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Last updated on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
(MITCHELL) - The Mitchell City Council voted to vacate an alley behind Mitchell Motor Sales for economic development.
Attorney Chris Burton presented the ordinance to the council Tuesday night.
Burton says the alley was never developed and he believed that a building owned by Vectren currently sits in the middle of the alley.
The council approved the ordinance and the property will now revert back to adjoining property owners, Richard Burton, Perry Mullis and Mitchell Mini Bus Inc.
Burton did not say what will happen to the property now, but owners are in the middle of a deal that possibly could bring more business to Mitchell.
The council also discussed filing the council at-large seat held by Mitchell Police officer Matt England.
England did not official resign from the council, but leaves today to work for a private contractor overseas providing security.
Mayor Gary Pruett told the council that unless England provides a resignation to the council before he leaves today the council will have to vacate the seat and a caucus will be formed to appoint another council member.
In other business:
* The council discussed setting policy for roadblocks. Councilwoman Vicki Schlegel suggested roadblock only be held the first and third weekends of the month and only from April till October and not during the Persimmon Festival.
"This year we had 22 road blocks," Schlegel says. "If we limit the number that will bring it down to 13."
She would also like to stop anyone in middle school and younger working at the roadblocks because of safety reasons.
"I think we should also know where the money is going...if they are buying equipment or shoes," she added.
Councilman Everett Ferrel agreed says those that donate deserve to know where their money is going.
The council agreed a written set of rules needed to be adopted. They also would be willing to provide reflective vests for the organizations and the groups would then pay a small deposit and when the vest were returned they would get the deposit back.
Mayor Gary Pruett added he would like to see other activities like Bedford's Fantasia done in Mitchell as fund raisers.
"Fantasia was a huge success and brought the community together and raised more than $20,000 for LIFE...instead of putting a bucket out and saying please help, please help," Pruett says. "Groups need to start thinking outside the box, instead of sticking a bucket out."
The council tabled the issue for now and will work on developing a set of rules for roadblocks.
* Council members each signed a nepotism and conflict of interest form.
* The council approved a resolution that will allow Clerk Treasurer George James to transfer appropriations within several department to realign money so o line item in a departments will finish in the red at the end of the year. James will transfer funds from the following line items:
Board of Works
$16,000 from unemployment to legal fees
$5,000 from unemployment to liability insurance
$2,400 from office supplies to liability insurance
$700 from auto gas to liability insurance
$2,500 from other supplies to liability insurance
$400 from machine and equipment to gas for trucks
$2,500 from machine and equipment to supplies
$150 from machine and equipment to electric
Police/dispatch
$4,500 from longevity to workman's comp
Sanitation
$3,000 from gas for trucks to repairs and maintenance
$1,100 from regular salaries to repairs and maintenance
$1,000 from FICA/Med to repairs and maintenance
$1,200 from Perf to repairs and maintenance
Street Department
$800 from FICA/Med To office supplies
Transportation
$200 from bus driver to repair and maintenance
$900 from health insurance to repairs maintenance
Park Department
$134.62 from water/sewer to temporary employee's
$10.82 from water/sewer to FICA
$125.97 from water/sewer to medical supplies
$950.33 from water/sewer to chemicals
$1,400 from water/sewer to cleaning supplies
$79 from water/sewer to travel gas
$700 from water/sewer from equipment
* The council was presented an additional appropriation and reduction ordinance for their review. Money will be moved from several funds from one department to another, so no department ends the year in the red. The council will vote on the ordinance next month.
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