED FOR DARNELL ARCHIE, CHASE STIGALL AND ZACH HAHN.  HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW FOR SURE WHEN THIS WOULD BE BUT THERE WILL BE NOTIFICATION IN THE PAPER.

ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE                PASSED ORDERED.

 

PRESIDENT YORK MADE THE MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND READ ORDINANCE #3620 ON THIRD AND FINAL READING.   COUNCILADY MALONE: SECOND

ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE.                   SUSPENDED

 

ORDINANCE #3620
AMENDING SALARY ORDINANCE #3610 (UTILITY CLERKS) WAS READ BY TITLE ONLY ON THIRD AND FINAL READING BY SANDY YORK.

      PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS  ORDINANCE#3620.   COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND

ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE.                  PASSED AND ORDERED.

 

COUNCIL REPORTS:

PRESIDENT YORK%u2026%u2026.SAID SHE HAD A COUPLE OF LOCATIONS WHERE SHE WANTED TO BUILDING COMMISSIONER TO TAKE A LOOK AT.  ON THE CORNER WHERE GRAND AVE. AND A AVE. AND 18TH ST COME TOGETHER, THERE IS A LITTLE APARTMENT BUILDING THERE AND IT IS OPEN NOW AND SHE WAS AFRAID OF PEOPLE GETTING IN THERE AND SOMEONE GETTING HURT.  IT IS VACANT AND IN BAD SHAPE.  SHE ALSO ASKED ABOUT THE STATUS ABOUT THE OLD TWILIGHT ON 19TH ST.

DEMOLISH LIST.  SAME WITH THE HOUSE RIGHT BEHIND THE OPEN ARMS CHURCH.

      ATTORNEY COPENHAVER ASKED PRESIDENT YORK TO CALL HIM.  HE SAID HE HAD SEVERAL LAW SUITS PENDING.  HE WILL CHECK AND GIVE AN ANSWER.

 

COUNCILMAN KIDD%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026SAID THERE WAS A VERY LOW SPOT ON MICHIGAN STREET AND WATER STANDS.

       COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE LIVES ALONG THIS STREET AND BELIEVES THERE IS A STORM SEWER AT THE BASE OF THE DIP AND HE THOUGHT IT GETS CLOGGED UP A LOT OF TIMES.  NEEDS TO BE CLEANED OUT.  HE SAID IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. HE SAID THE VACTOR TRUCK DOES COME THERE 3 OR 4 TIMES A YEAR.  HE BELIEVED IT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED OUT.

       COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID THERE ARE SOME PINE TREES AND THAT MIGHT BE WHAT IS CAUSING THE SINK HOLE TO FILL UP.

 

COUNCILADY MALONE%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026SHE SAID THERE IS A HOUSE THAT SITS ON THE CORNER OF OHIO ST. AND 25TH ST. AND A DUMPSTER HAS SET THERE ALL WINTER.  NOW THERE IS A SECOND DUMPSTER.   WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THAT HOUSE?  SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE CITY WAS PAYING RENT ON THOSE DUMPSTERS. 

       ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID NO PAYMENT WAS BEING PAID FOR THOSE DUMPSTERS.  HE SAID SOMEONE WOULD CHECK THIS OUT.

 

COUNCILMAN KOGER%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026.MAIN AND BUNDY, ON THE EAST SIDE, THE HOUSE NORTH OF THE APARTMENTS, IS THERE A DRAIN THERE.  WATER IS STILL STANDING AFTER FOUR HOURS AND THE HEAVY RAIN.  SOMEBODY WILL CHECK.

        MAYOR SMALL SAID THAT THIS MORNING, FROM THAT LOCATION, NORTH TO INDIANA,  AND SOUTH MAIN STREET,  THERE WERE FOUR IN A ROW AND ONE AS DEEP AS THE OTHER.

        COUNCILMAN KOGER SAID HE THOUGHT THE DRAIN WAS COLLAPSED.

        MAYOR SMALL SAID THAT HE AND MR. YORK WERE DRIVING AROUND AND SAW SO MUCH HIGH WATER.  HE SAID MR. YORK THOUGHT THE SYSTEM WAS OVER LOADED.  THE FACT ALL FOUR WERE FLOODED IT TELLS YOU NOT JUST ONE IS PLUGGED UP.

 

COUNCILMAN REID%u2026%u2026%u2026.NORTH 16TH STREET, ABOUT ALONG SPRING ST., THERE IS A STORM DRAIN...  FOR A WHILE IN DIDN'T HAVE A TOP ON IT, JUST A BIG HOLE.  IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR A MONTH OR TWO WITH  BARRICADES.  IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS DAMAGED.  HIS CONCERN WAS WITH THE SPRING RAINS, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEDESTRIANS DOWN THERE.  SOMEBODY COULD GET HURT.

       ALSO, THE DOWNSPOUT AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS BROKEN STRAPS.

 

COUNCILMAN HAHN%u2026%u2026%u2026..WISHED BUTLER BEST OF LUCK. HE THOUGHT SOME THING SHOULD BE DONE TO SHOW OUR BACKING OF THESE 3 ROLL MODELS.   NEW CASTLE IS MENTIONED CONSTANTLY OVER THE TV BECAUSE OF THEM.

 

PUBLIC:

CAROL GOODWIN, 214 RILEY ROAD, ASKED IF ANY OF THESE PROPERTIES MENTIONED TONIGHT, WERE THEY IN THE AUCTION.

      ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THEY COULD HAVE BEEN.  MOST HAVE DELINQUENT TAXES.  HIS SUSPICIONS, THEY WERE IN THE AUCTION.  DEMOLITION IS INDEPENDENT OF THE AUCTION.  IF SOMEONE BUYS IT AT AN AUCTION AND TEARS IT DOWN, THAT TAKES CARE OF IT

      SHE ASKED ABOUT THE ORDINANCE ON THE CEMETERY FOUNDATIONS.

      PRESIDENT YORK SAID THEY HOPED IN WOULD BE ON THE AGENDA IN MAY.

 

TOM WILLIS%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026.SAID DRAINAGE ON N. 20TH STREET WAS VERY BAD.  HE SAID SINCE CLOUSE PUT IN THAT ADDDITION, ACROSS FROM WILBUR WRIGHT SCHOOL, THE WATER COVERS THE ROAD AND STANDS FOR A LONG TIME.  SOMEONE NEEDS TO CHECK THIS OUT.

      
COUNCILMAN REID%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026ASKED ABOUT THE CRESCENT CREEK SITUATION.  HAS THERE BEEN ANY PROGRESS TO A SOLUTION?  

ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE WORKING.  HE SAID THERE WERE SO MANY PROBLEMS; IT IS GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME.  HE SAID TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, ANSWERS TO SOME OF THE PROBLEMS IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME.  HE SAID HE ASKED THE SAME QUESTION.  HE SAID THEY HAD MET WITH THE COUNTY SURVEYOR, TALKED ABOUT THE DRAINAGE.  THE BRIDGE IS THE BIG PROBLEM.  IT IS PRIVATELY OWNED.  THEY DID SOME WORK ON THE ROAD.   WE HAD SOME PLANNING WORK DONE TO EXTEND SEWERS TO THOSE HOMES THAT ARE IN THE CITY LIMITS IN THAT AREA THAT ARE NOT ON SEWERS.  YES, THEY ARE WORKING ON IT.  A QUICK FIX IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

 
 
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO ADJOURN.

COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND