JEFFERSONVILLE — A proposed interlocal agreement allowing the city of Jeffersonville to use Greater Clark County Schools facilities in exchange for mowing the grass at properties failed to pass at the Parks Authority Board meeting Monday night.
The agreement, which was unanimously denied, would have cost the Jeffersonville Parks Authority more than $25,000 per year, according to Parks Director Bob Manor.
“I’ve looked at this thing every way I could look at it to try and make it work,” Manor said. “I wanted it to work.”
Availability of workers to be able to continue with their current maintenance responsibilities in addition to mowing the schools grounds was not feasible. Manor said the parks department, even with adding one employee, would not be able to continue to mow both the pumping stations it already mows and the schools’ facilities.
One full-time worker would not be enough to complete the work outlined by the agreement.
A staff of 10 maintains more than 30 facilities throughout the city, including maintaining the field house and the city’s RiverStage, said Ted Throckmorton, facilities manger.
“I wouldn’t be able to do it,” Manor said. “I don’t have the manpower, nor the time, nor the equipment to do that.”
Costs were figured by taking away the $1,850 per month the parks department is paid to mow near pumping stations throughout Jeffersonville.
Additional costs include gas — estimated at $200 a month at $2.50 per gallon — and about $1,600 a month in labor over an eight-month period.
Even with subtracting $450 in fees it would cost to use Greater Clark’s gyms, the city would be out $3,200 per month. For eight months of a mowing season, the agreement would cost the parks department about $25,600.
When asked if there was a way in which Manor believed an agreement could be worked out he said, “I see no way.”
“I can’t see where it’s going to do anything for us other than make it almost impossible for me to get my work done,” Manor said.
But the interlocal agreement presented to the parks authority board did not carry the same intent as when the agreement was outlined.
“When this originally got proposed, we had access to whatever we needed,” said Mayor Tom Galligan. “When we got the contract, it didn’t come out that way.”
In exchange for cutting grass at 11 properties, including the school system’s administration building, the city would be able to use gym facilities several times per week. It wished to allow city employees to use the gyms as well as having the possibility to use them for events.
Even before a vote was taken, the fate of the interlocal proposal was already known.
“You all are going to turn this down tonight,” Galligan said. “So, when you all turn it down we’re going to sit down and talk to [Greater Clark County Schools] and say, ‘here’s why they turned it down.’ If you want to take another shot at it, lets do it.”
Galligan left the room before a vote was taken, and beyond determining a monetary figure that would work between the two entities, logistical concerns remained.
Those include how the parks board would mow and maintain the grounds if it rained or what facilities would receive priority.
“That has to be figured out, too, before I approve that contract,” said board member Ed Zastawny.
The parks authority board is comprised of city council members.
IN OTHER BUSINESS
• A war memorial planned near Clark Street and Riverside Drive in Jeffersonville must first be set up by organizers as a nonprofit through the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana via the city. Plans must be finalized and minor questions were raised about the type of pavers being used and lighting on site. Once Jeffersonville records approval of the plan in its minutes, construction is ready to begin, said Chad Armstrong, who has been leading the effort for the project.
• New playground equipment has been installed at several parks around Jeffersonville. The equipment was installed at Poppy Park, Inman Park, Wathen Park and the Optimist Park.
• A proposal from Nations Baseball to build multi-field baseball complex is expected to be presented to the city sometime this week, Galligan said.
• The parks authority board approved permanently changing its meeting time from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month.
Clark County
March 8, 2010
Jeff parks board votes down mowing pact
Interlocal agreement between Jeffersonville and Greater Clark County Schools fails
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Jeffersonville’s emergency coordinator departs city
She applied for the job in December, a few weeks after Mayor Mike Moore was elected. She decided to do so after initially hearing that Moore would be eliminating her position. He ended up keeping Christian, but Louisville came calling anyway.
Continued ... - News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 13, 2012
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CAPITOL CROSSROADS: Candidates struggle with Indiana ballot hurdles
Gov. Kathy Davis had her signature invalidated because she listed her address at “9th” street but Marion County’s rolls had her at “09th” street.
Continued ... -
Underwood man found dead in woods
The search resumed later in the day Friday and his body was discovered about 6 p.m. in a wooded area less than half a mile from his family’s 70-acre farm, said Maj. Chuck Adams of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Continued ... -
Military vehicles leave Clarksville police station
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Jeffersonville law department still being negotiated
The combined salaries of the two attorneys and a paralegal add up to $221,900, which Harmon called a savings compared to the $239,373 the city has paid in legal bills on average during the last two years.
Continued ... - Feb 11, 2012
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Most area graduation rates above state average
According to a release from IDOE, Indiana’s state graduation rate came in at 85.7 percent. About 45 percent of high schools met or exceeded the 90 percent mark and 83 percent graduated 80 percent of their seniors or more.
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YOU GOTTA MOVE: Parkwood participates in Greater Clark health push
- Feb 10, 2012
- NEWS AND TRIBUNE BRIEFS — Feb. 11-12
- Meth lab numbers increase sharply in 2011
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Jeffersonville’s emergency coordinator departs city
