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Westside Improvement Association
Board Meeting
April 22, 2009
Red Branch Bank Library
Present: Allen, William; Cleek, Linda;
Dilingham, John; Farmer, Paul; Gerteisen, Wayne; Harty, Bill; Hudson, Aphrodite;
Jeffers, Bill; Jeffers, Brenda; Kolb, Bonnie; Outlaw, DeAnna; Padget, Fred,
Rockwood, Dave; Stagg, Carolyn
Excused Absence: Berning, Dot; Moers, Joyce; Runge, Mel
President DeAnna Outlaw called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m.
Secretary’s Report: Notes from the February board meeting were approved
on a motion from Carolyn Stagg and a second from Fred Padget, pending addition
of Wayne Gerteisen to those in attendance and Bill and Brenda Jeffers to the
list of excused absences.
Treasurer’s Report: Fred Padget presented the report for March 2009. He
presented a proposed association budget for 2009.
Committee Reports:
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Adopt-a-Spot – in Dot Berning’s absence,
Outlaw reported Nut Club members are going to do some work on the walls and
plaques. The discounted plant special this year is at Home Depot. We
continue to lobby the city for water and electricity.
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Parks – Brenda Jeffers reported approvals and
work continue for the Greenway. A dog park, Central Bark, has been developed
at Kleymeyer Park. The Parks Department’s golf courses broke even in 2008.
Small increases in fees project a similar result in 2009. The Nut Club and
another organization has repaired the Mesker Mall Building across from
Amazonia. Rentals are proceeding apace. Evening on the River will be held on
May 29. The Parks Foundation is starting a “Pennies for Parks, Pools and
Playgrounds” campaign, with canisters for loose change in many locations.
The Victory has charged $95/hour for rental since 1998 and want to raise the
rate to $125/hour. They are working on a special arrangement for the EPO.
There were 94 events at Roberts Stadium, The Victory had 91, and Mesker
Amphitheatre had 11 events in 2008.
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Solid Waste – Paul Farmer reported there were
612 vehicles dropping off in January and March, 2008. The three pick-up days
so far in 2009 have more than doubled that volume. Tire Amnesty Day is
Saturday, April 25; the next Recycle Day is May 1.
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UNOE – Farmer reported Deputy Matt Hill will
present a program on Internet dangers at the next UNOE general meeting on
Thursday, April 23. The Bank on Evansville program is underway with more
than 15 institutions participating in a program of relaxed rules and fees
for the unbanked. Trained presenters are available to speak to groups of all
kinds. UNOE is working with EVSC to provide Bank on Evansville services for
Title 1 schools. Aphrodite Hudson added that people with bad banking
histories can more easily get back into banking through Bank on Evansville.
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Environment – Dave Rockwood reported a litter
pick-up event will be conducted this Saturday, April 25. The UNOE/Alcoa
Foundation grant will be used to provide supplies and food. Kids eight and
up and adults are welcome. Meet at the old Mesker Park Zoo parking lot off
St. Joe at 9:30. The event will end with lunch for the workers.
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Transportation – Rockwood reported that
Evansville neighborhood associations are being invited by AARP to
participate in walkability studies. Volunteers will be documenting the state
of sidewalks, or lack thereof, etc., in the neighborhoods. The Welborn
Foundation Healthy Communities Initiative is studying how to improve
people’s eating habits; how we can improve the built environment to improve
walking and biking opportunities. Roberta Heiman, chair of the Pigeon Creek
Greenway board, is developing a coalition to raise money for, and awareness
of, the need for more bicycle and pedestrian trails. The group is called the
Evansville Trails Coalition. Bill Harty added that he had attended the last
EUTS meeting and complimented them on how much good the flashing lights at
Red Bank and Upper Mt. Vernon are doing. He has reported a couple of
problems to the authorities.
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Land Use –
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Padget amplified on the Trails Coalition
report by explaining that the Greenway lack of progress is partly due to
the rules that must be followed and the standards that must be met. The
Trails Coalition and Welborn Foundation are working on developing feeder
trails to the Greenway that won’t have to be built to the same standards
as the Greenway proper. Padget would like to represent WIA on the Trails
Coalition. Harty moved and Bill Jeffers seconded that such an
appointment be made. The motion passed without opposition.
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Smart Growth – work is being done on
changes to our zoning laws to increase the amount of green space and
riparian ways required.
APC has asked Padget to participate in a group planning for the
intersection of I-69 with roads in northern Vanderburgh County. The goal
is to create a “gateway” to the community.
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Work is proceeding on the Marchand Bridge
and the Shirley James Historical Transportation Center. Some stimulus
money is earmarked for trails through the Industrial Corridor.
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Majestic Place development has been
pretty quiet lately. Padget met with developer Gene Hahn and councilman
Joe Kiefer to express the concerns of Westside citizens. It appears that
the dwelling parts of the development will go forward, but the
commercial part is on the back burner for now. The issue probably won’t
get to APC until July.
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Kohl’s sold some of their land to a local
developer who has purchased some acreage in Union Township for wetlands
mitigation. This sounds like the wetlands adjacent to the Kohl’s
property are probably on the way out. It may be an illegal sale; Padget
will investigate further.
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Fall Festival – Outlaw reported she has found
someone to build the new shelves, etc., no charge for labor.
New Business: The USI facilities are not
available for the annual banquet on Friday, November 20. We will investigate
using Friday, November 13.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Cleek, Secretary
Next Meeting: General meeting, 6:30 p.m.,
May 21, Burdette Shelter # 13
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