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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/29/76 Board of Public Works MinutesREGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 1976 A regular meeting of the Board of Public Works was convened at 9:30 a.m, on Monday, November 29, 1976 by President Rollin E. Farrand with Mr. Farrand and Mr. Brunner present. Deputy City Attorney Georgia Luks was also in attendance. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING APPROVED 11r. Farrand noted that the minutes of the November 22 meeting had been reviewed and he made a motion that they be approved as submitted.. Mr. Brunner seconded the motion and it carried. REQUEST FOR DISPOSAL OF POLICE DEPARTMENT SCMIBLER EQUIPMENT The Board received a request from Chief Michael.Borkowski that certain radio scrambler equipment is obsolete and that he be given approval to dispose of the equipment at $50.00 per unit to other interested agencies. Division Chief Terry was present and advised the Board that this equipment is not compatible with the portable radios now in use and is obsolete. The equipment was purchased through an L.E.A.A. grant in 1967 or 196'. John Hunt', Director of Com—unications, has indicated that $50.00 per unit would be a reasonable price. Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried, the Board approved the request to dispose of the radio scrambler equipment. RECOIRIENDATION ON PETITIO14 TO VACATE EAST -WEST ALLEY BETWEEN RANDOLPH AND CALVERT The Board received a report from the Area Plan Commission that a public hearing was held on the petition of Robert E. Burger to vacate the east -west alley between Randolph and Calvert Street, running west from Ironwood Drive to the first north -south alle'r west of Ironwood Road, City of South Bend. The Plan Cor_miission recommended the vacation favorably, subject to the dedication of the necessary right-of-way into the "T" alley. Upon notion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by i1r. Brunner and carried, the Board referred the petition to the Bureau of Design and Administration to determine the right-of-way needed and to notify the petitioner .of the dedication required and, when that has been completed, the petition is to be referred to the Bureau of Engineering for preparation of the Vacation Resolution. RECOMMENDATION ON PETITION TO VACATE NORTH -SOUTH ALLEY BETITEE14 MEADE ST. AND FREEMONT STREET The Board received a report from the Area Plan Commission that a public hearing was held on the petition to vacate the north -south alley between Meade Street and Fremont Street from the south right-of-way line of Lawton Street to the north right-of-way line of the east -west alley between Lawton Street and Orange Street. The Plan Cor,.nission made a favorable recormiendation to the Board, subject to the vacation of an adjacent alley. Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried, the Board filed the recor.iendation and referred the petition to the Department of Engineering for preparation of the Vacation Resolution. RESPONSE TO REQUEST TO PAVE ALLEY ADJACE14T TO 321 S. NOTRE DAME The Board referred a request from the Speni Tennis Pro Shop to pave an alley adjacent to 321 S. Notre Dame Avenue to the Bureau of Design and Administration for review. The following report was received: "The Department of Public Works anticipates initiating a Slurry Seal Program for alleys in 1977. The exact extent and nature of this program has not been completely defined. REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 1976 This Department will include the east -west alley adjacent to 321 S. Notre Dame Avenue, between Notre Dame Avenue and St. Peter Street, iri this program. Please note that alley sealing would normally be a part of our fall progrard.' . Very truly yours, s/ Rollin E. Farrand, Manager Director, Department of Public Works s/ David A. Wells, P. E., Manager Bureau of Design & Administration Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried, the report was'ordered filed. TIM 'LEAK RE: VALLEY CABLEVISION Tim Zeak, South Bend Antenna Service, was present regarding the radiation leaks from Valley Cablevision equipment which he called to the attention of the Board. Mr. Farrand advised Mr. Zeak that the Board received the list of locations where alleged leaks are occurring and transmitted that list to Valley Cablevision with the request that they investigate and make a report to the Board. Mr. Farrand said they list was just sent to Valley Cablevision and no response has been received. Mr. 'Leak said lie discussed this matter with Legal Interne Terry Crone and Mr. Crone indicated that seven days would be adequate tir_ze to expect a response. Mr. Zeak said he checked with some of -his customers whose addresses were submitted to Valley Cablevision. Valley had contacted two of the customers five times, checked the sets and denied there :were radiation leaks. Ile said Valley Cablevision hooked cable up at the locations and tried to sell the people on Cable T.V. Mr. Zeak said he went to the locations and with three other adults present he saw WGN come in on Channel 13.' Mr. Zeak displayed a meter to the Board and gave the Board some technical information about the amount of radiation which is occurring and said it is above the F.C.C. standards. Mr. Zeak said 25% of Valley Cablevision installation is below standard and in violation of their franchise. Mr. Farrand said the Board had noted Mr. Zeak`s comments but would wait for the response from Valley Cablevision before taking further action. He noted that the Board has only been involved in this matter for a period of weeks and said they will evaluate all* information received before determining what action should be taken. Ile invited Mr. Zeak to continue to advise the Board on this riatter in the interim. Mr. Zeak said as many as 20,000 citizens in South Bend are being denied the use of an antenna installation because of Valley Cablevision radiation. APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Walter F. Lantz, Deputy City Controller, and Michael L. Vance, City Auditor, submitted to the Board claim docket numbers 17321 to 17676 and recoriaended the claims be approved. Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried, the claims were approved and checks were ordered issued. TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES APPROVED Ralph J. Wadzinski, Manager of the Bureau of Traffic and Lighting, recommended the following traffic control installations to the Board: A. Installation of No Parking signs on the south side of Sample Street from Sheridan east for 100 feet and from Sheridan"west 250 feet, to provide for turning moveLients onto Sheridan. REGULAR HEETING NOVEMBER 29, 1976 B. Installation of Parking Meter at 300 N. Michigan Street, west side at vacated alley. C. Removal of Parking Meter 24, 26 and 23, on the east side of 200 N. Lafayette, to reopen a drive to Harold Medow's parking lot. D. Installation of cross walks on Sample Street at Kosciuszko, on Humphries at Sample and on Kodsiuszko at Sample to provide for Ivy Tech students crossing to the bus stop and to their vehicles. E. Installation of Stop Signs on Rush at Ohio, at an uncontrolled four-way intersection. Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr.`Brunner, and carried, the recommendations were°approved. FILING OF FEASIBILITY REPORT - IRONWOOD GRADE SEPARATIO14 Mr. Farrand reported to the Board that St. Joseph County held a public hearing on the.feasibility of grade separations at Ironwood Drive and the Conrail tracks. A report of the feasibility study has been furnished to the Board for their review. Ile indicated that the report outlined four alternative plans and said the project is at least eight to ten years from construction. Upon r.:lotion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried, the report was filed with the Board. RIVER BEND PLAZA APPLICATIONS APPROVED Ronald Bock, Director of River Bend Plaza, submitted to the -Board the following applications with his favorable recopmiendation: A. Salvation Army Band and Chorus - December 17 B. Big Brothers -Big Sisters Sale of Pose Bowl Programs - December 13 Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried, the applications were approved. BOND RELEASED - AFECO STEEL CORPORATION Ray S. Andrysiak, Bureau of Engineering, advised the Board that a request for release of the Excavation Bond of Armco Steel Corpora- tion had been reviewed and he found no outstanding permits or claims. Ile recommended release of the bond. Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried, the bond of Armco Steel Corporation was released effective November 29, 1976. EXTRA WORK AGREEIENT APPROVED - PROJECT 126000(16) SIGNALIZATION An Extra Work Agreement with the Indiana State Highway Conmiission for Project 126000(16) the signalization of sixteen intersections was submitted to the Board with the favorable recommendation of Patrick'M. McMahon, Manager of the Bureau of Public Construction. The agreement reflected a decrease in the contract of $1,101.66 Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried, the extra work agreement was approved. STREET LIGHT OUTAGE REPORT FILED The Street Light Outage report for the period of November 22 through 26 was received. The report indicated 28 outages. Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried, the report was ordered filed. REGULAR IIEETI14G NOVEMBER 29, 1976 C BID ADVERTISING APPROVED STRE-E DEPARTMENT EQUIPI4ENT Mr. Farrand advised the Board that the Street Department has budgeted money for equipment for 1977 and he noted that the present condition of equipment requires that action be taken to secure bids for replacement of equipment. He requested that the Board authorize the preparation of specifications for a front end loader and a one ton truck chassis. Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried, the Board authorized advertising for bids, with -sealed bids to be received on December 20, 1976. DISCUSSION RE: PAVING OF ALLEYS Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Mutzl were present and asked the Board how they would determine which alleys would be paved by the City. Mr. Farrand said that is a matter to be determined when the program can be implemented next year. Mr. Mutzl said the property owners on their alley paid for the paving of the alley and the City has not been required to provide maintenance. lie said the alley is now deteriorating due to use by heavy utility trucks and will need work. He said he felt the Board should give consideration to alleys where paving originally was paid for by the property owners. DISCUSSIO14 RE: PARKING Mrs. Frederick Mutzl asked whether the Board would give consideration to a recent suggestion to remove parking meters in the downtown and encourage use of the garages for parking by employees, with on -street parking for shoppers. Mr..'Farrand noted that the primary purpose of the meters is to provide quick turnover of parking spaces and said experience has shown that where meters are removed, all day parkers use the spaces and mot shoppers. He said the problem is complex and the administration is exploring all possibilities through the Mayor's Downtown Development Committee and the Parking Study Commission for a solution. Gene Evans noted that the Parking Study Commission is scheduled to meet on December 9 at 8:30 a.m. There being no further business to come before the Board, upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried, the meeting adjourned at 10:15 a.m. ATTEST: Patricia Dec ercq, ClerkV