Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, October 8, 2013
(MITCHELL) - Mitchell Mayor Gary Pruett announced during Monday’s city council meeting that the ditches along Hancock Avenue will be fixed.
Pruett met with project engineers and managers from the construction crews for the Safe Route To Schools and says the rather abrupt ditches along Hancock Avenue, stretching 508 feet from the city pool to 14th Street will be corrected.
Councilman Matt England also informed the council about flooding problems at Hancock Avenue and 12th Street.
"The water can't get past the curb and flow into the storm water drain," England says. "Water is still sitting there today from Saturday's rain."
Pruett says he will also address that issue with the construction company.
"It is not suppose to be that way," Pruett says. "It is just that simple."
In other business:
* The council formally adopted the proposed 2014 budget and the 2014 salary ordinance. However the vote was not unanimous. Councilman Matt England voted against the adoption of both.
* The council voted to amend the mobile home ordinance. City Attorney Bryon Steele told the council that there was no time listed in the ordinance for residents who were in violation to have the problem corrected. The council voted to give residents 30 days to comply with the violation.
* The council voted to add a minimum house size to the housing ordinance. "Currently if someone wanted to put a storage building or a cabin on their property and rent it out they could," Steele told the council.
Building Commissioner Danny Baker and Steele discussed the issue and determined a home could not be smaller then 950 square feet.
* Councilwoman Vicky Schlegel asked the council to consider restricting parking on Meadow Moor during soccer and football games. Schlegel told the council that she had received complaints that residents could not get in and out of the driveways because fans and parents were parking along both side of the street.
One idea was to limit parking to only the south side of the street. But England, who is also a police officer, suggested that all parking should be banned.
The street is just too narrow," England says. "I just think it needs to be posted no parking all the time, protecting the homeowners and children in the area."
The council agreed to talk to the school officials, the street department and residents in the area before making a decision.
* Councilwoman Schlegel praised the Persimmon Festival committee , volunteers and other city officials and departments for making the festival a success.
* Deb Lilly of Administrative Resources association presented the council with a resolution to allow the city to seek a $40,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs to develop a comprehensive plan for the city.
The city agreed to pay $8,200 out of the general funds to hire Bernardin, Louchmueller & Associates to develop the plan. The board opted to accept the proposal on the condition the city receives the grant money from OCRA.
The comprehensive plan will look at zoning, housing, economic development, the city's infrastructure, restoring the downtown area and the development of hiking trails.
* Mayor Pruett told the council that anyone interested in being involved in the Farmers' Market could attend their next meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Hub Restaurant.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.