Board of Works Meeting Minutes - 5/4/09
BOARD OF WORKS
MAY 4, 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.
DIRECTOR ENGLAND MOVED TO APPROVE ALL CITY, WATER, SEWER AND PAYROLL CLAIMS DATED APRIL 27, 2009 THRU MAY 4,, 2009. ATTORNEY COPENHAVER: SECOND. MAYOR SMALL: AYE AYE VOTE: 3-0
DIRECTOR ENGLAND ANNOUNCED THE BID AWARDS. HE SAID THE BIDS WERE OPENED LAST WEEK FOR MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT.
E&B PAVING - BITUMINOUS MATERIALS AND MILLING ASPECTS.
PRITCHETT'S BACKHOE-- SPECIFIED EQUIPMENT, CRUSHED STONE AND SAND.
DIRECTOR ENGLAND MOVED TO APPROVE THE BIDS AND BIDDERS.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER: SECOND MAYOR SMALL: AYE AYE VOTE: 3-0
MAYOR SMALL ANNOUNCED HE HAD HAPPY NEWS. HE SAID THE CITY HAD RECEIVED OVER 25 APPLICANTS FOR LIFE GUARDING AT THE AQUATIC SWIMMING POOL. HE SAID THAT 11 OF THOSE APPLICANTS WILL BE RETURNING FROM LAST YEAR.
MAYOR SMALL ANNOUNCED THAT HE ALSO HAD SOME NOT SO GOOD NEWS. HE SAID EVERYONE WAS AWARE OF THE CUT BACKS IN THE CITY. HE SAID THESE CUT BACKS HIT THE STREET DEPARTMENT VERY HEAVILY TO THE POINT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ENFORCE THE CURRENT ORDINANCE ON TRASH PICK UP. CURRENT ORDINANCE ON TRASH PICK UP ALLOWS THE CITY TO PICK UP TRASH ON CURB SIDE OR ALLEY, WHERE APPROPRIATE, IN CONTAINERS, WE ARE STILL LOOKING THE OTHER DIRECTION AT THIS TIME OF STUFF THAT IS IN A PLASTIC BAG. WE WILL PICK THAT UP ALSO. THE ORDINANCE ALSO ALLOWS THE CITY TO PICK UP BRUSH OR OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE BUNDLED TOGETHER AND A LENGTH NO MORE THAN THREE FEET IN LENGTH, TWO FEET IN DIAMETER, NO MORE THAT 75 POUNDS. HE SAID IF YOU HAVE OBJECTS THAT FIT INTO THAT GEOMETRY, WE WILL PICK IT UP, THIS INCLUDES BRUSH. NOW THIS MEANS, WE WILL NOT PICK UP PILES OF BRUSH SITTING AT CURB SIDE. WE DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO DO THAT AT THIS POINT NOR DO WE HAVE THE ORDINANCE ALLOWS FOR US TO DO THAT. SOFAS, REFRIGERATORS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, MATTRESSES, WERE FREE, HAVING BEEN PICKED UP, NOT HAVING AN ORDINANCE IN PLACE YET, TO ALLOW FOR THAT, WE WILL NOT BE PICKING THAT MATERIAL UP. IT WILL BE UP TO THE PUBLIC, IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING OTHER THAN BUNDLES, THE SIZE THAT HE DESCRIBED, OR REGULAR ROUTINE TRASH THAT WILL FIT IN CONTAINERS OR SEVERAL PLASTIC BAGS AT CURB SITE, WE WILL BE PICKING IT UP. WE WILL TRY TO GET A LIST OF VENDORS IN TOWN WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THAT. THAT IS HOW WE DID IT IN THE PAST UNTIL WE STARTED PICKING UP EVERYTHING FOR FREE. HE SAID IT WILL BE ON THE WEBSITE, PEOPLE YOU CAN CALL TO COME TO PICK UP YOUR TRASH. HE SAID HE HATED TO DO THIS BUT WE HAVE MAJOR DECISIONS TO MAKE AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM. WE WILL ENFORCE THE CURRENT ORDINANCE.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THAT THIS ORDINANCE WAS PART OF THE CITY CODE WHERE IT
DEALS WITH TRASH AND PICK UP.
BUILDING INSPECTOR RIGGS SAID IT WAS CHAPTER 93.25.
MAYOR SMALL SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T TAKE THE PAPER. THE ONLY WAY WE HAVE TO GET IT OUT RIGHT NOW IS THE MEDIA. NOTICES WILL ALSO BE SENT WITH THE UTILITY BILLS.
