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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-16-2003 COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA JUNE 16, 2003 The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville met in regular session in the Multi- Purpose Meeting Room in the City County Building, Jeffersonville, Indiana at 7:30 p.m. on the 16th day of June 2003. Mayor Tom Galligan, called the meeting to order, with Deputy Clerk Lyrme Mayfield and Clerk Treasurer Peggy Wilder at the desk. Also present was City Attorney Anne Made Galligan. Mayor Galligan welcomed all in attendance, asking all those present to stand while Councilperson Grooms gave the invocation. Mayor Galligan then asked all those present to join him in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. The roll was called and those present were Councilpersons Les Merkley, Vickie Conlin, Ron Ellis, Ron Grooms and Rob Walz. Absent: Barbara Wilson, and Vicki Conlin, Denny Frantz. Councilperson Frantz arrived at 7:40 p.m. Councilperson Merkley made the motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Councilperson Grooms and carded unanimously. Councilperson Merkley made the motion to approve the minutes of 6-2-03, seconded by Councilperson Grooms and carded unanimously. Clerk Treasurer Wilder presented the claim list for consideration by the Council. Mayor Galligan said there is a claim on the list for Southern Indiana Economic Development Commission for $6,500.00 that should not be on there from his budget. Clerk Treasurer Wilder said the claim was presented to her to put on the claims list. It is not signed by the Mayor's office. Clerk Treasurer Wilder said the Clark County Health Care Clinic claim for $5,000.00 was only budgeted $900.00 by the Council. Councilperson Merkley made the motion to table the Clark Co. Health Care Clinic claim, seconded by Councilperson Grooms and carded unanimously. Councilperson Grooms asked if the SIEDC claim for $6,500.00 could not be paid. Clerk Treasurer Wilder said she cannot pay it from the Mayor's budget but can pay it from the Council budget if approved. Councitperson Grooms made the motion to table the $6,500.00 from the Mayor's budget to the Southern Indiana Economic Development Commission, seconded by Councilperson Merkley and carried unanimously. Councilperson Merkley said he and City Engineer Miller discussed the repair work at Court Avenue and Mulberry Street which amounted to $1,900.00. Councilperson Merkley asked Mayor Galligan where it could be paid from and possibly the Sidewalk Fund. Mayor Galligan said Engineer Miller doesn't want it paid from there. City Attorney Galligan said she didn't know i£it could be paid from there and she will look at the ordinance. No action was taken. Councilperson Grooms made the motion to approve ail the claims excluding the ones to Clark County Health Care Clinic and the Southern Indiana Economic Development Commission, seconded by Councilperson Waiz and carried unanimously. City Attorney Galligan said Jim Gutting was present at the last meeting in regard to Ordinance No. 2003-OR-21/Floating Stage Project. It is up for approval on the 2na and 3ra readings. Councilperson Merkley made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2003-OR- 21 on the second and third readings, seconded by Councilperson Frantz. Ayes: Grooms, Merkley, Waiz, and Frantz. Nays: Ellis Councitperson Grooms said Councilperson Conlin has voiced concern and asked him to inquire about the liability and training of employees involved with the floating stage. City Attorney Galligan said it is the same as with any other city operations and programs. Mayor Gailigan said the cost will be $275,000.00 for the barge. He said $325,000.00 will be funded by the Tourism Bureau. The Mayor said the Corp. of Engineers will approve as soon as the barge is in. Bond Attorney Bill Skees representing Frost, Brown, and Todd spoke to the Council about a Bond Issue associated with the Southern Indiana YMCA. Mr. Skees said consent is needed from Jeffersonville to acquire a bond issue from the Town of Sellersburg. After discussion, Councilperson Merkley made the motion to pass Resolution No. 2003- R-9, seconded by Councilperson Waiz and carded unanimously. Attorney Alan Applegate representing Steve Klein requested passage of Ordinance 2003- OR-22 which changes the zoning map designation of a certain tract of property. Councilperson Waiz made the motion to approve Ordinance 2003-OR-22, seconded by Councilperson Ellis and carried unanimously. County Councilman John Uhl asked the Council to consider a proposal for a collaborative retirement of correction debt. City Attorney Galligan said she reviewed the agreement and it does provide 50% of the edit funds to be distributed