Eminence Kentucky-Minutes

The City Council of the City of Eminence, Kentucky met in a regular session on Monday, February 10, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Doug Bates and the following members present: Kelly Mathis, Howard Roberts, Drane Stephens, Tom Ferguson, and Leeroy Winburn. Absent was Member Laura Whitney.

The minutes of the previous regular session held on January 13, 2003 were reviewed. Motion made by Member Ferguson and seconded by Member Roberts to approve the minutes as presented. All members present voted "Yea".

Subject: Bid Opening (Sale of Cruiser) - Mayor Bates opened the following bids for sale of the surplus 1992 police cruiser:

Chief Hadden stated the only stipulation he has is that the name Eminence will have to be removed from the cruiser prior to being taken. Motion made by Member Ferguson and seconded by Member Roberts to accept the high bid of $2,500.00 from Roger Beasley for sale of the surplus 1992 police cruiser with the stipulation that Eminence and the unit number must be removed prior to transfer. All members present voted "Yea".

Subject: Dedication of Streets - Tony Tingle was not present with the information needed to accept the dedication of streets in his subdivision.

Subject: Employment Contract - Kevin Calvert was present to discuss his employment contract with the city from previous employment. His contract stated that if he left the employment of the City within five years that he must reimburse the City for training. He feels that other officers leaving under the same contract have had some taken off the amount owed and due to mutual aid with Pleasureville, where he now serves, he would like to have the remainder of his contract amount of $1,500.23 forgiven. Our current employment contract does allow for pro-ration for time employed. The original amount of his settlement contract was $3,725.23 and is dated May 30, 2000. The monthly payment amount is $100.00. Discussion held. Motion made by Member Mathis and seconded by Member Ferguson to table this until next month. All members present voted "Yea".

Subject: Use of City Property -Art Adams was present to discuss his continued use of the community center to provide alcohol and drug abuse programs. Presented the City with a copy of the state approval for the Community Center. Council had previously, at their December meeting, told Mr. Adams he would have to move from the Community Center, but offered City Hall as an alternative meeting place. Mr. Adams had stated it would take two to three months to get approval for a new site from the state. Mr. Adams has done nothing about getting City Hall approved by the state. He wants the council to re-consider and allow him to continue using the center facility. Discussion held including that the school grant begins on March 1st and that it may not be appropriate for him to use the center. Motion made by Member Roberts to allow the use of City Hall after licensing or provisional status is given by the state. Other discussion held including rent. Mr. Adams asked for consideration on the rent as he stated he is not making any profit and is providing a needed service in the community. Member Roberts withdrew his motion. Mr. Adams was advised he would need to bring the rent current on his use of the Center. Motion made by Member Mathis and seconded by Member Ferguson to allow Mr. Adams to use City Hall Council Chambers three times a week on Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday for the lease price of $200.00 per month after all necessary paperwork has been completed. All members present voted "Yea". The consensus of council was that Mr. Adams could continue to rent the Center until March 1st and that he needed to bring his rent at the center current through that time using the normal rental fee schedule.

Subject: Renaissance Report - Main Street Director Mary Jane Yates was present. Informed council that the board members at a special board meeting prior to this meeting recommended acceptance and follow through with the Phase III ISTEA-21 application process. Reported that no money is required from the General Fund on any of the streetscape projects with the needed funds budgeted to come from municipal aid funds. The 6% for design fees is only for Phase III and that a 10% contingency has been built into Phase III streetscape. Attorney Brammell held the reading of a resolution allowing application for Phase III ISTEA-21 funds. Motion made by Member Ferguson and seconded by Member Roberts to approve the resolution as read allowing the application for Phase III ISTEA-21 funds and authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into all necessary paperwork connected therewith. All members present voted "Yea".

Mary Jane reported that the Heritage Council will have unused façade grant money available. We have until March 28, 2003 to present a proposal up to $10,000.00 per property for business or residential façade work within the renaissance area. This does require a 50% match to the property owners.

Subject: Police Department Report - Police Chief Mount Hadden reviewed the monthly activity report with council. Reported on the Nick Roberts murder trial. A murder conviction with life in prison without parole for twenty years was received. This has involved more than 200 man-hours on Detective Kevin Kemper's part.

The activity officer for the month of January resulted in a tie between Officer Todd Rankin and Officer David Button.

Chief Hadden reported he has nothing to report on the property ordinance. If anyone has a concern, let him know and he will address it.

Chief Hadden reported he is still working on the curfew ordinance proposal. There is still a lot of mischief going on between the hours of 1:00 and 5:00 a.m. Recently, some bus tires were cut at the school. He doesn't feel that most of the kids have a problem with a curfew after having been interviewed by Henry County High School and from personal interaction between kids in Eminence.

Member Roberts stated he appreciated the Police Department as well as all the other employees of the City for their dedication to their jobs.

Subject: Fire Department Report - Steve Sparrow was present. Discussed the fire department activity report with council including training they would be attending. Stated that the City needs to get new board members in place. He suggested a crash course in fire equipment to assist with understanding their budget requests. Reported that the air bottles they use are $960.00 each with annual testing required at $65.00 each; new safety devices to alert for downed firefighters is $375.00 each; air packs are up to $3,800.00 each as of January 1st. Reported they are working on a number inventory for the department. They are already in excess of $250,000 for the equipment on just one truck and that doesn't even include the truck.

