The City of New Castle, Indiana

BOARD OF WORKS      

JUNE 1, 2009       10:00 A.M.

 

 

MAYOR SMALL OPENED THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF WORKS AND SAFETY.

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS GIVEN BY ALL IN ATTENDANCE.

PRAYER WAS GIVEN BY STEVE HACKER.

 

MAYOR SMALL MOVED TO APPROVE ALL CITY, WATER, SEWER AND PAYROLL CLAIMS DATED MAY 26, 2009 THRU JUNE 1, 2009.     ATTORNEY COPENHAVER: SECOND.   WATER SUPERINTENDENT ENGLAND: AYE  AYE VOTE: 3-0

 

"N" AVE. DRAINAGE ISSUE - DAVE MILLER, 2315 N AVE., APPEARED BEFORE THE BOARD ABOUT A DRAINAGE PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR SOMETIME CAUSING RAIN WATER THAT COMES OFF THE FIELDS, THAT IS OWNED BY THE COUNTY, STANDS IN HIS YARD AND HAS COME INTO HIS HOME.  HE SAID A LEVY THAT HAD BEEN BUILT GAVE WAY AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE EXCEPT TO PUT OUT SANDBAGS.  HE ASKED FOR HELP.

     SUPT. ENGLAND SAID A DIKE WAS BUILT, BUT THE VOLUME OF WATER, CAUSED THAT MANMADE EMBANKMENT TO GIVE OUT. THE WATER COMING FROM THE COUNTY PROPERTY CAUSED THE

DIKE TO GIVE WAY. 

     ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THERE WAS NO QUESTION THE NATURAL FLOW OF WATER CREATES A REAL HARDSHIP THERE AND OUR STORM SEWERS ARE NOT ADEQUATE TO TAKE THAT MUCH WATER AWAY.  HE SAID THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE ANNEXATION.  IT PROBABLY WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE BUT NOW BECOMES A PROBLEM FOR US TO DEAL WITH.

      ATTORNEY COPENHAVER MADE THE MOTION TO AUTHORIZE BOBBY YORK, MS4 COORDINATOR OF THE WASTEWATER POLLUTION CONTROL PLANT AND ED HILL, GIS COORDINATOR TO MEET WITH THE COUNTY SURVEYOR AND MEET WITH THE DRAINAGE BOARD TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO DEAL WITH THIS.

SUPT. ENGLAND: SECOND       MAYOR SMALL: AYE               AYE VOTE: 3-0

 

 

TROY KENDAL, GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH APPEARED BEFORE THE BOARD REQUESTING THE BOARD GIVE PERMISSION FOR THE CHURCH BE ALLOWED TO GIVE FREE BOTTLES OF WATER TO THE WALKERS AROUND BAKER PARK.  HE SAID THE CHURCH WAS PUTTING AN ADVERTISEMENT STRIP ON THE BOTTLES, TELLING OF THE CHURCH AND ITS ACTIVITIES, BEGINNING JUNE 11, 2009.

     ATTORNEY COPENHAVER MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE GIVING OUT FREE BOTTLES OF WATER.  HE ALSO SAID A TRASH CONTAINER FOR THE EMPTY BOTTLES SHOULD BE THERE.  THE CHURCH SPOKESMAN AGREED.

SUPT. ENGLAND: SECOND       MAYOR SMALL: AYE               AYE VOTE: 3-0

 

 

NAMING STRUKEL FIELD - MAYOR SMALL SAID HE WAS PRIVILEGED TO HAND A PLAQUE TO A LADY, SALLY STRUKEL, WHO FOR THE LAST 33 YEARS HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THE GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE IN OSBORNE PARK.  HE SAID SHE THREW OUT THE FIRST PITCH.  MANY TEAMS WERE THERE OF YOUNGSTERS.  ONE OF OUR BETTER SPORTS PROGRAMS.  THE GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE HAS A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE ON A YEARLY BASIS, AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED, TO MAINTAIN THE DIAMONDS THERE.  HE SAID THE LEAGUE HAS COME WITH A REQUEST FROM THE BOARD TO CHANGE THE DIAMOND FROM OSBORNE FIELD TO STRUKEL FIELD.  THIS WILL NOT CHANGE THE PARKS NAME FROM OSBORNE PARK.

