HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-01-2000COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE
COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA
MAY 1, 2000
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 7:00 P.M. on the 1 st day of
May, 2000.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Thomas R. Galligan, with Clerk and Treasurer
Peggy Wilder at the desk. Mayor Galligan welcomed all in attendance, asking all those present to
stand as Council President Ron Ellis gave the invocation. Mayor Galllgan 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, Ron Ellis, Denny
Frantz, Rob Waiz, Barbara Wilson, Ron Grooms, and Vicki Conlin.
Absent: None.
Mayor Galligan presented the minutes of the meeting of April 17, 2000, for consideration by
the Council. Councilperson Merkley made the motion to approve the minutes as presented,
seconded by Councilperson Wilson and carded unanimously. Mayor Galligan presented the minutes
of the workshops of April 10 and April 24, 2000. Councilperson Merkley made the motion to
approve the workshop minutes as presented, seconded by Council President Wilson, passing
unanimously.
Mayor Galllgan asked the discussion of the IN American Water Company property be
removed fxom the agenda. Councilperson Merkley made the motion to approve the agenda as
amended, seconded by Councilperson Grooms, passing unanimously.
Clerk and Treasurer Wilder presented the claim list for consideration by the Council.
Following discussion, Council President Ellis made the motion to approve the claims as presented,
seconded by Councilperson Merkley, passing unanimously.
Public Comment
Mr. John Fry read a letter (attached) aloud.
Ordinance No. 2000-OR-21, An Ordinance Of Additional Appropriation (Cumulative Capital
May 1, 2000 Page 2 of 4
Improvement Fund) was presented for the second and third readings. Council President Ellis made '
the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2000-OR-21 on the second and third readings, seconded by
Councilperson Conlin, passing unanimously.
Ordinance No. 2000-OR-22, An Ordinance Amending SS96.06 Of The Jeffersonville
Municipal Code was presented for the second and third readings. Councilperson Conlin made the
motion to pass Ordinance No. 2000-OR-22 on the second and third readings, seconded by
Councilperson Grooms. Councilperson Wilson made the motion to amend Ordinance No. 2000-OR-
22, seconded by Councilperson Merkley. The amendments were discussed. Council Attorney Shon
Leverett did not have an advance copy of the amendments, therefore he could not comment.
Following all discussion, the motion to amend Ordinance No. 2000-OR-22 passed on the following
roll call vote:
Ayes: Councilpersons Merkley, Ellis, Frantz, and Wilson.
Nays: Councilpersons Waiz, Grooms, and Conlin.
Mayor Galligan asked why he had no notice of the amendments prior to the meeting.
Councilperson Conlin withdrew her motion to pass Ordinance No. 2000-OR-22 on the second and
third readings. Councilperson Grooms withdrew his second. Councilperson Merkley made the
motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2000-OR-22 as amended on the second and third readings.
Councilperson Conlin said it is a slap in the Council Attorney's face to not get his opinion prior to
the amendment. Council President Ellis seconded the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2000-OR-22
as amended. The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Councitpersons Wilson, Frantz, Ellis, and Merkley.
Nays: Councilpersons Conlin, Grooms, and Waiz.
Resolution No. 2000-R-19, A Resolution Approving Inducement Of Econorrdc Development
Revenue Bonds was presented and explained. Councilperson Merkley made the motion to pass
Resolution No. 2000-R-19, seconded by Councilperson Wilson, and carried unanimously.
Ordinance No. 2000-OR-23, An Ordinance Requiring Jeffersonville City Vehicle
Identification was presented. CouncilPresident Ellis made the motion to amend Ordinance No. 2000-
OR-23 in the third paragraph by removing "and/or identifying characteristics" and inserting "in the
form of decals", seconded by Councilperson Merkley. Councilperson Grooms asked if motor vehicle
May 1, 2000 Page 3 of 4
would include a bulldozer? Council President Ellis answered it would. Councilperson Grooms asked '
if it would include a lawn mower? Council President Ellis answered it would not. Council President
Ellis made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2000-OR-23 as amended on the first reading, seconded
by Councilperson Merkley, passing on a vote of 5-2. Councilpersons Grooms and Conlin voted nay.
City Attorney Anne Marie Galligan presented Ordinance No. 2000-OR-24, An Ordinance
Estab 'hshing A Non-Reverting Fund For The Jeffersonville City Court. Council President Ellis made
the motion to table Ordinance No. 2000-OR-24 to discuss at a workshop, seconded by Councilperson
Wilson, passing unanimously.
Mr. Charles Moreland appeared before the Council to request the rezoning of property at
1633 Kehoe Lane fi:om R-2 to B-1. Mr. Moreland explained the need for rezoning. Attorney
Galligan informed the Council the Plan Commission recommended the request for passage.
Councilperson Wilson said the property is in her district and she received no objections. As there
were no documents the request will be on the next agenda.
Councilperson Merkley, explaining the "Thunder extravaganza" is in his district, presented
and read aloud Ordinance No 2000-OR-25, An Ordinance Prohibiting Placement Of Vendors On
Riverside Drive (East Of Kennedy Bridge). Councilperson Merkley feels the number of vendors and
port-a-pots is unfair to the taxpayers in the area. Councilperson Merkley made the motion to pass
Ordinance No. 2000-OR-25 on the first reading, seconded by Council President Ellis. Councilperson
Conlin would like to discuss th/s at workshop. Mr. Pete Shea, a resident of 432 West Riverside Drive
explained the number of vendors, the port-a-pots, along with the fire truck forced the crowd into his
yard. He feels there is a safety factor involved. Mayor Galligan thanked Mr. Shea for the letter,
asking if he would help with Thunder next year. Mr. Shea agreed. The motion to pass Ordinance
No. 2000-OR-25 passed on the first reading on a vote of 6-1. Councilperson Conlin voted nay.
