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 February 2003
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Westside Improvement Association
General Membership Meeting
Thursday, February 20, 2003
Howell Park Shelter


Attending: Berning, Dot; Berning, Terry; Bevers, Jim; Clancy, Kathy; Cleek, Linda; Farmer, Paul; Harty, Bill; James, Shirley; Jeffers, Bill; Jennings, Mona; McCallister, Steve; Nethery, Troy; Nibbe, Janie; Padget, Fred; Peak, Martha Jo; Roedel, Trena; Schapker, Marc; Schapker, Minnie; Thompson, George; Wallenmeyer, Loretta; Wentzel, Sam

Guests: Lockard, Michael; Weatherholt, Judy

President Fred Padget called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. All present introduced themselves.

Secretary’s Report: There was no secretary's report from the last general meeting which was the annual banquet. Minutes of the August general meeting were approved without opposition.

Treasurer’s Report: In the absence of Treasurer Bernice Sensmeier Padget presented the treasurer's report. The $2,500 appropriated in 2002 for the Clem Franke Nature Preserve was payed out in January.

President’s Report:

  • While we are pleased to have Michael Lockard appointed to the Area Plan Commission and understand his being required to resign from his positions as Senior Vice President and Land Use Committee chair for WIA, being forced to resign from the organization seems unreasonable. Some discuss followed about what could been done about this, but it appears that the legal authorities have spoken.

  • Padget introduced County Surveyor Bill Jeffers, also a member of the Area Plan Commission.

  • Padget is filling in as Land Use chair for now and is being assisted by Mona Jennings. Shirley James provided information about an upcoming land use seminar.

  • Martha Jo Peak has resigned as co-chair of the Pollution and Conservation Committee but continues as a member.

  • Padget and Paul Farmer are serving on the Visioning Committee appointed to work on the new Comprehensive Plan.

  • Padget attended meetings of the United Neighborhood Organization of Evansville (UNOE), the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), and the Evansville Urban Transportation Study (EUTS). No West Sector Police Citizen’s Committee meeting was held in February.

    • UNOE expects membership to increase over 2002. The SWCD will conduct its annual meeting on February 25, 6 p.m., at the 4-H Center.

  • A schedule of activities for the Wesselman Woods Nature Center is available.

  • Padget asked whether the membership was in favor of holding a Candidates’ Night before city elections in November. While attendance at our 2002 Candidates’ Night was disappointing, Bill Jeffers and others pointed out the importance of such events and the success of the East Side, West Side event held in 2000. James moved that we cosponsor a Candidates’ Night within the city limits in the fall. Troy Nethery seconded and the motion passed without opposition.

  • Padget reminded everyone that articles are needed for the newsletter and that the deadline is the first Friday of each month.
    A needs inventory was distributed. Padget reported that Trena Roedel will replace Bill Harty as the WIA representative to the Solid Waste Board. Harty reported that nearly 6,000 pounds of cardboard were recycled from the 2002 Fall Festival. Padget congratulated Harty on his service to WIA and to the environment.

Neighborhood Association Reports:

  • Sam Wentzel (Western Terrace) reported that the Clem Franke Nature Preserve will be dedicated on Arbor Day (April 25).

  • Dot Berning reported that the Mt. Auburn Association hosted a meth lab awareness demonstration by the Evansville Police Department. She highly recommended it as a program for a WIA general meeting.

Committee Reports:

  • Call Committee – Dot Berning gave her committee’s work a "C" grade for February and polled the audience to see how many had been called. She reported that she needs an updated membership list.

  • Pollution & Conservation – Trena Roedel reported that the Bayou Creek/Carpentier Creek study continues. Those conducting the survey are planning a tour in March or April and are obtaining entry permission from land owners.

  • Parks – Shirley James reported

    • the EcoTour being planned for June 14-15 is attracting a great deal of attention and will have more than 30 participating agencies including some in Posey, Warrick, and Henderson Counties. Funds are needed to support bus transporation for participants. Cleek moved that WIA donate $300 to support transportation for the EcoTour. Nethery seconded. In the following discussion Berning suggested at banner or sign for the side of the bus. Kathy Clancy asked who the audience for the tour will be. James reported that it is open to all interested and is being promoted throughout the state and on various Web sites. The motion passed without opposition.

