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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/09/76 Board of Public Works MinutesREGULAR MEETING A regular meeting of 9:30 a.m, on lionday, with Mr. Farrand, Mr. MINUTES APPROVED FEBRUARY 9, 1976 the Board of Public Works was convened at February 9, 1976 by President Rollin Farrand Brunner and Mr. Mullen present.. Mr. Farrand reported to the Board that the minutes of the regular meeting of the Board held on February 2 had been reviewed and he made a motion that the minutes be approved as submitted. The motion was .seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried. Mr. Farrand also reported that.the minutes of the Special Meeting of the Board held on January.30 had been reviewed and he recommended that they be approved as submitted. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mullen and carried. PUBLIC HEARING ON ASSESSMENT ROLL - VACATION RESOLUTION NO. 3424 This being the date set for holding a hearing on the Assessment Roll for Vacation Resolution No. 3423, 1975, hearing was held for the vacation of the first north -south alley east of Walnut Street running north from the north right-of-way line of the east -west alley between Fisher Street and Sample Street. 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. No remonstra- tors appeared and no written remonstrances having been received, upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Mullen and carried, the Assessment Roll showing $0.00 net damages and $0.00 net benefits was approved and said Resolution is in all things ratified and confirmed and said proceedings closed. LETTER FROM S.T.A.R.T. FILED The Board received a letter from S.T.A.R.T., Students Taking Action to Recycle Trash, advising that S.T.A.R.T. has been maintaining their headquarters at Goodwill Industries. However, Goodwill Industries is moving April 1, 1976 and S.T.A.R.T. will be without facilities for operation. The letter requested that the City consider assisting them by providing a building with 1500 feet of floor space and utilities, truck: transportation for the collected materials and man- power to run the center. Mr. Joseph Lehner, President of S.T.A.R.T., was present and told the Board that the organization is in need of aid in order to continue operation. Mr. Farrand advised the Board that the City had been contacted by S.T.A.R.T. last fall in regard to assistance. By letter dated October 3, 1975, the organization was advised that the City does not possess either buildings or vehicles which are not being utilized. Budgetary restrictions are making it difficult to maintain portions of the City's existing fleet of vehicles. The letter continued that at the last budget hearings, non -essential areas of existing programs were reviewed to see what could be eliminated and almost no consideration was given:to new programs. It was suggested that the program might be more feasible on a County basis, perhaps operating in conjunction with the landfill. The letter concluded that the City of South Bend was not able to initiate a new, municipally sponsored program in this area. Mr. Brunner then asked Mr. Lehner whether this program could be handled by volunteers. Mr. Lehner said working with volunteers has not been too successful because the center has to open on a regular basis to receive materials and this is difficult to manage with volunteers. Mr. Mullen asked Mr. Lehner what kind of vehicle the organization is using now. Mr. Lehner said they have been using a Goodwill Truck and some of the materials collected have to be transported to Marion, Indiana. Mr. Lehner said the organization was not asking the City to run their program but were asking for a place to use as headquarters and they felt the City ought to share some of the responsibility for f] REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 9, 1976 this. Mr. Brunner asked Mr. Lehner where the proceeds from the program go. Mr. Lehner; said the proceeds go toward the use of the truck and one full-time worker. Mr. Bartlett of Goodwill Industries was present and said a letter was sent to the Board of Public Works giving them Goodwill Industries' position on the matter. It was noted that the letter has not yet been received. Mr. Bartlett said this is a very worthwhile program and it has worked. However, he said Goodwill will be moving into smaller quarters after April 1, 1976 and will not have any space available to offer the program. Mr. Mullen asked.how many volunteers were working on the program at this time. Mr. Lehner said the volunteers come and go and right now there were less than ten. He said they have, in the past, asked for assistance from groups like the Boy Scouts. Mr. Lehner then distributed an information sheet to the members of the Board listing their housing needs, other needs, the monthly intake of the center and the reason they need to find a new headquarters. Mr. Brunner said this would seem to.be a matter that the Board cannot resolve today and he would suggest that it be taken under advisement until the correspondence from Goodwill Industries has been .received and until the Board members have had an opportunity to review the material and confer with each other. Mr. Lehner was asked by Mr. Mullen if his organization paid rent and utilities to Goodwill Industries. Mr. Lehner said this was a shared arrangement with the S.T.A.R.T, organization using Goodwill facilities and the money collected going. to Goodwill Industries for the use of the facility and the truck. Mr. Mullen asked Mr. Lehner if the center was taking in $400 a month. Mr. Lehner said it was running from $400 to $500 per month. Mrs. Frederick Mutzl, of the Fair Tax Association, asked Mr. Bartlett whether Goodwill Industries could not continue to give space to the center since Goodwill is a United Way recipient and, also, needs to provide word; for the handicapped. Mr. Bartlett said the problem was they will not have the space to offer the center after they move. Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried, the Board took the matter under advisement until the correspondence from Goodwill Industries is received and until the Board members have had a chance to review all the information. The letter and fact sheet from S.T.A.R.T. were ordered filed. REQUEST FOP. ST . JOSEPH RIVER -RUN ON MAY 8 Bruce Carter, representative of the Michiana Watershed, Inc., was present and submitted to the Board a request to hold the Sixth Annual River Run on May 8, 1976. They are requesting the use of Leeper Park and Veterans Memorial Park. Mr. Carter said the request would be submitted to the Board of Park Commissioners this afternoon. He submitted to the Board a copy of the Certificate of Insurance and the waiver of liability form to be signed by participants and asked that they be reviewed. Mr. Carter said the cost of the insurance was very high and he said if the Board could consider lowering the amount on the Certificate of Insurance to less than the $500,000 required last year, it would be appreciated. Mr. Carter said the organization abides by the rules of the U.S.C.A. and the- A.C.A. and take all precautions. Mr. Brunner said the City Attorney's office would review the Certificate of Insurance and the waiver of liability and would have a report for the Board next Tuesday. Mr. Farrand made a motion that the request be referred to the City Attorney for a review of the insurance and liability and to the Bureau of Traffic and Lighting for coordination of the event with the Police Department. The motion was seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried. U REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 9, 1976 REQUEST FOR FREE PARKING 100 BLOCK SOUTH MICHIGAN A letter from R. Blakeney, Chairman of the Parking Committee for the Downtown. South Bend Council, was transmitted to the Board by Mayor Peter J. Nemeth. The letter asked 'that the balance of the 100 block of South Michigan Street be opened to two hour free parking, with access from Jefferson Street. Mayor Nemeth submitted to the Board a copy of his response to Mr. Blakeney in which he indicated that he would request that the Board of Public Works consider taking action on the matter. Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried; the letters were ordered filed and copies will be sent to each Board member for review and further discussion with Mayor Nemeth. RESPONSE FROM CONGRESSMAN JOHN BRADEMAS RE: PENN CENTRAL CROSSINGS Third District Congressman John Brademas received a copy of the letter sent to representatives of the Penn Cen.tral'Railroad asking that some immediate action be taken regarding the malfunction of crossing gate arms in South Bend, particularly the crossings between Miami and Ironwood. A reply was received from Congressman Brademas acknowledging receipt of the letter and advising the Board that his office had discussed this matter with Senator Hartke's office and that he would again call this matter to Senator Harkke's attention. Upon motion made*bv Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried, the letter was ordered filed. TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES APPROVED Ralph Wadzinski, Manager of the Bureau of Traffic and Lighting, recommended the following installations to the Board: 1. Removal of snow route signs in the 100 block East LaSalle. This is a No Parking area so there is no need for snow route signs. Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Mullen and carried, the removal of the signs was approved. 2. Removal of One Hour Parking zone at 1604 Leer Street. This parking limit was installed for turnover of parking for a Barber Shop which is no longer there. Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Mullen and carried, the removal was approved. 3. Installation of No Parking Zone, 1600 Leer Street, near the Montessori School, for the loading and unloading of school children. Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Mullen and carried, the installation was approved. AGREEMENT WITH COLE ASSOCIATES, INC. FOR LOGAN STREET IMPROVEMENTS APPROVED An agreement between the Board of Public Works and Cole Associates, Inc. for the engineering work for the Logan Street improvements was referred -to City Attorney Thomas Brunner for his review. The agreements were returned with Mr. Brunner's signature of approval. Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried, the Board approved the agreements with Cole Associates, Inc for the design work for the improvements on Logan Street from the Grand Trunk and Western Railroad north to Bulla Street. TITLE INSURANCE FOR CENTURY CENTER PROPERTY FILED Robert 11. Parker, Deputy City Attorney, transmitted to the Board the title insurance for the Century Center property purchased by the City of South Bend from the Department of Redevelopment. Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried, the title insurance was ordered filed. REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 9, 1976 RIVER BEND PLAZA APPLICATION,APPROVED The Board received an application from T.oby's on River Bend Plaza to place a sandwich board sign in Ifront of the store at 120A South Michigan Street on February 13 and 14. The application has the favorable recommendation of Douglas Simpson, Director, of River Bend Plaza. Mr. Farrand noted that a similar request for Toby's was approved last December, upon the recommendation of the Legal Department that the sign be off the public sidewalk in the street area and that liability insurance be provided. Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Mullen and carried, the Board approved the request subject to the sign being located off the public sidewalk and to liability insurance being on file with the Board. BOND APPROVED - R. E. CARLTON Ray S. Andrysiak, Bureau of Engineering, reported to the Board that a continuation certificate for the Excavation Bond of R. E. Carlton had been properly executed and could be approved to l/l/77. Upon motion made by Mr—Farrand, seconded by Mr. Brunner and carried, the bond was approved to the date listed. STREET LIGHT OUTAGE REPORT FILED The Street Light Outage Report for the period of February 2 through 5 was received. Upon motion made by Mr. Farrand, seconded by Mr. Mullen and carried, the report was ordered filed. ANNOUNCEMENT OF AREGULAR TRASH PICK-UP ON FEBRUARY 16 Mr. Farrand announced that although next Monday, February 16 is a City holiday, there will be regular trash pick-up on that day and for the balance of the week. COMPLAINT - SNOW PLOWING Mr. Frank Bass was present and said he had sent a letter to the Board regarding plowing of snow in the Perley School area. It was noted that no letter has been received by the Board. Mr. Bass asked if something could be done about the plows pushing snow up on the sidewalks and also if the plows could go slower so that they do not throw so much snow. Mr. Farrand noted that if the plows do not keep their speed, snow piles up in front of the blades. He then advised Mr. Bass that when the letter is received, it will be forwarded to the Street Department for their review. 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 10:20 a.m. . ATT ST: Patricia DeClercq, Cler.