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Last updated on Tuesday, December 3, 2013
(MITCHELL) - The Mitchell City Council Tuesday tabled a discussion on the rules surrounding fundraising roadblocks in the community.
Because of numerous complaints about roadblocks, the council last year voted to allow roadblocks twice a month from March until November, except the week of the Persimmon Festival. Service groups were allowed to hold road blocks twice a year at 4-points.
Council member Nancy Miller would like to limit the road blocks for service groups to one time per year.
"I have heard nothing but good comments about us limiting the number of road blocks," says Council member Vicky Schlegel.
Schlegel proposed to allow the groups that are currently on the list to be the first to secure the same dates for roadblocks that they had for this year for 2014. However Schlegel says the list of roadblocks the council had Monday night was not accurate and an updated list would need to be voted on.
"One group did not follow the rules so they will lose their spot, opening it up to someone else," Schlegel says.
However, Council member Everett Ferrel disagreed with Schlegel and says the roadblocks should be open up to all not-for-profits and not limited.
"I still believe everyone who is not-for-profit should have the opportunity to have a road block or we should just not have any at all," he added. "That is the only fair way to do it."
Ferrel told the council that he did hear complaints from those who could not have a road block.
"They were groups that would have liked to serve the community but were not able to do that," Ferrel says.
But Schlegel countered that guidelines need to be in place to prevent chaos.
"People have complained for years about the road blocks," she added. "We need to focus on groups that actually help the town."
The council decided to table the topics of road blocks until their January meeting when the council could review an accurate list.
In other business:
- Rex Knight, of Southern Indiana Development Commission presented the council with a limestone plaque in appreciating of the city working with SIDC for more than 40 years.
- Mayor Gary Pruett updated the council on the pursuit of grants to build a new police station.
"The wheels are turning and we are making progress," Pruett told the council. "And we are working on trying to secure grant funding for the project."
- Mayor Pruett told the council that Utility Director Tyler Duncan had been in contact Cindy Cain who told the council last month that she was having problems with the sewer backing up into her sewer line at her home on Pleasant View.
- Mayor Pruett also updated the council on the progress being made on addressing the fire hydrants that did not work in the city. Pruett says Duncan was working on the issue.
"Every reasonable effort is being taken to address the issue," Pruett says.
- Council member Matt England asked if anything could be done about the narrowness and deterioration of Rabbitsille Road from north of Hancock Boulevard.
"The east side of the road is falling off," England says.
But Mayor Pruett says it will not be an easy problem to fix.
"I don't see this as a street department project," he added. "There is a need and got to be a way to improve water flow there but it will not be a cheap fix."
City attorney Bryon Steele told the council that the city would have to purchase right-of-ways if they chose to widen the roadway.
"Most county roads have no dedicated right-of-ways," Steels says.
- The council discussed the issue of a water leak on Oak Street. Mayor Pruett told the council that Duncan was aware of the leak.
- Members of the Mitchell City Council and Board of Public Works and Safety will tour the city's wastewater treatment plant at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 3.
Steve Gress of Donohue and Associates, the engineering firm hired to oversee the possible repairs and upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant, will give city officials a walk-through of the plant and discuss the needs of the facility.
- The council will hold a special meeting on December 16th at 7 p.m. to appoint a member to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
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