CITY OF CARLISLE
FEBRUARY 12, 2008
The regular meeting of the City of
Carlisle was held this evening, February 12, 2008 in the Town
Hall with Mayor Tim Humphries presiding. The meeting opened at
7PM with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll call: Mr. Dennis Bowles, aye; Mrs.
Carry Branson, aye; Mayor Tim Humphries, aye; Mr. James
Lickliter, aye; Mrs. Jennifer Long, aye; Mrs. Mary Ann
Thompson, aye; Mr. Randy Winkler, aye.
The minutes of January 22, 2008 were
presented to council for consideration. Mrs. Long made a
motion to approve the minutes as presented. Seconded by Mr.
Bowles.
Roll call: Mr. Bowles, aye; Mrs. Branson,
abstained; Mayor Humphries, aye; Mrs. Long, aye; Mrs.
Thompson, abstained; Mr. Winkler, aye.
Public Forum:
Sgt. Slyder of the Carlisle Police
Department introduced two new police officers to council.
Officer Sean South, graduated from Springboro, served as a
Marine has a daughter Haleigh. Graduated from the Sinclair
College of Criminal Justice. Comes from Miami Valley as a
Special Police Officer.
Officer Eric Miller has a son and was an
explorer for 6 years and reached the ranks of captain.
Graduated from Green County Career Center and worked as an
Assistant Manager at the Jubilee Store in Carlisle.
Mayor announced that Mr. Earnhart who has
served on the Planning Commission for several years has
resigned his position. Mr. Ron Hood has asked to serve on the
Planning Commission.
Mr. Winkler made a motion to appoint Mr.
Hood to the Planning Commission, seconded by Mr. Bowles.
Roll call: Mr. Bowles, aye; Mrs. Branson,
aye; Mayor Humphries, aye; Mr. Lickliter, aye; Mrs. Long, aye;
Mrs. Thompson, aye; Mr. Winkler, aye.
Mr. Don Dawson of 890 Fiesta Way, stated
he has been a resident for 40 years. Mr. Dawson stated there
were two subjects he wanted to discuss. 1. Fire Department; 2.
Beautification to Carlisle. The city has spent 2.5 mil on
black top and concrete, he felt we could have spent far less
and made some improvements to it and accomplished just as
much. All we have heard the last 3-4 year from the former
Mayor and Council is we have to beautify the entrance way to
attract more people. How much are we going to spend to make it
attractive to them. We had a fire levy which has gone down
three times. Main reason for that is because our Mayor made
Franklin Township mad so they pulled out. The levy last year
was jut just balance the budget to keep the status quo
and that was rejected. Now after the election the Mayor was
voted out, the levy was defeated, thought council would have
realized that somebody was unhappy. But what did you do, the
first meeting you had you spent another $90,000 on
beautification on Central Avenue. Mr. Dawson stated he
realized that $50,000 of that was from a grant, but that is
still tax payer’s money and $40,000 from local money to buy
that Marathon Station. We have a gravel pit at one end and
will have another at the other end. We have two industrial
parks, we didn’t fill the first one up yet and turned around
and bought a second one. Mr. Dawson questioned how much money
can we afford to spend? We need to do something about our Fire
Department. Then We recommend a 2 mil levy to replace
the 1.5 mil that was only to balance the budget. Don’t know if
council is aware but we have a serious problem with our Fire
Department, not the Chief, not the volunteers. The staff is
great. But just passing a 2 mil levy to keep the status quo
and pay the bills and balance the budget is not going to get
it. We don’t have enough personnel and sometimes we can’t get
anybody out to a fire and it’s not because they don’t want to,
it’s because the volunteers work different shifts, and can’t
always make it. We need to look at the Fire Department with a
open mind, throw everything out in the open, including
staffing and see what we’re going to do even if we have to
hire some temporary or full time personnel. I know you thing
that because a levy failed we can’t pass another one. I think
the residents of Carlisle will be more willing to pay for
something if they know they were getting something out of it.
Just to balance the books that don’t get it, you still have
the same problem.
