NEW WHITELAND TOWN COUNCIL
APRIL 4, 2006
MEETING MINUTES
Town Council President
MINUTES
Member Noonan moves to approve the minutes of
the March 21st meeting.
Motion seconded by Councilman Harris.
Vote 5 affirmative.
OLD
BUSINESS
Special Census
Clerk-Treasurer Alspach states that she sent
a letter with the questions the council wanted answered last week but has not
received a response back yet.
NEW BUSINESS
Mock Terrorist Disaster Planning Exercise
Update
Johnson County Emergency Management Director
Tug Sutton states that a mock terrorist disaster drill has been scheduled for
Saturday, May 6th at
Councilman Harris asks the estimated length
of the drill. Sutton states people will
begin arriving around 7:30 a.m. and the exercise is scheduled to begin at 8:00
a.m. The area should be cleared by 11:00
or 12:00 noon. A P.O.D. (Place of
Dispensing) will be set up inside
Councilman Perrin asks about the scheduled
soccer games at Break-O-Day. Sutton
states the drill was moved from the Middle School to Break-O-Day due to Little
League games. Sutton has spoken with
Clark Pleasant School Corporation and been told that the soccer games will
either be cancelled or postponed until after the drill is completed on May 6th.
Councilman Perrin asks if this drill will
inconvenience our residents. Will people
be able to get in and out of their subdivisions? Sutton states they will try
and set up off the road as much as possible.
They may need to divert or redirect some of the traffic flow but people
will be able to get in and out of subdivisions.
Councilman Alspach asks if weather will be an
issue. Sutton says no – the drill will
take place no matter what the weather.
Councilman Perrin asks if the dispatchers
will be briefed prior to the exercise.
Perrin states regardless of publicity people will panic and call the
police department when this happens. Lt.
Stephenson states they are drafting an operational plan currently. There will be a 2nd dispatcher on
duty that day. Sutton says they will pay
for that extra dispatcher. Stephenson
will present the plan at the next meeting.
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April 4, 2006
Perrin asks how this drill will affect the
Public Works Department. Supt. Lasiter
states he has been told that for this drill they will only need to assist with
barricades. This disaster will not
involve or impact the water system. Mr.
Sutton states that for this event they will not fully utilize the Public Works
Department but in a real event their services would be invaluable. Sutton encourages the council to participate
because in a real event they would be called upon to make certain necessary
decisions.
Condemned/Abandoned Structure
Attorney Watson notes that this issue was
discussed at the last Plan Commission meeting.
Watson has researched our Unsafe Structure Ordinance and would expect
the Plan Commission to pursue necessary legal action to bring the property into
compliance. Councilman Spencer states
that the property being discussed is located at 461 Parkview Drive.
Fire Department Update
Chief Hedrick met with the architect at Pace
Engineering last week and should have copies of the revised plans in 2 to 3
weeks. They have also been able to
salvage their laptop computer and will be installing it in the command vehicle
so that they can utilize their Fire Pro and Fire Look software.
Signage Request
Public Works Supt. Lasiter presents a copy of
a proposed sign that the residents of Hilltop Commons are wanting posted at the
entrances of their subdivision to deter crime.
Lasiter adds that Lt. Stephenson has approved the proposed format. Lasiter states that he could post the signs
on existing speed limit sign posts and that the Homeowner’s Association would
pay for the signs if the council approves.
