HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-10-1993MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY
OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA
MONDAY MAY 107 1993
Mayor Raymond J. Parker Jr. called the meeting to order at 9:30 A.M.,
and on call of the roll those members present were Mayor Parker,
Personnel and Safety Director Harold Lakeman, and Sewage Collection
Office Director Jim Matra.
Also present were: Building Commissioner Bill Gavin, Street
Commissioner George Trembly, City Attorney Mike Gillenwater, Utility
Director Steve Tolliver~ Police Chief Rick Elliott7 Assistant Fire
Chief Clifton James Jr., Animal Shelter Manager Jan Wheatley, Vehicle
Maintenance Director Mike Wathen, Parks Secretary Jackie Langdon7
Sewer Office Manager Bob Gotdman~ Administrative Assistant Donna
Metzger, Council Person Andrew Williams III, Clerk and Treasurer C.
Richard Spencer Jr., and Clerk Alice Davis.
Director Lakeman made the motion to approve the minutes of the meeting
of May 3, 1993 as presented, seconded by Director Matra and carried
unanimously.
Director Lakeman made the motion to approve the payrolls as presented,
seconded by Director Matra and carried unanimously.
Director Lakeman made the motion to approve the claims as presented,
seconded by Director Matra and carried unanimously.
PRESS RELEASE
Mayor Parker read a Press Release concerning a news paper article that
appeared in the Courier Journal on Friday May ?, 1993 in regards to
the hiring of Proctor~ DavisTand Ray for inspection engineers for
Jeffersonville's Market Street Reconstruction project. (see copy)
BIDS FOR NEW ALBANY-CHARLESTOWN PIKE SEWER EXTENSION
Jorge Lanz a representative of Jacobi~ Toombs and Lanz reported that
they took bids on May 3~ 19937 and there were 5 contractors7 these are
bids for the construction of the sewer extension. Irish Park~ Inc.
was low bidder, we don't have ail the documentation and are not
prepared to make a recommendation to the Board right now. I propose
to the Board to table this until next week.
TRAFFIC PROBLEMS AT JEFF HIGH SCHOOL
Street Commissioner George Trembly reported that he has new signs for
the High School and they will go up today. George took a look at the
rest of the schoots~ and they have a variety of speed limit and School
signs, some places no signs. George and Lt. Schmidt will be going to
all the schools and check on the signs and come back to the Board with
a recommendation on the traffic problem at the schools. City Attorney
Mike Gillenwater said that we would have to amend an Ordinance to
change any of the speed limits. Mayor Parker asked Chief Elliott to
investigate the cost of flashing lights.
PAGE 2
MAY 10, 199B
BASKETBALL GOAL COMPLAINT ON DUNBAR
Police Chief Elliott sent an Officer to talk to the 5 residents on
Dunbar about taking the goal down. He reported that 2 were in favor,
2 against~ 1 didn't care. We need to get together and make a decision
on this. Mayor Parker said that we need to have a policy on this
situation.
CRESTVIEW CT. DRIVEWAY RAMPS
Street Commissioner George Trembly reported that a Milling Co. is
going to mill out Crestview Ct. before we pave and the 2 concrete
ramps can be gone around and won't have to be taken out~ the same with
the blacktop ramp.
AMERICAN LEGION ROADBLOCK
Roberta Nolan representing the American Legion requests roadblocks for
May 15~ 1993 at 8th.& Main Street, Main & lOth., Court at McDonalds.
Police Chief Elliott said that some of those locations have already
been taken. Mayor Parker asked Chief Elliott to check this out and
coordinate with Ms. Nolan. Director Lakeman made the motion to accept
these roadblocks after Ms. Nolan talks with Chief Elliott, seconded by
Director Marra~ and carried unanimously.
CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION
Roberta Nolan presented Mayor Parker with a Certificate of Recognition
for Outstanding Services on behalf of Community Service from the
American Legion Auxuilary.
