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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 18, 2023 City Council COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA December 18, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met for the Regular Meeting on December 18, 2023. Council President Owen along with City Clerk Gill called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was open to the public in person as well as live streamed via the City Website using Zoom. INVOCATION: Councilperson Ellis led the Invocation. Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Clerk Gill ROLL CALL: The roll call was conducted by City Clerk Lisa Gill and present in Council Chambers were Councilperson White, Councilperson Burns, Councilperson Paris, Councilperson Webb, Council Vice President Hawkins, Councilperson Ellis and Council President Owen. Councilperson Croft and Councilperson Anderson were absent. Let the record reflect that 7 Council Members were present in Council Chambers and 2 absent. APROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the Minutes from the November 20, 2023 Regular Meeting, seconded by Councilperson Paris; motion passed, 7-0. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the Agenda, seconded by Councilperson Ellis; motion passed, 7-0. CLAIMS TO APPROVE: Civil City$1,671,844.33 Council President Owen stated the amount of the Civil City Claims was$1,671,844.33. Mrs. Metcalf advised there were no changes. Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the Civil City claims, seconded by Councilperson Paris; motion passed, 7-0. Parks$72,303.17 Council President Owen stated the amount of the Parks Claims was$72,303.17. Mrs. Metcalf advised there were no changes. Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the Parks Claims, seconded by Councilperson Ellis; motion passed, 7-0. REPORT OF THE CLERK: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. It has been a pleasure working with this Council. The next Council Meeting will be on Tuesday,January 2, 2024,that has been advertised. Please keep your microphones on for the duration of the meeting. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: Andy Crouch and Chuck Deaton-CSX Rail Crossing Upgrade Request Mr. Crouch City Engineer advised CSX will be replacing some railroad crossings on Charlestown-New Albany Pike and Veterans Parkway. This will be done at the expense of CSX, however if the City of Jeffersonville wanted to upgrade the crossing to concrete (which the City has done in the past)they have the option to do so but CSX will need to know soon the City would have to cover the cost of the concrete. Chuck Deaton, CSX Transportation advised the life span of the concrete crossings were usually ten (10) plus years depending on traffic. Charlestown- New Albany Pike was done many years ago. The boards have been replaced several times and a lot of patch work has been done. CSX works with City and State Governments to maintain these crossings. The City would provide the concrete and CSX would provide all of the cross ties, rails, ballast, spikes, plates, labor and anything else involved, except the actual material itself. Charlestown-New Albany Pike would cost an estimated $84,000.00 and Veterans Parkway would be an estimated cost of$30,000.00. That is in material alone. The cost is $240.00 per foot of track. The projected start date for this project will be February 2024. Councilperson Webb asked how often does the concrete need replaced. Mr. Deaton advised they last an average of every ten (10) years but some last longer. The average time frame for regular railroad replacement is every three to five (3 to 5)years at the most. The concrete way is a savings for everyone involved. Council President Owen advised this has been done several times in the past and it has worked very well. Mr. Deaton advised CSX will cover the cost and replace the asphalt. They will cut out approximately twenty(20)feet on each side of the tracks. The City will only be responsible for the cost of the concrete. Council President Owen recommended that this be brought up at the January 2024 Council Meeting with the new Council. ATTORNEY COMMENTS: Larry Wilder—Mr. Wilder advised he hopes this is not his last closing remarks. He has enjoyed working with the many different Council Members and Mayor's. For the past six (6)years he advised he has seen the most forward thinking, and the least selfish about trying to do things that work for them and for their betterment and their future in politics as any other, including this Council also. Les Merkley—Thanks to Ron Ellis and the Council. DEPARTMENT HEADS: JDP Chief Kavanaugh-to Council President Owen and the Common Council,thanks on behalf of the Jeffersonville Police Department for your dedication and commitment to serve and giving your time to the community and the City of Jeffersonville, working with the City Administration and all departments. PUBLIC COMMENTS: James R McClure-1006 Hazelwood Court, Clarksville, IN 47129-wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thank you to all of you for your service. Thank you to Ron Ellis for work and duty during his years of service. Ron,you have been an example for everyone. COUNCIL COMMENTS: • Councilperson White—Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Happy Hanukkah and good Kwanza. • Councilperson Burns—thank you all for the last four(4)years, appreciate working with you all. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years. • Councilperson Paris—Thanks for the opportunity to work with you all,thanks to Ron for his years of service. Compliments to the City employees and the Mayor for hiring good people, it filters down from there. The City has great people and it shows. • Councilperson Anderson—Absent • Councilperson Croft---Absent • Councilperson Webb—thanks to this Council, we all showed each other respect, had disagreements, but worked through them. • Council Vice President Hawkins—thanks to all of the council. A lot of progress has been made over the past four(4) years,there were disagreement, but they were all worked through and the right decisions were made for the City of Jeffersonville. Hope the next Council continues to do the same. The member that will not be here next year will be missed. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. • Councilperson Ellis—it has truly been a blessing to serve the people of Jeffersonville, doing what he could for the employees of the City. It has been a joy working with each of you. Thank you for allowing me to serve with you. He has been very fortunate to have served under three (3) Mayor's, four(4)different Councils and as Street Commissioner. Please continue to do what is best for the citizens of Jeffersonville. Thank you all. • Council President Owen—he sent out an email to all City Employee's to say thank you to everyone for the opportunity to work with them either directly or indirectly. The past twelve (12) years have been an education. Thanks to everyone. ADJOURNMENT: Councilperson Paris made the motion to ADJOURN the meeting at 7:23 p.m. APR, ED BY Scott Hawkins Vice President ATTEST: Gill, Clerk