The Missing Minutes ???

 

The Jeffersonville - Clark Co. Blog has received  what is alleged to be the original minutes of the Sept. 1, 2011 Redevelopment meeting, where Walnut Ridge owned by Jeffersonville mayoral candidate Dennis Julius is awarded the contract for the controversial Hwy 62 median landscaping project. The BatBlog did not get this through an open records request, they were e-mailed to the BatBlog account and the BatBlog (see disclaimer below) does not verify or claim they are the originals...only that this version  exists. It will be interesting how this version  compares to the ones apparently found and supposedly available through open records requests.

  The "Missing Minutes" the Batblog received aren't clear whether Julius as a sitting member of the Redevelopment Commission abstained or voted for the awarded contract,(bottom page 2) though it does say the vote was unanimous... Readers can make their own determination and interpretation , and actually it may be a moot point because it seems in the BatBlog's opinion that by Julius merely being a member of the Redevelopment. Commission and receiving and obtaining the benefits of the contract he may have been in violation of Indiana law:

IC 36-7-14-10
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IC 36-7-14-10
 Commissioners and nonvoting advisers; pecuniary interests in property and transactions Sec.10 (a) A redevelopment commissioner or a non voting appointed under section 6.1 of this chapter may not have a pecuniary interest in any contract, employment, purchase or sale made under this chapter. However, any property required for revelopment purposes in which a commissioner or non voting adviser has a pecuniary interest may be acquired, but only by gift or condemnation.

(b) A transaction made in violation of this section is void
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BatBlog Disclaimer:
The BatBlog neither claims the below documents obtained from an anonymous source are original only that they exist. As well the BatBlog is only stating our opinions on the legal ramifications and interpretations of the statutes listed above. It is our intention to inform the public and apply our opinion so that taxpayers and voters  can make educated decisions moving forward .....Thank You.....

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                                     JEFFERSONVILLE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
                                                      SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
                                                            SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

 The Jeffersonville Redevelopment Commission held a Special Meeting on September 1, 2011 at 5:30 PM in the Second Floor Conference Room, 500 Quartermaster Court, Jeffersonville, Indiana. The following were present:

James Lake, President
Derek Spence, Vice President
Dennis Julius, Secretary
Nathan Samuel

 Staff:
Mary Sue Ellenbrand, Secretary
David Lewis, Attorney
Andrea Stevens, Interim Director

Guests: Mike Hutt

Absent: Robert Stevens

CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Lake called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM.

CLAIMS: Ms. Stevens presented claims for $545,754.12 and $97,866.44 and property acquisition claims for $1,093,431.77. Mr. Spence made a motion to approve the claims. Mr. Julius seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

BIG FOUR BRIDGE LANDING STREETSCAPE PROJECT:

Ms. Stevens presented R-19-2011 which is a resolution that the Redevelopment Commission supports the city of Jeffersonville’s submittal of an application for grant funding to the Indiana Office of community and Rural Affairs to address the Big Four Bridge Landing Streetscape Project. The Redevelopment Commission commits the requisite local funds in the amount of $135,969.50 from the Falls Landing Tax Increment Financing District, as matching funds for the program. This commitment is contingent upon receipt of MSRP funding from the Indiana Office of community and Rural Affairs.

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Mr. Samuel made a motion to approve R-19-2011. Mr. Julius seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

RESOLUTION NO. 2011-R-20:

This resolution adopts a list of real property interest to be acquired and the prices to be offered to the owners of such parcels. Due to Mr. Lewis not having prior information on this resolution the resolution was tabled until the next meeting. The commissioners did agree that the offers in Exhibit C could be made. Mr. Samuel made a motion to allow Ms. Stevens authorization to make offers in Exhibit C. Mr. Julius seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMORIAL:

Ms. Stevens reported that the Fire Department will be dedicating a memorial on September 11, 2011. They are asking for $5,000 to landscape and finish the area. Mr. Spence made a motion to approve $5,000 for the Fire Department. Mr. Samuel seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

JEFFERSONVILLE BUILDING CORPORATION REINSTATEMENT AND ASSOCIATED FEES:

Ms. Stevens reported that the Jeffersonville Building Corporation needs to be reinstated. If this happens there will be fees involved. Ms. Stevens is asking the Redevelopment Commission to fund the fees when the reinstatement takes place. Mr. Lewis will investigate and report back at the next meeting.

BID SELECTION – 10TH STREET MEDIAN PLANTING PROJECT:

Ms. Stevens presented the bid for the 10th Street Median Planting. Walnut Ridge was the only bid. The bid was for $419,601.15. Mr. Samuel made a motion to approve Walnut Ridge’s $419,601.15 bid for the 10th Street Median Planting and authorize the Department of Redevelopment to enter into the contract. Mr. Spence seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Lake asked if there were any additional business. Mr. Julius made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 6:20 PM.