Eminence Kentucky-Minutes

The City Council of the City of Eminence, Kentucky met in a regular session on Monday, March 10, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Doug Bates and the following members present: Kelly Mathis, Laura Whitney, Howard Roberts, Drane Stephens, Tom Ferguson, and Leeroy Winburn. Absent were none.

The minutes of the previous regular session held on February 10, 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: K-9 Vest Award - Mayor Bates reported that Stephanie Garcia will not be making the K-9 vest presentation until next month due to a conflict of schedule.

Subject: Community Center Report - Sandy Rhodes, the new director at the Community Center, introduced herself. Reported that the school grant intends to keep the center open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and three hours on Saturday. The three-hour time frame has not been decided. Sandy reported that the school has also hired Corey Scriber as assistant director, Terri Clubb as program director and Laura Miller as the perk program coordinator. The perk program currently has five networked computers setup for use by adults and children.

Subject: Employment Contract - The employment contract with previous employee Kevin Calvert was discussed again. 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 Stephens and seconded by Member Mathis to make no changes to contract as signed by Kevin Calvert and to require payment as agreed. All members present voted "Yea".

Subject: West Owen Street Re-Development Project - Lara Robertson with Kriss Lowry and Associates was present to discuss the status of the West Owen Street Re-development Project. She reported that the plat is one of the first priorities and that the surveyor, Adam West, is holding up the project. The entire project has to be completed by December 4, 2004. They provided deeds to Mr. West on October 18th with the contract being signed October 23rd. Upon notification to proceed he had 30 days to complete the first phase. The City received that plat on March 6th after many phone calls and requests for contract requirements to be met. The plat has many areas of concern and question. The advisory committee met to discuss whether to terminate his contract. Their recommendation is to terminate his contract unless he has completed his requirements in seven days. The committee will be meeting on March 19, 2003 to review his contract and work to date again and make recommendations to council for their March 27, 2003 special meeting. Discussion held. Consensus of council for a letter to be drafted to Adam West advising him that his contract may be in jeopardy of being terminated if the requirements are not met within seven days.

Subject: Community Center Lease With Art Adams - Attorney Brammell advised he has prepared the lease as directed with no contact being made from Mr. Adams.

Subject: County Business - Magistrate Wayne Gunnell was present to discuss various county business. Wayne introduced Brent Hinton, President of the Kentucky Humane Society with whom the County has contracted with for four years to run the county kennel for $54,000.00 per year. Council expressed several concerns they have including possible noise and odor problems. Mr. Hinton assured council that both of the Louisville locations are in residential areas with no problems or complaints. The animals will be kept in an enclosed environment and walked one at a time. The location has an 18 animal capacity. The Society has been in existence since 1884. The project here in Henry County is a pilot program. They intend to be a pet resource with different programs available. The hours of operation will be from 8:00 a.m. thru 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday with adoption and other programs on Saturday and Sunday. The anticipated opening date is April 19th. One fulltime rescue officer will be hired for Monday thru Friday. One part-time person will be hired for Saturday and Sunday to clean and do adoptions. Between the hours of 8:00 and 4:00 the officer on location will receive calls and if unavailable the call will be sent to their cell phone. After hour emergencies will go through 911. The Society has invested $85,000.00 for the property and an additional 25,000 to 30,000 in repairs so it is just as important to them as it is to the City and County for this project to go well. Member Stephens questioned why this was never brought to the City for discussion even though it is zoned appropriately. Mr. Hinton stated this was an oversight on his part.

Wayne expressed concern over the response time and lack of personnel for the emergency medical services and fire services within the County. Wayne requested that the Mayor and Council attend a strategic planning meeting on Saturday, March 15, 2003 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the County's building.

Wayne introduced Bill Stivers who is the new constable in District #1. The constables have been equipped with two-way radios for communication. They will be coordinating pickup of trash along the roads, working ballgames, etc. Mr. Stivers stated he wants to help all he can. He would also like to ride with our police and assist if possible.

Magistrate Gunnell stated that the County has passed two emergency adult entertainment ordinances to address the possible intent to locate such an establishment in Pendleton. The first ordinance allows for location in only an I-2 zone with the industrial area by the state police in Campbellsburg, Shawnee Industrial Park in Eminence, and the truck stop area in Pendleton being the only areas zoned I-2. The second ordinance addresses the required distance from churches and has a $20,000.00 application fee.

Wayne reported that an economic development committee has been set up for the County. Mike Ray is the Chairperson and Mary Jane Yates is the Secretary/Treasurer. The next meeting is scheduled for May 27, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. at the courthouse annex.

Subject: Main Street and Renaissance Report - Main Street Director Mary Jane Yates was present. Mary Jane reported that the streetscape project has been received and approved by KIPDA, however it will be several months before we hear from the State. The architect is working on both phases of the project.

Mary Jane reported that the historic district packets are being developed for sending to the tenants and owners. A meeting is scheduled for this group on March 27, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. Tom Shroyer will be moderating this meeting.

