Board of Works Meeting Minutes - 9/8/09
BOARD OF WORKS
SEPTEMBER 8, 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'S ASSISTANT JEANNA DAVIS MOVED TO APPROVE ALL CITY, WATER, SEWER AND PAYROLL CLAIMS DATED SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 THRU SEPTEMBER 8, 2009. MAYOR SMALL: SECOND. ATTORNEY COPENHAVER: AYE AYE VOTE: 3-0
PUBLIC:
SUSIE THOMPSON, VISITOR'S BUREAU, STATED THAT THEY WERE PUTTING TOGETHER A "WELCOME HOME TONY HOARD AND ROCKIN' RORY WHO WERE ELIMINATED FROM THE AMERICA'S GOT TALENT SHOW. THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE THIS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2009, AT THE NEW CASTLE MOTORSPORTS PARK, STARTING AT 6:00 P.M.. SHE SAID EVERY ONE WAS INVITED.
MAYOR SMALL ANNOUNCED THAT HE ATTENDED THE GROUND BREAKING FOR THE DOG PARK. THE PARK WILL BE WITHIN THE BAKER PARK. GRAND OPENING WILL BE IN OCTOBER AND FUNDED BY THE HUMANE SOCIETY. IT WILL NOT INVOLVE ANY TAX PAYERS MONEY.
JOHN HUCKABY, SAID HE HAD A CHALLENGE FOR MAYOR SMALL. HE ASKED THE MAYOR IF HE RECALLED THE FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE WHAT HIS MAIN AGENDA WAS.
MAYOR SMALL SAID TO CLEAN UP THE CITY.
MR. HUCKABY SAID THAT WAS RIGHT AND THAT WAS HIS CHALLENGER TO MAYOR SMALL. HE WAS CONCERNED WITH ALL THE DILAPIDATED HOMES IN NEW CASTLE. HE MENTIONED ONE HOME IN PARTICULAR THAT BELONGED TO THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE. HE SAID THIS PROPERTY WAS LOCATED ON WEST 38TH AND DUCK CREEK ROAD.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THAT THE CITY DOES LEASE LAND IN THAT VICINITY. MR. JIM MYERS HAS THE LEASE TO FARM GROUND WHICH BELONGS TO THE NEW CASTLE WATER DEPARTMENT.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THAT THERE IS A CONTRACT WITH MR. MYERS AND HE USES THE GROUND FOR PASTURE LAND AND IN RETURN, HE MOWS. THAT IS THE ARRANGEMENT. NO MONEY IS BEING EXCHANGED.
MR. HUCKABY SAID HIS CHALLENGE IS, FOLLOW THROUGH.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 350 HOUSES IN FORECLOSURE AND ABOUT 50 ON THE DEMOLITION LIST, AND ABOUT ANOTHER 150 THAT SHOULD BE ON THE LIST. PLANS TO DEMOLISH REQUIRE FUNDS IN WHICH TO DO IT. IF WE WERE TO CONTRACT IT OUT, IT WOULD GENERALLY RUN 7 TO 8 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO TEAR DOWN A ONE STORY HOUSE. WE HAVE A CONSTRUCTION CREW THAT WE ALSO USE FOR DECONSTRUCTION AND THEY CAN GENERALLY TEAR DOWN A HOUSE FOR ABOUT $1,500.00 TO $2,000.00. WHEN WE HAD THE FUNDING, WE STARTED DOING THAT. THIS YEAR IT CAME TO A HALT BECAUSE OF THE FUNDING. WE DON'T ONLY NOT HAVE THE MONEY, WE DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE TO DO IT.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER MOVED FOR ADJOURNMENT.
ASST. MAYOR DAVIS: SECOND.