CLERK-TREASURER LAVARNWAY ASKED HOW SOON WILL THIS BE IN EFFECT.
MAYOR SMALL SAID IMMEDIATELY. HE SAID BY LAW, ALL THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO IS TO GIVE NOTICE BY THE NEWSPAPER. PRACTICALLY, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WON'T BE GETTING THE WORD FOR AWHILE. THEY WILL NOTICE THAT WHEN WE DON'T COME AND PICK UP THEIR MATTRESSES, SOFA, AND BRUSH PILES, HOPE THEIR NEIGHBORS WILL TELL THEM THE SAME.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THE CITY WILL BE LENIENT AS FAR AS CITING PEOPLE WHO VIOLATE THAT. IN ALL FAIRNESS, WE HAVE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW. WITHIN A MONTH OR SO, IF IT CONTINUES, THE PEOPLE WOULD BE CITIED FOR LITTERING IF THEY DON'T COMPLY.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID IF SOMEONE PUTS OUT A SOFA, WE DON'T PICK IT UP, THEY WOULD GET A NOTICE OF ABATEMENT OR A LETTER FROM THE BUILDING INSPECTOR'S OFFICE SAYING YOU HAVE TO GET RID OF THIS TRASH WHICH IS AGAINST CITY CODE. THAT WOULD BE SENT BEFORE A CITATION WOULD BE ISSUED. PEOPLE WOULD HAVE THE CHANCE TO CLEAN UP BEFORE GOING TO COURT.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THIS IS NOT A NEW LAW; WE ARE JUST ENFORCING THE ONE WE HAVE.
RUTH HAYWORTH SAID SHE GOT A CITATION FOR DANDELIONS AND GRASS GROWING ABOUT A FOOT TALL. SHE SAID SHE WAS NOT GOING TO PAY IT. SHE SAID SHE WOULD SEE THE AREA WAS CUT.
SHE WAS TOLD THAT SHE HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN A NOTICE NOT A CITATION AND DID NOT HAVE TO APPEAR IN COURT.
RON BURNS APPEARED BEFORE THE BOARD STATING THAT THE BABE RUTH BASEBALL FUND RAISER WILL BE COMING UP ON MAY 8TH AND 9TH. HE SAID THEY WERE GOING TO BE AT THE INTERSECTIONS AND ALSO GOING TO DOOR TO DOOR THIS YEAR. EVERY BALL PLAYER WILL HAVE ADULT SUPERVISION.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER MOVED TO APPROVE THE REQUEST FROM THE BABE RUTH BASEBALL ORGANIZATION.
DIRECTOR ENGLAND: SECOND MAYOR SMALL: AYE AYE VOTE: 3-0
PARK SUPERINTENDENT HACKER ANNOUNCED THAT THE MAXWELL SHELTER HOUSE IN BAKER PARK, THE ROOF HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY RANDY HOWARD'S ROOFING COMPANY. HE SAID ALL LABOR WAS DONATED. HE THANKED RANDY AND HIS WORKERS.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID HE HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE STATE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH ABOUT THE SWINE FLU. WE ARE NOT LIKE MEXICO.. NO ONE HAS DIED. IT IS A VIRUS THAT NONE OF US HAS IMMUNITY FOR. THIS IS A BRAND NEW VIRU8 AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE GOOD GERMS CELLS IN YOUR BODY TO FIGHT IT. IT CAN SPREAD VERY RAPIDLY AND WIPE OUT YOUR DEPARTMENTS. IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY IN YOUR DEPARTMENT OR WORKING FOR THE CITY, AND YOU THINK THEY ARE SICK, THEY SHOULD STAY HOME FOR 7 DAYS. DON'T GO TO THE DOCTOR OR ER RIGHT AWAY. YOU ARE CONTAGIOUS FOR 2 DAYS WITHOUT SYMPTOMS. THEN ANOTHER 5 DAYS AFTER YOU START SHOWING SYMPTOMS. THIS IS THE REAL DEAL. HE SAID THAT IS WHY THEY HAVE CLOSED THE SCHOOLS IN INDIANAPOLIS. HE SAID ONCE IT STARTS, NONE OF US HAVE THE RESISTANCE FOR THIS VIRUS. IT WILL GO RIGHT THROUGH. FLU IS THE 5TH LARGEST KILLER IN THE UNITED STATES. EVERY YEAR SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE DIE FROM INFLUENZA. CALL YOUR DOCTOR AND LET HIM TELL YOU WHAT TO DO.
DIRECTOR ENGLAND MOVED FOR ADJOURNMENT.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER: SECOND.
