The final Jasper Common Council meeting of 2011, the end of twenty years for Mayor Schmitt

The final Jasper Common Council meeting of the 2011 was held last night. This is also the last council meeting current Jasper Mayor Bill Schmitt, Councilman Bud Schitter, Coucilman John Schroeder, and city attorney Sandy Hemmerlein will be attending in their official capacities.

Before the meeting began a moment of silence was observed in recognition of the passing of Meg Kress. Ms. Kress had been keeping the minutes of the meetings for about three years and she recently passed away.

Afterwards the mayor recognized several youth in attendance. Two scouts, Isaah Hopf and Christian Hopf, from Jasper Boyscout Troop 182 were there to observe the meeting. Three scouts from Troop and Pack 532, Harrison Schmitt, Nick Schmitt, and Ben Schmitt (the mayor’s grandsons). from Schererville, Indiana also attended.

Bud Hauersperger then gave the Utility Service Board meeting report. Here is the story on that meeting.

Mayor Elect Terry Seitz addressed the council in regards to entering into a contract with the law firm Shaneyfelt and Bohnenkemper for the hourly cost of $120 for 2011 and 2012.

City Attorney Sandy Hemmerlein is resigning at the end of the year and Seitz would like to enter into the contract to allow Bill Shaneyfelt to provide legal advice for the city while the city is making a decision on a new city attorney.

Seitz proposed the city enter into the contract with Shaneyfelt in 2011 so he could meet with Hemmerlein to learn about current projects and legal issues within the city. Seitz’ goal is for Shaneyfelt to conduct this meeting before the end of the year and he proposed it would take at least half a day for Hemmerlein to get Sheneyfelt up to speed on current city legal issues.

The council discussed the costs involved in Shaneyfelt meeting with Hemmerlein this year and if there should be a cap on the expenditure. The estimate is that the time Shaneyfelt spends with Hemmerlein will cost between $700 and $1000. Seitz stated it is common practice for the city to enter into contracts with companies and professionals and the city should treat this the same as any of those contracts.

The mayor jokingly inferred that Mr. Shaneyfelt would jump at the opportunity to serve the city for free. Shaneyfelt declined to comment.

The motion was made and passed unanimously that the city would enter into a contract with Shaneyfelt and Bohnenkemper for the remainder of the year. A contract for 2012 would be proposed at the special January 3, 2012 meeting.

Next the city passed resolution no. 2011-20 that continued the reduction of hours for the hourly employees at the power plant. This was discussed at the USB meeting and would be in effect until March of 2012. It passed unanimously.

Resolution 2011-21 is an amendment to the lease between Jasper Clean Energy LLC and the City of Jasper in regards to the power plant. Attorney Bill Kaiser addressed the council about the current litigation and how it has postponed the signing of the lease. Faced with the uncertainty of when the lease will be signed the proposed amendment will extend the lease 12 months for several reasons.

The lease option payments in the amount of $60,000 quarterly should have begun on October 1st, if the lease had been signed and the process of converting the Power Plant started.

The amendment also provides for Jasper to remain in contract with the Indiana Municipal Power Agency, Inc.

The 12 month extension provides that the payments would start on October 1, 2012, but Kaiser stated that if the litigation goes past May 1, each day it goes past would add a day to the first payment due date.

Additionally all the due dates on the phases of the lease contract will be extended 12 months as well.

The mayor pointed out that the city is losing those four payments of $60,000 due to the litigation.

The council passed the amendment unanimously.

The council then discussed ordinance number 2011-35 to annex 1.5 acres along 47^th Street into the city limits. This property is a partially in in the city limits and partially out and the ordinance will bring the entire property into the city limits.

It passed unanimously.

Ordinance number 2011-43 would extend the senior citizens’ discount price from Monday through Thursday to include Friday at the municipal golf course.

This ordinance would also upgrade the price of drying material for baseball and softball teams at the sports complex. The price was included in the price of games but the price had not been upgraded for several years. The ordinance will update the price to reflect the current market price of the material.

It passed unanimously.

Ordinance 2011-45 concerning the transfer of appropriations for 2011. City Clerk-Treasure Juanita Boehm stated these transfers are necessary due to the appropriations being for the wrong account.

The ordinance passed unanimously.

An appropriation of $25,000 was addressed by the mayor in regards to feasibility studies for the proposed I-67 project. I-67 is an extension of U.S. 231 to connect to I-69 near Washington, In.

The mayor stated that due to the heavy manufacturing base here in Dubois County it was important that the road be considered to support that industry. The I-67 coalition is composed of several business leaders and chaired by OFS President Hank Menke.

The council approved the appropriation of $25,000 from the EDIT fund to the project’s feasibility study.

Finally Rayme Eckerle asked the council to continue an appropriation of $30,000 that was made in 2011 for the construction of a brine material building that would house the brine and the winter equipment. The building has not been constructed yet and Eckerle would like to re-appropriate this money for 2012.

The council approved an ordinance be made to re-appropriate the money for 2012.

Before closing the meeting, remarks were made by Councilman John Schroeder, Bud Schitter, Mayor Schmitt, and Sandy Hemmerlein. Each comment was followed by a round of applause and the mayor received a standing ovation at the completion of his remarks.

All stated they were proud to have served the city and the people of Jasper. They thanked the city employees and credited them with making the city great.

The mayor pointed out to Mayor Elect Seitz that he would find out as he travelled throughout the state that everyone wants to be like Jasper.

The mayor also stated he would continue to attend the meetings to stay up to date on the city issues.

He commended Sandy Hemmerlein for keeping him out of jail and serving the city well as city attorney.

He thanked Lois Kuntz for her service as the mayor’s assistant.

Butch Schitter moved to adjourn the meeting, John Schroeder seconded it and the council adjourned for the final meeting of 2011.