COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

CITY OF ATTICA

APRIL 8, 2002

 

 

The Common Council for the City of Attica met on the 8th day of April 2002 at the hour of 7 p.m. at city hall.  Those present:  Mr. Larry Grant, Mr. Bill Craft, Mrs. Kay Gustus, Mr. Curt Phelps, Mr. Tom O’Connor, and Mr. Deon Swift.  Absent:  Mrs. Valarie Maus.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. Phelps made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2002 council meeting, seconded by Mrs. Gustus.  All ayes.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Mr. Larry Grant, Chairperson of the Traffic Committee, said the committee met on Tuesday, April 2 to discuss the possibility of changing all or part of the downtown area to angle parking as opposed to parallel parking.  The committee also discussed the possibility of four way stop signs at Perry and Ferry (by the hotel) and Perry and Mill Streets.  The committee thought if angled parking was in effect, there might be a hazard due to the speed of cars in the downtown area.  Their recommendation to the council was angle parking on the east side of the street only, with the exception of the first parking spot in each block, going in each direction.  There would be an increase of approximately two parking places in each block and the convenience for people to be able to pull into a parking spot rather than having to parallel park.  Mayor Swift requested the Traffic Committee make their final recommendations at the May meeting along with information from the city’s insurance carrier regarding liability.

 

CITIZENS PETITIONS

Mr. Dave Banta, of D. L. Banta and Associates Engineering, requested the council to allow him to subdivide a property without having to go through the Zoning and Planning Commission.  In a letter to the council, he explains that he and Mrs. Banta own a 9.9 parcel of land on the east side of Birkey’s Chrysler Auto Sales and north of State Road 28.  The parcel was annexed into the Attica city limits in November of 1978.  It was rezoned to B2 (General Business).  They have modestly developed the property by obtaining a highway access permit and started building a state approved car wash on the site.  Recently Phelps Enterprises Inc. asked Mr. Banta to aid them in developing plans for a motel on a portion of the property.  This motel is to be identified as the Attica Motor Lodge.  Such a development does fit within the Attica Zoning B2 classification.  Phelps Enterprises Inc. intends to purchase only the western 5.190 acres of the 9.9-acre parcel.  This would constitute a sub-division and that is not Mr. Banta’s intent.  Mr. Banta requested the water and sewage lines be brought closer to the future building site.  He also wanted to know if the city would provide the installation of the utilities if Phelps Enterprises would pay for the costs of the materials.  Mr. Banta, requested on his behalf and Phelps Enterprises Inc. the following actions from the Attica City Council:

 

1.                 1.                 In accordance with Section 10-150 of Attica’s Zoning and Subdivision Regulations Preliminary Plat Approval, this project be approved without “Commission” submittal requirements and general publication.  We believe dividing this 9.9-acre parcel into two service oriented B-2 properties does not meet the intent, nor the requirements of the regulation as adopted.

2.                 2.                 The city accepts the access drive as shown on the Plot Plan as a public street after it’s construction.  All construction costs will be the burden of Phelps Enterprises Inc. right of way and construction requirements will be in accordance with Attica’s Zoning and Subdivision Regulations for a “Local Access Street”.

3.                 3.                 The water main as shown on the Plot Plan be accepted by the city, and constructed by the city, with Phelps Enterprises reimbursing the city for materials only.  Additionally that the Attica Motor Lodge be given a 1.5 inch water tap, location to be determined, from this new main, at no charge.

4.                 4.                 The existing city sanitary sewer now terminated north and west of the 9.9 acre parcel be extended onto the west end of the north boundary’s 20 foot sewer easement to the city, as set out in our utility expansion agreement dated April 1998.

5.                 5.                 Property tax abatement proceedings are initiated on behalf of Phelps Enterprises and the motel’s property and assets, as a community based incentive for this project.

 

Mayor Swift stated, “I have no problem at all with using the city equipment if it’s going to make growth and bring income to the city”.  After much discussion among council members, Mrs. Gustus made a motion to approve the proposed plot plan for the subdivision of the 9.9 acres, seconded by Mr. Craft.  Roll call was taken with three (3) ayes, 0 nays.  Motion carried.  Mr. Phelps abstained from voting.

 

DEPARTMENT HEADS

Police Chief Gene Snoeberger presented to the council a sheet concerning overtime and comp time that had been accumulated.  He prepared a chart with several options for their consideration in buying down the accumulated comp time.  He also informed the council and mayor that thirty-eight vehicles had been tagged in two days and thirteen had been towed.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Mrs. Gustus made a motion for the citywide cleanup day to be May 17 and 18, seconded by Mr. Grant, all ayes, with Mr. Phelps abstaining.  Mr. Grant said he would like to remind the citizens of Attica that they are the people paying for the cleanup.  In the past, there have been items hauled into town from relatives and friends to be picked up on those cleanup days.  He would like to discourage this being done.  If the costs of cleanup get out of hand, the city won’t be able to continue to do it in the future.  The council requested citizens to not set out items such as batteries, tires, yard wastes and concrete as the sanitation people cannot haul those away.