Mr. Dawson felt Carlisle needs a Fire
Department, now he stated he realized that Carlisle
has agreements with other communities to help out when needed,
but why should they do all the work. If your going to look at
it that way, sale the equipment and whenever there is a fire
let Franklin Township and Franklin respond. We could save a
lot of money that way. The Mayor stated in his swearing in
speech that we may have to look at making cuts or get a 2%
levy approved. There are no cuts that you can make, unless you
want to get rid of the Chief and that won’t get rid of the
problem when he’s paid from two sources. You can’t get of the
fire truck, or the building, you still have to pay insurance.
There is no where to cut and all the 2% will do is balance the
books so you’re not in the red this fall.
Mr. Dawson stated he felt this is what
needs to be done.
- Committee needs to be appointed, (NEW)
no more of the good old boys who has served on these other
committees.
- Look at every thing in the fire dept.
don’t hold anything back, put it all on the table.
- Then go to the people with a tax levy.
If you don’t I will not support it, nor will a lot of other
people and it will go down defeated again if it’s just for
status quo.
Quit spending money on Central Avenue, we
can’t afford it, you have sidewalks going nowhere, street
lights all up and down the area, don’t know who is paying for
them. How much are you getting out of the Industrial Park? I
don’t think your getting that kind of money. If you want to do
something about the fire department, open it up don’t just
pass it and try to get a 2 mil passed that don’t solve the
problem. Mr. Dawson stated he is not criticizing the fire
chief or the volunteers they are great, the problem is not
enough personnel.
Mr. Lickliter commented that we spent 2.5
mil?
Mr. Dawson stated 1.4 local money, 1.1
for state, still tax payer’s money.
Mr. Lickliter questioned where was this
money spent?
Mr. Dawson stated on improvements on
Central Avenue to widen the road, sidewalks, raised and
straightens out the curves.
Mr. Lickliter stated that Carlisle does
need to pay attention to Carlisle and to make sure that it is
good as we can possibly can make it, whether it’s the entrance
or something else.
Mr. Dawson stated that is true, but
there was a lot of harassment by our former Mayor, to business
owners and that’s not hear say.
Mr. Lickliter stated regarding the fire
department, he served as Chair and Mr. Dawson was on the
committee and the committee unanimously proposed a 2.0
2.5mil. And during that time we spent a lot of time looking
at the books and procedures.
Mr. Dawson stated he voted for it, but
would not vote for it again. The way I understand it, the only
thin thing we really looked at was how we were going
to financially be at the end of the year. According to the
records we were shown at the time we were going to be in the
red at the end of this year. We did not discuss personnel.
Mr. Lickliter stated this levy was going
to put us in the black for about 5 years and then we good
should look at something else at that time. There is no doubt
that we are a volunteer department but that is the way we are
structured.
Mr. Dawson stated he was not opposed to a
volunteer fire department if you can get the volunteers.
That’s the problem, we don’t have enough to run our fire
department. Now, here again, that was to get us five years
down the road. We need to look at the whole situation, if you
stop your spending and the community know you have stopped and
show your serious about the fire department, I believe the
people will support it and that they will be receiving
something from it. But just to get status quo that will not
work. We need to make some differences.
Mr. Bowles stated about 20 years ago he
was a member of the fire department and knows that there were
times back then they were not able to get a crew out and that
is where the other communities come in thru mutual aid. There
is no department around us that have enough people available
at any one time, typically to fight that type of fire, and
that is why we have a mutual aid system.
Mr. Dawson stated he did not like what
Mr. Bowles said, your saying just stay status quo.
Mr. Bowles stated he knew what Mr. Dawson
was saying that we should look at hiring part time or possible
full time, I certainly think that needs to be something looked
at along with everything else.
Mr. Dawson stated if you can spend money
on other things, you could come up with something for the fire
department. The fire department is more important than that
black top and concrete out there. Mr. Dawson stated he would
not support another status quo just to balance the books.
Council report: Mrs. Long commented on
the Moraine Material that she appreciated what is being done
on improving the entrance and taking down the silos. As a
citizen she appreciates their efforts.
Mayor’s Report: Moraine Material –both
towers are down and has cost a lot of man hours, what Moraine
does is quality work and will continue to make things better
as the warm weather continues.
