Thursday, November 14, 2013

October 1, 2013 Town Council Minutes


TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

OCTOBER 1, 2013 7:30 PM

PRESENT: Council Members: Scott Deyoe, Dan Adams, Todd Everling, and Joyce Higginbottom; Terri Sommers, Clerk-Treasurer; Jeremy Peele, Town Attorney.

ABSENT: J. Scott Flick

The meeting was brought to order by President Scott Deyoe. Higginbottom made the motion to accept minutes of the previous meeting, Everling seconded. Motion passed.

JEREMY PEELE: (1) County is still reviewing the legal description of the areas involved in the Wellhead Protection Ordinance that they are passing for us for the areas outside the municipal limits. (2) Affordable Care Act takes effect today.

RYAN BRAUEN, WESSLER ENGINEERING: In Ryan’s absence, Scott Deyoe reported that Theineman Construction has made a lot of progress in the last month. They have poured the one foot added onto the influent structure.

WATER & STREET: Report was read by Deyoe. Jared Isaac started fulltime employment with the town on September 9. Kevin Moss addressed the fact that the wellhead protection plan that Mr. Peele is working on with the county needs to go before our Plan Commission also, so that it can be incorporated into our zoning ordinance because there are certain restrictions on what can be developed in a wellhead protection area. Everling made motion to accept report, Higginbottom seconded. Motion passed.

POLICE REPORT: Report read by Deyoe. No items to address. Higginbottom made motion to accept report, Everling seconded. Motion passed.

FIRE DEPARTMENT: Tom Hendricks read report. Last month they signed to buy a new engine to replace their 1995 engine. It will look a lot like their rescue truck, and should be here next year by the first of March. They have enough money saved up to pay for it.

WASTEWATER: No written report. Bryan Klein gave verbal report. There has been significant progress in the last couple of weeks. We now dump into Brunk Ditch instead of Wildcat Creek. They have done a lot of housecleaning at WWTP site. They are condensing records, cleaning out the pole building making room for new equipment and parts that will be coming in. He is in the process of working on manuals for new equipment, putting together preventative and maintenance schedules.

PARK ADVISORY: Jolene Rule read report. Upcoming fall community service day will be Sat. Oct 5. They will meet at the fountain at 9am and will finish before noon. She named a couple of items for the council to think about. 1) The planters and flowerbeds have not been adequately watered by those who volunteered through the Adopt-A-Spot program, and they have lost many costly flowers and plants as a result. The Park Advisory Board recommends that town employees be responsible for watering these planters and flowerbeds as they are paid for by the town and are costly to replace. 2) The town sign at the west entrance of town has not had any landscaping updates since originally done many years ago. They recommend using a professional landscaping company to improve the appearance. She stated that the Park Advisory Board would gladly gather estimates for this project.


UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Scott Deyoe read Ordinance 2013-3 -- an ordinance amending ordinance 2010-5 -- entitled “An Ordinance to Create Staggered Terms for Town Council Positions”. This was the second reading. Mr. Adams made a motion to suspend the third reading of this ordinance, seconded by Everling. Motion passed. Individual votes were taken to pass this ordinance, with each council member voting Aye to pass the ordinance.

NEW BUSINESS: (1) Mr. Everling told those present that we had been getting quotes on a laptop for use at the WWTP. Discussion about the need for and uses of the laptop ensued. (2) Mr. Deyoe read two letters acknowledging our donation of Greentown Historical Records: one letter from the Greentown Historical Society and one from the State of Indiana.

GUESTS: (1) Craig Trott referred to the request of the Park Advisory Board regarding the sign at the west end of town. He asked if the landfill would be available to him if he volunteered to work on the landscaping. He was assured it would be, and was thanked by the council for his offer. (2) Don Downs spoke about the Plan Commission meeting this month, referring specifically to the property at 404 W. Main Street. He urged that we come up with something universal that will regulate this zoning issue about “special use”. Lengthy discussion followed regarding zoning issues and the need to revamp our town’s Zoning Ordinance booklet. Attorney Jeremy Peele stated that no action needs to be taken by Council, that the Board of Zoning Appeals has the authority needed.

