May 2003

University Parkway Development - Smart Growth?

Westside Improvement Association
General Membership Meeting
Thursday, May 15, 2003
University of Southern Indiana

Attending: Berning, Dot; Berning, Terry; Brame, Jessie; Cleek, Linda; Craig, Steven; Ellert, Clarita; Farmer, Paul; James, Shirley; Jennings, Mona; Lowe, Fayette; Nethery, Troy; Padget, Fred; Roedel, Trena; Thompson, George

Guests: Manning, Justin

President Fred Padget called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

Secretary’s Report: Minutes of the February 2003 general meeting were approved upon a motion by Trena Roedel and a second by Troy Nethery.

Treasurer’s Report: In the absence of Treasurer Bernice Sensmeier Padget presented the treasurer's report.

Neighborhood Association Reports: Dot Berning reported that the Mt. Auburn Association is hosting a community yard sale on May 31.

Law Enforcement:

Mona Jennings, WIA representative to the Evansville Police Department West Sector Citizens Advisory Committee, reported that crime statistics are stable and that citizen involvement is resulting in more meth lab busts.
Linda Cleek showed charts of accidents on the Lloyd from Barker to McDowell Road for the first quarter of 2003.

Guest Speaker: Justin Manning of the Vanderburgh County Health Department presented a program on West Nile Virus. Everyone needs to be vigilant about getting rid of standing water on their property. Manning pointed out that a healthy wetland is not a mosquito-breeding environment. The most dangerous breeding areas are small containers in which the water doesn’t move for days at a time.

President’s Report:

Padget continues to serve on the Vision Committee for a new Comprehensive Plan.
Padget discussed the Vanderburgh County Soil and Water Conservation District’s scope of authority and its role in erosion and pollution control stemming from development. Some recent concerns include:
- Hogue & Rosenberger development still not being handled as it should be; DNR will be contacted about further measures.
- A case has come up of a local developer selling individual lots to builders. This appears to get the developer off the hook for erosion control responsibilities. The dispersion of responsibility makes enforcement that much more difficult.
- Indiana law is changing so that VCSWCD will have jurisdiction over developments as small as one acre. Currently, their jurisdiction begins with developments of five acres, minimum. Manning commented that the change affects commercial development only, not residential development.
The Tour de Bloom will be held on June 14.
The Regional Neighborhoods Conference will be in Evansville in October.
The Fall Festival is October 6-11.
An active membership committee is very much needed at this time. All members should try to recruit new members.

Committee Reports:

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.
Westside Nut Club Park will be lost due to the expansion of the Expressway. Six areas are being studied as possible sites for a replacement park.
Moutoux Park developments:
- There is a mosquito problem.
- The Parks Foundation will use the balance of the Moutoux bequest to create a playground.
- The Westside Soccer League put $5,000 into improvements which were then ruined by vandals. This has been brought to the attention of the Mayor and Council Commissioner Suzanne Crouch.
Improvements continue at Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden. Problems including damage to Lake Victoria and drainage issues continue to be of concern.
The dedication of the Clem Frank Nature Preserve on April 26 was clouded by the actions of vandals who stole signs designating the area as a nature preserve off limits to motorized vehicles. Dot Berning moved that WIA offer a $100 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpretrators. Roedel seconded. During the ensuing discussion Paul Farmer suggested that we give $100 to the Western Terrace Neighborhood Association and let them handle the reward. Berning amended her motion to that effect. Roedel again seconded and the motion passed without opposition.

Call Committee – Berning reported that most people respond favorably to being called but that it doesn’t seem to produce attendance.

Scholarship – George Thompson reported he participated in the awards program at Mater Dei High School. The 2002 Mater Dei winner (Paul Harper Scholarship) was Lindsey Wagner; the 2002 Reitz High School winner (Farmer Family Scholarship) was Ian Luther.

Transportation – EUTS is currently developing is Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and will have results for community comment soon. Transportation chair Jim Gillenwater has been meeting with city officials to try to secure the return of bus service to Howell.

Pollution & Conservation – Trena Roedel chairs this committee and is the WIA representative to the Solid Waste District Advisory Board. She reported:

Recycle Days are most successful when held at the Westside Wal-Mart.
Don’t flush old medicines—the residue can stay in the environment.
She met with Judy Weatherholt, executive director of the Southwestern Indiana Regional Development Commission, to discuss researching grant possibilities.
Fawn Creek, off Peerless Road, has some drainage problems.
New committee members are Brenda Jeffers and Pam Pulaski.
Project Wet presentations are scheduled for the USI Summer Enrichment Camp and are available for other groups as well.
She reminded us that there is no new water—we already have all there will ever be.

Land Use – Padget reported:

Rezoning to R3 was approved for the land at Schutte Road and the Expressway (southeast corner) in April. Several concerns remain and the development will be monitored as it moves through the permitting process.
The Leisure Living expansion off Allen’s Lane was approved. There has been one call in opposition which Padget is checking into.
There are drainage problems on Boehne Camp Road below Copper Creek apartments.
Sewer work continues on New Harmony Way near the old Bokelman’s Restaurant. The restaurant is out of business until the sewers are brought up to standards.

Announcements:

We need articles for the newspaper
We need active members at meetings and on committees.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Cleek
Secretary

Next meeting: Wednesday, June 25, 4 p.m. at Red Bank Branch Library.