03-09-09 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 9, 2009 than just basketball and commendations; it is about dignity and respect. She stated that as Councilmember’s you are elected officials and held accountable for your actions. Ms. Green stated that the Council has been very lax regarding the west side of South Bend. She stated that those residents go without, and then the Council’s appropriates 3 million to Notre Dame for Innovation Park. She stated that she has paid taxes for 40 years and would like to see her tax dollars going back into the west side. Councilmember Rouse asked Mr. Gilot, Director of Public Works, to address Ms. Green’s concerns regarding the electric pole in front of her home in the tree lawn. Mr. Gilot, Director, Public Works, advised that the issue was forwarding to Engineering and they are in the process of investigating with AEP to get the answer. He stated that he does not have all the answers tonight. He stated that they believe that the equipment is not a safety hazard, it’s grounded, it has an antenna, and there is a small box with some electrical equipment in it. He stated that he believes it is related to a pilot program for Smart Meters in town. He stated that he doesn’t have all the answers, but as soon as he gets them he will forward it to all the Councilmember’s and get back to Ms. Green. Councilmember Davis stated that when it was brought to his attention he went out to the neighborhood and talked with some of the residents and their biggest concern is that they did not know that this project was taking place. He stated that he learned that there was one meeting at St. Adalbert’s Church. Father Chris Cox, C.S.C hosting the meeting to discuss these large electric poles being installed. Councilmember Davis stated that the problem is that not everyone in that neighborhood is affiliated with St. Adalbert’s and a lot of residents were not aware of what was going on. Mr. Gilot stated that there are challenges with new technology in town. He likened it to people love cell phones, but they don’t like cell towers; people want to have access and a choice to what video product, but you get those white cabinets showing up in a grouping all over town and now with smart meters, where you can actual manage your house electric bill and get a lower price and be more energy efficient home, there is some technology that needs to be placed in the field. In the past when it was just poles and wires for street lights there was a blanket understanding that I&M is the incumbent electric company and could place those poles anywhere. As the utility companies start to put devices that support new technologies that we all want to have, they make our lives better, but the placement of those needs to be done with more sensitivity, we don’t like to see it right in front of someone’s picture window. They belong in the right-of-way somewhere, but they need to pick lot lines between houses so that it is visually screened and perhaps with some landscape buffering. He stated that they are onto the problem and are trying to manage some very large private utilities. Councilmember Henry Davis asked Mr. Gilot that if the poles that were put up along Western Avenue were tied into this Smart Meter program. Mr. Gilot stated that they were two totally separate items. The poles along Western Avenue were help with power outages. COMMENTS FROM MR. ED THOMAS REGARDING INNOVATION PARK Mr. Thomas Klempay, 1733 S. Walnut, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he works for Five Guys Burger and Fries and that they have a tentative lease to located in the Eddy Streets Commons. He asked if the Eddy Street Commons and Innovation Park are going to be considered part of South Bend or will it be considered Notre Dame and also will it receive tax money from the City of South Bend. Councilmember Varner stated that Eddy Street Commons and Innovation Park are two separate projects. Innovation Park (the land) is located in the City and did receive money from the City of South Bend’s Department of Economic Development in the form State Grant monies. He stated that Notre Dame is currently in the process of trying to achieve tax exempt status on the buildings, if that is the case, then there will be no revenue to the City. Eddy Street Commons is also in a TIF District and those dollars that would be captured would go back into that TIF District 20