COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

CITY OF ATTICA

September 11, 2006

 

The Common Council for the City of Attica met on the 11th day of September at the hour of 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.  Those present: Mr. Larry Grant, Mr. Harold Burris, Mr. Bill Craft, Mr. Larry Askren, Mrs. Valarie Maus, Mr. Tom O’Connor, Mr. Deon Swift, and Ms. Sharon Negele. 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING

Mr. Askren made a motion to approve the minutes of the August 14th council meeting, seconded by Mr. Grant.  Mr. Swift also asked for a moment of silence to commemorate the five- year anniversary of the September 11th tragedy.

 

CITIZENS PETITIONS

Ms. Sharon Ball approached the council and requested an ordinance be passed to eliminate the parking of semi trailers on Bond Street.  Ms. Ball presented pictures and explained the many problems created from such parking. There appears to be alternate parking available next to the Crossroads restaurant in the parking lot.  Mr. Swift asked the traffic committee to meet on this issue. A meeting was set for 6:30p.m.on September 25.

 Ms. Jordan informed the Council via email that a request has been made by a resident on Hollovy St. to place a 4- way stop at the intersection of Hollovy and North Street. Mr. Swift also referred this matter to the traffic committee.

 Mr. Curt Phelps approached the Council with a request to receive certification on the final plat of the Attica Inn property so that the Recorder’s office will correctly record the ownership of Long St. to the City of Attica.  Upon review of the plat, Mr. O’Connor noted that Mr. Phelps just needed to write the name of the street on the plat. The council will then have the president of the Area Planning Commission, Larry Grant, sign the certification.  The certification was back -dated to June 10, 2002 since it was approved at that time according to our minutes.  Mr. Phelps is responsible to sign the remaining certification and record the document at the Fountain County Court House. 

 

DEPARTMENT HEADS

Mr. Jean announced that he has priced new trees for the downtown area. He received an estimate for between four to eight thousand depending on the type of tree.  He noted that out of the 17 trees, 14 have grown into the grates and will begin cracking the sidewalks if not removed.  These trees were supposed to be dwarf but had outgrown that status.  Mr. Swift then mentioned that a community group willing to place lighting in the trees has approached him. If the city chooses to replace the trees, the lighting project should be delayed.  Mr. Swift asked the Council to review all the options before any decision is made.

 Mr. Snoeberger received a list of properties with various issues from Mr. Grant .He will review the list with Ms. Jordan and decide what action needs to be taken.  He will also get with Mr. O’Connor regarding an alley that has been fenced in at 607 N. Perry.  It appears on our zoning map that the alley has not been properly vacated.  He informed the council of the department’s receipt of five hundred dollars from the Indiana State Police DCE/SP program. The money was awarded because of the indoor grow operation seized on 8/3/06.The state mandates that the funds be used toward training and equipment for the purpose of drug enforcement.

 

 

 

 Mr. Swift announced that the Fire department’s fish fry would be on October 7th. 

Ms. Jordan sent an email with the following updates:

  She has been working with Tawnia Adams reagarding the property at 208 West St. While the windows were not installed by the deadline, they were boarded up. The trash and weeds in the front yard were cut, but the backyard is overgrown.  Ms. Adam’s property at 806 Taylor was not started on until the day of the deadline given to her by Officer Durnil. The back yard still has high grass and weeds in the fencerow.  The grass and trash for both of the properties is a police matter. Mr. John Hoffa has transferred the deed to the property at 504 S. Union into Mr. Lister’s name as of the 24th day of August. The property had been condemned.  Mr. Robert Lister will receive a letter to this effect.

 

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Mr. Swift opened the public hearing for the 2007 budget and asked for comments or questions. As no issues were raised, Mr. Swift closed the hearing.  The adoption hearing will be held on September 25 at 7:00pm.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Mr. Swift raised the city insurance issue.  Ms. Negele announced that we have not received quotes for at least five years and that it is only prudent that city confirm that we are getting the best coverage for our money.  It could be that the existing insurance proves to be the best coverage available.  Mr. O’Connor will prepare a letter requesting quotes from various insurance firms.

 Mr. Joe Whitaker with FEMA attended the meeting to review NIMS (National Incident Management System) compliance.  The city will need to pass an Ordinance provided by Mr. Whitaker.  He also informed Ms. Negele that a copy of each NIMS Certificate must be on file at the Clerk’s office and that she would need to accomplish a survey for the City.  Mr. Swift inquired on the status of the generator payment.  Mr. Whitaker said that the check was in the mail. 

 

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS

Mr. Swift addressed the issue of the odor emanating from the sewage plant.  He stated that we currently do not use an odor- controlling chemical due to the high cost.

Ms. Negele announced that the clerk’s office received a new laser jet printer purchased with grant money offered by the Indiana Supreme Court’s Judicial Technology and Automation Committee (JTAC).

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the council, Mr. Grant made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Burris, all ayes.

 

 

 

                                                                        ________________________________

                                                                        Deon H. Swift, II, Mayor

ATTEST:

 

 

 

________________________________

Sharon Negele, Clerk/Treasurer