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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-08-22city council minutesBook 19 SPECIAL MEETING August 22, 1978 7:30 P.M. The Meeting was called to order by Mayor Pasley. Page 237 The Roll of the City Council was called with the following members present: McCluskey, Olesen, Williams, Raymond, Hopper, and Bauman. Absent: none. (PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR) The Mayor explained that this was a Public Hearing on the proposed budget for the City of Caldwell for the next fiscal year starting October lst. The Mayor requested that the Finance Director pass out some budget schedules to the audience for their observation. The Mayor stated that the Council had tentatively agreed on the Revenue Sharing, but on the general budget there was no agreement reached. The City Council was waiting for the input that would come from the audience at this public hearing. The Mayor expressed appreciation to those that were in attendance and he hoped that they would feel free to make any suggestions or comments that they eared to express. He then declared the meeting open for the public hearing. Helen McKinney, Executive Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce, was recognized and stated that the Chamber of Commerce would like to come before the Council at this meeting for certain requests. She distributed to each member of the City Council a letter of request and sheets explaining their requests. She introduced Ron Blakely, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Roads and Streets Committee, who in turn introduced Chuck Yarn, Al Ritzel, A1tha Bish, Gene Graves, and Tom Busse also representing the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Blakely then read the letter to the Mayor and the Caldwell City Council as follows: --The Caldwell Chamber of'Commerce extends its appreciation for the time alloted for input for your anticipated 1978- 79 budget. Tonight, we wish to address that part of the budget concerning the street department. The Caldwell Chamber of Conmierce,Board of Directors and its Roads and Streets Committee respectfully request that the balance of the Marble Front Road. across Canyon Hill be completed. You will find this on our task force sheet circled in red. - (part B of Roman numeral three). We further request that North Indiana, from Lincoln to Hi'llcrest be curbed, and guttered and paved. (On the task force sheet it is circled in red under Roman numeral three.) The Chamber believes that these two arteries in our transportation system are vital to the business district and the residents of Caldwell. An adequate transportation system including farm to market roads can make or break any community. It is truly a determining factor 'to its economic base. Engineering estimates for each project were roughly estimated from $33,000 to $35,000. Dela -y and inflation will surely increase the cost in dollars and cents as well as 'deter trade within the community. Book 19 Page 238 He further explained that a Special Task Force was appointed this year to reconsider what the priorities were regarding the roads and streets in Caldwell. Mr. Lewis, City Engineer, was the Chairman of this Committee. The two items that were settled on as definite priorities were the finishing of that portion of Marble Front Road from the bottom of the hill to where the former work - began; this was about a four, block area,and that North Indiana from Lincoln to Hillcrest be paved, curbed, and guttered. Much discussion followed this presentation by the Chamber of Commerce. It was explained by the Mayor that the completion of Marble Front to Lincoln would depend on a Local Improvement District. The Mayor explained that it was the ,opinion of the — City Engineer that the City's.port:ion, should include curb, gutter, widening, and paving Marble Front up past the water tank. When they come to the private property, the City should continue approximately eighteen feet paving.onto Lincoln. The property owners, for their Local Improvement Distriction portion, which would mean acquisition of additional right of way, would put in the curb and gutter and pay for the paving from,the curb and gutter and an approximate eighteen feet in the center of the road. This was a better deal than given most Local Improvement District participants. Leon Hanson was recognized and suggested that the road be paved from Marble Front to Lincoln while they were waiting for the Local Improvement, District. - The.Mayor,explained. that this could not be done as it would be completely impractical to do only the paving with no curb and ,gutter. The paving would not last and would be a waste of money in the long run. Mr. Hansen then asked if North Indiana couldn't be made one way for an access up Canyon Hill. Councilman Raymond pointed out that to,make it one way would totally disrupt the traffic pattern on Canyon Hill. He felt it would bean extremely difficult thing to even consider. Mr. Hansen then asked if some of,the, pot holes could.at least be filled in until some kind of work was started. Several examples were pointed out of streets in Caldwell that were constructed before being annexed into the City that did not have curb and gutter. These streets were literally chipping away on the edges. The Mayor then pointed out that the only request so far from the audience was from the Roads and Streets Committee of the Chamber of Commerce to improve Marble Front Road from the bottom of the hill to where the Feller curb, gutter, and pavement improvement had taken place. He then asked for other input. He pointed out that tomorrow the City Council would meet again at 4:00 P.M. to rehash what the input would be tonight. The Finance Director went through for the audience how the budget was constructed and the reasons for why it was done this way. Glen IZoch, Chairman of Canyon County Property Association which was sponsoring the one percent initiative, was recognized and spoke regarding the initiative and there was some discussion regarding it. Book 19 Page 239 The Mayor and Councilman McCluskey both spoke regarding the budget and the philosophy behind their reasoning with it. They agreed that the Council had worked very hard to try to get a good budget and still satisfy the people of Caldwell and not increase the taxes. Councilman McCluskey also pointed out the lack of participation from the citizens in the small number present for the hearing. George Phelps was recognized and stated that he was there to represent the Senior Citizens. He explained how they had between one hundred and one hundred and fifty people for lunch each Wednesday at the Center and according to law the dishes have to be sanitized as well as all of the equipment used to prepare the food. It was their understanding that the City was contemplating doing away with the money they used to pay the dishwashers. This was only at a cost of $10.00 per week, which would mean about $520.00 a year. He was asking the City Council to reconsider the elimination of this item from the budget. Councilman McCluskey said that he would like to suggest setting up a "kitty" and ask the Senior Citizens to donate for this service. The Mayor said that he felt it made quite a difference as to the amount of noise there was during the program at these luncheons when the dishwashers were there. He felt that the tables and dishes were cleaned up much faster with the aid of the dishwashers and therefore, made it much nicer and quieter when they had the program. A Mrs. Gaisford was recognized and stated that she felt that the citizens of Caldwell were ungrateful to not take more interest in the budget and the work that the Council was doing. She felt they reaped the benefits and should be more interested. She also pointed out that she felt more money should be budgeted for additional police protection or better salaries for those now on duty. Since there was no more comments from the audience, the Mayor declared the public hearing closed. The following comments or requests were made at this meeting; that improvements be made on Marble Front Road from the bottom of the hill to where the improvements in front of Feller's were done; a request from the Senior Citizens to maintain their dishwashers, and the Police Department should have better salaries. The Mayor then stated that the Council would meet the next afternoon at 4:00 P.M. to go over the budget once again. There being no further business the Meeting was adjourned at 8:35 P.M. APPROVED AS written THIS 5th DAY OF September , 1978. tv � ,. / Mayo Councilman /Councilman nc" ma Cou c'lma Counci mart C uncilman ATTEST: City C1