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Westside Improvement Association
Board Meeting
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
Red Bank Branch Library
President Fred Padget called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m.
Attending: Bernhardt, Wayne; Berning, Dot; Chapman, Kurt; Cleek, Linda;
Eicher, Doris; Farmer, Paul; Gillenwater, Jim; James, Shirley; Kolb, Bonnie;
Nethery, Troy; Padget, Fred; Roedel, Trena; Wentzel, Sam
Excused Absence: Jennings, Mona
Guests: Jeffers, Brenda; Paul, Mary
Secretary's Report: Minutes of the June meeting were approved on a motion
by Paul Farmer and a second by Sam Wentzel.
Treasurer's Report: In the absence of treasurer Bernice Sensmeier there
was no report.
President’s Report:
- Padget distributed copies of the comprehensive plan Vision
Statement and the City/County Unification Study report. He pointed out that
Indiana law will dictate if and how consolidation takes place and that those
who have been through city/county consolidation report that saving money is
neither the primary goal nor the primary outcome of consolidation.
- The proposed change in enforcement of VCSWCD
- There have been complaints about weeds at the old Howell
Post Office and they were cut today.
- There have been complaints about dust and mud on Hogue Road
at the Carpentier Creek Pavilion site.
- County Commissioner Fanello has proposed an ordinance
requiring that affected neighborhood associations receive notification of
proposed rezonings, etc.
- The 20th annual National Night Out will be held at Garvin
Park on Tuesday, August 5, 6-9 p.m. WIA is participating. Discussion followed
about whether or not WIA had voted to support NNO financially. Farmer moved
that WIA contribute $220 for NNO; Troy Nethery seconded the motion which
passed without opposition. (The $220 figure is based upon a 10% increase
in a prior year commitment of $200.)
- The next general meeting will be Thursday, August 21, 7
p.m., at USI in University Center Room 201. The program will be a presentation
on Clandestine Lab Awareness by the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s
Department/Evansville Police Department joint drug task force.
- Candidates’ Night will be Tuesday, September 9, 6:30 p.m.
at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 12th Avenue and West Michigan Street.
Cosponsors are the Mt. Auburn and Western Terrace Neighborhood Associations
and Vanderburgh County Farm Bureau. The public is invited.
- The UNOE Web site is now up and running at
unoevansville.org.
Law Enforcement Report:
- Kurt Chapman reported that car thefts and vandalism
are up with most of the vandalism in the West Sector. Vandalism against
vehicles has been especially bad. In answer to a question about how vandals
are punished, Chapman reported that first offenders are usually required to
make restitution. Parents are responsible for up to $5,000 in damages. Shirley
James reported that 40% of the Parks budget goes to clean up and repair
vandalism and that the Greenway Passage is offering a $500 reward for
identification of vandals.
- Jim Gillenwater reported that Judge Neimeier spoke at the
last West Sector meeting. Among issues discussed were vandalism
(15-19-year-olds are the most frequent offenders) and auto theft (most common
among 18-22-year-olds). The EPD has promised to increase enforcement of the
city noise ordinance.
Action Items:
- On the issue of a group rate for employees of an
organization, Brenda Jeffers of the Surveyor’s Office reported that individual
memberships are not a problem.
- Habitat of Evansville has requested a letter of support for
a grant application. No funds are requested. James moved that WIA send a
letter of support. Trena Roedel seconded the motion which passed without
opposition.
- James requested a letter from WIA to city officials
requesting a guarantee of funding for the Greenway Passage should Congress
reduce or eliminate funding available. After considerable discussion the item
was tabled.
- Grants are available through the City of Evansville
Endowment Fund for public gardens, playgrounds, mini-parks, etc. The deadline
for submission of a preliminary plan is August 10.
- The Indiana Department of Natural Resources issued a call
for proposals for urban forestry projects for not-for-profit organizations and
municipalities. Working trees, e.g. as sound buffers, etc., may be included.
Gillenwater suggested buffer trees where railroad property meets private
property in Howell. James suggested cypress trees to hold water at the Howell
Wetlands. The proposal deadline is in November.
Committee Reports:
- Fall Festival: Bonnie Kolb reported that captains are
needed for Thursday and Friday. All WIA members are urged to help recruit
workers.
- Web Site: Linda Cleek reported that for the first time
since WIA has been keeping statistics, there were no accidents at the
Rosenberger Lloyd intersection for the month of June.
- Call Committee: Dot Berning requested that all members keep
their addresses and phone numbers up-to-date.
- Scholarship: Checks for the 2002 winners are out.
- Transportation: Gillenwater reported the St. Joe widening
project is underway. The new Ohio River bridge is projected for completion by
2015 and I-69 by 2020.
- Pollution & Conservation:
- Roedel reported they presented a wetlands program for the
USI Summer Enrichment Camp (49 children attended).
- The work at Hogue and Rosenberger proceeds with several
improvements being made to Carpentier Creek drainage—cleaning up trash,
keeping mature trees, offering to build a jogging trail along the creek,
etc. Dennis Owen offered to donate two-three acres for a park which might
eventually in the Greenway Passage.
- Parks:
- James requested a letter of support from WIA for a grant
being submitted by Mesker Park Zoo to the Alcoa Foundation. Berning
moved that such a letter be written; Gillenwater seconded and the motion
passed without opposition.
- James also requested that WIA issue a letter of support
for the city bond issue that would support Mesker Park Zoo along with other
facilities. After some discussion the issue was tabled.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Cleek
Secretary
Next board meeting: Wednesday, September 24, 4 p.m., Red Bank Branch Library
Next general membership meeting: Thursday, August 21, 7 p.m., USI University
Center Room 201
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