     ATTORNEY COPENHAVER MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE REQUEST TO NAME ONE OF THE DIAMONDS TO STRUKEL DIAMOND.     SUPT. ENGLAND: SECOND         MAYOR SMALL: AYE             AYE VOTE: 3-0

 

 FORGIVING CITY LIENS PARCELS 030-31195 AND 030-31196-00 - ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THAT WESTMINSTER HAD BOUGHT THESE PARCELS AND THEY HAVE LIENS FOR MOWING ON THEM. 

     SUPT. ENGLAND SAID THAT IN THE PAST, ANY FORGIVING OF LIENS, PERTAINING TO MOWING, WAS TO ANY PREVIOUS YEARS WAS EXCUSED.  ANY MOWING DONE IN THE CURRENT YEAR WAS NOT.

     ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THAT LIENS ATTACHED THIS YEAR FOR CURRENT MOWING THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY.  HE ASKED IF THIS ALSO INCLUDED OLD SEWER LIENS.

     MAYOR SMALL MOVED TO TABLE THE REQUEST PENDING FURTHER INVESTIGATION.      SUPT. ENGLAND: SECOND         ATTORNEY COPENHAVER: AYE       AYE VOTE: 3-0

 

 SALARY ADJUSTMENT PARKS SUPERINTENDENT AND STREET FOREMAN - MAYOR SMALL SAID THAT THE PARK ASSISTANT WILL BE REDUCED TO $1,200.00 BI-WEEKLY.  THAT IS FOR THE POOL MANAGER WHO IS FILLING THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT PARK SUPERINTENDENT.

      MAYOR SMALL SAID HE WAS MAKING THAT AS A MOTION.  THIS WILL BE FOR THE TIME OF 5/15 TO 9/15, 2009.

ATTORNEY COPENHAVER: SECOND   SUPT. ENGLAND; AYE.         AYE VOTE; 3-0.

 

MAYOR SMALL MADE THE MOTION TO LOWER THE STREET FOREMAN'S PAY TO $720.00 BI-WEEKLY, TO BE PAID BY THE GENERAL FUND, PUBLIC WORKS, TO FRANK RITCHIE FOR CONCRETE WORK THAT HAS BEEN PAID FOR BY THE HOMEOWNERS SHARE.  THIS WILL RUN FROM 6/1/ TO6/26, 2009.     ATTORNEY COPENHAVER: SECOND    SUPT. ENGLAND: AYE         AYE VOTE: 3-0

 

 

TUSCAN HEIGHTS DRAINAGE ISSUE - PAUL GILLOCK,  2700 LYNDALE HEIGHTS, APPEARED BEFORE THE BOARD REQUESTING HELP WITH DRAINAGE ON HIS PROPERTY.  HE SAID EVERY TIME A NEW HOME IS BUILT IN THE HEIGHTS IT MAKES DRAINAGE WORSE.

     MAYOR SMALL SAID THIS IS ANOTHER PROBLEM HAWS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS.   HE SAID MR. GILLOCK HAD BEEN TO THE UTILITY IMPACT BOARD MEETINGS SEVERAL TIMES.

     MR. GILLOCK GAVE A RUNDOWN OF WHAT HE HAS GONE THROUGH THE PAST FOUR YEARS.  HE SAID THERE WERE NO STREET DRAINS IN THE TUSCAN HEIGHTS.  ALL THE WATER GOES INTO A VALLEY. HE SAID THERE WAS A STORM DRAIN IN HIS BACK YARD WHICH PRETTY MUCH HANDLED THE WATER COMING FROM THAT AREA.  EACH HOME BEING BUILT, IT BECAME MORE DIFFICULT FOR THAT DRAIN TO HANDLE THE WATER.  WHEN THE STATE DID WORK ON 103, THEY WENT BEHIND HIS PROPERTY AND CLEANED OUT ALL THE WOODS THAT SLOWED THE WATER DOWN.  NOW IT FLOWS VERY FAST ONTO HIS PROPERTY.  THE CITY HAS SEPARATED THE COMBINATION DRAIN.  THIS WAS NOT SUFFICIENT.  A SECOND DRAIN WAS PUT IN, A LARGER ONE WHICH WAS NOT SUFFICIENT.  THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WATER COMING DOWN ON HIM AND IT IS VERY CLOSE TO COMING INTO HIS BASEMENT.  IT IS ALSO CAUSING A PROBLEM IN FRONT OF HIS PROPERTY NOW.  HE SAID THE WATER LIES THERE CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD FOR CHILDREN WHO MIGHT TRY TO PLAY IN IT.  THERE IS ALSO SOIL EROSION.  HE SAID GRASS WON'T GROW IN HIS YARD BECAUSE OF SO MUCH WATER.  HE OFFERED HIS PROPERTY TO BE USED TO HELP OUT WITH DRAINAGE.

