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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCM-10-17-88 CARMEL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 17, 1988 7:00 P.M. CARMEL CITY MEETING HALL The meeting of the Carmel City Counci1 was called to order by Mayor Dorothy J. Hancock. Councilors in attendance were Minnie Doane, Alan Potasnik, James Miller, Frank Fleming, Tom Irvin and Lee Lonzo. City Attorney Steve Andrews and Clerk-Treasurer Susan W. Jones were also in attendance. Councilor Doane gave the invocation followed by the pledge of allegiance. Fire Chief Steve Couts presented a 20 year service Service Award: award to Firefighter Tim Warner. Minutes: Councilor Irvin made a motion to amend the minutes of October 23, 1988 regarding the leaf burning ordinance. The fine was set for "up to $500.00". The amendment was seconded by Councilor Fleming. All members voted aye. Motion carried. Councilor Irvin then made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. The motion was seconded by Councilor Fleming. All members voted aye. Mo1ion carried. Councilor Potasnik Ordinance D-582/Public Hearing/Leaf Burning: made a motion to introduce Ordinance D-582 and request the Clerk- Treasurer to read this ordinance. The motion was seconded by Councilor Fleming. All members voted aye. Motion carried. Mayor Hancock opened the hearing on Ordinance D-582 to public for comments and/or objections. Bill Jakosky, 38 Circle Drive. Mr. Jakosky stated he was against all burning but felt the City should offer some alternative for leaf disposal. John Davis, 1408 Cook Creek Drive. Wrote a letter to the city council in favor of alternate method of disposal for leaves. Felt that total ban is not the answer but was against burning. Steve Surette, AMR Lawn Care Service. Offered an alternative method of leaf removal and wanted to talk with City Council and/or Board of Public Works concerning a proposed leaf removal service by his company. The Mayor stated that Mr. Surette should discuss this after the public hearing. Four Seniors from Carmel High School, on a government assignment, addressed the City Council with their own viewpoints on the burning ordinance. Both sides of the issue were discussed and presented. After the public hearing, Councilor Lonzo thanked the students for their input and participation. Richard Frost, 507 Stanehedge. Mr. Frost reviewed the present state statute on burning for the Council and the public. Mr. Frost stated he does not burn leaves but is only interested in burning personal papers for which he has purchased a piece of equipment to make logs for his fireplace out of the papers he wishes to burn. MaryAnn Monahan, Songbird Lane. Mrs. Monahan, a registered nurse, stated she was against burning and felt that each person should dispose of his or her leaves through their trash disposal service. Tom Able, 140 East 126thStreet. Mr. Able was sympathetic to those who suffer during the burning season but he owned a large tract of land with alot of trees and has no other option but to burn these leaves. David Briggs, 8 Circle Drive. Mr. Briggs was against burning and felt each person should pay his or her own share of the cost to dispose of their own leaves. Mr. Briggs submitted a letter to the Mayor stating his views. Glen Hathaway, 240 146th Street. Mr. Hathaway owns two acres and a lot of trees and was against burning but thought the city should provide an alternate means of disposal of leaves. Ed Miller, 11 Circle Drive. Mr. Miller also wrote a letter to the Mayor and Council that provided many alternatives to burning. He also stated that if burning was allowed it should be limited to certain days. Susan Harsh, 10906 Songbird Lane. Mrs. Harsh stated she has had repeated problems with a neighbor in Jordon Woods who burns constantly. She said she and her family have suffered greatly because of burning and wanted to see it stopped. Councilor Potasnik at the end of the hearing informed Mrs. Harsh that Jordon Woods was outstiide the city limits and the ban on burning would not affect him. Councilor Lonzo suggested that Mrs. Harsh contact the Hamilton County Board of Health for relief or help when this person started burning and that perhaps this person is violating a State ordinance. Don Gardner, 3 Circle Drive. Mr. Gardner asked how many people had a fireplace in their homes and then suggested they put a lid on them. Tom Hughes, 731 Altman. Mr. Hughes states his children suffer greatly because of the smoke from burning leaves. He asked for immediate relief and felt that each person should dispose of his or her leaves at their own expense. Mr. Hughes stated he does not ask the neighbors to pay his medical expenses when his children get sick from digesting their smoke and he feels he shouldn't have to pay through his tax dollars to get rid of their leaves. John Holmes, 411 Jenny Lane. Mr. Holmes stated he had received many calls on this issue and saw both sides . He asked that the Council table this issue until further research could be done and that he was against a total ban without an alternative method of disposal for the citizens of Carmel. Mayor Hancock, not hearing anymore objections and/or questions concerning this ordinance closed the hearing to the public and opened it to the Council for their comments. Councilor Potasnik asked again for clarification on the state regulations as they pertain to the city ordinance by the city attorney. Councilor Lonzo stated he had spent considerable time on this issue and felt the matter should be tabled until other alternatives could be explored. He did state again, to the public, that certain laws do exist now on the books and that if burning does continue and they are suffering to call the Hamilton County Board of Health for assistance. Councilor Miller stated that good citizenship should prevail and that he himself had burned leaves and never realized how people suffered and would discontinue the practice himself . He stated he hoped others would do the same . Councilor Fleming asked if their was anyway that permits could be issued at a local level. Councilor Irvin stated he felt that other alternatives should be explored and that Councilor Johnson did offer several alternatives when he first proposed this ordinance . Councilor Irvin stated it would take time to work out the many problems that come with this type of an ordinance. Councilor Doane stated she felt the City should pick up the leaves if they were going to ban burning. She also stated that she knew it couldn't be done tonight but somewhere, somehow the City will have to find the money in their budget to get the leaves picked up. Councilor Potasnik said he had called several persons in his district and all of them were opposed to burning but felt an alternative should be offered along with the ban . Mayor Hancock, not hearing anymore objections and/or comments from the Council closed the hearing and thanked everyone for their input. The Mayor stated that it was hard for the Council to act without input from the public. Councilor Doane made a notion to table Ordinance D-582. There was no second on the motion. A committee comprised of Councilors Fleming, Irvin, Johnson and Andrews was formed to study alternatives to the burning ban ordinance. Ordinance D-582 will come back before the City Council at the November 7th, 1988 council meeting. The Public Hearing/Civic Square Phase II/Resolution 10-17-88-1: Mayor opened the heaIing on Civic Square Phase II, proposed construction and need for a new city hall, police station and parking lot to the public for questions and/or objections. Hearing none, the Mayor closed the hearing to the public and opened the hearing to the City Council for the same. Hearing none, the Mayor closed the public hearing. Councilor Irvin made a motion to pass Resolution 10-17-88-1 that determined a need for said construction. The motion was seconded by Councilor Doane. All members voted aye. Motion carried. Resolstion 10-17-88-1 passed unanimously. Councilor Potasnik asked the Ordinance for Handicapped Parking: City Attorney to prepare an ordinance providing for handicapped parking at the city lot located on Main Street. John Hensel, Township New Fire Truck for Carmel Fire Department: Trustee addressed the Council and gave them an update on the status of the new fire truck. John Hensel stated that everyone on the Council would have their name on the new truck and asked for a verification on spelling. There being no further business before the City Council the meeting was adjourned. APPROVED: Dorothy J. Hancock, Mayor ATTEST: Susan W. Jones, Clerk-Treasurer