 

Mrs. Gustus made a motion to read Ordinance #2 for the first time in full and second time by title only, seconded by Mr. Phelps.  All ayes.  Mr. O’Connor real in full:  ORDINANCE #2, 2002 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 4, SECTION 4-10 ACCIDENT REPORT FEE:  WHEREAS, Indiana Code 9-29-11-1 authorizes the City of Attica to assess a fee for a copy of an Accident Report Form, and WHEREAS, the Common Council for the City of Attica has determined that the present fee set forth in Chapter 4, Section 4-10 of $3.00 for said Accident Report Form shall be increased to the sum of $5.00, NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF ATTICA as follows:  Section 1.  Chapter 4, Section 4-10(b) shall be amended to read as follows:  The Police Department is authorized to charge as a fee for a copy of an Accident Report Form an amount of $5.00 per copy.  Section 2.  This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its publication as required by law and its adoption by the Common Council for the City of Attica.  Mr. O’Connor then read by title only:  ORDINANCE #2, 2002 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 4, SECTION 4-10 ACCIDENT REPORT FEE.  Mrs. Gustus made a motion to suspend the rules and read for the third and final time, seconded by Mr. Grant.  All ayes.  Mr. O’Connor read Ordinance #2, 2002 in full.  Mrs. Gustus made a motion to adopt Ordinance #2, seconded by Mr. Phelps.  Roll was called with four (4) ayes, 0 nays.  Motion carried.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Mrs. Gustus made a motion to read Ordinance #3 the first time in full, second time by title only.  Mr. O’Connor read in full:  ORDINANCE #3, 2002 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6, DIVISION 14, SECTION 6-400 AN ORDINANCE REGULATING OPEN DITCHES WITHIN THE CITY OF ATTICA.  Mr. O’Connor then read by title only:  ORDINANCE #3, 2002 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6, DIVISION 14, SECTION 6-400 AN ORDINANCE REGULATING OPEN DITCHES WITHIN THE CITY OF ATTICA.  Mrs. Gustus made a motion to table Ordinance #3 and publish, seconded by Mr. Phelps.  All ayes.

 

Mrs. Gustus made a motion to read Ordinance #4 for the first time in full, seconded time by title only, seconded by Mr. Phelps.  All ayes.  Mr. O’Connor read in full:  ORDINANCE #4, 2002 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6, SECTION 6-277 AN ORDINANCE FOR REMOVAL OF LEAVES, GRASS CLIPPINGS AND TREE TRIMMINGS.  Mr. O’Connor then read by title only:  ORDINANCE #4, 2002 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6, SECTION 6-277 AN ORDINANCE FOR REMOVAL OF LEAVES, GRASS CLIPPINGS AND TREE TRIMMINGS.  Mrs. Gustus made a motion to table Ordinance #4 and publish, seconded by Mr. Phelps.  All ayes.

 

Mr. Phelps made a motion to read Ordinance #5 for the first time in full, second time by title only, seconded by Mr. Grant.  All ayes.  Mr. O’Connor read in full:  ORDINANCE #5, 2002 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9, SECTION 9-35 BY THE INCLUSION OF SUBSECTION 0, PROHIBITION AGAINST DISCHARGE OF GREASE INTO THE CITY SEWER SYSTEM.  Mr. O’Connor then read Ordinance #5 by title only:  ORDINANCE #5, 2002 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9, SECTION 9-35 BY THE INCLUSION OF SUBSECTION 0, PROHIBITION AGAINST DISCHARGE OF GREASE INTO THE CITY SEWER SYSTEM.    Mr. Phelps made a motion to table and publish, seconded by Mr. Grant.  All ayes. 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

Mayor Swift announced to the council that the city had applied for and received an extension for the Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan.  The Indiana Department of Environmental Management gave the city an extension until April 1, 2003.

 

Present at the council meeting were two citizens who explained they had tried to speak with teens, who were congregating at the Shell station, concerning the noise level late in the evenings.  Now, those same teens have targeted their home in late evenings by parking in front of it and squealing the tires on their cars when driving away.  Chief Snoeberger said he would speak with his officers and they would patrol the area.

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to be brought before the council, Mr. Phelps made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Grant.

 

 

 

                                                          _____________________________

                                                          Deon H. Swift, II, Mayor

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

________________________________

Nancy Jo Mitchell, Clerk/Treasurer