Congratulations to David Clay as of last
evening he became our new school board member, he is a life
long resident and business owner in Carlisle and he will do a
good job for the community, wanted to thank the other two
applicants that applied also. Congratulations to the Carlisle
cheerleaders, they are back from Florida where they won the
National Championship. Good to know we have bands going to
National Competition and 6th graders with their
robots and its good to be a part of a community which is
excelling.
Managers Report: Mr. Hovell stated the
city has had a very difficult week, last week from what you
heard earlier this evening it’s not over. We started pumping
water from one manhole to another manhole last Tuesday night
and have been pumping 24hrs/day until 9:30AM Monday. We
dispatched them back out again this evening. Also spoke with
the plant manager and found out the alarm did not go off.
Have had several meeting with Warren County, Dick Renneker, on
this issue, our city engineer, Joe Hart, Plant Manager, and
spoke with the City of Germantown. Mr. Hovell stated he could
not tell council what the solution is at this point, looking
for some sort of solution, we can’t continue to pump water for
ever. He stated that our service men and fire department are
doing an excellent job on manning those pumps for that
24hr/day for that period of time.
The new sunshine laws became effective
today. Flo has ordered books for everyone and it is also
available on the wesite.
Mr. Hovell stated he strongly recommends
that council activate the fire committee. We need to work on a
solution for this. We do balance the budget and we do get
through the fiscal year staying with in the revenues, but that
is my recommendation.
Mr. Greg Wilson -961 Marty Lee –stated he
has had this (flooding) happen four time. Wants to know what
Council has done to prevent this from happening since the
first time.
Mr. Hovell stated that he could tell him
that the problem in the last week is a new problem. This is a
problem that we have never seen before and I will admit to you
we do not have are arms around it.
Mr. Wilson stated there still was no one
down at this house as we are speaking to pump out the raw
sewage.
Mr. Hovell assured there will be,
unfortunately we rely on the service department and who was
out all night and most of the day working on the streets.
Mr. Wilson stated they have done a good
job, place a high water monitor on this with a flasher on a
pole. The last time it took three hours response time, that’s
bad response. Who is going to pay for this? Mr. Wilson stated
he is going to have to do this all over again. Wants to know
who will be paying for the damages.
Mr. Hovell stated that he spoke with Joe
Hart at Veolia and he does not know why the alarm did not go
off. The EPA made us get a special permit for us to pump into
the river and we will mostly likely have to do this again. We
have infiltration I in the system and we are draining
the river somewhere. Mr. Hovell was questioned regarding who
will be responsible for the alarm not going off. We are
wanting to bring a camera in but until its clear enough that
won’t help.
Council informed Mr. Wilson that
residents were informed to place backflow preventors in their
homes. Mr. Wilson stated he did not receive a letter nor
anyone knocked on his door about this. Wanted to know if the
city would pay for putting a backflow preventor in his home.
His neighbors did and he thought the problem in the system
was corrected by now. Mr. Hovell stated your neighbors paid
for their own. Mr. Wilson stated he felt he should not have to
pay for this when a substandard system was put in. The
recommendation four years ago were for the residents in that
area to put in back flow preventors. Mr. Wilson stated he did
not receive a letter or someone knocking on his door. Mr.
Wilson asked again if anyone was going to help him, otherwise
he would have to consult an attorney. Mrs. Long stated she
understood his frustration , but there is frustration on our
part also, so at this time we do not have any answers. Mr.
Hovell stated that he has not let this rest with Warren
County, or the Plant Manager, Engineer. Its not good enough
that the water has gone down. Mr. Hovell stated he wanted to
know why the water came up to begin with and where is it
coming from. Mr. Hovell stated he has been over to Warren
County picking up drawings trying to understand where the
flows are. We have to find out more information on the
situation before a discussion on who is responsible for paying
anything.
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE CPT
(Continuing Professional Training), FUND 207; AND, AUTHORIZING
THE DEPOSIT AND EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FROM THIS ACCOUNT, AND
DECLARLING AN EMERGENCY.
Discussion: This is a new fund which
SB281 which established a mandatory continuing professional
training program for the police department. This established
certain minimum training and reporting requirements for the
officers. This bill provides a mechanism for reimbursement of
training cost. All reimbursement must be kept in separate fund
and only used to pay the cost of continuing professional
training. Requesting this ordinance to be passed as an
emergency due to the fact has already received reimbursement
monies sooner than expected. The money that has come in was
for $1,280.
