MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

COMMON COUNCIL

June 23, 2008

The Common Council of the City of Rensselaer met on June 23, 2008 in regular session in Council Chambers of City Hall. Mayor Herbert Arihood called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. followed by invocation offered by Bill Hollerman and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Answering roll call were: Mayor Herbert Arihood; Clerk-Treasurer Frieda Bretzinger; Council Members Carole Beaver, Bill Hollerman, Rick Williams, George Cover, Rick Comingore; Park Supt Joe Effinger; Cemetery Supt Ron DeMoss; Building Commissioner Kenny Haun; Police Chief Jeff Phillips; Fire Chief and Gas Supt L E Koehler; Electric Utility Coordinator Donna Cochran; Electric Line Supt Tom Phegley; Utility Computer Operator Linda Webb; Street Supt Mike Murphy; Project Coordinator Jerry Lockridge. City Attorney Todd Sammons and Brandon Hatfield with the Rensselaer Republican arrived after roll call. Electric Plant Supt Claude Grow and Utility Office Manager Tammy Wisley were absent.

Also in attendance were: Stace Pickering with C/I; Linda Comingore, Bob Ott; John Scott.

The June 9, 2008 council meeting minutes were approved upon a motion by Comingore and seconded by Hollerman. The minutes of the June 19, 2008 special council meeting were presented and approved upon a motion by Hollerman and second by Williams, with Comingore abstaining from voting.

Citizen Comments and Petitions: There were none

Mayoral Proclamation: Arihood proclaimed June 20th and June 21st as Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Days.

Resolution 16-2008, Transfer of Funds: There was a motion by Beaver, second by Comingore, to approve Resolution 16-2008 as presented.

Indiana Chamber Membership: Pickering said his billing from Anthem reflects a discount for premiums of around $30,000.00 if the city joined the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Bretzinger asked if the quote he presented to the city already included the discount and Pickering said it did. Bretzinger asked if the city doesn’t join then does the premium go up and he said it will. He added that for $750.00 the city will save $30,000.00 in premiums. There was a motion by Hollerman, second by Cover, to join the Indiana Chamber of Commerce with the membership to be split between the utilities. The motion passed by majority, with Williams opposing the motion.

Tax Abatement CF-1 Forms Approval: There was a motion by Hollerman, second by Williams to approve the tax abatement CF-1 forms for ConAgra, National Gypsum, Donaldson Co. and Stark Truss. The motion passed unanimously.

Construction Design Standards: Haun told council that he’s preparing the construction design standards as part of the subdivision control. He and Lockridge are wanting council to adopt the standards that will be used for any contractor explaining what and how we want storm water, roadway designs, etc. Lockridge added it would put on paper what we’ve been doing for years as far as requirements for storm, water, sanitary sewer, water mains and roadway designs. Murphy asked if these are revised standards that we already have and Arihood said Lockridge just mentioned that this is to put on paper a city unwritten policy. There was a motion by Williams, second by Comingore, to approve. The motion passed unanimously.

Tenth Officer Proposal: Phillips said we have additional income coming soon to hopefully add another police officer. We’ve added newly annexed areas but haven’t increased the force. We will be getting some extra funding from LOIT. Arihood asked Koehler about the fire department but Koehler said he hasn’t heard any discussion about how much of that money will come to the fire department. Cover asked about salaries. Bretzinger said she’s been told that salaries can’t be paid from LOIT. Phillips said pensions and insurance can be paid from LOIT as well as equipment. There was a motion by Williams, second by Hollerman, to table the proposal until we receive more information. The motion passed unanimously.

Cemetery Deed Requests: Bretzinger said there are two cemetery deed requests; from Loretta

Rowland and Clara Worrell. There was a motion by Williams, second by Hollerman, to approve the requests. The motion passed unanimously.

Dental Insurance: Arihood said he talked to Kris Phillips about the dental insurance this morning. He asked Hollerman what the insurance committee decided. Bretzinger provided the new rates showing a 5% increase. Hollerman said the committee decided to stay with the same dental company and a 5% increase isn’t a bad increase. Pickering said it just depended on if the city wanted to lock in the health premiums for four more months by changing the dental to Anthem.

Committee Reports:

Time Card and Clock Committee: Comingore said we are moving forward and have talked to several people about this.

Pole Contract: Sammons is waiting for a response from Dumas.

Business License Committee: Williams said Haun has been on vacation so they haven’t met.

Council Comments: Williams asked if there is any policy about not maintaining a pool in town. Some pools are not being maintained and mosquitoes breeding in them are a problem. Phillips said he thought there was something at the health department. He added that he will look into it. Comingore said they have been working on an excavation ordinance. He now has some insight on that. Council allowed him to go to a Municipal Lawyers Seminar. He said it was very informative. Everyone is doing a great job on the Melville Street Project. He said it’s been an ongoing battle concerning the intersection at Grace and Melville. He’s been sharing e-mails with council and has called Hershman’s office as well as Gutwein’s office. His understanding is that the intersection is to be done in the Spring of 2009 which he felt is ludicrous. Cover asked if anyone ever called the Governor’s office about the Melville Street Project. Cover said we spend a lot of time talking about beautification of downtown; what about the weeds growing around the semi’s out by the mall on Ike’s property.

