University Parkway Development - Smart Growth?

Westside Improvement Association Board Meeting
Wednesday, January 24, 2001
Red Bank Branch Library

President Paul Farmer called the meeting to order at 11:35 a.m.

Attending: Basden, Bill; Basden, Marge; Bequette, Steve; Cleek, Linda; Eicher, Doris; Farmer, Paul; Harty, Bill; James, Shirley; Kolb, Bonnie; McCallister, Steve; Musgrave, Shelby; Padget, Fred; Poag, Terry, Reising, Kimron; Richardson, Bobbi; Thompson, George; Wallenmeyer, Loretta

Secretary’s Report: In lieu of minutes from the annual meeting/banquet of November 15 President Farmer reported briefly on the evening and that we have received thank-you notes from the scholarship award winners. Those winners, and others, were:

Mater Dei - Keith Herrmann
Reitz (Farmer Family Scholarship) - Bart Burks
Community Service - Cathlin Gray
Outstanding Neighborhood Association - Jacobsville
Historic Preservation - Gerst Haus (David Byrum, James & Jerry Chandler)
Excellence in Government - Russ Lloyd
Environmental Excellence - George Thompson
Board Member of the Year - Bill Basden

Treasurer’s Report: In the absence of Bernice Sensmeier her reports for November and December were presented by Loretta Wallenmeyer. Shirley James requested budget information for the Parks Committee and President Farmer asked that all committee chairs prepare budget requests for submission to the finance committee which will be meeting in February

Wallenmeyer reported that Sensmeier had suggested increasing the scholarship amounts from $500 to $1,000 each. Farmer indicated that the Farmer Family will continue to fund the Reitz Scholarship at $500/year for at least two more years so the budgetary impact of this suggestion would be to increase the annual expenditure from $500 to $1,500. James moved that the scholarships be increased to $1,000 each annually; seconded by Steve McCallister; passed without opposition.

It was noted that the Fall Festival was a financial success and that the old booth, parked on the Kolb property, is falling apart. Bonnie Kolb reported that it can remain on her property for the present and that her husband will dispose of parts as they fall off.

Steve Bequette offered to develop special reports (e.g., crime statistics) to meet the needs of the Association. He reported that James Poston has been named code enforcement officer for the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department (VCSD). In this capacity he has special duties involving abandoned cars, dogs and other nuisances, noise problems, etc. Bequette noted that having a specialist in these matters seems to be working well. It was suggested that Officer Poston be invited to speak at a future general membership meeting. Bequette also reported that the VCSD is getting involved in a Safe Kids program, aimed at lowering injuries due to improper use of seat belts, car seats, bike helmets, etc., and will be presenting programs for the public.

In answer to a question about the number of meth lab arrests, Bequette stated that the number of labs being discovered in Vanderburgh County has dropped, with these factors contributing: more labs are being moved outside the county; winter is "off-season" for meth making; and more arrests are being made at the precursor stage (e.g., arresting someone for buying large quantities of meth ingredients). A spring upswing in meth lab arrests is possible.

Linda Cleek presented traffic accident summaries for 2000 with comparisons to 1998 and 1999. Accident rates were highest in 1999. During discussion it was suggested that these reports, along with a cover letter, might be sent to EUTS, county officials, state legislators, etc.

• The organization of neighborhood associations has formally adopted the name United Neighborhoods of Evansville. About 75% of all Vanderburgh County neighborhood associations are members with more expected to join in 2001. UNE plans to work on issues including zoning, expanding the tree ordinance into the county, area clean-ups, etc.
• Area Plan Commission - the Wolf Creek projected is scheduled to come up again in February. The city tree ordinance passed.
• Board of Zoning Appeals - little business at present
• Watershed Advisory Committee - affiliated with the Soil and Water Conservation District
• Historic Preservation - there was discussion of the demolition permit procedure as it applied to the Rietman House . The fact that the permit was granted one day and demolition underway the next was cited as an example of the need for a time for public comment in the permit process.
• It has been brought to the attention of the WIA board that the liquor store at Five Points is selling legal "drug paraphernalia" including rolling papers, roach clips, etc. James moved that we check with Gene Brooks, our attorney, to be sure that any statement by the board would not raise liability issues. Provided it does not, she further moved that the board send a letter stating that we oppose the sale of such paraphernalia to the store owner with copies to other groups including the Westside Nut Club, VCSD, EPD, and appropriate neighborhood associations. George Thompson seconded the motion which passed without opposition.

Transportation - Kimron Reising reported:

• He has attended EUTS meetings at which updates to the 25-year master plan and other issues were discussed.
• Environmental impact statements are being prepared for the St. Joe/Mesker Park intersection project.
• EUTS is interested in a utilization report for the Greenway. James reported that utilization studies are planned when time permits and that the next section to be opened, along the river front, will likely have much higher traffic than the section now open.
• A recent survey showed that 89% of area workers drive to work alone. A proposed car pooling system utilizing Park-and-Ride lots might have very little chance of success. More information is needed.

Pollution & Conservation - George Thompson reported:

• That the P & C committee is represented on the Watershed Advisory Committee.
• Bylaws for the David Dale Owen Land Trust are currently under development.
• The Corps of Engineers has looked at the Carpentier Creek situation and may be able to assist with repairs and prevention of future problems. Since the levee project is a contributor to Carpentier Creek problems, the Corps may have funds available to ameliorate the situation.

Parks Committee – Shirley James reported:

• The Greenway plans call for expansion from First Avenue to the old Ohio Street bridge (which will be refurbished as an overlook) in 2002.

• The Greenway has arranged to purchase the old General Waste site as soon as it has been cleaned. Some of the land will be traded to riverfront businesses to secure right of way for the Greenway.
• The Greenway/Watershed exhibit at the Evansville Museum is successful and has attracted the attention of ORSANCO which will add to it.
• The Greenway is working with USI to develop an applied research project in using plants to clean polluted sites.

• James explained legal complications behind the auction of the equipment owned by the Friends of Mesker Park Zoo. The Friends plan to continue to fund specific projects at the Zoo. She suggested we might form a coalition with Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve, the David Dale Owen Land Trust, the Friends of Mesker Zoo, and others to help the Carpentier Creek flooding/contamination problems by expanding the wetland park into the area on the other side of the levee.  Joy Fitzgerald has been hired as curator of the Howell Wetlands.

Bill Harty reported that special receptacles for recycling plastic are going into several Evansville Parks.

Farmer reported that lesson plans involving the Wetlands are being disseminated throughout the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation.

Concerns were raised that the Parks Department has not installed donor recognition plaques at several locations. The Parks Committee will look into it.

Membership Committee - no report, meeting in February. Jeff Korb will chair.

Farmer suggested that WIA sponsor special-interest public meetings throughout the year as the need arises. Cosponsors will be sought when appropriate.

Concerns were raised about the ability of the Board to act prior to an official vote on membership. It was agreed that the vote will occur at the general meeting in March.

The bylaws are in need of revision. Thompson proposed appointing a bylaws committee at the March meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:16 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Cleek, Secretary

© 2008 Westside Improvement Association, Inc.