Lt. Stephenson states he has spoken with a representative of the
Homeowner’s Association and states that these signs do not give the residents
permission to become vigilantes – they still would need to contact the Police
Department and report any concerns or suspicious activity. Lt. Stephenson is concerned about posting
signage with copyrighted logo belonging to Crime Watch. The Crime Watch program has specific
requirements and these residents have not complied with the program
guidelines. Stephenson does not want to
give the impression that the town is sponsoring a Crime Watch area in one
subdivision but not making it available in other neighborhoods. Marvin Witzerman, 1035 Hilltop Commons, is
present representing the Homeowner’s Association and presents sample sign
designs. President Perrin asks if the
council can have until the next meeting to research the copyright implications. Witzerman agrees. Attorney Watson recommends that the Uniform
Traffic Control Manual be consulted to verify that this type of signage is
permissible. Also to check sign size requirements and/or limitations. Supt. Lasiter has done this. Watson further recommends that the council
retain the right to remove the signs at their discretion if the signs are
posted in the right of way. Witzerman asks if the signs were posted outside the
right of way in the common area, would the council have any concerns or objections.
Watson says Witzerman or the Homeowner’s Association should check with the
Zoning Administrator as they may be required to apply for a sign permit. Lt. Stephenson adds that he has no problem
with Neighborhood Watch groups if people are interested in organizing
them. Councilman Spencer asks about size
restrictions for the proposed signs.
Supt. Lasiter says they would be made the same size as the existing speed
limit signs. Council President Perrin
states he will contact the vendor with questions about the copyright logo and
call Mr. Witzerman tomorrow.
LEGISLATIVE
Ordinance 2026
Attorney Watson presents the ordinance that
amends the text of the Zoning Ordinance by adding a new zoning classification
of General Business Manufacturing (GBM) without allocating this
classification to any specific property. Attorney Watson summarizes the text of this
ordinance that
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April 4, 2006
will allow /provide additional flexibility
for future development.
Watson notes that the Plan Commission held a
Public Hearing on March 28, 2006 and is sending a favorable recommendation to
the council. Passage of this ordinance
will require only a single vote of approval by the council.
Councilman Noonan moves to adopt Ordinance
2026 on first reading and is seconded by Councilman Spencer. Vote 5
affirmative.
Ordinance 2027
This ordinance to revise the meter deposit
policy has been tabled for Attorney Robbins to complete his research of
pertinent regulations. Clerk-Treasurer
Alspach states that all of the council members have received some additional
suggestions on this proposed legislation and would ask that they review those
and the recommendations made at the last meeting to determine if any changes or
compromise should be made.
Ordinance 2028 and Ordinance 2029 are
ordinances that need to be in place by the end of April per an agreement we
have with IDEM. PW Supt. Lasiter
explains that these are two (2) of the three (3) ordinances required as part of
our Stormwater Phase II plan and the NPDES permit. Lasiter believes this is just the start of
the State transferring more of their responsibilities to the municipalities and
entities providing utility services.
Ordinance 2028
This is the Stormwater Management Ordinance
for the Town of
Ordinance 2029
This is the Erosion and sediment Control
Ordinance for the Town of
OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC
Marvin Witzerman, 1035 Hilltop Commons, states
that he is President of the Hilltop Commons Homeowner’s Association and asks
what New Whiteland’s plan is for expanding the boundaries of the town. President Perrin states this has been frequently
discussed and the council wants the town to grow but they want controlled
growth. They are not looking for more
starter homes. Upscale housing or
business and industrial growth would be most welcome. There are no new subdivisions being planned
or discussed at the present time. Mr.
Witzerman suggests annexing ground before the surrounding municipalities
do. Perrin states that anything we annex
we have to be able to provide utilities and services to. Witzerman states he heard that New Whiteland
had the chance to annex the Kroger retail area and opted not to do so. Councilman Spencer states we can only annex
area that is contiguous with our existing boundaries – Mr. Witzerman’s
information is incorrect. New Whiteland
would love to have had the opportunity to have that development or one like it.
Witzerman states his Association members are concerned over potential lost tax
revenues if New Whiteland doesn’t annex more area for future development.
President Perrin notes that the best tax revenue comes from business, industry,
or commercial development. The
residential tax impact is miniscule.
President Perrin states that Marshal
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April 4, 2006
Being no other
business the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________
Maribeth Alspach, Clerk- Treasurer
Approved: _____________________________