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January 3, 2012 - Approved
January 30, 2012 by aeck
Present:
Ron Walter, Mayor
Jerry Eldridge, Common Council District 1
Ron Baker, Common Council District 2
Tammy Davis, Common Council District 3
Eric Johnson, Common Council District 4
Larry Moore, Common Council at Large
Angela Eck, Clerk-Treasurer
Steve Bingham, City Planner
Gerald McNerney, City Attorney
Ted Miller, City Superintendent
John Bonifer, Assistant Police Chief
Mayor Walter opened the regular session of the Common Council at 120 West Main Street at 7:30 pm.
The minutes from the December 19th meeting were presented. Council Member Eldridge made a motion to approve the minutes and Council Member Davis seconded the motion. The motion passed with all in favor.
Mayor Walter requested that the Council select a Council President. Council Member Davis nominated Eric Johnson as Council President and Council Member Baker seconded the motion. Mayor Walter asked for other nominations. Hearing none, he declared the nominations closed. The nomination of Eric Johnson as Council President passed with all in favor.
Assistant Police Chief Bonifer reported 144 incidents since the last meeting. Mayor Walter asked if the department had noticed any trends in crime over the past year. Bonifer stated that there seems to be more verbal arguments and information requests.
Mayor Walter announced the Council Committees for 2012.
Mayor Walter made the following appointments:
Ted Miller, City Superintendent
Jim Nichols, Police Chief
Jeff Shultz, Fire Chief
Steve Bingham, City Planner
Mayor Walter asked that the Council re-appoint Jerry Eldridge to the Plan Commission and appoint Larry Moore to the Plan Commission. Council Member Johnson made a motion to re-appoint Jerry Eldridge to the Plan Commission and to appoint Larry Moore to the Plan Commission. Council Member Davis seconded the motion. The motion passed with all in favor.
Mayor Walter re-appointed Anita Shultz, Kent Likes and Ford Hudson to the Plan Commission. He also re-appointed Don Hollman and Rick Walters to the Economic Development Commission. He re-appointed Jim Nichols and Gary Miller to the Park Board and appointed Tara Roose to take the place of Megan Davis on the Park Board. He re-appointed Anita Shultz to the DeKalb County Visitor’s Bureau.
City Planner Bingham presented Ordinance 1557, An Ordinance Prohibiting the Installation, Use and Maintenance of Outdoor Hydronic (Woodburning) Heaters Within the City of Butler, Indiana Corporate Limits, for its second reading by title as amended. Mayor Walter asked the Council if they had any questions on the proposed ordinance. Council Member Baker asked if anyone had one of these heaters in the city limits. Mr. Bingham reported that no one had one to his knowledge. Council Member Eldridge made a motion to approve Ordinance 1557 as amended on its second reading. Council Member Davis seconded the motion. The motion passed with all in favor. Council Member Johnson made a motion to approve Ordinance 1557 on its third reading by title and Council Member Davis seconded the motion. The motion passed with all in favor.
Mr. Bingham gave an update on Unsafe Building Activities. 407 Depot has been inspected; he will be sending a notice on it. Brown Excavating should have another home down by the end of February.
City Attorney Gerald McNerney reported that he met with an appraiser Friday morning. He will be appraising the Utility Office, the Police Station and the old City Hall Building. He should have some numbers in two to three weeks.
Council Member Moore said that he is looking forward to an interesting year. He also challenged the other council members to carefully look at their districts and find out what is going on. This will help Mr. Bingham with his job.
Council Member Eldridge welcomed Council Members Baker and Moore. He expects to have a good year.
Mayor Walter reported that he may rely on some Council Members more than others because of who is available during the day and who is not. He also plans to meet more consistently with department heads.
Council Member Eldridge made a motion to adjourn and Council Member Davis seconded the motion. The motion passed with all in favor.