The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Room. Due to the Mayor’s absence, Council President Chad Spence welcomed all of those in attendance.


The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all and prayer was led by Council President Chad Spence.


Council members present were: Chad Spence, Greg Harshman, Jim Hufford, Ron Holt, Jr., and Tim Heuss.

Also attending were: City Manager Monte Poling, Clerk-Treasurer Anita Amspaugh, Street Superintendent Rick Reichard, Water Superintendent John Dull, Board of Public Works member Bob Gentry, Police Chief Bill Bradbury, Fire Chief Tim Crawford Wastewater Superintendent Scott Thompson, Ordinance Officers Dennis Schweigert and City Attorney Linda Stemmer.

Visitors were: Jim Loy, Anna Hufford. Allen & Betsy Jefferis, Richard “Pappy” Harshman.


Tim Heuss moved to accept the minutes from the previous meeting and Jim Hufford seconded. All ayes (5-0), motion carried.


Jim Hufford made a motion to accept the claims as presented and Greg Harshman seconded. All ayes (5-0), motion carried.


Street Superintendent Rick Reichard reported that his department is in the process of picking up brush. He also asked that family members remove all decorations from the Union City Cemetery graves by April 1 so that cemetery can be prepared for Memorial Day.

Water Superintendent John Dull reported that Cardinal Ethanol is now online and pressurized for water, the water samples came back clean so they will be receiving water soon.

Clerk-Treasurer Anita Amspaugh reported that Mayor Bryan Conklin has set the dates for the Strategic Planning sessions for Monday, April 7, and Tuesday, April 8, in the Community Room. She asked the Council to decide on a time for the meetings. The consensus was to set the meetings at 5:30 p.m.

Councilor Jim Hufford asked why the police tape has been placed around the two parking lots in town, one on Oak Street and one on Pearl Street. Tim Heuss explained that the owner of the Pearl Street property taped it off because people parking there were getting stuck in the mud. He also explained that the lot on Oak Street was taped off by the Fire Department because the siding is falling off the adjacent building.

City Manager Monte Poling reported that Kent Mikesell, the contractor hired to demolish the Shadows Restaurant, contacted him today and assured him that demolition would start this week.

Poling reported that he met with Wessler and CVR to discuss application for a TEA Grant for a main street project on Columbia Street. He stated that the sidewalks for this project will, hopefully, go all the way to Save-A-Lot. He continued on by stating that he has also met with INDOT representatives about the grinding down and repaving of Columbia Street. He explained that the next round for this grant will be in August which gives the City time to complete the grant application.

City Attorney Linda Stemmer distributed copies of a rough draft ordinance for pet registration. After a short discussion, Council asked that the ordinance be put on the next agenda for discussion after everyone had a chance to read through the draft.

Stemmer stated that the demolition of the Shadows Restaurant is suppose to begin no later than March 25. It was the consensus of the Council to have Ordinance Officer Dennis Schweigert file a suit in Court if the work has not started by that date.


Wessler Invoice #19391 - Clerk-Treasurer Anita Amspaugh explained that this invoice was for work done on the Landsdowne Stormwater Project in the month of February in the amount of $600. Ron Holt moved to approve payment of the invoice and Tim Heuss seconded. Council members were polled and all ayes were received (5-0), motion carried.


Ordinance 2008-04—Ordinance Adjusting Charges for Union City Cemetery - Jim Hufford moved to approve Ordinance 2008-04 on the second reading by title only. Ron Holt seconded. Council members were polled and all ayes were received (5-0), therefore, Ordinance 2008-04 was passed on the second and final reading. Amspaugh announced that the new rates will go into effect April 1, 2008.


Parking Ordinances - Chad Spence explained that there was a discussion at the last Council meeting about the legality of parking on the sidewalk and that a copy of the parking ordinance section of the ordinance book was in the Council packet. He pointed out that Codified Ordinance 72.06 shows that it is illegal to park on the sidewalk and asked citizens to feel free to report this infraction. Jim Hufford asked that the Councilors read the complete section on parking because there is a lot of things in the ordinance other than parking on the sidewalk.

Pearl Street Park - Chad Spence explained that there are copies of the City’s conception for the creation of the park at the Mercantile Building site. A short discussion was held on different ideas for the park. City Manager Poling reported that Mayor Conklin has someone who will put in the basketball court at no charge to the City. Tim Heuss informed the Council that Dan Wasson of Wasson Nursery informed him that he will do the drawings for the park. Council thought the concept sketch can be used as a “springboard” to get donations started for this project. Allen Jefferis offered the Preservation Society’s 501(c)(3) status through which to take donations for tearing down the buildings. Councilors asked that a follow up be presented at the next Council meeting and Tim Heuss stated that he would contact Dan Wasson with the ideas discussed at this meeting.


Richard “Pappy” Harshman expressed his concern for the safety of the City because there are no tornado sirens where everyone could hear them. Councilor Jim Hufford and Fire Chief Tim Crawford explained that discussions are underway with the EMA for a grant to place sirens at the north and south of the City and that Homeland Security could also possibly be of help in this area.


Council President Chad Spence announced that the next regular council meeting will be on Monday, April 14, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. and that the next Board of Works meeting will be April 7, 2008, at 8:00 a.m.


Being no further business to come before the Council, Jim Hufford made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Greg Harshman seconded the motion. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 6:36 p.m.