Attendance: Debbie Brown, Dan Nance, Pat Rice, Bill Savage, Ward Sherman, City Attorney Tom Beeman, and Planning Director Tom Doan.

Absent: Dave Roby

Approval of past minutes: Mr. Savage motions to accept minutes from July 16, 2007 as written, Ms. Brown seconds, and all agree.

Mr. Rice asks the audience if there is anything they would like to address before we get to the agenda. Mr. Ron Fite from the audience approaches the board. He lives at 2707 South K Street. He wants to know about the alley being vacated by the church. Mr. Doan states that Mr. Shimmel is wanting to close the alley off to the public. Mr. Savage asks Mr. Fite if he lives at the property on the North side of Mr. Shimmel. Mr. Fite replies that he does. Mr. Rice states that Mr. Shimmel was supposed to notify the property owners that this would affect and have them join his petition and bring them before the planning board. He states that Mr. Shimmel never came back into the Planning Office to pursue this. Mr. Rice explains the definition of vacating an alley. Mr. Fite is for vacating the alley. The board explains that there will still be easements and if the electric or gas company needs to do some work there, they still can.

Old Business: Don Starr- 1324 Main Street- Mr. Rice asks Mr. Starr what kind of progress he has made. Mr. Starr replies that the forms where just delivered today and he should have it completed by the end of the week as long as weather permits. Ms. Brown asks if there was a delay getting the forms. Mr. Starr replies that they had to make them. He states that he would like this finished before the weather begins to break. Mr. Doan asks who the contractor is. Mr. Starr responds that Ivan Kantner is the contractor. They board discusses the construction. Mr. Rice asks Mr. Doan if he has been there to check. Mr. Doan states that he has, but if the forms just arrived today he did not see them. Mr. Beeman suggests resetting it for 30 days and call Mr. Doan to check it when it is finished. Mr. Starr asks if he can borrow two barricades. Mr. Rice tells him he will have to contact the street department for those. Ms. Brown makes motion to review this at the September 17, 2007 meeting if it has not been completed. If it has been completed then Mr. Doan will contact Mr. Starr to let him know not to appear at the September meeting. Mr. Sherman seconds, and all agree.

Historic Classifications downtown buildings- Mr. Doan states that we are still working on getting the owner’s name and address to notify the owners. Mr. Beeman and Mr. Doan are working on a letter to explain what this will consist of for the owners. Ms. Brown asks how much longer this will take. Mr. Beeman states that they are still waiting to see where the funds will come from and right now the city is having money issues. Mr. Doan feels that it will be awhile. Mr. Doan states that it will cost approximately $500.00 minimum just to notify the owners. Ms. Brown’s biggest concern is 20 years from now the downtown should remain historic. Ms. Brown asks why the city don’t do bulk mail. Mr. Doan is unsure because he suggested a postage machine to save money on postage. Mr. Rice asks what Mr. Rick’s Leather is. Mr. Nance replies that it is beside Rumor Has It. The board discusses and agrees that it should be classified NC.

Revised Building Permits- Mr. Sherman is tired of homes being bandaged up and sold. He feels that we need to get a handle on this. Mr. Rice feels the same but some of this should be changed. Mr. Sherman feels that we should kick the fees up a little to gain some revenue for the department. Mr. Rice hopes that will happen but explains that the council doesn’t always look at the funds like that. Mr. Rice states that Mr. Doan should tell the council this. Ms. Brown wants to know when it is best to bring an issue like that to the council. Mr. Rice replies around budget time. Mr. Savage feels that contractors should be registered through the city. Mr. Rice agrees. Ms. Brown feels that it is a wonderful idea but if she was generating money and not gaining any to the department she wouldn’t want to do the extra work. The board asks if there can be a fund where the money goes back to where it came from. Mr. Beeman is unsure and will check into it. Mr. Rice states that the best thing Mr. Doan can do is keep track of the money and bring it up to the council around budget time. Mr. Doan states that Ricker’s Oil Company came in and paid $230 for a permit to do the same thing they did in Lafayette and he was told they paid $2,300 for that one. Mr. Sherman feels that the fees need to go up some. Mr. Doan also makes the board aware that Tipton County charges $375 to file for BZA. We currently charge $25. Mr. Sherman thinks we should double or triple our fees in some areas and have the council address them. Mr. Rice questions the board if they want to double all of these or just some individually. The board discusses. Mr. Doan states that his intentions are to put money back into the fund. Ms. Brown suggests a subcommittee get together so this doesn’t get prolonged. They discuss. Ms. Brown recommends Mr. Nance, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. Savage get with Mr. Doan to discuss changes for the next meeting.

New Business: none

Other: Ms. Brown wants to know what happened with Sheila Cooper at court. Mr. Doan states that Ms. Cooper is only going to court for the limbs and weeds, and she is now compliant with that. Mr. Beeman suggests that he send her a letter explaining what the board would like to see her about and bring her to a meeting. Ms. Brown questions what the board will gain by bringing her before the board. They discuss. Ms. Brown makes motion to have Mr. Beeman send Mrs. Cooper a letter requesting her presence at the September 17, 2007 meeting, Mr. Sherman seconds, and all agree.

Adjournment: Mr. Nance makes motion to adjourn, Mr. Sherman seconds, and all agree.

Meeting Adjourned.

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President