Motion was made by Mrs. Higginbottom to cancel the October 15 council meeting, seconded by Everling. Motion passed.

Motion to adjourn was made by Higginbottom, seconded by Everling. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.




________________________________________ _________________________________________




________________________________________ _________________________________________

Clerk Attest

Monday, November 11, 2013

Town Council meeting September 17, 2013


TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

SEPTEMBER 17, 2013 7:30 PM

PRESENT: Council Members: Scott Deyoe, Dan Adams, Todd Everling, J. Scott Flick, and Joyce Higginbottom; Terri Sommers, Clerk-Treasurer.

The meeting was brought to order by President Scott Deyoe. Adams made the motion to accept minutes of the previous meeting, Everling seconded. Motion passed.

SCOTT DEYOE (IN THE ABSENCE OF JEREMY PEELE): Mr. Deyoe read the first reading of Ordinance 2013-3, which was updated and completed by Mr. Peele. This is an ordinance amending Ordinance 2010-5, entitled “An Ordinance to Create Staggered Terms for the Town Council Positions.” The second reading of this ordinance will be at the October 1 meeting.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: (1) This was the Adoption Meeting for the 2014 Budget, as published in the Notice to Taxpayers. Ordinance 2013-4, An Ordinance or Resolution for Appropriations and Tax Rate, was read by Mr. Deyoe. He noted a correction to the Rainy Day Fund, which was published in the Notice to Taxpayers – given by DLGF (Department of Local Government Finance) - as an estimated budget amount of $8884, (which was actually the cash balance in that fund). The true amount of estimated budget for the Rainy Day Fund is $0. An individual vote was taken, with each council member voting “Aye” to pass the budget ordinance as read. (2) Mr. Everling addressed the zoning ordinance that has been previously discussed and reviewed. Mr. Peele’s amendment needs some revision, but looks good. No action taken at this time.

NEW BUSINESS: (1) Mr. Deyoe thanked the clerk and deputy clerk for their work on the budget. (2) Pay application #6 is in for the WWTP. $691,007.80 – which includes a lot of new equipment – is the amount requested to be paid to Thieneman (contractor), with a retainage of $33,179.89 to be deposited in the escrow account. (3) Change Order #2 also came in, with an increase of $33,944. This brings the new total for the sewage plant to $5,149,019.

Motion to adjourn by Flick, seconded by Higginbottom. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 7:50 pm.



Town Council Minutes September 2, 2013


TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

SEPTEMBER 3, 2013 7:30 PM




PRESENT: Council Members: Scott Deyoe, Dan Adams, Todd Everling, J. Scott Flick, and Joyce Higginbottom; Terri Sommers, Clerk-Treasurer; Jeremy Peele, Town Attorney.

The meeting was brought to order by President Scott Deyoe. Flick made the motion to accept minutes of the previous meeting, Everling seconded. Motion passed.

JEREMY PEELE: (1) Talked to County Attorney Larry Murrell to follow up on the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) regarding the 2-mile buffer. Murrell is of the opinion that there is not an MOU in place, that there never was one, as no one can locate a hard copy or reference of one in minutes. Mr. Peele advised the council not to undertake the expense of trying to create a buffer ordinance. One reason is that there is no moratorium in place for any new wind farm developments. Another reason is that the county probably would not approve it anyway. He reasoned that it would most likely be a waste of time and money. After discussion it was decided that there would be no motion to attempt to create a buffer. (2) Still looking into the street issue. 60-70% of our roads are owned by the county. (3) Mr. Peele has drafted a wellhead protection ordinance for the county to pass for the areas that are outside the municipal limits but inside our wellhead protection plan zone. There are 4 or 5 parcels of ground that will be affected. County has approved the language, and they have to adopt it as an ordinance. Jeremy will send a draft ordinance for county approval, and will let us know when the meeting will be held. Council members are welcome to attend.


