COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ATTICA
JANUARY 13, 2003
The Common Council for the City of Attica met on the 13th
day of January 2003 at the hour of 7:00 p.m. at city hall. Those present: Mr. Bill Craft, Mrs. Valarie Maus, Mr. Larry Grant, Mr. Curt
Phelps, Mrs. Kay Gustus, Mr. Tom O’Connor and Mr. Deon Swift.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
Mr. Phelps made a motion to approve the minutes of the
December 9, and December 17, 2002 meetings, seconded by Mrs. Gustus.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mayor Swift began the meeting by thanking the members of the
CSO Committee (Combined Sewer Overflow) and presenting each member with a
plaque in appreciation for their time and effort in assisting the city with the
state’s IDEM mandate. Mayor Swift
said: “It is with great pleasure that
I’m presenting these plaques to the citizens who were members of the city’s CSO
Committee. This committee was
established in December of 2001 to help the city comply with the state’s IDEM
mandate on CSO’s (Combined Sewer Overflow).
The committee met monthly and with their input and homework, I feel
“very” comfortable in saying that they saved the city at least $100,000
in engineering fees and related expenses pertaining to this project. When you see them please thank them for
their involvement in this project because the bottom line is that they were the
ones who saved the city from having to make this expense up in the city’s
budget. I would also like to thank
Connie Sichts, Ron Jean and Nancy Mitchell, from the city, for furnishing this
committee with the facts and figures that they needed in helping them make
their informed decisions. Again, thank
you to everyone!” Members present were
Mary Schott, Randy Wellmaker, Pete Bodine, and Robert “Bob” Smith; absent were
Dr. Judy Bush and Barbara Mansfield.
Mr. Ron Jean, Director of Public Works, informed the council
that the North End Project had begun and the crew is doing a good job. Mr. Grant and Mayor Swift commented that the
crew is also doing a good job cleaning up after themselves. Brackney, Inc. takes pictures of the
citizens’ property before and after in order to returned it as close to
pre-construction condition as possible.
Mayor Swift thanked Mr. Jean and the city crew on snow
removal and street plowing during the recent snowstorm.
Police Chief Snoeberger stated that a parking problem on
South Perry Street had been addressed and the citizen had been issued a
violation. The citizen was sent a
letter in December giving him a deadline to comply with the city
ordinance. He has since been issued
other violations.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Mr. Phelps requested information on the current status of
maps that were to have been printed by the city engineers, Hannum, Wagle &
Cline. Mr. O’Connor said that the
preliminary map had been done, taken to Covington and found there was some
inconsistencies with the platted maps verses the proposed map. Mr. O’Connor has spoken to Mr. Eric Smith,
who said the preliminary map has been put into their software; therefore,
whatever revisions are made can be done and then printed out. Mr. Phelps asked if the city engineer would
have a copy on diskette, which would be available to the city.
NEW BUSINESS
Mayor Swift informed all present that the council had an
Executive Meeting at 5:30 p.m. before the council meeting to discuss a
personnel issue. A short discussion was
held among members. Mr. Grant made a
motion the council uphold the Mayor’s decision until such time the next
regularly scheduled written evaluation or such time before that time that the
deficiencies are deemed corrected by the Police Chief and at that time a raise
may be given to the individual at the Police Chief’s discretion, seconded by
Mrs. Gustus. All ayes.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
Mayor Swift said he would like to see citizens go through
the city and obtain a building permit to construct a fence. This is not for making money, but to make
citizens aware of requirements and limitations for building a fence. Building Commissioner Bunny Jordan said
there had been problems with construction of some fences within the city and
the citizens were not aware of limitations.
Mrs. Gustus made a motion for Mr. O’Connor to draft an ordinance,
seconded by Mrs. Maus.
The council held a lengthy discussion concerning parking requirements
for new dwellings constructed within the city limits. Mrs. Gustus made a motion for Mr. O’Connor to draft an ordinance
requiring two parking spaces for off-street parking for a new dwelling,
seconded by Mrs. Maus. Mr. O’Connor
said the present ordinance does require there be at least one off-street
parking space for each family housed in the unit. This ordinance went into effect in 1964. The ordinance also applies to any lots on
which room additions are made to the current structure. Mayor Swift said there were very few houses
in Attica without an alley behind them and their lot goes up to that
alley. Whether they choose to use the
alley is their choice, but it is there to use.
Mr. Dave Huckleberry informed the council that he did have the situation
where he wanted to put a parking spot in the back of his house, but in the
winter time the alley isn’t plowed and if it were, it would push snow into his
neighbor’s yards. As a result, he parks
on the street. The council said the
ordinance would address only new construction.
Mayor Swift said a resident who had sewage backup in their
home approached the Board of Works.
They asked to be reimbursed for their $500 insurance deductible from the
cleanup. The board agreed to pay the
deductible. The mayor said when the
problem occurred, the city was “running” a city sewer—it did happen and Mr.
Jean acknowledged it happened. Mayor
Swift said he would like to put the citizens of Attica on notice that there are
check valves on the market that will keep this from occurring. He doesn’t feel that the city can afford to
pay each citizen who has a problem and pay his or her deductible. Mr. Jean said he would speak with EJP and
see what is available on the market.
Mayor Swift suggests to all citizens to call the city first if their
sewage is backed up. The city is not
paying for a private contractor to run a sewer line and tell the homeowner it’s
the city’s fault and the city has to pay the contractor. If the problem is in the city’s lines, the
city will repair the line at no cost to the citizen. If the problem is in the resident’s line, the city will inform
the resident and they can contact a contractor. If a problem develops during regular business hours, residents
may call the clerk’s office and/or the city garage. If a problem develops after hours, residents may call the Attica
Police Department at 762-2449 and/or call Mr. Jean or Mayor Swift. Chief Snoeberger requests citizens to please
not call 911.
Mrs. Gusts said she would like to publicly thank the
Christmas Tree Committee who put up the lights and decorated McDonald
Park. They had informed her they were
hoping to have more trees next year.
Mrs. Gustus said the reason the city does not put lights downtown is
because Cinergy does not want anything on their poles; the city does not own
those poles. The merchants do not want
to decorate their big stores; the only place the city owns is McDonald Park and
she thinks the committee did a wonderful job.
Mayor Swift showed all present a graphic design of the
proposed sign for Riley Field. We are
currently waiting for approval from the Riley family. Eddie Palmer of Gecko’s will do the sign.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be brought before the
council, Mrs. Gustus made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mrs. Maus. All ayes.
_________________________________
Deon
H. Swift, II, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
Nancy Jo Mitchell, Clerk/Treasurer