UTILITY AGREEMENT FOR MARKET STREET PROJECT
Nathan Grimes and Jorge Lanz representing Jacobi~ Toombs and Lanz has
a utility agreement that needs to be signed for the Market Street
project~ this is between the City and the different utilities, they
are, Indiana Gas, PSI, Water Corp., Cable, Indiana Bell, the agreement
states that if they are in the right-of-way of the road they will have
to move them.
3-WAY STOP NACHAND LANE AND CLAIRVIEW DRIVE
Council Person Andrew Williams and Mrs. T. Alford, 1020 Nachand Lane
appeared before the Board requesting a 3-way stop at the intersection
of Nachand Lane and Clairview Drive. Mayor Parker asked Police Chief
Elliott make a traffic study and make a recommendation at next weeks
meeting.
STREET LIGHT ON MARY STREET
Council Person Andrew Williams is doing a follow up on
light on Mary Street for Mr. Suddeth who wants to know
Its been approved by the Board and turned over to PSI.
will give them a call.
the street
the statis.
Bill Gavin
PAGE 3
MAY 10, 1993
RESIDENT PARKING
Council Person Andrew Williams reported that June Oliver of 1Al3
Francis Drive wants to know what procedures that she has to go through
to get a resident parking. Mayor Parker told Council Person Williams
the procedures.
EASEMENT
C6uncil Person Andrew Williams reported that Lois Kerberg, 108
Williams called him regarding the easement at the rear of her property
hA~exposed utility wires. Mayor Parker suggested that she caiI the
utility Co. and report them~ and we will send Bill Gavin out to check
on them. · ''
SPECIAL PERMITS FOR PARKING LOT
Council Person Andrew Williams wants to know if there will be any
special permits or special permission granted to City residents who
wish to use the new City parking tot off of Spring Street for special
events. Mayor Parker said that we can't get the three people together
to sign the agreement.
SEMI-TRUCKS ON MAIN STREET
Janetta Coley, 1038 Main Street request for semi-trucks on Main Street
was tabled, she did not appear before the Board.
TRAFFIC HAZARD AT WATT & 8TH STREETS
Carolyn Howard requests a stop sign at 8th & Watt Streets. Mayor
Parker asked Chief Elliott and George Trembly to check this out and
make a recommendation at the next Board meeting.
STOP SIGN
Director Lakeman received a call from Rose Severs requesting a stop
sign at Roosevelt and Lee Streets. Mayor Parker asked Chief Elliott
t~ investigate and report back to the Board.
LETTER
Mayor Parker read a letter from Falls City Electric Co. commending the
Jeffersonviile Fire Department with the way they handled the fire at
the business.
OLD SEWER
City Attorney Mike Gillenwater is helping with the liquidation of the
old sewer plant and personal property. The property wilt be auctioned
off at the recommendation of the appraisers. We received 2 proposals
from Crum's Auction and Reality~ Paul Semonin, Remax Commercial
Brokers. It is Mikes recommendation to go with Remax Commercial
Brokers at this time. Lincoln Crum representing Crum Auction and
Reality appeared before the Board said that his company would review
their proposal. Director Lakeman made the motion to approve the Remax
Commercial Brokers bid, seconded by Director Matra and carried
unanimously.
PAGE 4
MAY 10., 1993
INVESTIGATIVE WORK
Utilities Director Steve Tolliver said that his men are working up on
Court Avenue doing investigative work there. Also on Plank Road
customer called a private plumber to do some work and they broke off
instrument in the sewer~ we are trying to get it out for them.
BUDGETS
Administrative Assistant Donna Metzger wants to remind everyone about
getting their budgets in by May 17~ 1993. The pre-budget team will
have approximately 2 weeks to review them. The pre-budget committee
meetings will be starting on June 1~ 1993 with the Department Head, on
an individual basis. The budgets has to be in their final form by
June 21~ 1993. The Council has asked for presentation of the budgets
the first week of July. Mayor Parker said that he will be working
closely with the Clerk Treasurers Office.
