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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-21-2003Ju~ 21,2003 1 COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA July 21, 2003 The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met in regular session in the Multi-Purpose Meeting Room in the CRy-County Building, Jeffersonville, Indiana at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, July 21, 2003. Mayor Tom Galligan, with Clerk Treasurer Peggy Wilder at the desk, called the meeting to order. Also present were City Attorney Anne Marie Galligan and Deputy Clerk Barbara Hollis. Mayor Galligan welcomed all in attendance, asking all those present to stand as Councilperson Ron Grooms gave the invocation. Mayor Galligan then asked all those present to join him in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. The mil was called and those present were; Councilpersons Les Merkley, Ron Ellis, Rob Waiz, Barbara Wilson, Ron Grooms, and Vicki Conlin. Absent: Couneilperson Denny Frantz. Council President Waiz made the motion to approve the agenda as presented, seconded by Councilperson Ellis, passing unanimously. Mayor G-alligan presented the amended minutes of the meeting of June 16, 2003 for consideration by the Council. Councilperson Wilson made the motion to approve the amended June !6, 2003 minutes, seconded by Councilperson Conlin. Councilperson Grooms asked that his name be added as being present. The motion to pass the amended minutes as corrected passed unanimously. Mayor Galligan presented the minutes of the meeting of July 7, 2003 for consideration by the Council. Councilperson Wilson made the motion to approve the minutes of July 7, 2003 as presented, second by Councilperson Ellis, passing unanimously. Clerk Treasurer Wilder presented the claim list for consideration by the Council, asking that one claim for unemployment he added. Council President Waiz made the motion to approve the claims as presented with the additional, seconded by Councilperson Conlin, passing unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment. July 21, 2003 2 AGENDA ITEMS: Director of Redevelopment Gayle Robinson appeared before the Council with Mr. Nathan Endris to request passage of Resolution No. 2003-R-14, A Resolution Approving Statement Of Benefits For Purposes Of Property Tax Abatement. Councilperson Ellis asked for the cost per job. Director Robinson answered $5,671. Councilperson Ellis asked how this compared to others. Director Robinson answered it was pretty close to the last two. Councilperson Ellis said he has looked over the request, and it is his position that if he votes yes on this he would never vote no on a tax abatement while on the Council. Councilperson Merkley made the motion to pass Resolution No. 2003-R-14, second by Councilperson Conlin. Couneilperson Grooms made the motion to amend the Resolution to 5 years on equipment and machinery and 5 years on improvements to real estate, second by Council President Waiz, passing on a vote of 5-1. Councilperson Ellis voted against. Councilperson Grooms then asked if Mr. Endris would prefer 10 years on improvements to real estate and no years on equipment and machinery to the 5 and 5. Mr. Endris said he would prefer 10 years on improvements to real estate. Mayor Cralligan said if the Council gives the 5 and 5 and Mr. Endris decides not to take the offer the City will be no better o~.. There is a potential to get revenue, giving an example of the abatement given to Wall Street Caf6 as a building block for the community. Councilperson Grooms then made the motion to amend Resolution 2003-R-14 to 10 years for improvements to real estate and no years on machinery and equipment, second by Councilperson Coulin, passing unanimously. The motion to pass Resolution No. 2003-R-14 passed unanimously as emended. Attorney Galligan said she received a call asking that Resolution No. 2003-R-15, A Resolution Of The Common Council Of The City Of Jeffersonville, Indiana, Providing Preliminary Approval Of The Issuance Of Bonds For The Purpose Of Financing Certain Economic Development Facilities, be tabled to allow it to go the Economic Development Commission first. The application does need to be filed by August 6. Councilperson Merkley then made the motion to table Resolution No. 2003-R-15 until the next meeting and schedule a workshop one hour prior to the meeting, second by Councilperson Wilson, passing unanimously. Ms. Rachele Cummins appeared before the council to request passage of Ordinance No. 2003-OR-27, An Ordinance Granting Petition To Vacate A Public Way In The City Of Jeffersonville, saying this has been published. Couneilperson Conlin said there are no maps attached. Ms. Cummins produced a map for the Council. The area was explained and discussed. July 21, 2003 3 Councilperson Conlin made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2003-OR-27 on the first and second readings, second by Council President Waiz. Mayor Galligan asked for public comment. There being no public commem the motion passed unanimously. Clerk Treasurer Wilder explained the need for passage of Resolution No. 2003-R-16, A Resolution By The Connnon council Of The City Of Jeffersonville To Approve Computer Lease Agreement For The Purchase Of Document Imaging Equipment And Internet Web Site Sofea~re. Clerk Treasurer Wilder said this has been approved by the Board Of Public Works And Safety. This will extend the lease for one year. Council President Waiz made the motion to pass Resolution No. 2003-R-16, second by Councilperson Merkley, passing unanimously. Attorney Galligan explained Ordinance No. 2003-OR-25, An Ordinance Annexing Contiguous TerritoE~ By 100% Voluntary Petition. Councilperson Conlin made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2003-OR-25 on the third reading, second by Councilperson Grooms, passing unanimously. Council President Waiz explained Ordinance No. 2003-OR-26, An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 84-OR-19: An Ordi~xnoe Designating Penalties For Improper Parking In Handicapped Spaces. Council President Waiz made the motion to pass ordinance No. 2003-OR- 26 on the third reading, second by Couneilperson Wilson, passing