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Westside Improvement Association
Board Meeting
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Red Bank Branch Library
President Linda Cleek called the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m.
Attending: Berning, Dot; Cleek, Linda; Dickinson, Joe; Farmer, Paul;
Gerteisen, Wayne; James, Dick; James, Shirley; Jeffers, Brenda; Kolb, Bonnie;
Moers, Joyce; Nix, Ava; Outlaw, DeAnna; Padget, Fred; Stagg, Carolyn; Wentzel,
Sam;
Excused Absences: Baumgartner, Betty; Harty, Bill; Lockard, Mike; Runge,
Mel; Sensmeier, Bernice
Guest Speaker: Lauren Preske, Howell Wetlands Manager
Secretary’s Report: Minutes of the January 25, 2006, meeting were deferred until
the April 26, 2006, meeting.
Treasurer’s Report: Fred Padget presented the treasurer’s report for the
month of February 2006. Padget also passed out a spreadsheet showing total
financial activity for 2005. Then Padget presented the 2005 budget. Next he
exhibited year-end financial comparisons from 1997-2005.
Announcements and Comments
• Padget presented a WIA membership list and WIA newsletter gratis list. Padget
plans to update both lists.
• Farmer informed the Board that the two $25 gift cards targeted for Katrina
victims were given to Vanderburgh County tornado victims.
• Farmer participated in “Connect with Southern Indiana” program at USI. This
program is similar to “Leadership Development.” Though, “Connect…” focuses more
on critical thinking skills and how one organizes a committee. Farmer presented
information about how to organize a neighborhood association.
• A photograph of scholarship winners appeared in the Evansville Courier and
Press.
• Hilltop Neighborhood Association will meet on Tuesday, March 28, 6 p.m.,
Stockard Drive. The theme is “What We Can Do to Become a Better Neighbor?”
• Outlaw read a message from Mary Lou Russler saying what a great job the
Westside Improvement Association is doing, and she enjoys reading the
newsletter.
• Pothole blitz will take place in April.
Law Enforcement – no report
• Officer Dickinson reported a couple of home burglaries, which occurred during
the daytime, on Mesker Park across from the golf course. Officer Dickinson
commented that people are starting to open windows, therefore, leaving windows
unlocked.
• Cleek asked Officer Dickinson if he knew of any thefts from mailboxes on the
west side. Dickinson responded that he knew of none. Nix said there was a person
on 11th Avenue who had some checks missing; however, he did not report the
missing checks. Dickinson said that it is very important to always report those
kinds of incidents.
• Nix attended the West Sector meeting and reported that the meeting surrounded
park safety. A list of do’s and don’ts was presented.
• Dickinson did report that teens went through the alley behind Hillcrest and
spray painted 11 garages.
• Shirley James requested a crime map from Officer Dickinson. He said that he
would bring one to the next meeting. The Police Department Web site,
evansvillepolice.com has access to GIS maps with a police layer showing crime.
• Berning asked Dickinson if Mt. Auburn Road was in Beat 1 or Beat 2. He
responded that Mt. Auburn falls in both beats.
• Nix said that Channel 25 came to the West Sector meeting and donated 25
weather radios to Weed and Seed.
Old Business – none
New Business - Action Items
• Lauren Preske, Howell Wetlands Manager, presented the board with the current
condition of Howell Wetlands. She expressed that Howell Wetlands needs some
property management that has not been done for a while. Cleek asked Preske,
“(1.) What is Howell Wetlands doing? and (2.) What can we do?”
Preske said that Howell Wetlands has a group of projects—there is a dam that
needs repair. Preske passed around pictures of this dam. In addition, fragmites
are growing, which could choke out the native plants. Also, Preske expressed the
need for a shelter with restrooms to be erected for volunteers and school
groups.
Preske asked WIA for some grant match funds.
• James said she would like to make a motion that the Board consider a donation
to this cause. Cleek said she felt that since this year’s budget is going to be
approved next month, WIA should budget a dollar amount for donations. Then, the
Board can determine how much money can be donated to Howell Wetlands.
• James introduced a Valley Watch concern. More power plants are being built in
the area. Most of the current power plants have been grandfathered and upgrades
have been minimal. Shirley then read a document written by John Blair. The
document contained a request for money.
Cleek and James talked about Valley Watch presenting its request at the next
meeting. Outlaw said she would be interested because she feels there must be a
reason for this area having such a high cancer rate.
Padget stated that he feels WIA needs to hear both Valley Watch’s views and the
other views that represent other aspects of the argument. Then he feels WIA
would be informed enough to pick a single issue that WIA would want to support.
Cleek said that we should invite John Blair, Valley Watch, to come to the April
Board meeting.
• Cleek said that the Board should start planning Candidates’ Night. Cleek
wanted the Board to express its opinions about possibly co-sponsoring
Candidates’ Night with another group. Farmer stated that UNOE’s Candidates’
Night will be held at its September meeting at the Red Cross. Farmer said she
would be glad to chair the WIA Candidates’ Night Committee.
• The Board discussed dates and locations for the event. September 11 (Monday),
13 (Wednesday), and 18 (Monday) were chosen for possible dates; and the Board
agreed that The Korner on Broadway would be a good location. Jeffers agreed to
schedule the date and location.
• James wondered if WIA would want to partner with Westside Nut Club and some of
the fraternities to help clean up the trash on the west side. She thinks this
effort would be good public relations.
Padget said that we might want to think about an “Adopt an Area” program. Cleek
said she would contact “Keep Evansville Beautiful” and see if they want to be a
partner in organizing something with us. Moers suggested “adopting a mile or
section” by certain groups who want to give community service.
Stagg said that Keep Evansville Beautiful (KEB) is scheduling some cleanup days
on April 22, May 20, and June 17. KEB is asking neighborhoods to pick a day to
clean up their areas. KEB will provide gloves and trash receptacles.
Committee Reports
• UNOE – no report
• Fall Festival – no report
• Parks – James reported
• Greenway received the grant match needed for the section from West Franklin to
the casino.
• Land Use – Padget reported
o Two-tenths of an acre at northwest side of Diamond and Mesker Park -
requesting a rezoning from residential to commercial; right behind this property
is 8 acres already zoned C-4.
o Cell tower at old auto salvage yard on Middle Mt.Vernon Road
James said that this project will benefit the area because it is now a
brownfield, and the pollution will have to be cleaned up in order to complete
the project. In addition, the fence is in disrepair; and a good fence would have
to be installed as part of the project. Richard James noted that the adjacent
land owners do not seem to be upset about this project.
o Dorothy Drive – GIS shows the emergency entrance to this drive is off the
Lloyd Expressway. City Engineer and APC are against putting signs along
Rosenberger Avenue noting the emergency entrance, because some people may think
the drive is directed through the Kohl’s parking lot.
o Berning expressed concern about the unsightly fruit stand at St. Joe and
Diamond. She wanted the Board’s permission to call Huber Realty and use WIA’s
name to find out who owns the land. Cleek and Padget were able to get that
information from the Assessor’s Web site.
o Moers asked about what is to be done about the burned Backyard Burger
building. Padget responded that it is up in the air right now.
• Transportation – no report
Newsletter
o Cleek announced that Pam Locker and Steve McCallister are now co-editors of
the newsletter.
• Web site – no report
Next Meeting
The next Board meeting on April 26 at 4 p.m. will be held at Burdette Park at
Shelter House 18.
The meeting was adjourned at 6 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Jeffers
Acting Secretary
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