Mary Jane reported that she attended training in Versailles last week on the façade grant program. There will be an estimated $200,000.00 pool. Silver and gold communities can compete for a $10,000 maximum award. This is a 50/50 match. The property owners must maintain the property for five years. They have one year to complete the work. The application deadline is March 28, 2003. We need to submit two project choices.

Mary Jane requested that she be allowed to transfer money from advertising and office supplies to education and training. The National Main Street Town Meeting is scheduled for May this year in Cincinnati. Since this may be one of the only times it will be close enough to attend she would like to be able to. The registration is $295.00 with the hotel being $140.00 per night. She will be sharing the hotel with New Castle's Main Street person so she estimates needing between $600-650.00 total. Motion made by Member Whitney and seconded by Member Ferguson to authorize the $650.00 transfer of funds from advertising, printing and office supplies to education and training to allow Mary Jane to attend this meeting. All members present voted "Yea".

Subject - Fire Department Report - Fire Chief Gary Lucas was present. Reviewed the monthly activity report with council. Reported on on-going training and the state fire school, which is scheduled for June 8th and 9th during the Crusade for Children. It is hoped that this will be changed prior to next year.

Gary reported that they are working on getting a new rescue truck. There is a program available in Jefferson County that allows them to phase out older models to small departments. We may be able to purchase a 1980's model well-maintained pumper truck from the Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Department for $1.00. He will know more about this later.

Chief Lucas expressed his thanks to the County for passing the mandatory subscription fees in the rural areas. This will hopefully bring in about $20,000.00 to start as compared to about $4,000.00, which they have been able to collect on their own in the past on a voluntary basis.

Gary also thanked the County for the DES grant received last month. They purchased a 5,000-watt generator, two portable radios, and one mobile radio for the Fire Department with these funds.

Mayor Bates stated that the Harvest Showcase on July 26th would have some training available for fire and emergency medical personnel if they want to attend.

Subject: Police Department Report - Chief Hadden reviewed the monthly activity report with council. Officer Stratton is the activity officer of the month.

Mount reported that he has distributed for council review a copy of the proposed curfew ordinance in first draft form. This will be on the March 27, 2003 special meeting agenda for review.

Chief Hadden was asked about an incident on Saturday night where an individual claims he was given a ticket for being in front of his wife's employment at 12:41 a.m. Chief Hadden stated that sixteen people were cited, not given tickets, on Saturday night for criminal trespassing after hours at the same location with only one of them being from Henry County. Three known narcotic traffickers were among the group.

Chief Hadden reported on a specific case Wednesday, where an ambulance was not available for a three-year-old child having seizures who later died. Discussion held over the overall problems of having personnel who can respond to medical and fire emergencies.

Magistrate Gunnell stated that the emergency medical services concern will be on the docket for their March 19th fiscal court meeting.

Subject: Public Works Report - Public Works Director William Smith reviewed the monthly activity report with council. Reported that the line extension on Myrtle Avenue is complete with a new hydrant installed at the end. Member Roberts commended the public works department and especially Tim Fitzgerald for his work in snow removal this year.

Subject: Administrative Office Report - City Clerk Sandra Doane reviewed the monthly administrative office report with council. She reported that the audit is complete and will be presented to the Mayor by the auditors tomorrow with council's copy to be sent to them for review.

Sandy reported that the City's federal excise tax return will be audited on March 12th.

Subject: Insurance Premium Tax Ordinance - Attorney Brammell reported that the City Clerk has complied with the requirements to send our ordinance to the State and in doing so a couple of areas of our ordinance were reported as needing amendment. These changes do not affect the increase, but for purposes of cleanup an amendment has been prepared. Attorney Brammell held the first reading of an amendment to the insurance premium tax ordinance.

Subject: Sidewalk Replacement Policy - Member Stephens stated he has been approached concerning sidewalk replacement. The previous policy was discussed. Motion made by Member Stephens and seconded by Member Roberts to continue the current policy of a volunteer 50/50 replacement program between the City and the property owners, providing City funds are available, but if a hazardous sidewalk exists mandatory enforcement of replacement will be required per current ordinance requiring property owner maintenance of sidewalk. The 50/50 program is to assist property owners with some of the expense but not intended to change the owners' responsibility in any way. All members present voted "Yea".

Subject: Pool -Mayor Bates asked for any ideas since the last meeting on whether to open the pool. One idea was presented to look into bussing kids to either Shelbyville or LaGrange if we don't open our pool. The liability issue was discussed.

Subject: Warrants - The warrants presented for payment were reviewed. Motion made by Member Roberts and seconded by Member Whitney to approve the warrants for payment as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Subject: Special Called Meeting - Mayor Bates called a special meeting for Thursday, March 27th at 7:00 p.m. to discuss a zoning issue for Steel Technologies, possible changes to the personnel policy, the community center contract, the West Owen Street surveyor contract, the curfew ordinance, and possible other items as deemed necessary with notification to council prior to meeting.

With no further business to be discussed, motion made by Member Roberts and seconded by Member Stephens to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 9:47 p.m.

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