Mrs. Thompson made a motion to suspend
the rule requiring 3 readings and have one reading by title
only and declare an emergency. Seconded by Mr. Lickliter.
Roll call: Mr. Bowles, aye; Mrs. Branson,
aye; Mayor Humphries, aye; Mr. Lickliter, aye; Mr. Long, aye;
Mrs. Thompson, aye; Mr. Winkler, aye.
Mr. Winkler made a motion to accept the
reading, seconded by Mrs. Thompson.
Roll call: Mr. Bowles, aye; Mrs. Branson,
aye; Mayor Humphries, aye; Mr. Lickliter, aye; Mrs. Long, aye;
Mrs. Thompson, aye; Mr. Winkler, aye.
Mrs. Thompson made a motion to adopt the
ordinance, seconded by Mr. Winkler.
Roll call: Mr. Bowles, aye; Mrs. Branson,
aye; Mayor Humphries, aye; Mr. Lickliter, aye; Mrs. Long, aye;
Mrs. Thompson, aye; Mr. Winkler, aye.
Ordinance passed of this day will be
entered into Ordinance Record Book as 4-08.
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE
OF $355,000 OF RENEWAL BOND ANTICIPATION NOTES, SERIES 2006
(COMBINED), SECOND (2008) RENEWAL, BY THE MUNICIPALITY OF
CARLISLE, OHIO IN ANTICIPATION OF THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS, AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Discussion: this is the 2nd
renewal for the buy down of $355,000. This will be able to be
read three times.
This ordinance will be on the next agenda
for the second reading.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 1284 SIGNS
OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CARLISLE, OHIO.
Discussion: The Planning Commission held
a public hearing and no business came to the hearing. The
Planning Commission recommended to send to council for three
readings. This ordinance is making the sign code a little
more lineate than before and discusses electronic signage.
Mrs. Branson stated she felt that the commission should look
at letter p. for more clarification.
This ordinance will be on the next agenda
for the second reading.
A RESOLUTION DECLARING IT NECESSARY TO
PROVIDE FOR LIGHTING THE STREETS, LANES AND OTHER PUBLIC WAYS
IN THE CITY OF CARLISLE, OHIO WITH ELECTRIC LIGHTING DURING
THE YEAR 2008 AND AUTHORIZING THE ASSESSMENTS FOR THE COST
AND EXPENSE THEREOF UPON ALL LOTS AND LANDS LYING AND BEING
WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF SAID CITY.
This resolution will be on the next
agenda for third reading and adoption.
Mrs. Long asked if the fire committee
should meet. Mr. Hovell stated yes this needs to begin.
Mrs. Long made a motion to have the adhoc
committee meet to begin the process of studying the Fire
funding. Seconded by Mr. Winkler.
Roll call: Mr. Bowles, aye; Mrs. Branson,
aye; Mayor Humphries, aye; Mr. Lickliter, aye; Mrs. Long, aye;
Mrs. Thompson, aye; Mr. Winkler, aye.
Mr. Lickliter asked about the property
maintenance paper work, and why so little in December. Mr.
Hovell stated in December we hired a new Code Enforcement
Officer and we decided everything should start fresh and that
way it could be kept up on a regular basis.
Mr. Lickliter questioned the Police
Activity Report. He asked if we were refunded for all training
courses. These are not refunded.
Mr. Lickliter questioned the 27 citations
and 53 warnings regarding the monthly report from the Police
Department. Wanted to know the criteria on waving vs
citations. What shift writes more tickets. Mr. Hovell stated
he would have the Police Chief come to the next meeting.
Duke Energy reject proposal, how the
proposal is done is by Public hearing and that is how they
make there decisions.
Mr. Hovell stated that he is going to be
out of town next week and that Greg Wallace will be left in
charge.
There being no further business Mr.
Winkler made a motion to adjourn seconded by Mrs. Thompson.
Roll call: Mr. Bowles, aye; Mrs. Branson,
aye; Mayor Humphries, aye; Mr. Lickliter, aye; Mrs. Long, aye;
Mrs. Thompson, aye; Mr. Winkler, aye.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15pm.
Date: ________________
_______________________
Tim Humphries
Attest: ___________________
Clerk of Council
