University Parkway Development - Smart Growth?

Westside Improvement Association
Board Meeting
Wednesday, April 24, 2002
Red Bank Branch Library

President Fred Padget called the meeting to order at 11:40 a.m.

Attending: Berning, Dot; Chapman, Kurt; Cleek, Linda; James, Shirley; Kolb, Bonnie; Lockard, Michael; Musgrave, Shelby; Sensmeier, Bernice; Padget, Fred; Thompson, George; Wallenmeyer, Loretta; Wentzel, Sam

Secretary’s Report: Minutes of the March board meeting were approved on a motion by Bonnie Kolb and a second by Michael Lockard.

Treasurer’s Report: Bernice Sensmeier presented the March report which was accepted as submitted.

President’s Report:

• Pat Conner will be the second WIA representative to UNOE.

• The scholarship process is getting underway.

• Padget attended the April meeting of the Vanderburgh County Soil and Water Conservation District.

• No newsletter was published in April due to lack of content. Padget reported that Pointing Westward was complimented by a county official at a recent meeting. He asked that anyone with material to submit get it to Steve McCallister by the first Friday of the month.

• The May general meeting will include a presentation on the WIA web site and a hands-on session in a computer lab for those interested. Discussion of other items for the May meeting included a suggestion of inviting someone to present on the GIS program.

Neighborhood Associations/West Sector Police Report

• Discussion of recent burglaries led to comments about homeless persons living under bridges, etc. Kurt Chapman reported that the police periodically clear the areas but that people return on a regular basis.

• No one from WIA was able to attend the April West Sector meeting.

• Chapman presented crime statistics for the city and explained how to read them.

• Pat Conner will chair the WIA entry in the West Sector National Night Out. Linda Cleek will prepare a computer presentation to run during NNO.

• Poplar Grove Neighborhood Association will host a police demonstration on meth labs on May 2,
  7 p.m., St. James Methodist Church.

Committee Reports:

• Fall Festival – At least two more day captains are needed. Anyone interested should contact Kolb or Padget. Shirley James offered to host an orientation luncheon for the day captains.

• Land Use & Planning—Lockard reported
  numerous covenants have been worked out with developer Gene Hahn on the rezoning on the southeast corner of Red Bank and the Lloyd.
  BFI has filed suit to be allowed to add trash from additional counties to the Laubscher Meadows Landfill.
  The request for rezoning for a liquor store on Rosenberger appears to be entirely legal.
  Use and development agreements for the rezoning at 111 N. Red Bank Road will probably result in approval at the May 1 Area Plan Commission meeting. Drainage remains one of the most problematic issues.

• Parks – James reported
  WIA has been invited to adopt an animal at Mesker Park Zoo. Several levels of donation are available, and James suggested adopting the great horned owl as it is the WIA symbol. Cleek moved that WIA adopt an animal at the $100 level (so as to get the attendant publicity); Dot Berning seconded, and the motion passed without opposition.
  Sam Wentzel discussed the West Terrace Park area. James reported that, while the David Dale Owen Land Trust has not yet received its 501 (c) 3 status, the Wabash Heritage trust already holds such status. She suggested that the land be turned over to the Wabash Heritage Trust rather than the DDO Land Trust. Cleek moved that WIA support a merger between the David Dale Owen Land Trust and the Wabash Heritage Trust. James seconded the motion which passed without opposition.
  Since it appears that the cost of titling the West Terrace Park land has increased above the $2,000 originally approved by WIA, Lockard moved and Kolb seconded a motion to increase the amount allotted for the purchase to a maximum of $2,500. The motion passed without opposition.

Guest Presentation:
Marlin and Kevin Goebel of Goebel Commercial Realty presented their plans for a luxury apartment complex for seniors on Middle Mount Vernon Road. Plans call for 128 single-story units of about 1,400 square feet each renting for approximately $765 per month. Board members made several suggestions concerning ingress and egress and other design features. At this stage, WIA neither supports nor opposes the project but requested that the Goebels keep us informed as their project develops.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Cleek
Secretary

Next meeting: Thursday, May 16, 7 p.m., USI Carter Hall
 

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