02-24-14 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 24, 2014 City Attorney- Yes. Councilmember Henry Davis- I have a comment City Attorney- Comments are not allow during this point of the presentation only questions. For the public it is important to point out that the substitute bill deleted the penalty provision of the original bill when it was filled two week ago. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. The following individuals spoke in favor of this bill: Resident of (President of the Edge Park Neighborhood Association) — we have a community well there. In the last 2 months we've had 27 people that have lost their water. 3 plumbing companies have taken up office space in neighborhood. Our neighborhood looks like Normandy. We have 1957 well system that is failing. We have both the county water department and highway department and no one wants to take responsibility in getting started with something. Our street department is crumbling, we are getting our water from Niles now because our well would not produce it anymore. I am hoping we are within a 4 mile radius and I was hoping you would take a look. We have 213 homes in our neighborhood, 6 businesses on 31, and we would love to have water. Our director of public works is right behind you. If you would speak to him to get the ball rolling. Resident of 709 E Washington St- I am strongly in favor of city moving aggressively to protect the interest of our rate payers with regard to water and sewer. For too long we've gone about giving away our water and sewer and that should stop. I commend the Mayor for doing an excellent and quick job of trying to resolve this issue. I would recommend the City Council take similar actions on similar types of things and not just with respect to water and sewer but with respect to annexation that keep and expand the city of South Bend. In opposition: Resident of 1831 S College St- I am neither speaking in favor or against. These portions have no public comments section. I am speaking on the process by which this was presented to the public. The City of Mishawaka comprehensive plan was setup with Grass Rd. to the South and approximately Hickory Rd to the North. My issue is the City of South Bend presents maps which have not been vetted by the public and nobody knows about. Whenever the city starts interiorizing Mishawaka or Howard Township it always ends up bad for the city. In 1988 the city interiorized some Mishawaka and it went badly and the state legislature had to get involved. None of this should have been done until the two mayors had time to sit together and reaffirm the agreement. The two cities should have gotten together and then brought it to both these legislative groups. Councilmember Henry Davis- I hope that in the future the communication that is supposed to be happening behind the scenes is happening. I am saying you are doing something under handed but we need to be doing things that establishes the public's trust in what we are doing. I don't like these passionate conversations on the council floor or in committee meetings it does not fare well. I think everyone wants to see the city grow. Sure we need to talk about the expansion of services and annexation but first we must talk about a way to pay for it. We have ensure the baseline is taken care of first. I just hope we are doing these thing responsibly. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this bill. Councilmember Scott seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. RISE AND REPORT