RYAN BRAUEN, WESSLER ENGINEERING: (1) Ryan came earlier today with a pole camera to try to get a glimpse of our storm sewer drains. He work with Kevin Moss, and they followed the storm sewer line from Brunk Ditch up Payton Street. The lines south of the RR tracks on Meridian St. were relatively clean, and got worse as they went farther north. They determined some of the areas can be televised without cleaning. Kevin will put together an updated request for quotes. (2) There was a progress meeting today. Ryan Met with SRF on their first of three walk-throughs at the WWTP. No issues came up. He’s working with SRF on raising the berm along Brunk Ditch (“flood control” is not approved language because it might give the false impression that they are funding something they are not allowed to.) He needs verification that it was discussed by the council and received approval. Brad Robinson is processing other change order items that have occurred since change order #1. Overall changes will increase approx $46,000, which is within the contingency that was established. (3) Ryan will not be at next month’s meeting.

FIRE DEPARTMENT: No report.

POLICE: Deyoe read report. Officer Comfort is still out on medical disability. Everling made motion to accept; seconded by Higginbottom. Motion passed.

WATER & STREET: Report was read by Deyoe. Higginbottom made motion to accept report, Flick seconded. Motion passed.

WASTEWATER: Report read by Deyoe. Flick made motion to accept the report, seconded by Everling. Motion passed.

PARK ADVISORY: Parks and Trails Committee has dissolved. Coordinators of certain projects in the program – Farmers Marker, Community Garden, and Adopt-A-Spot – will work directly with Greentown Main Street Association. They will continue to do Community Service Days twice a year. They are discouraged that many people who have adopted planters in the area have not been keeping them watered. Park Advisory Board will continue with three members.

NEW BUSINESS: (1) Mr. Flick announced that Jared Isaac will start full-time employment with the town on Monday, September 9. He has agreed to get his Water Operator Permit so he will be a backup to Kevin Moss.

(2) Mrs. Higginbottom spoke about her position on the Board of Directors of the Howard County Recycling District. She shared her disagreement with the Board’s decision to subsidize Kokomo’s curbside recycling with money from throughout the county. She also informed those present that the yard waste facility on Dixon Road is for everyone in the county, not just Kokomo residents.


(3) Mr. Everling announced that Bryan Klein is willing to work for the town of Greentown as the Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent. He currently works for Kokomo, has worked with Steve Rule at our plant, and signs our reports. He was interviewed last week. Mr. Everling made a motion to hire Mr. Klein for this position. Mr. Flick seconded; motion passed. A start date is yet to be determined.

(4) Mr. Adams told us that Rachel Jenkins is officially retiring after 20 years, and commended her for her many hours of service in providing the Greentown Grapevine to our community. He felt our appreciation should go on record, on behalf of our community and our council. Even though she was not at the meeting, she received a hearty applause. He also wished the best to Mr. John Bahler as he will be taking over for Rachel.

(5) Clerk Terri Sommers announced that Greentown received approval from DLGF (Department of Local Government Finance) on the new proposed Cumulative Capital Development Fund, to go into effect in 2014.

(6) Scott Deyoe made several announcements: Congresswoman Susan Brooks would be at the Greentown Historical Society on Wednesday, Sep. 4, from 12:00 – 1:30 pm for an open community forum; He also announced that the Adoption Meeting for the 2014 Budget would be on Tuesday, September 17 at 7:30 at Greentown City Hall, 112 N. Meridian Street; Quarterly meeting of the Plan Commission will be Tuesday, September 10 at 7:00 pm; He read a thank you card from Mr. and Mrs. Garry Hill for the flowers sent for Mike Andry; Mr. Deyoe addressed an update to our staggered term ordinance which was passed in 2010, which has been reviewed by the Indiana Election Commission. Moving our election to coincide with the general election means that the election will be done at no cost to the town.

GUESTS: Earl Petty spoke about his concern about the lack of adequate police protection. He also spoke a concern about people who walk their dogs and fail to clean up after them. Discussion about these issues followed, which also lead to more general discussion, including burn laws and wind farms.

Motion to adjourn by Flick, seconded by Higginbottom. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 8:23 pm.