NEW WHITELAND TOWN COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 7, 2006
MEETING MINUTES
Town Council President John Perrin opened the
meeting at 7:00 p.m. with the pledge to the American flag. Council members
present were Scott Alspach, John Perrin, Don Harris, Terry Spencer and Joe
Noonan. Also present were Attorney J.
Lee Robbins and Clerk-Treasurer Maribeth Alspach along with Department Heads
Jim Lasiter, Mary Facemire, Bill Withers, Brian Hedrick and Office Manager
Cindy Yates. Councilman Harris offered
the opening prayer.
MINUTES
Member Harris moves to approve the minutes of
the previous meeting. Motion seconded by
Councilman Noonan. Vote 5 affirmative.
OLD
BUSINESS
2006 Budget
Clerk-Treasurer Alspach presents recommended
cuts to the General Fund as submitted by the various Department Heads. Alspach states that we are still waiting on
the final budget order reducing the 2006 budget by an additional
$21,943.00. Councilman Harris expresses concerns
over the Fuel / Gasoline appropriations. Alspach states this item will be
placed on the February 21st agenda.
Utility Deposits
Clerk-Treasurer Alspach has distributed
copies of the research on what other municipalities collect for water / sewer /
utility deposits. Alspach thanks Office
Manager Yates for the information she collected from other Johnson County
municipalities that has been included in this report. President Perrin recommends charging
deposits for both Water and Sewer and charging the maximum allowed by law. After much discussion council also seems to
favor having all utility accounts in the property owner’s name. Landlord, rather than tenant, would have to
establish and be responsible for the utility service. Councilman Noonan expresses concern over the
financial hardship this could have on landlords who have tenants that move
without giving them notice. President
Perrin states that is why landlords require security deposits and often times
collect a month’s rent in advance. Perrin
suggests having Attorney Robbins draft legislation reflecting the changes
discussed tonight. Once the council has
reviewed the draft ordinance we could schedule a special meeting with the
landlords to discuss the proposed policy changes.
Drainage at Country Gate
Public Works Supt. Lasiter states that he is
getting weekly progress reports. The
6-month performance bond expired and has been renewed. Paul Clair with Schneider Engineering has a
meeting scheduled within the next week with NACHI. Lasiter will update the council at each
meeting.
Fire Department Take Home Vehicles
Fire Chief Hedrick presents a Memo addressing
vehicle and response time concerns.
Hedrick asks the council to read, review and consider the Memo. Hedrick also presents an option asking the
Town to consider leasing his personal vehicle for $1.00 a year allowing him to
put lights and decals on it and use it as a take home vehicle / Chief’s
car. President Perrin asks council to
review the information and call Brian with any questions.
Fire Department Radios
Councilman Harris asks Hedrick if they
acquired the radios from White River Township.
Chief Hedrick states they purchased 7 used radios and a bank recharger
for $2,400.00, which is the equivalent of the cost of 1 new radio. Chief Hedrick adds that he is preparing a
presentation detailing the Fire Station proposed expansion / remodel.
Town Council
Page Two
February 7, 2006
NEW BUSINESS
Vehicle Disposal
PW Supt. Lasiter states that he is ready to
dispose of the 1985 Suburban. This
vehicle was used by the Fire Department before being transferred to Public
Works in 1999. The transmission is going
out on the vehicle. Lasiter has had two
(2) verbal offers of $200.00 each for the truck. The man who does the heating and air
conditioning work for the town has offered $500.00 in labor / service calls in
exchange for the 1985 Suburban. He is
only interested in the engine and would scrap out the vehicle. Attorney Robbins states if the value is less
than $1,000.00 the vehicle can be sold without a formal bid process. The vehicle had no trade in value when the
new trucks were recently purchased – neither seller would give us any trade in
for the Suburban. Council approves the
$500.00 service trade.
Access Johnson County
Clerk-Treasurer Alspach distributes letters
requesting $2,189.00 from New Whiteland to offset Access Johnson County’s
transportation budget for 2006. Council
declines payment due to our own budget cuts.
NWPD Taser Training
Marshal Withers states that all of the
officers have completed their certification training and are now carrying tasers. Councilman Alspach asks if all of the
officers were in fact tased? Withers
states all of the officers except him were.
Street Lights in Tracy Ridge
PW Supt. Lasiter received a letter requesting
additional street lighting in the Tracy Ridge subdivision. Lasiter states that today’s requirements or
standards require lights be placed closer together than they were when the
Tracy Ridge subdivision was approved.
The street lights were installed in compliance with the guidelines that
were in place at that time. There are
some dark areas in the subdivision but there are dark areas in other
neighborhoods also. Lasiter is
especially concerned about Tracy Road.
Lasiter adds that when the streetlights are approved the developer pays
all installation costs and the town assumes responsibility for the monthly
charges. The cost of a light pole is
$1,600.00 and an 8’ cobra head light fixture runs around $400.00. The monthly service fee for new lights runs
$12.00 per month. Lasiter asks if the
Homeowners Association is willing to pay the installation costs, would the town
pay the monthly fees? Council states
they would, if the location of the light was approved by Supt. Lasiter prior to
installation.
LEGISLATIVE
Ordinance 2022
Clerk-Treasurer Alspach reads the transfer
ordinance on 1st reading and explains. Motion to adopt Ordinance
2022 by Councilman Harris and seconded by Councilman Noonan. Vote 5
affirmative.
Councilman Alspach moves to suspend the rules
and consider this ordinance on final reading tonight. Motion seconded by Councilman Spencer. Vote 5 affirmative.
Clerk-Treasurer Alspach reads the transfer
ordinance in title only on final reading.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 2022 by Councilman Spencer and seconded by
Councilman Harris. Vote 5 affirmative.
Ordinance 2023
Attorney Robbins
introduces the amendment to the zoning ordinance on 1st
reading. Robbins summarizes the changes
which include not allowing more than two (2) of these type recreational
vehicles (boats, campers, trailers, RVs) per property, never allowing vehicles
to be inhabited while on residential property, only one (1) vehicle can be
stored in the driveway or in front of the front building line, and vehicle must
be at least 12’ from the curb or street.
Robbins states this should make the town look neater and should make the
ordinance easier to enforce. Motion to adopt Ordinance
2023 by Councilman Harris and seconded by Councilman Spencer. Vote 5
affirmative.
This item will be placed on the February 21st
agenda.
Town Council
Page Three
February 7, 2006
OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC
Brad Grider, 801
Wheatfield asks if the Country Gate Homeowner’s Association could dedicate all
common areas including the three (3) ponds to the town if they dissolve their
association? Member Spencer asks about
costs involved to mow those areas and maintain the ponds? PW Lasiter states the areas are not
accessible without crossing private property and money has not been budgeted
for that type of maintenance. Attorney
Robbins states that he has not seen the covenants but notes that it would be
difficult to deed away property belonging to the Association. The covenants allow the collection of fees to
cover maintenance but the town would not be able to collect those fees. Robbins adds that he would advise the council
against considering this proposal.
Grider asks
Attorney Robbins if Ron Jones has discussed enforcement of the covenants with
him? Robbins states that he has not
spoken with Ron Jones. Someone else in
his office may have talked to him but Attorney Robbins has not.
Being no other
business the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________
Maribeth Alspach, Clerk- Treasurer
Approved: _____________________________
John Perrin, President