by the county for purposes of paying for the jail. What it does not provide and should be added as an amendment is that in the event Jeffesonville were to participate and other municipalities did not then the agreement would be null and void. Councilperson Merkley asked Mr. Lrhl what the cost will be to build the jail. Mr. Uhl said the rough estimate is at least $23 million. Councilperson Ellis said he doesn't support using this money to build a county project. Councilman Uhl said if this isn't done the property owners will pay for it through higher taxes. Councilperson Grooms made the motion to introduce a resolution with the addition of an amendment stating that all other entities must agree with the agreement or the agreement is null and void. There was no second. Clerk Treasurer Wilder asked approval of Ordinance 2003-OR-23 in regard to legal counsel and computer programming funding on the Bond Issue. Councilperson Merkley made the motion to pass the ordinance on the 1st and 2nd reading, seconded by Councilperson Waiz and carried unanimously. Clerk Treasurer Wilder asked approval of Ordinance 2003-OR-24 for an additional appropriation for Health Insurance from the General Fund in the amount of $200,000.00. Councilperson Grooms made the motion to pass Ordinance 2003-OR-24 on the first reading, seconded by Councilperson Waiz and carded unanimously. Councilperson Merkley said the cost for the fixed asset program is $17,500.00 as discussed at the last meeting. He suggested that the City make three payments. He recommended that the Council pay $6,250.00. Mayor Galligan said the Sewer Dept. should pay a portion of it and he will try to find the remainder of the money somewhere. Councilperson Merkley made the motion to approve funding from the Council in the amount of $6,250.00 for the fixed asset program, seconded by Councilperson Grooms, and carded unanimously. Redevelopment Director Robinson told the Council that three proposals have been received showing interest in the Quadrangle if the project includes the city offices being housed there. Director Robinson said the proposals included putting medical offices in and educational components. Director Robinson feels that the Quadrangle needs to be aggressively marketed. Councilperson Grooms said he'd like to see the city offices moved there instead of continuing to pay rent with no equity. Councilperson Waiz suggested telling the interested parties that we need a specific proposal including relocation of the City offices. Councilperson Waiz said maybe it should be advertised regionally as well as locally. Councilperson Ellis said he would like to ask for proposals with and without City Hall included. Councilperson Grooms asked if the OffTrack Betting could work into this somehow. Director Robinson said it's a possibility. After much discussion, Councilperson Grooms made the motion to put this issue on the agenda for the next meeting with a Resolution from the Council with a decision of yes or no on relocating City Hail to the Quadrangle and seconded by Councilperson Waiz. Mayor Galligan added another issue to the agenda for the next meeting about plans to build a new fire station in the east end of Jeffersonville. The Mayor said property has been donated, one fire track has been purchased, and three firemen have been hired. If this firehouse is built, 9 more fireman will be hired at $40,000.00 per man per year including insurance. Fire Chief Smith said the estimated cost to build the firehouse is about 1.3 million and could be financed by TIF money. Chief Smith would like to include Safety Town there aiso. COMMENTS; Councilperson Merkley said he has received complaints about grass at Thomton's needing mowing. Mayor Gailigan said he'd take care of it. Councilperson Grooms said he attended a Park Board meeting last week and there is an opportunity for citizen's as well as the Council to contribute $100.00 to plant a tree with an inscribed plaque in and around Memoriai Park. He said the LST memoriai ship is due in Jeffersonville on July 24, 2003 and will leave on July 28, 2003. They have asked city government to help as much as possible and sponsor some sort of entertainment Councilperson Grooms has been approached by Thoroughbred Vocal Group from Louisville that is very good. It is $1,000.00 to sponsor 45 minutes of military music. Councilperson Grooms also announced that our baseball team is going to the state finals next week. Councilperson Walz said he appreciates everyone attending tonight. Mayor Galligan said if it ever quits raining he'll try to get all the grass under control. Mayor Galligan thanked everyone involved with Jeff Fest. There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. THOMAS R. GALLIGAN, MAYOR ATTEST: PEGGY WILDE1L CLERK AND TREASURER