09-27-10 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 27, 2010 But if you are looking for a long-term sustainable 20 year service life you will have to build up the structural strength of the road and widen it a little bit so that there is more comfort and safety for the large trucks passing a vehicle. It’s a narrow road currently and would like to get it to two 12 foot standard lanes. The water is necessary to bring up to adequate pressure for fire protection and for other uses from Ireland Road north to the site. It would then enhance the development potential of the acreage that it goes past. Both of those projects, the water main is $250,000 dollars; the road is not to exceed $500,000 dollars; which is a base widening with a 3 to 4 inch overlay polymer modified asphalt and would be using the existing 8 inch asphalt depth on Gertrude and Linden as a good base foundation. Mr. Gilot stated that there aren’t too may arterial streets in South Bend that have much more than 11 or 12 inches of thickness for structural strength for a lot of heavy trucks. So why we think that the 8 inch could take some truck traffic building it up to 11 or 12 inches would make it a very durable pavement for the long term. He stated that the petitioner stated that it would take four months to order equipment and two and half months to install it. Mr. Gilot stated that they can do the road and the water main in much less time. 2600 foot of water main could be done in 26 days or less and the paving, the widening is going to take a few days and the overlay can be done in a day, it’s a matter of getting Spring temperatures that are adequate. We will need to appropriate the 50% that comes from the water utility and the road funding source and well as getting the petitioner’s money as matched to do the project in the Spring. Councilmember Oliver Davis stated that this would not help with improvements on Chippewa Avenue. Mr. Gilot responded that if there is an improved widened Linden Avenue, he did not know why anyone would want to use Chippewa. Councilmember Oliver Davis then questioned where the money is coming from to improve Linden Avenue and during the budget hearings it was mentioned that funds are needed to repair streets in the city, so how can the city put up half of the funds for this project and what happens to the other streets that need repair? Mr. Gilot stated that he understands that this is a $6 million dollar investment into the city which would produce $90,000 a year in new property tax revenue. He stated that is about a 4 year payback and a very good return on the investment. Councilmember Kirsits advised that he takes comfort in the 15 commitments Schlipp has pledge to keep. Should he violate any of them, neighbors will have grounds to sue him, and city code enforcement or the county health department can shut it down. Councilmember Kirsits stated that there is probably no way we can bring everyone together. The best we can do is put the commitments in place and have a hammer and if this turns out to be a problem, then we have the tool to correct it. He stated that he did not think it would be necessary and thinks that this will be a state-of-the-art operation.” Council President Dieter thanked everyone involved and to look at the total package. He thanked them for the on-site tour and thanked Public Works Director, Gary Gilot for his assistance. There being no one else present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this Resolution, Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to defeat this Resolution. Councilmember David Varner seconded the motion. The Resolution was defeated by a roll call vote of three (3) ayes (Councilmember’s Varner, Oliver Davis, Rouse) and six (6) nays. Additionally, Councilmember Kirsits made a motion to adopt th the 4 Substitute Bill 10-40. Councilmember LaFountain seconded the motion. The Resolution was adopted by a roll call vote of six (6) ayes and three (3) nays (Councilmember’s Varner, Oliver Davis, Rouse.) 32