Mayor’s Notes: Arihood talked about the expansion of the SR 114 E corridor.

Claims; Approval: There was a motion by Cover, second by Williams, to approve the claims. The motion passed unanimously.

Superintendent’s Reports:

Utility Office: Webb said they are working on collections, small claims and budget sign ups. Employee reviews are finished.

Electric Utility: Cochran reported that the committee will meet tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. regarding the transmission line to the light plant. ISC’s Kerry Vincent will be here for that meeting. The web page committee is working and wants to move forward. They want to meet with a gentleman to get some fact finding done. There was a motion by Comingore, second by Beaver, to move forward. The motion passed unanimously. Phegley said they were moving poles on Melville Street. They are getting ready to convert the service down Harrison Street. They hopefully will be picking up the service on the new jail.

Building Dept: Haun said BZA meets tomorrow night at. On July 1st the new Zoning Code will be presented to the Plan Commission.

Gas Utility: Koehler spent three days at the state fire convention. He also attended a pipeline safety meeting in Indianapolis. Tomorrow morning they will be moving some 4” lines along Melville Street.

Street, Sanitation, Water and Sewage Utilities: Lockridge has a bill for a pay request for Well #6. He asked Bretzinger if she has the ok from John Phipps. Bretzinger said she hasn’t received anything but the invoice. There was a motion by Cover, second by Williams, to approve the National Water Supply invoice for $27,000.00 subject to engineer’s approval. The motion passed unanimously. He’s working on street blacktopping list. Melville Street Project is progressing. Phase 1 is 30-35% complete. Arihood said he’s had a complaint about the dust from the project. Lockridge said the contractor is trying to control that. Murphy said they are busy cleaning up brush and yard waste. One of his employees hit a mail box with the street sweeper. The lady that owns the mailbox has purchased a replacement and wants reimbursed. There was a motion by Comingore, second by Hollerman, to approve the reimbursement of the mail box for $116.62. The motion passed by majority, with Williams opposing the motion.

Park Dept: Effinger said he’s been out spraying for mosquitoes. The fair board asked him to spray for the Relay for Life and the fair. There was a motion by Comingore, second by Cover to allow Effinger to spray for mosquitoes. The motion passed unanimously.

Weston Cemetery: DeMoss is having a few mower problems.

Legal Dept: Sammons thanked council for allowing him to attend the Indiana Municipal Lawyers Conference. He also received a copy of the excavation ordinance. He was asked to look at the lease between the city and the park corporation. He prepared a draft of a lease and asked council to look it over and give him direction. Effinger is also to get a copy. He and Haun are addressing the unsafe issue of the house at 400 E Elm Street. The owner of record has been deceased for quite some time. He has been seeing some activity at the Boczek house but then realized they are just painting. He’s not seeing the actual replacement of materials and windows. Comingore thought there was a new door in the back. Sammons sent a letter to the attorney.

Police Dept: Phillips said they are looking forward to the Taste of Rensselaer this Saturday. The following Saturday is Cruise Night.

Arihood said that there were a couple of citizens here and since he started the meeting early thought he’d give them a chance to speak.

John Scott Thanked council for the speed bumps at Madison Subdivision. He believes it has had an impact on the majority of the folks out there. However, there are a few that can squeeze through the speed bumps because they’re not close enough to the curbs to it hasn’t reduced their speeds and they’re running through the stop signs. He would like to see them adjusted or longer ones put in. Phillips noticed that also. Murphy was also instructed to help.

Bob Ott concerned about the salvage junkyard that is running next to his place on College Ave. Haun has talked to the property owner and has also talked to Sammons. The address is 312 S College; Melvin Lane’s old Marathon station. Ott said he has a copy of the current ordinance and it doesn’t address changing out engines, demolition of cars or other things they are doing. He also has pictures available. Effinger said they are also bringing cars around and parking them on the gravel parking lot for the park. Phillips said he tried to contact the owner today but he wasn’t available. Cover said we needed to talk to the owner.

Pickering said that the new health insurance company will be here Thursday. Meetings will be held at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. He put a reminder letter in the department heads boxes and asked that they notify their employees. During the meeting representatives will be helping employees fill out applications and go over coverage. Food and refreshments will be served. Pickering said the meeting will last about an hour and if an employee can’t make those meetings, the applications will probably be made available in the clerk’s office. He asked that the applications are turned in by July 1.

There was a motion by Williams, second by Cover, to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m.

Herbert H. Arihood, Mayor

ATTEST:

Frieda Bretzinger, Clerk-Treasurer