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Westside Improvement Association
Board Meeting
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Red Bank Branch Library
President Fred Padget called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m.
Attending: Baumgartner, Betty; Berning, Dot; Cleek, Linda; Euler, Skip;
Harty, Bill; James, Shirley; Jeffers, Brenda; Musgrave, Shelby; Nurrenburn,
Roger; Padget, Fred; Roedel, Trena; Sensmeier, Bernice; Stagg, Carolyn;
Thompson, George; Wallenmeyer, Loretta; Wentzel, Sam; Williams, Marie
Excused Absences: Gillenwater, Jim; Kolb, Bonnie; Lockard, Michael;
Outlaw, DeAnna; Runge, Mel
Guests: Dona Bergman, Evansville Environmental Protection Agency (EEPA),
and Randy Rolley, Crime Prevention Officer (CPO)
Secretary’s Report: Minutes of the October 2004 meeting were approved on
a motion and a second from Harty and Euler.
Treasurer’s Report: Bernice Sensmeier presented the treasurer’s reports
for November and December of 2004.
Award: Bill Harty presented Dona Bergman, Executive Director, EEPA, with
an Award of Excellence. Bergman conducted a short question/answer session with
the Board.
Associations – Announcements and Comments
- Betty Baumgartner talked about the 96-Gallon Trash Can Program being
conducted in the south part of Evansville. No expansion date has been set.
- Baumgartner also reported that Deaconess Family Practice Center
will provide information on mammograms for women 40 or older, who are unable
to afford them. Call Julie Morrison.
- Baumgartner also reminded men to get their PSA test for prostate cancer.
- Baumgartner also said she heard that some of the neighborhood
associations may be combining newsletters.
- Shirley James announced that west side residents who live around a lot
of limestone may want to check for Radon. James said that a test kit can be
purchased from Home Depot.
President’s Report
- Letters were sent to Catherine Fanello and David Mosby thanking them for
their service as Commissioners.
- Emails were sent to the new Commissioners thanking them for their
support for the Greenway and also a hiking and bicycle path connecting USI
and Burdette Park.
- The new Membership Chair is DeAnna Outlaw. WIA needs good communication
between the Treasurer and the Membership Chair in order to maintain
membership and keep dues up to date.
- Volunteers are needed for WIA committee chairs and representatives to
different organizations. A list of these openings was distributed.
- Mayor’s Traveling City Hall Program will meet January 26 at Helfrich
Park Middle School Media Center at 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- County Commissioners Input Meeting (concerning road repairs) will meet
Mondays, February 7, 14, and 21 at 4:30 p.m.—locations to be announced.
- Meet Your Legislators will hold four forums at the C. K. Newsome Center
on Saturdays—February 19, March 12, April 2, and April 23, at 10 a.m.
Reservations are needed to speak.
Law Enforcement
- Randy Rolley, Evansville Police Department, will act as the new CPO for
the WIA area.
- Officer Rolley reported about his efforts to stop solicitors at the
intersection of Lloyd Expressway and Red Bank Road. Officer Rolley reported
that these solicitors are persistent in their activities. If they fail to
yield to his warnings, he will issue a ticket and let the solicitors go
before a judge.
- Padget informed the members that if anyone sees this type activity,
report it to Officer Rolley or the West Sector at 435-6135, Monday-Friday, 8
a.m. to 4 p.m.
Action Items
- Set the schedule for the rest of the year. The meetings are now the
fourth Wednesday of the month at 4 p.m. Padget entertained a motion to keep
the meeting time the same. The Board decided to keep the meeting schedule
the same on a motion and second by Cleek and Berning.
- Padget informed the Board that WIA has been a member of UNOE for nearly
20 years. Padget explained the benefits of this membership and that the dues
are $20. The Board approved paying the dues on a motion and second by
Baumgartner and Harty.
General Membership Meetings
- Linda Cleek announced that four General Membership Meetings are
scheduled for 2005. The last two meetings are planned— a meeting at USI,
August 18, and the Annual Meeting, November 17. Cleek wanted input
concerning the meeting programs and locations for the first two general
meetings, February 17 and May 19. Cleek said she would like the programs to
be congruent with WIA’s goals.
