HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-24-1990 COMMON COUNCIL
CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA
SPECIAL MEETING
OCTOBER 24, 1990
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 P.M. by Mayor
Dale Orem. City Attorney C. Gregory Fifer took the minutes.
Councilmen present were as follows: James Carter,
Marie Clapp, Ronald Grooms, Anthony Harrod, Robert Waiz, and
Andrew Williams. Absent: Councilman John Perkins.
Attorney Dan Marra addressed the Council on behalf of
Wolf Glass Company relating to a 1987 incident in which the
Jeffersonville Police Department damaged a building at
315 Illinois Avenue. Originally, the bill was for some
$1100.00, but was adjusted to $637.00 at former Police
Chief Priest's request. Wolf Glass did attempt to collect from
the property owner, but they declared bankruptcy. The Council
had previously tabled this claim until a source of funds could
be found by the Clerk-Treasurer. Councilman Grooms moved to
approve the claim in the amount of $637.00. A second was made
by Councilman Waiz. The Council passed this motion 6-0 to pay
the full $637.00 claim and directed the Clerk-Treasurer to find
a source of funds from which the bill can be paid.
Attorneys Robert Lanum and Mike Herrington of Stites &
Harbison appeared to introduce two ordinances regarding the
financing of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project.
Mr. Herrington first addressed Ordinance 90-OR-53, an ordinance
concerning the advance refunding of existing debt in the Sewer
Department. Upon questioning by the Council, Mr. Herrington
stated that the purpose of this ordinance was to provide a bond
issue in the maximum amount of $1,125,000.00, the proceeds from
which will be escrowed to pay the remaining 19 years of debt
payments on a 1969 Sewer Revenue Bond Issue that was undertaken
to finance the Zimpro unit. This will allow pledging the sewer
revenues to the bond buyers of the anticipated $6.5 million
dollar issue to finance the new plant project.
Councilman Carter moved to suspend the rules in
anticipation of passing Ordinance 90-OR-53 on all three
readings which was seconded by Councilman Grooms. The Council
voted 5-1 with Councilman Williams opposed to this motion, and
the motion was therefore defeated. Councilman Carter then
moved to pass Ordinance 90-OR-53 on the first two readings,
which was also seconded by Councilman Grooms. The Council then
voted 5-1 in favor of passing Ordinance 90-OR-53 on two
readings with Councilman Williams opposed.
Mr. Lanum then addressed the Council regarding
Ordinance 90-OR-54, an ordinance amending 90-OR-46 in allowing
the short term borrowing of $1.6 million for the payment of
preliminary expenses by the Sewer Department for the Wastewater
Treatment Plant Project. This will allow the payment of
engineering fees and real property purchases, and also the
inclusion of $1,000,000.00 on the asset side of the balance
$6.5 million
rate of this
are borrowed
less than
institution.
anticipation of
readings, which
carried 4-2 and
sheet and may result in a more favorable interest rate of the
permanent financing. The current quote on the
borrowing is 6.83%. If for some reason the funds
in excess of one year, the rate will be 2-1/2%
the then current prime rate at the lending
Councilman Grooms moved to suspend the rules in
passing Ordinance 90-OR-54 on all three
was seconded by Councilman Waiz. The motion
therefore failed with Councilmen Williams and
Harrod voting against. Councilman Grooms then moved to pass
Ordinance 90-OR-54 on the first and second readings only, and
Councilman Waiz again seconded. This motion was passed 5-1,
with Councilman Williams voting against.
Councilman Grooms then asked financial adviser Myron
Frazier of Umbaugh & Associates to address road funding
revenues needed by the City of Jeffersonville for the
anticipated Market Street, Hamburg Pike, and Inner-City road
projects. Mr. Frazier explained that perhaps the most
desirable way to finance several small projects would be to
have a Redevelopment Authority created to give the flexibility
to levy a tax which will ultimately finance the road
construction~ Otherwise this might not be possible under
existing
forming
ensued.
Council
Councilman Harrod
regarding recent
Indiana law. This might also be accomplished by
a tax increment financing district. Much discussion
business was then undertaken and
addressed Joe Trotter of THE EVENING NEWS
sensational headlines in the paper. He had
received a complaint from a constituent who was complaining
about the constant bickering on the Council, although they had
' not ever attended a Council meeting. He believed that this
impression is created by THE EVENING NEWS. He believes that
THE EVENING NEWS is sensationalizing headlines to sell papers
and victimizing all of the Council in the process. He also
believes that so-called bickering and arguing produces good
decisions, and that if everyone is in agreement that only one
person is generally thinking.
Councilman Grooms similarly stated that other public
boards meet behind closed doors and make their decisions
without similar scrutiny.
Councilman Williams then addressed the Mayor and
members of the Fire Department regarding a recent fire on
National Avenue. He believes that the E-911 system resulted in
the Fire Department responding within five minutes and greatly
minimized the damages at this fire. His constituents stated
that they believe some emergency medical response team was
necessary to accompany the Fire Department on such runs.
Councilman Harrod stated that at Claysburg Towers
recently an ambulance was called and it took 20 minutes for an
ambulance to respond to an emergency. He is to provide
additional details as to the date and time that this situation
took place so that the ambulance company can be contacted for
investigation.
Councilman Grooms inquired whether there are any
master
stated
process
that
management plans in effect for our area. Chief Collins
that the Jeffersonville Fire Department was in the
of formulating such a plan by November 13, 1990, and
the plan will be publicly announced and will involve all
Session in order
Court Room space.
After
reconvened to
what had been
matter could
of the utility companies.
Councilman Clapp stated that last Sunday evening the
Youngstown recycling bins were overflowing. Mayor Orem
directed Mr. Lakeman to contact Rumpke to check the pickup
schedule in order to avoid this problem in the future.
The Council then changed the scheduled November
regular meetings to November 7, 8 and 26 at 7:30 P.M. in the
council Chambers.
Councilman Waiz then moved to adjourn and the regular
session of the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 P.M.
The Council did conduct an Emergency Executive
to discuss threatened litigation regarding the
much discussion, the meeting was then
announce to the persons and press present as to
discussed and that no official action on the
be taken as the regular meeting had been
adjourned. It was further stated that the press could ask any
questions regarding the matter at this time or at the scheduled
meeting October 25, 1990, the next night.
ATTEST:
DALE L. OREM, MAY~
~C.¥ RICHARD S~NCE~, J~./
CLERK AND T~ASURER/