Loading...
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.