uBanimously. COUNCIL AND MAYOR COMMENTS: Councilperson Grooms explained the contents of a letter from EMC employees he distn~outed to the Council saying this is for information only. Couneilperson Grooms then asked if anyone in the audience that had signed the letter wished to speak. Mr. Donnie Griffin, Leadman for EMC said the employees don't want to go thru another change in employers having to start their retirement over again along with a change in benefits. The employees lost their PERF when EMC took over and they are older now. They have no problem with EMC. Couneilperson Conlin feels they need to look at putting these employees hack as City employees. Mayor Galligan said that EMC can bid and get the contract. The financial advisors suggested bidding. Councilperson Conlin received a call from a resident on East Court Avenue regarding potholes. She has been told they ~ould be fixed and they have not been. One yard in the area is all gravel. The residents do want to start a neighborhood watch progran~ Mayor Galligan will look into the situation. Councilperson Conlin has received comments about the appointment of Ju~ ~1,2003 4 Barbara Swank~Gallegos by Mayor Galligan to the Clark-Floyd Counties Convention Bureau~ The comment was that an employee of the Culpepper Group was appointed to replace Edward Culpepper Cooper who resigned. Council President Waiz asked what the traffic count would be thru the Meadows Subdivision during the construction of the inner-city road. Mayor Galligan said Engineer Miller is working on this. As roads will be shot down there is concern for police and fire as well as getting in and out. Mayor Galligan said Court Avenue should be open soon and Exit 0 will not be closed. Clerk Treasurer Wilder explained the discounts the City is receiving thru Humana Insurance giving 3 months examples. She did say the pharmacy discount is not much different. Mayor Galligan said the contract for 10t~ Street has been awarded and construction will start in 10 days. There will be one lane each way dmSng construction. He is working with public services to move poles. It will be inconvenient, but will be better when it is done. As there was no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 P.M. /.~//~ ~. ATTEST: PEGG~ ~fL~]S~,, CI~E-~----AND TREASURER. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT CORPORATION 701 CHAMPION ROAD JEFFERSONVILLE INDIANA 47130 812-285-6451 FAX812*285-6454 To: Members of the Jeffersonville City Council From: The Employee's of EMC at the Jeffersonville Wastewater TreatmemUtility We, the undersigned, would like to express our support for the continuation of the Environmental Management Corporation (EMC) operations contract with the City of JeffersonviIle. In 1994. the City issued request for proposal for the operations and maintenance of the wastewater utility. EMC prevailed as the Company of choice at that time, with the support of the City employee's. Not only as EMC employees, but also as life long residents of the City of Jeffersonville, we believe that EMC has demonstrated and provided excellent service to the city. EMC has exhibited great integrity in the nine plus years they have employed us. They have worked very hard to keep our salaries and benefits equal to or in most cases better than current city employees. Under EMC guidance and training the overall skills to perform our duties have greatly improved. It is our understanding the contract has remained the Same. except for the addition of Engineering Management Service added to the scope of services in 1999. In 2001, there was a mutual agreement to remove the Engineering Services from the contract. Set aside the aforementioned scope change the annual fee has only increased by 3% or by the consumer price index fCPB annually, We feel it would not be in the best interest of the City of Jeffersonville and EMC employee's that are residents of the city to solicit bids for the operations of the utility, we have worked very hard to maintain excellent service to the citizens of Jeffersonville over the last nine and a half years. It would be easy for another operations company to submit a lower price when they know the current utility cost to the city. We have all experienced lower cost is not necessarily the way to go. EMC has ~vorked hard to be good corporate citizens in the community, nor only with financial contributions to City projects such as. the Thomas Jefferson Statue. but to needy families in the commumty too. Since becoming EMC employees, we have been able to accomplish the following: Put in to place a preventive flushing program in the collection system (i.e. cleaned 153,040 liner feet in 2002/2003 contract year). An additional 10-lift station have been added to the collection system since 1994, all along maintaining excellent service with the increase in responsibilities. The liner footage of collection system line have increase from approximately 85 miles in 1994 to 189 miles in 2003 and we have maintained excellent service. Emergency sewer calls and claims associated with them have substantially reduced due to increased preventive maintenance procedures put into place. IWEA Safety Excellence Award Seven Straight Years. WEF George W. Burke Excellence in Safety Award in 1998 (one per state nationally). 3,057 Straight Days without a lost time accident. High employees moral and pride for service in the community. These are just a few of the accomplishments we've made as employees of EMC that directly benefit the City of Jeffersonville and its residents. As EMC employees and residents of the community, we urge you to support the win-win partnership between the City of Jeffersonville and EMC by extending their contract. Respectfully, / Donnie Griffin, Leadman Steve James, Collection System Operator Kris Scott. Administrative Asgistant James Brannon, Collection System Operator Daniel Miles. Plant/Lab Operator Hershal Hamby, Plant Operator Joe Hembree. CollectionJ Safety Mike Griffin, Collection System Operator Rick Hills. Electrical Technician Gary Kopp, Collection System Operator Michael Meyer, Plant Supervisor Mark Wright. Collection System Supervisor Jason Reister. Laboratory Technician J~FFE~SONV LLE, ~N