- Shirley James suggested that Mesker Park Zoo would be an appropriate,
fun program and location. Dot Berning responded that the Zoo is only
available during the day because a member of the Zoo’s staff must be
present.
- James suggested that Dan McGinn, Zoo Director, present a program. Then,
a Zoo employee would be present.
- Cleek asked Berning to recheck the possibility of meeting at the Zoo.
- Other location suggestions were: Farm Bureau, Howell Shelter House, St.
Agnes, and First Christian Church (Upper Mt. Vernon and Red Bank).
Committee Reports
- Web Site – Cleek reported
- Asked members to submit or suggest items for the Web site
- Transportation – Padget reported
- On South Red Bank Road past Wal-Mart, the road markings at one point
put cars head-on. Pat Keepes, City Engineer, looked at it and said it
does not comply with plan.
- The guardrails in this same area are incorrect.
- As people drive up the hill on Red Bank toward Wal-Mart, the halogen
lights are blinding. County said these lights were in the plan, so
nothing could be done. Padget researched an ordinance that applies to
lighting—if lighting presents a safety hazard, it must be corrected. The
county was recontacted. The county said it would look into it; then,
Wal-Mart said it would take care of the situation.
- Scholarship – no report
- Membership – Berning reported
- Membership dues are due January 2005.
- The committee met at Padget’s home and discussed arrangements for
watching membership more closely because some people are still receiving
newsletters and have not paid dues for several years.
- Cleek designed a membership card that shows the period of valid
membership.
- Berning said that if dues are not received before March, a reminder
will be sent.
- Contacting organizations about Century Club membership was not
discussed at the meeting. James suggested sending letters to
organizations asking if they want to be Century Club members. Therefore,
the letters can serve as dues follow-up reminders for those organization
who elect to be a Century Club member.
- Carolyn Stagg asked if a person could represent both the West Sector
and WIA to UNOE and act as a two-vote representative. Padget said he did
not think that would be a problem.
- Pollution and Environment – Roedel reported
- The committee needs to get with Dave Elgin, RC&D, so that he can
tell it what he has accomplished toward the preservation park.
- Talks are still ongoing with James about connecting the park with
the Greenway.
- Carpentier Creek cleanup is still on the committee agenda and will
be addressed at the next meeting.
o Still waiting to here from Mr. Lawson about a meeting concerning the
wastewater treatment upgrades.
- Parks – James reported
- General Waste site is being cleaned of pollutants. The cost will be
$3.2 million paid through insurance. The polluted soil will be
transferred to the Laubscher Meadows Landfill. When it is finished, all
buildings will be gone. The asphalt will remain. When the Greenway is
constructed, the asphalt will be removed.
- Another new grant application was made for the purpose of connecting
West Franklin to Maryland.
- Canoe launch
- City will give 20 percent match in funds.
- Parks Department asked Greenway to donate some donor funds to
this project for a 34 percent match.
- Construction from Casino to West Franklin will start, “hopefully,”
in August. James says that she sees sometime in 2006 as more realistic
because the permitting process has not begun yet.
- James sent a letter to Kohl’s asking them for a corporate donation
to help fund the pedestrian/bike path along the dedicated conservation
easement along Carpentier Creek. Kohl’s has not responded. James will
send a reminder letter.
- The new Commissioners announced they would supply the tie-in for the
hiking and bicycle path between USI and Burdette Park.
- James will meet with Commissioners and President Hoops (USI) on
February 3 to discuss the expansion of the Greenway around the
University.
- Motoux Park is under new management. Electricity will be installed
soon.
- Land Use Planning – Padget reported
- The following rezoning petitions are in progress:
- Old U.S. Marine Hospital (West Illinois Street) – Mead Johnson
warehouse
- Boehne Camp Road, tract of land south and west of Tabacco Road
and Raben Tire – multi-family development
- Boehne Camp Road – Welborn Medical Center
- 25 Dorothy Drive – Owens’ development, change from warehouse and
office building to commercial business
- Fall Festival – Padget reported
- Need to put together a committee soon
- Nominating – Padget reported
- Need a Nominating Committee by May 2005 according to bylaws
The meeting was adjourned at 5:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Jeffers
Secretary
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