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Board Meeting
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Red Bank Branch Library
Meeting started at 4:05 p.m.
Attendance: Baumgartner, Betty; Berning, Dot; Euler, Skip; Gerteisen,
Wayne; Harty, Bill; James, Shirley; Jeffers, Brenda; Moers, Joyce; Musgrave,
Shelby; Nethery, Troy; Padget, Fred; Runge, Mel; Roedel, Trena; Sensmeier,
Bernice; Tornatta, Helen; Wallenmeyer, Loretta; Wentzel; Sam; Williams, Marie
Excused Absence: Cleek, Linda
Secretary’s Report: Minutes of the April meeting were approved.
Treasurer’s Report: Bernice Sensmeier presented the treasurer’s report.
President’s Report:
- Cheryl Musgrave contacted WIA about coming to a board meeting as a
candidate. WIA responded with a letter giving appreciation for her interest,
but that WIA does not feel addressing the board in the capacity of a candidate
is the right thing to do. This letter invited Cheryl Musgrave to attend
Candidates Night.
- Invitations to Candidates Night will go out in the near future.
- Fred has received several calls concerning the recent storms, which
resulted in power outages. Many of these outages are caused by fallen power
lines. Helen Tornatta addressed the board about her recent experience with
fallen power lines and power outage on Felstead Road. Fred was told that the
last Vectren rate increase included provisions for tree trimming. Fred is
going to contact Ron Jordan, Vectren, to get more information about Vectren’s
plans to trim trees and the items that were included in the latest rate
increase.
- Mill Road, St. Joe Road, and Moutoux Park were all affected by Locust
Creek flooding during the recent rain that produced more than eight inches.
- Fred, Linda, and Bernice met during July to review and update the
membership listing and the newsletter mailing list. Work still needs to be
done on the newsletter distribution.
- A reminder letter was sent to all members who have not paid dues for the
year 2004. This letter also reminded WIA members of the upcoming membership
picnic.
- WAVE (Water Awareness for the Vanderburgh Environment) is a new
not-for-profit organization concerned with making citizens aware of all
aspects of water quality. The group has developed and approved by-laws and
will operate as a committee under the umbrella of the Four Rivers Resource
Conservation and Development (RC&D) Area, Inc.
- A public input meeting for the Unification Study Group was held a few
weeks ago at the Red Bank Library. This gathering was strictly to gather
input, not to inform people about the study. Over 200 people attended. Input
was taken for about an hour and fifteen minutes from 16 facilitators. Comments
were then condensed into like categories, and items thought to be most
important were starred. As of right now, the study group has not found any
strong argument for or against unification. The study continues, and the group
is not ready to make any recommendations.
Announcements:
- Mayor Weinzapfel and the Evansville Redevelopment Commission (which is
part of the Department of Metropolitan Development) will host the following
events:
- Housing Needs and Priorities Hearing
Wednesday, July 28, 6 p.m., at the C. K. Newsome Center
Wednesday, August 11, 6 p.m., at St. Lucas Parish Hall
- Residential Redevelopment Area Selection Hearing
Wednesday, August 4, 6 p.m., at the C. K. Newsome Center
Wednesday, August 18, 6 p.m., at St. Lucas Parish Hall
Law Enforcement:
Kurt Chapman, WIA’s community police officer, will try to attend more meetings.
At present he is covering two beats.
Committee Reports:
- Call – Dot Berning said she is calling anyone who wants to be called and
the board meetings are having better attendance.
- Membership – Everything is on schedule for the membership picnic on August
14 at Burdette Park. Dot Berning ask Shirley James if she would contact the
newspaper and other media to see if she could get these agencies to publish
some announcements about the picnic. Shirley said she would. Also, Dot asked
Board members to help clean up after the picnic. Brenda Jeffers said she would
ask Linda Freeman to make a poster advertising the Membership Picnic to hang
on WIA’s table at National Night Out.
- National Night Out – Sam told Joyce Moers that WIA will be providing two
tables for the event. He also said that the tables would be near the shelter
house so electricity would be available. The Vanderburgh County Surveyor’s
Office will be sharing this booth space.
- Candidates Night – Fred announced that the event will be held on Tuesday,
September 14, 6:30 p.m., at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ. Another
Candidates Night will be held Thursday, September 16, 6:30 p.m. at United
Neighborhoods of Evansville.
- Pollution and Conservation – Trena Roedel reported on the new proposed
five-acre park. A meeting was held at the Civic Center, Thursday, July 22,
1:30 p.m. Dennis Owen, Bart Mueller, Dave Elgin (RC&D), Fred Padget, Shirley
James, and the Pollution and Conservation Committee were present. The group
talked about preserving this land as part wetland and part wildlife habitat.
The group talked with Shirley about tying in with the Greenway. Shirley has
asked the Greenway Advisory Board to allocate the $9,000 that the county
assigns to the Greenway to the new park for design. Shirley has spoken with
the three commissioners, and Suzanne Crouch has expressed a desire to meet
with WIA representatives. Also at the July 22 meeting, Dennis Owens said he is
willing to help with clean up or any other areas within his capabilities. Four
Rivers has agreed to be the umbrella and help work through the legal matters
including mitigation for Dennis Owens. So far the only cost projected for WIA
is the yearly property taxes. Right now the taxes run about 200-300 dollars a
year; although, Dave Elgin said that since the taxes will be a nonprofit rate,
those tax dollars could reduce to one-third of the amount.
- Land Use – The development work behind Backyard Burger displays poor
erosion control practices. The contractor also interfered with a stream in the
area without having a proper Corps of Engineers permit. Because WIA’s Land Use
Committee complained about this situation, the Corps of Engineers issued a
“Cease and Desist” order.
- Parks – Shirley James gave a report on how the recent heavy rains affected
Moutoux Park. Shirley said that since the Parks Department is low on funds,
Moutoux Park will need some financial help. Shirley has asked John Pease and
Geno Gott to get a repairs list together. Shirley asked WIA to think about
contributing some money to these repairs.
Adjournment: 5:30 p.m.
Brenda Jeffers, Acting Secretary
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