07/25/77 Board of Public Works Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JULY 25, 1977 Code requirements but said he'would have no objection to the hearing being continued until August 1, with the understanding that Mr. Thompson not drive his cab until that hearing is held and proof of insurance is received. Attorney Patrick Brennan was present and said he had been asked to represent Mr. Thompson today to advise the Board Mr. Thompson could not attend. Mr. Brennan said it was his belief that the insurance had been secured. Mr. Mullen noted that it has not been filed with the Controller's Office as required by the ordinance. Mr. Mullen made a motion that the public hearing be continued until Monday, August 1, 1977 at 9:30 a.m. and that Mr. Thompson be notified by certified mail of the continuance and directed that he should not drive his taxi cab until the public hearing has been held. Mr. McMahon seconded the motion and it carried. PUBLIC HEARING. VACATION RESOLUTION NO. 3443 This being the date set, hearing was held on Vacation Resolution No. 3443, for the vacation of the eastern half of the northerly east -west alley east of Lafayette Boulevard and southern half of the north -south alley east of Main Street, and the northern third of the north -south alley south of Bartlett Street, City of South Bend. The Clerk tendered proofs of publication of notice in the South Bend Tribune and in the Tri-County News, which were found to be sufficient. Petitioner for the vacation is Memorial Hospital. Present were R. W. Trenkner and Attorney Bruce Hammerschmidt for Memorial Hospital and R. J. Ludwick and a number of residents of the Park Avenue Neighborhood Association. Mr. McMahon noted that the Board had requested a report from John DeLee, Building Commissioner, on the status of the paving of the parking lots. He read a memorandum from Mr. DeLee indicating that as of July 15, 1977, the hospital had not started the parking lot project. Mr. DeLee noted that he would be out of the city on July 25 and unable to attend the hearing but would have a representative present. Mr. Paul Roelke, Building Inspector, was present. Mr. Roelke said Rieth-Riley Construction Company started the paving a week ago. The two front lots are almost finished. They want to proceed with the approaches to the alleys as soon as the vacation is completed. Mr. McMahon then indicated that he drove the area this morning and found this to be the case. In addition, he said the contractor has indicated the screening along Lafayette Street will be continued. Mr. McMahon then read a letter from R. W. Trenkner, Administrator of Memorial Hospital, expressing regret for the.long delay caused by the strike at Rieth-Riley but indicating that considerable progress is now taking place. Mr. Trenkner said the two parking lots on Navarre Street have been graded and the base asphalt pavement has been installed. He said the contractor plans to complete the project as soon as possible, weather permitting and with the completion of the alley vacation. Mr. McMahon then read a letter from Attorney Philip Carlton Potts, on behalf of Mrs. Alexis Coquillard, 708 N. Lafayette. The letter expressed Mrs. Coquillard's objection to the alley closing since access to the alley is of importance to her use of her property, and in garbage and trash pick-up. Mr. Brunner advised the Board that he received a call from Richard Muessel indicating that Mr. Potts now feels he may have been in error in this regard. Mr. McMahon reviewed the drawing of the area and said it appeared the Coquillard property might not be involved in the alley closing. Mr. Brunner said the Board would request some communication from Mr. Potts to clarify the situation. Mr. McMahon then read a letter from the Park Avenue Neighborhood Association calling attention to the violations in operations of Memorial Hospital's parking lots over the past seven years. The letter noted that the paving contractor worked overtime hours this past week to get the two lots paved by the date of this hearing. The letter requested that the Board require proper screening of the parking lots along Navarre and Bartlett as well as on Lafayette Street. and raised an objection to the hospital's plan to erect metal guard rails along Navarre instead of green shrubbery. The Association asked ;