MAYOR SMALL SAID THIS IS A CASE WHERE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY HAS CHANGES THE FLOW OF THE LAND.

     ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THE BOARD SHOULD DO THE SAME THING AS THEY DID ON THE OTHER ONE.  WE NEED TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT IS THE BEST COST SOLUTION IS.

     SUPT. ENGLAND MOVED TO AUTHORIZE MS4 BOBBY YORK TO FIND A SOLUTION AND COST AND REPORT BACK ON THE JUNE 15^TH BOARD OF WORKS MEETING.     ATTORNEY COPENHAVER: SECOND       MAYOR SMALL: AYE           AYE VOTE: 3-0

 

INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH MOORELAND - MS4 BOBBY YORK SAID THEY NEEDED PERMISSION.  MOORELAND WANTS THE STREETS SWEPT TWICE A YEAR. 

     ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID IT WAS A WONDERFUL IDEA THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THEM.  HE ASKED ABOUT PAYMENT.

     MR. YORK SAID YES THEY WOULD PAY US.

     ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THAT SHOULD BE IN WRITING.

     ATTORNEY COPENHAVER MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NEW CASTLE WATER POLLUTION AND THE TOWN OF MOORELAND.      MAYOR SMALL: SECOND          SUPT. ENGLAND: AYE                      AYE VOTE; 3-0

 

EXECUTIVE ORDER RE; SHARING OF PERSONNEL BETWEEN NCFD AND NCEMS - EMS DIRECTOR BURNS SAID TIM WELCH WAS BEING REASSIGNED TO THE EMERGENCY UNIT FROM THE NEW CASTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.  PARAMEDIC WELCH WILL WORK AT THE UNIT AS A PARAMEDIC BUT WILL STILL BE MAINTAINED AS A FIREMAN.  PARAMEDIC WELCH WILL BE HELPING TO FILL THE VACANCIES AT THE UNIT.

     MAYOR SMALL READ THE EXECUTIVE ORDER GIVING AUTHORIZATION FOR THE REASSIGNMENT.

 

MAYOR SMALL COMMENTED THAT AFSCME WAS NOT THE ONLY DEPARTMENT THAT WAS SUFFERING.  HE SAID THAT THROUGH ATTRITION THE POLICE, FIRE AND EMS HAVE SUFFERED TOO.

 

STREET DEPARTMENT ROOFING PROPOSAL - RANDY HOWARD, HOWARD HOME IMPROVEMENTS, SAID THAT HE HAD INSPECTED THE ROOFING AT THE STREET DEPARTMENT ON MIDWAY DRIVE.  HE SAID HE HAD PICTURES AND A PROPOSAL OF $7,320.00.  THERE WAS A LOT OF WATER DAMAGE.

     ATTORNEY COPENHAVER ASKED IF MR. HOWARD WAS RELATED TO ANYONE ON THE BOARD OF WORKS OR ANY ONE IN CITY GOVERNMENT.

     MR. HOWARD SAID NO.

     ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THAT THE PROPOSAL WAS CERTAINLY UNDER THE AMOUNT OF WHAT WE NEED IN COMPETITIVE BIDDING. 

     STREET SUPERINTENDENT AYERS SAID MR. HOWARD DOES QUALITY WORK AND DID VOLUNTEER WORK AT THE PARK SHELTER HOUSE.

     MAYOR SMALL MOVED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSAL.     ATTORNEY COPENHAVER: SECOND       SUPT. ENGLAND: AYE          AYE VOTE; 3-0

 

 

SOUTH INDUSTRIAL PARK SEWER PAYMENT - MAYOR SMALL SAID THIS WAS A REQUEST FOR PAYMENT #4 TO PRITCHETT'S BACKHOE SERVICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $69,260.00.

     SUPT. ENGLAND MOVED TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT.   ATTORNEY COPENHAVER: SECOND              MAYOR SMALL: AYE         AYE VOTE: 3-0

 

 ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THE MUCH PUBLICIZED OF PURCHASE OF NEW EQUIPMENT.  HE TOLD MAYOR SMALL THAT HE KNEW A LOT OF RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS.  HE SAID HE HAD RECEIVED DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW THAT THE CITY OF SEYMOUR IN FACT BID THIS PROJECT AND AWARDED THE BID TO THE LOW BIDDER WHICH WAS BEST EQUIPMENT.  WE ARE BY STATUTE ENTITLED TO PURCHASE UNDER THAT.

