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Board of Works Meeting Minutes - 9/2/08

Disclaimer:  Official copies of the minutes from meetings of the Board of Public Works and the Common Council of the City of New Castle are available at the Clerk Treasurer's Office.  The minutes presented on the website do not include signatures and may not contain any amendments made at subsequent meetings.  Meeting minutes which may not be available on this website are available at the Clerk Treasurer's Office. 
 
 
Board of Works and Safety

September 2, 2008    10:00 A.M.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was given by all in attendance.

 Prayer was given by Bobby York.

 Mayor Small opened the Board of Works and Safety meeting

 

Director England moved to approve all payroll, city, water and sewer claims dated 8/25/08           to 9/ 2/08.

Attorney Copenhaver: second.                Mayor Small: aye                 Aye vote: 3-0    

 

Agenda:

 Tim Cross, president of the New Castle Girls Youth Softball League, appeared before the Board requesting that consideration be given to a lease, by the City, at the east end of Osborne Park, consisting of the concession stand, bathrooms and four ball diamonds.  The lease would be for long-term security for the New Castle Girls Youth Softball League.  Mr. Cross said that the parents of these girls are looking into ways of making improvements

to this area and make it a first rate facility with improvements to the drainage and the poles with lights be taken down and moved to the two east diamonds as soon as funds are available.  He said that they have tournaments which bring in 33 to 35 teams including families that will spend two to three days and spend their money in New Castle.  He said this would give people reasons to visit and help the economic impact on New Castle.  Mr. Cross said that the League will raise the money to do the improvements.  He said the city will not be asked to put any money into it.

           Mayor Small said that the board would like to discuss this further with Mr. Cross because there are several activities going on at the present time.

           Attorney Copenhaver made the motion to take the request under advisement.  Director England: second            Mayor Small: aye              Aye vote: 3-0

 

Director England moved to approve the application for payment #8 for R. L. Turner for work done at the Aquatic Center at Baker Park. This payment would be on Division B, the pool, in the amount of $140,544.00.  One hundred thousand would be from local funds and forty thousand, five hundred forty four dollars would come from Bond money.

Attorney Copenhaver: second         Mayor Small: aye              Aye vote; 3-0.

 

 
Department Heads:
Assistant Street Commissioner Denney announced that he had received a proposal from Jeff Harless, for fiberized crack sealant in several streets in New Castle.  The lump sum for this proposal is $18,039.78.

 

EMS Director Burns asked for prayers for the families of the three Emergency personnel that were killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday near Greensburg.  He said the three had been in New Castle lately for training with paramedics from New Castle.

 

Park Superintendent Ayers told the Board that when the girls softball league asked for more diamonds, they were told to chose the location which was south of existing diamonds in Baker Park.  The city did not want to do this but offered them the diamonds at Osborne Park and they could do whatever was needed.  They accepted and work was done and will continue to be done by the organization. 

 

Public:

Susan Thompson, Visitors Bureau, asked who she should contact about the football field or activities?

Attorney Copenhaver said that is why we took the request under advisement until we can sort all of this out and who is responsible.  

 

Ed Hager, 906 S. 14th St., commented on what a good job the police did when a hit and run was reported after a crash on south 14th street.  Mr. Hager asked why was the Catherine Winters Memorial was moved.  He said they couldn't find out where the approval came from the Board of Works, Cemetery or Park Boards.  He said that they feel that the people involved in that, this was not a short term thing.  This memorial has been worked on for years by the Cemetery Board and Preservation Board as to where it should go and what it should say.   The placement for this memorial was approved by the Cemetery Board.  Now, four years later, we see the monument moved without any knowledge to the public.  He said his concern was in tracing back to why it was moved and the placement where it is now.  He said they had to go through extensive efforts to get it placed where it was and now it is in a place where we don't know if there was proper approval.  He said there concern was what if the administration changes, what will happen?  Move again?

           Mayor Small said that monuments within the cemetery are at the discretion of the cemetery.  No body was exhumed and moved to another location without informing the public.  This is a much better site.  He said he didn't know that the public was so involved in the monument.  The motivation for the gentleman, who has put alot into that area, was not a self centered motivation, just wanted to make that area look nicer. He said if an apology needs to be made, he apologized. Mayor Small said that he knew Catherine Winters would be very pleased with where her monument is now and upset with all the negative comments surrounding this event.

           Director England stated that it was much easier to see the monument now where it was.

 

Director England moved for adjournment.

Attorney Copenhaver: second