Steve stated that the businesses and new developments in town should contact them prior to installation of hydrants as there are several problem areas where recent changes have been made including one at the school, the ones at Louisville Saydah and the new subdivision on Elm Street.

Steve reported on the new rural tax of $35.00 per deed. Previously they have billed a rural subscriber fee to about 800 residents with only about 120 responding. The rural citizens will now be required to pay a fee instead of volunteering. He estimates Eminence's share of this to be around $20,000.00. The County will also be giving $2,500.00 instead of the $6,500.00 they currently give.

Mayor Bates reported that the Fire Department has received $2,812.00 from a DES grant to purchase a handheld radio, one mobile radio and one generator.

Public Works Director William Smith thanked the fire department for their assistance with traffic control, heat, lights, etc. on the North Main Street water break.

Subject: Public Works Report - Public Works Director William Smith reviewed the monthly activity report with council. Reported that the inflow and infiltration work is on hold at the present mostly due to the weather. The plant expansion is also on hold. He has not heard anything else on the proposed Seven Gable expansion.

The renewal of the land lease was discussed. Tim Fitzgerald has been doing this the past few years using his equipment to mow the sewer plant property in exchange for the lease. He would like to continue. Motion made by Member Roberts and seconded by Member Ferguson to authorize the Mayor to enter into a land farm lease agreement with Tim Fitzgerald as it is felt to be in the best interest of the public and the City of Eminence for Tim to do this as he is familiar with the lay of the land and the needs for mowing by being at the plant each day. Motion carried unanimously by all members present.

City Clerk Sandra Doane reported on a major unexpected repair to the tower booster pumps in the amount of $4,811.39. The proper line item in the budget does not have enough money in it to cover this. Requested a line item change from 706 (Maintenance of Water Structures) to 708 (Maintenance of Equipment) in the amount of $4,500.00. Motion made by Member Winburn and seconded by Member Stephens to authorize a budget line item change in the amount of $4,500.00 from Category 706 to Category 708. All members present voted "Yea".

Subject: Swimming Pool - Discussion held concerning the opening of the pool. The repairs needed to get the pool open were discussed. Also discussed was the amount of money lost each year to keep the pool open. We are averaging over $12,000.00 per year to have the pool open for only amount eight weeks. The very low attendance was also discussed and the fact that we can no longer compete with the new facilities at Shelbyville and LaGrange. Member Mathis reviewed information she had obtained from the Shelbyville Aquatic Center on lifeguard training and the possible use of junior lifeguards on a voluntary basis. Assistance from the County was discussed, as this is the only public pool in the county. The County has refused assistance in the past. Motion made by Member Mathis and seconded by Member Roberts to not open the pool this year but to consider budgeting something starting in July for some sort of activity, if not the pool. On a call of vote by Mayor Bates, voting "Yea" were Members Mathis, Roberts, Stephens, and Ferguson. Voting "Nay" was Member Winburn.

Subject: Community Center Activity Report - The monthly activity report for the community center was reviewed. Mayor Bates reported that the school is scheduled to start their grant and take over the staffing at the Center on March 1st. The school will probably hire a director for the grant and center this week. An OVEC employee, Maria Kenner, is already on board to do computer training and to serve as a parent/teacher liaison.

Subject: Administrative Report - City Clerk Sandra Doane reviewed the monthly activity report with council. Reported on a presentation she gave at the Eminence School on City Government Month and a meeting she attended on development of a bio-terrorism response plan. Reported that the second draw has been made on the West Owen Street Re-Development Project in the amount of $2,279.00.

Subject: Employment Policies and Procedures, Compensation and Classification Plan - Attorney Brammell held the second reading of an ordinance adopting the revised employment policies and procedures, compensation and classification plan and repealing all other ordinances (as listed) that previously related to this. Motion made by Member Stephens and seconded by Member Ferguson to approve the ordinance as read adopting the revised employment policies and procedures, compensation and classification plan and repealing all other ordinances (as listed) that previously related to this. All members present voted "Yea".

Subject: Insurance Premium Tax Ordinance Amendment - Attorney Brammell held the second reading of an ordinance amending the insurance premium tax ordinance changing the tax rate from 8% to 10%. Motion made by Member Roberts and seconded by Member Stephens to approve the ordinance as read. All members present voted "Yea".

Subject: Lillian Hyatt and Paul Sue Martin Drainage Easement - Attorney Brammell reviewed with council a drainage easement which resulted as part of the consideration for full and complete settlement of claims made under a civil suit by Lillian Hyatt and Paul Sue Martin. Motion made by Member Stephens and seconded by Member Ferguson to authorize the Mayor to execute said drainage easement on behalf of the City of Eminence with Lillian Hyatt and Paul Sue Martin as discussed. All members present voted "Yea".

Subject: Warrants - The warrants presented for payment were reviewed. Motion made by Member Winburn and seconded by Member Mathis to approve the warrants as presented. Motion carried unanimously by all members present.

With no further business to be discussed, motion made by Member Stephens and seconded by Member Winburn to adjourn. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

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