    •  WIA previously appropriated $450 for Howell Wetlands erosion control. Changing circumstances at the Wetlands led the Parks Committee to recommend that we redirect the donation to general operating expenses, particularly educational activities and materials. Nethery seconded the motion which passed without opposition.

    • A resident of Howell has made a very substantial donation to the Wetlands and smaller donations to other park facilities. A public announcement is forthcoming.

    • Bids have been let to correct the leachate problem at Moutoux Park. Wildflowers will be planted on some of the acreage to reduce land disturbance caused by mowing. The Parks Committee met with the Westside Soccer League to set priorities for Moutoux Park. They are:

      • Improved drainage

      • Raising ground level

      • Parking facilities

      • Lighting

      • Bids have been let for work on section B of the Greenway. The Greenway committee is working with Gibson, Posey, and Warrick Counties to clean the entire Pigeon Creek watershed. Indiana will not continue to fund the watershed coordinator’s position and other funding is being sought.

  • Land Use –

    • Padget exhibited pictures showing what has been done on the development at Rosenberger and Hogue Road. Despite several agreements vis a vis drainage, erosion control, etc., the developer, Dennis Owen, appears to be in violation of numerous regulations. Padget reported his findings to the Drainage Control Board on February 18 and has met with Surveyor Jeffers, Drainage Board Chair Phil Hoy, and others. He and Roedel plan to meet with the developer on February 21 to discussion the situation. A representative of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be here on February 24 to inspect the site.

    • Bill Jeffers reported on the facts of jurisdiction of SWCD, IDEM, DNR, the County Commission, and other governmental entities. He also reported that a $40,000 fine has been pending for a year against Owen regarding a north side development.

  • Web Site – Cleek reported that new material is added to the Web site on a regular basis and that member suggestions are welcome.

Announcements:

  • Twenty-five percent of all the Champion Trees are located in Vanderburgh County.

  • A pruning seminar will be offered by Horticulture Agent Larry Caplan at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 1, at Evansville Day School.

  • The Surveyor’s Office is planning curriculum support materials for local schools.

Guest Speaker: Judy Weatherholt, Executive Director of the Southwestern Indiana Regional Development Commission (SWIRDC), was the speaker.
The Commission was formed by Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh, and Warrick Counties in response to a strategic planning effort and because this was one of the few areas in Indiana without a regional development organization.

  • An organizational overview and 2002 annual report were distributed.

  • The Board of Directors is composed of seven representatives from each county: three appointed by each County Council; three appointed by each County Commission; and one appointed by the mayor of each county seat. Currently, 15 of the 28 members are elected officials. Jonathan Weinzapfel of Vanderburgh County has just completed a term as the first president of the Commission. Officers for 2003 are:

    • President – Pam Hendrickson, Mayor of Boonville (Warrick County)

    • Vice President – Phil Young, private citizen and County Council appointee (Gibson County)

    • Secretary – Nancy Burns, private citizen and County Council appointee (Posey County)

    • Treasurer – Rolland Eckels, private citizen and County Council appointee (Vanderburgh County)

  • The office is housed in USI’s Division of Extended Services and utilizes resources of the University for administrative support, faculty research, etc.

  • Funding comes from the four counties and from state and federal grants. Grant writing and other services offered for a fee also contribute. SWIRDC is working on the Community Development Block Grant application for the Jobes Lane water and sewer project.
    While SWIRDC cannot help fund the Watershed Coordinator position mentioned earlier, Weatherholt promised to look into some funding possibilities.

  • SWIRDC has a Web site located at www.swirdc.org. The site includes the recently-completed Economic Development Assessment, links to other sites, SWIRDC’s meeting schedule, etc.

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. 


Respectfully submitted,
Linda Cleek
Secretary

Next meeting: Wednesday, March 26, 4 p.m. at Red Bank Branch Library.

 

 

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