Councilperson Merkley presented Ordinance No. 2000~OR-26, An Ordinance Prohibiting The
Leasing Of The City Property Beneath The Kennedy Bridge During Thunder Over Louisville.
Councilperson Merkley explained the area was leased to the Tourism Bureau and he feels it is a
shame to barricade the area to citizens. The Thunder viewing area has been limited due to the
restaurants. Councilperson Merkley read the Ordinance aloud. Councilperson Merkley made the
motion to pass Ordinance No. 2000-OR-26 on the first reading, seconded by Councilperson Wilson.
May 1, 2000 Page 4 of 4
Councilperson Conlin said she will vote no as there has been no discussion and she would like to take '
the Ordinance to a workshop. Mayor Galligan explained the $3,000 received for leasing the property
helps to defray some the of overtime costs. The tourists also stay and eat in Jeffersonville. Mayor
Galligan said he is trying to generate money to defray some of the cost. Mayor Galligan asked
Councilperson Merkley to serve on a Thunder committee. Council President Ellis asks the public to
contact the Council with their opinions. Attorney Galligan explained the Derby Festival Committee
provides the port-a-pots and does the clean up. This is a lease arrangement. Mr. John Fry said k is
a good idea to get input fi:om people in the area. A survey has been done and when it is tabulated
the results will be turned over to the City. It is good to include the res}d.e~ts. The motion to pass
Ordinance No. 2000-OR-26 passed on the first reading with a vote offal':.' Councilperson Conlin
voted nay.
Councilperson Wilson announced the Concerts In The Park will begin May 12 with the
Jeffersonville High School Band.
Councilperson Conlin suggests making the first meeting of the month a workshop and the
second meeting the official meeting.
Council President Ellis stated there are differences of opinions so Ordinance are made and
changed. An Ordinance can pass on the first reading, be brought back, and changes made.
Compromise is necessary and all need to work together, talk, and solve problems. Council President
Ellis announced the Council has been invited by Mr. Pat Mulligan, to attend a reception at the Port
Commission, Monday, May 8, 2000 at 4:15 P.M. There will be a workshop Monday, May 15, 2000
at 4:30 P.M.
There being no further business to come before the Council, Councilperson Merkley made
8:15 P.M., seconded b Co person ' ' g u ' ously.
the motion to adjourn at ~t~ ~a~ ~
THO S 7
ATTE~%T--~·
CLERK ANI~-T~'i~LrRER PEGGY WILDER
322 WEST RIVERSIDE DRIVE
JEFFERSONVILLE, IN 47'130-3116
(812) 282-5935
May I, 2000
To the Honorable Thomas Galligan, Mayor &
Members of the City Council
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Ladies and Gentlemen:
One hundred seventy-five years ago (had they been living then) Mr. & Mrs. Shea of 432
West Riverside Drive would have been very busy people. They would have been working hard
to make their property just as nice looking as it possibly could be made to look, for soon there
would be an important guest coming to their neighbor's home for a visit; That neighbor of theirs
would have been the past Governor of the Indiana Territory., Thomas Posey, who lived on the
northwest corner of the intersection of Fort Street and Riverside Drive (then called "Front
Street.")
It seems that the Congess of the United States had invited Governor Posey's guest to visit
the U.S.A. Indeed, they thought so highly of him that they not only invited h/m to visit but they
also gave him a gift of $200,000.00 plus a large tract of tand.
Almost one hundred years later, in 1917 when the U.S. entered World War I, General
Jolm ("Black Jack") Pershing, speaking to the people of France on behalf of the United States,
said, "LaFayette, nous sont ici!" ("LaFayette, we are here!") for, indeed, the famous visitor to the
Posey's home would be none other than Made Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Mar-
quis de LaFayette-the French nobleman ;vho came to the colonies during the American Revolu-
tion to offer his services to Congress.
By a special resolution of Congress he was given a commission as major general (in 1777)
in the Continental Army. He became an intimate friend of George Washln~on, a member of his
staff, was wounded in the Battle of Brandywine, later fought at Monmouth and served with
distinction in the Virgina campaign that ended with the surrender of the British General Conrwal-
lis at Yorktown in 1781.
LaFayette visited the Poseys at their home hem in Jeffersonville on May 12, 1825. (Local
myth once said that he visited ;vhat is now the Orissamore House.) Across Front Street from the
Posey's home was the location of the original fortification for the settlers, Fort Finney, in what
was to become the City of Jeffersonville. Shortly after his visit he returned to France where he
served in the national Chamber of Deputies (the French equixialent of our Congress) until his
death on May 20, 1834. All during his life the Marquis was a moderate liberal (maybe that's why
he came to Clark County!) and kept his democratic convictions even though his own property
was confiscated during the French Revolution. He always urged social equality, popular repre-
sentation, religious tolerance, and freedom of the press.
On the occasion of the one hundred seventy-fifth anniversary ofMsr. LaFayette's visit we
should all thank his memory for his participation in our struggle for freedom, and recall his visit
to this back woods outpost (as it most assuredly was at that time). Thank you for coming and
lending us a hand, Msr. LaFayette.
The People of Jeffersonville
P.S. If you care to take the time, you will find a commemorative plaque of the General's
visit in Warder Park. It was placed there by the Daughters of the American Revolution and the
Sons of the American Revolution as. well as the Society of Indiana Pioneers and the Colonial
Dames of America in Indiana.
Prior to the construction of the Kennedy Bridge there was also an historical marker at the
top of the riverbank at Fort Street noting the location of Fort Finney. It was apparently taken
down by the State of indiana ~vhen construction of the bridge began and was never replaced.