     ATTORNEY COPENHAVER MADE THE MOTION TO AUTHORIZE MAYOR SMALL TO DETERMINE THE BEST SOURCE OF LEASE FINANCING TO ACQUIRE THIS EQUIPMENT UNDER THE TERMS OF THE SEYMOUR BID.  ANY LEASE WOULD HAVE TO BE ANNUAL PAYMENTS THAT WERE ALREADY BUDGETED FOR. IT SHOULD CONTAIN A PROVISION THAT IF THE CITY SHOULD NOT MAKE A LEASE PAYMENT, THERE WOULD BE NO PENALTY TO THE CITY EXCEPT THE LOSS OF EQUIPMENT THAT IS A TYPICAL ARRANGEMENT.  THAT IS WHAT IS USED FOR EQUIPMENT.

     ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THE COST OF THE TWO TRUCKS WAS APPROXIMATELY $564,805.00.  $282,402.00 EACH.  THAT WAS THE LOW BID.  THIS WILL BE ON A LEASE AND THE CITY WILL PAY UNDER THE TERMS OF THE LEASE.  THE TIPPERS, THINGS THAT WILL BE ATTACHED TO OUR EXISTING TRUCKS, 2 OF THOSE WILL BE $14,000.00.  TRASH CANS, THE ESTIMATED COST $476,000.00.  THIS ALL WILL BE DONE BY LEASE PURCHASE.  THE NEGOTIATIONS OF THE LEASE PURCHASE HAVE NOT BEEN MADE YET.

    ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID HE HAD ALL THE BID DOCUMENTS FROM SEYMOUR TO PUT INTO THE CLERK-TREASURER'S RECORDS THAT SHOW THAT THEY WERE THE LOW BIDDER, ALONG WITH THE SPECS.  IT WAS COMPETITIVE BID.     SUPT. ENGLAND: SECOND                MAYOR SMALL: AYE              AYE VOTE: 3-0

 

 ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID HE HAD RECEIVED FROM THE NEW CASTLE/HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF AVIATION A REPORT THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO REPORT THEIR ACTIVITIES TO THE CITY AND COUNTY ANNUALLY.  THEY ARE ASKING FOR OUR APPROVAL OF THOSE.  THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED THOSE AT THEIR MEETING ON WEDNESDAY.  IT IS RECOGNITION OF THEIR DUTY AND DESIRE TO REPORT TO KEEP US ABREAST OF THEIR ACTIVITIES OF WHAT THEY DO.  THERE HAS NOT BEEN A FORMAL RECOGNITION OF THEM FOR SOME TIME.  THAT IS WHY THEY PREPARED IT.  THIS IS AFTER THE MEETING THEY HAD WITH THE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ON HOW BEST TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS.

      ATTORNEY COPENHAVER MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE REPORT AS SUBMITTED.    SUPT. ENGLAND: SECOND              MAYOR SMALL: AYE            AYE VOTE: 3-0

      ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID FOR THE CITY'S RECORDS, THEY PREPARED FOR THE COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR, A SUMMARY OF THE GRANTS, THE LOCAL MATCHES ARE AND WHAT THE GRANTS ARE FOR, AND WHAT THEIR PROGRESS IS.  THIS IS A PUBLIC RECORD.  ANY QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO MAURIE GOODWIN, PRESIDENT OF THE AVIATION BOARD.

 

HENRY COUNTY SHERIFF'S REPRESENTATIVE, OFFICER JAY DAVIS, APPEARED BEFORE THE BOARD STATING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ASKED ALONG WITH THE INMATES TO PROVIDE A COMMUNITY GARDEN.  THIS WOULD BENEFIT SOME OF THE LOCAL FOOD BANKS.  HE SAID THE LAND THAT THEY WANTED TO USE WAS FARM LAND AT THE F.O.P. LODGE LOCATED ON WEST, STATE RD. 38. 

     SUPT. ENGLAND MOVED TO APPROVE THE REQUEST.   ATTORNEY COPENHAVER; SECOND        MAYOR SMALL:AYE                 AYE VOTE: 3-0

 

MAYOR SMALL MOVED TO AMEND - FRANK RITCHIE WILL BE PAID FROM PUBLIC WORKS.  AT $720.00 BI-WEEKLY.