NEW WHITELAND TOWN COUNCIL

August 21, 2007

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, Don Harris, Joe Noonan and John Perrin.  Also present were Attorney Robbins, Clerk-Treasurer Maribeth Alspach and Department Heads Jim Lasiter, Ed Stephenson, Brian Hedrick, and Office Manager Cindy Yates.  Councilman Spencer was absent.  Councilman Perrin offered the opening prayer. 

 

MINUTES

Councilman Noonan moves to approve the minutes of the August 7th meeting and is seconded by Councilman Harris. Vote 4 affirmative.

 

HARDSHIPS / ADJUSTMENTS

Mackenzie Meek, 838 Highland requests an extension until August 31, 2007 for her utility bill.  She will pay the full amount ($156.15) on or before August 31, 2007.  Council approves.

Michele Dyer, 464 Parkview requests an extension on her utility bill.  She had high usage this past month due to the hose being left on overnight.  Council authorized 10,000 gallon adjustment.  Dyer agrees to pay $105.00 on August 28, 2007 and the balance of $128.00 +/- on September 4th.  Council agrees.

 

OLD BUSINESS

Ordinance Revision Review

Marshal Stephenson asks if there are any questions with the revisions.  Council will finish review and this item will be placed on the agenda for the September 4th meeting to consider codification proceedings.

 

Proctor Park Update

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach will be spearheading this project.  She will attempt to present a status report at each meeting.  She is still trying to form a volunteer committee and would like to hold monthly meetings on the 4th Monday evening of each month.  Alspach will be submitting a grant application to the Johnson County Community Foundation on August 31st.  To date we have received donations of $20, 216.22.  We will be participating in the Miracle Mile Parade and Hall of Fame on September 1, 2007.  Our Proctor Park Memorial Banner has been ordered.  Alspach will revisit the radio show on September 15th for updates on Proctor Park.  Alspach and PW Supt. Lasiter will be meeting with the site design team tomorrow to make minor revisions.

 

Bantam Football Equipment

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach states complete inventory of equipment is being advertised in the Daily Journal and the Indianapolis Star.  Legal ad is also listed on the IACT email list.  Sealed bids are due at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 28th.  The Town Council will meet on August 28th at 6:30 p.m. to open the bids.  Today was Park Director Facemire’s last day.  Council directs Clerk-Treasurer Alspach to get Parks phones changed over.  Building will also need to be re-keyed.

 

Fire Department

Chief Hedrick states he will be picking up the 2005 Ford Explorer tomorrow from Ray Skillman’s.

 

NEW BUSINESS

2008 Budget

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach met with Dan Eggerman of the Department of Local Government Finance yesterday.  She has advertised the proposed (requested) budget amounts.  There will be another meeting with DLGF in October and they might have a better idea then of what cuts we need to make. The County and Township Assessors have not certified the assessed valuations yet to know what our anticipated revenues will be for 2008.

 

 

Town Council

Page Two

August 21, 2007

 

Park Department Responsibilities

PW Supt. Lasiter distributes a memo of suggestions for possible activities that the Parks Department could help sponsor or coordinate without an official Parks Director.  Lasiter asks the council for a job description and list of their expectations of what they want his employees to be responsible for in regards to the Parks Department.

 

Annual Food Drive

Council approves holding the food drive the 3rd week of September and placing information on the September utility bills.  President Perrin asks if information about the Angel Food Ministry purchasing program will be available to our residents.  Alspach states she will have it available here at the town hall for anyone interested in the program.

 

Traffic Complaint / Delbrook

Councilman Noonan has been approached by two residents complaining about the increased speed on Delbrook since the removal of the stop signs.  PW Supt. Lasiter states stop signs are not meant to slow traffic down.  Marshal Stephenson states his officers run radar on the interior streets of town daily and there is no evidence supporting speeding in that area.  PW Supt. Lasiter states the law has changed again and the minimum speed limit permitted without a traffic study has been dropped from 30 to 25.

 

Parking Restrictions – Town Hall

Councilman Alspach states the residents living across from the Town Hall are using the parking lot for their personal overflow driveway.  Alspach asks that signs be posted stating parking permitted for town business only.  Marshal Stephenson thinks this is a part of the ordinance revisions.  These cars are being parked in the town hall lot all day and overnight.  Stephenson states the overnight parking is addressed and he believes the cars could be towed if they are in violation.  Hopefully this issue will be resolved with the codification of the revisions.

 

Service Fees – Police Department

Marshal Stephenson wants to establish fees for various services provided by the Police Department such as VIN and background checks.  Council directs Stephenson to draft sample ordinance and have Attorney Robbins review it and then bring it to the council for consideration.

 

Fire Station Remodel & Misc.

Chief Hedrick thanks Jim Lasiter and the Public Works employees for all the work they have done at the Fire Station.  Hedrick states the station looks great.

Chief Hedrick notes there was a small Haz Mat spill in Country Gate last Sunday.

President Perrin asks if the issue with Rural Metro has been resolved.  Chief Hedrick states he has not had time to meet with them but plans to get a letter out this week.

 

Overlay Bids

PW Supt. Lasiter states bids should be ready for the street overlays at the September 4, 2007 council meeting.

 

IDEM Inspection

PW Supt. Lasiter states IDEM did a sanitary survey and is requiring new language in our ordinance addressing back flow prevention.

 

 

 

Town Council

Page Three

August 21, 2007

 

LEGISLATIVE

Ordinance 2058

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach presents the ordinance declaring certain items surplus and allowing for disposal for final approval.  Member Alspach moves to adopt on final reading and is seconded by Member Harris.  Vote 4 affirmative.

 

Ordinance 2060

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach reads the transfer ordinance in it’s entirety on first reading.  Motion by Councilman Harris to approve with a second by Councilman Alspach.  Vote 4 affirmative.  This item will be placed on the September 4th agenda.

 

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Office Manager Cindy Yates thanks the council for the funeral flowers and the bereavement time she was given recently when her uncle died.

 

Being no other business the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

____________________________

Maribeth Alspach, Clerk- Treasurer

 

 

 

Approved: _____________________________  

                 John Perrin, President