HOUSING PROJECTS
Mrs Knowland of Magnolia Dr. said they are building 5 duplex houses
behind her. She wants to get together with the builder and put a
fence up with him. The builder told her that he wasn't allowed to put
up a fence that she will have to do it. Bill Gavin said that the City
has nothing to do with that~ its the builders decision to put it up.
There being no further business to come before the Board of Public
Works and Safety, Director Lakeman made the motion to adjourn at
lO:45a.m., seconded by Director Matra, and carried unanimously.
ATTEST:
CLERK AND TREASURER~ ~/ '
PRESS RELEASE
Recently there has been media attention questioning the
decision of this board in awarding a contract to Proctor Davis
Ray Engineers, Inc. Because of the negative overtones and
innuendo contained in that article, the Board of Public Works
and Safety feels a brief reply is in order.
Proctor Davis Ray, Inc. (PDR) was recently chosen from
among 4 firms submitting proposals for consideration as
construction inspection engineers for Jeffersonville's Market
Street Reconstruction project, which is scheduled to begin
this summer. The design engineering work on that project was
completed by Jacobi Toombs and Lanz engineers of Clarksville,
who also submitted a proposal on the project but was not
chosen. Two other firms, whose proposals were considered,
were not awarded contracts on any part of the project.
PDR was originally employed by the City by the
administration of former Mayor Dale Orem to do the design and
inspection engineering work on the City's Water Pollution
Control Facility, which most people know as the new Sewer
Plant. Despite several very expensive unanticipated problems
with environmental conditions, which made certain aspects of
the project more costly, that project is anticipated to come
in under budget. The expertise and diligence of PDR is felt
to be a major factor in the successful construction of the new
plant.
PDR and Jacobi Toombs and Lanz have demonstrated a
willingness and ability to work well together as effective
problem solvers on the new Sewer Plant. Likewise, with 2
engineering firms working in tandem on the Market Street
project the unforseen problems which will undoubtedly arise
should be solved in the same manner as problems on the Sewer
Plant project. As the old adage goes "two heads are better
than one". Because both firms ~ employ bright
professionals who are capable problem solvers and because each
firm has certain areas of strength which, when appended, would
promise to make the project proceed more smoothly, quicker and
ultimately less expensively for the taxpayers of the City.
After PDR was originally hired by the Orem
administration, PDR was accused, in an unrelated incident, of
an offense involving an employee making an irregular campaign
contribution to a Kentucky congressman. The exact details of
that incident are not known and at this point cannot be fairly
commented upon by this Board. However, it is the
understanding of this Board that a penalty has been assessed
and paid. It is also presumed that a lesson has been learned
by those who participated in that transaction.
When assessing the integrity of any consultant for the
City, this Board must take into account the entire past of the
consultant, not just one incident. The decision to rehire PDR
to do inspection work~ for the City was predicated in part on:
t) PDR's demonstrated ability to do capable, efficient and
quality work; 2) PDR's ability to work well with Jacobi Toombs
and Lanz engineers, who designed the Market Street project; 3)
as a vote of confidence from the City after demonstrating
loyalty and dedication to the City on its Sewer Project; and
4) with the belief that the Market street project would be
more efficiently and less expensively completed if PDR was
hired.
The Judeo-Christian ethic, which most of us claim to
ascribe to, is that people should be punished for their
transgressions. However, it also holds that a second chance
is available to those who repent and pay for their mistakes.
This Board recognizes that any irregularity in the past of PDR
is a reason compelling this Board to scrutinize their dealings
with PDR more closely. But, it is not felt that PDR should be
forever excluded from consideration by the City as a potential
consultant. If anything, this Board feels the likelihood of
any illicit activity on the part of City employees or
officials will now be minimized.
Finally, note should be made that the newspaper article
which prompted this response contained figures which were
incorrect. How much more, if any, this project will cost the
City by hiring PDR rather than another firm is at best purely
speculative. But, it appears those proponents of controversy
who inspired the article do not understand the facts, or do
not want to share the entire truth. They would rather rely,
it seems, on false rumors and innuendo than upon a reasoned
consideration and discussion of the relevant facts pertaining
to this issue.