Eminence Kentucky-Minutes

The City Council of the City of Eminence, Kentucky met in a regular session on Monday, September 8, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. with Mayor Doug Bates and the following members present: Kelly Shannon, Howard Roberts, Drane Stephens, Tom Ferguson, and Leeroy Winburn. Absent was Member Laura Whitney.

The minutes of the previous regular session held on August 11, 2003 were reviewed. Motion made by Member Ferguson and seconded by Member Stephens to approve the minutes as presented. All members present voted "Yea".

The minutes of the previous special called session held on September 4, 2003 were reviewed. Motion made by Member Winburn and seconded by Member Roberts to approve the minutes as presented. All members present voted "Yea".

Subject: Bid Opening - Trailer for Sale - No bids were received on the old trailer for sale which is located at 750 Ballardsville Road. This is the old cable company office. Member Roberts stated he might know someone who would be interested in purchasing this. He will check with them and get back with us.

Subject: Complaint From Henry/Trimble County Motorcycle Association - Margaret Horstman and Bill Darius along with several others were present to complain that they feel they are being discriminated against by the City and the Police Department. Reported that they meet @ Rhinestone's once a month usually on the third Saturday @ 1:00 p.m. and that each month they are being made to move their vehicles. Chief Hadden stated that they have received calls from the public complaining that they cannot get into the cleaners and other businesses located on Main Street because of the motorcycles being parked in front of these businesses. Chief Hadden asked why they could not park behind the businesses instead of the front. Bob Elmore with the Kentucky Motorcycle Association stated that when he drives his car or van and parks in the same spot he is not asked to move but when he drives his motorcycle he is and that parking in the back is not an option for him as he wants to be able to see his motorcycle due to it's age and value. Council discussed the problem with the general consensus being to request that the motorcyclists use the other side of the street to park some of their vehicles and not put them all on the side where the businesses are open on Saturday. They will be meeting this month on Wednesday, September 17th.

Subject: Renovation Work On Old Deposit Bank Building - Katie Crotzer was present to give council an update on her progress with the renovation of the old Deposit Bank Building. Most of the work so far has been inside with demolition and rebuilding. The entire inside mechanicals should be completed this week. The tuck-pointing work, washing of the exterior, glazing and caulking, and painting will be next. She has ordered the door and the rear will have a copper half barrel roof to blend with the current roof. She will have two apartments upstairs with commercial and/or a studio apartment downstairs depending on the need. She is trying to get Porter Paint to donate paint for all the businesses.

Subject: Main Street Report - Main Street Director Mary Jane Yates reviewed the progress of the streetscape project. Mary Jane confirmed that the bid notice will be in Wednesday's paper with a bid opening of September 30th at l:00 p.m. The bids specify Phase I to be complete before Phase II starts. The substantial completion date is May 15, 2004 with a final completion date of June 15, 2004.

Mary Jane reported that the local façade grant program application deadline is September 15th. The committee will review the applications with grants possible up to $2,500.00 each. They are a 50/50 grant.

Reported that she hosted board training at the Winery on Thursday, August 28th with 25-30 in attendance from Eminence, New Castle and LaGrange. Mayor Bates expressed his appreciation to Mary Jane for chairing this meeting.

Mary Jane reported on a benefit she is assisting with for Chief Hadden's daughter, Abbey who is autistic and is undergoing some medical expenses that are not covered by her insurance. Dinner and music will be provided on Saturday night, September 13th from 5:00/9:00 p.m. at the Winery. Tickets are $20.00 each in advance or $25.00 at the door with children under six being free.

Subject: Ordinance Relating to Solid Waste Pickup and Disposal Services - Attorney Brammell held the second reading of an ordinance relating to solid waste pickup and disposal services within the City of Eminence and setting the rates therefore. Motion made by Member Roberts and seconded by Member Stephens to adopt the ordinance as read. All members present voted "Yea".

Member Ferguson expressed his concern with the churches being charged at the commercial rate. City Clerk Doane stated that she has checked with I.D. and that if an individual church calls in for service they are charged at the commercial rate. Member Ferguson also wanted to know when we would be bidding the dumpster service. Mayor Bates stated he would like to do this no later than the first of the year.

City Clerk Doane presented a request from Ben Coomes for an exemption to the garbage franchise due to the distance he is from the road and also the condition of his road. Consensus of council was, even though sympathetic to his problem, not to allow this exemption as allowing it would only create more needs for exemptions by others.

Subject: West Owen Street Project - Mayor Bates reported that the committee met last Thursday with an update being given on the project. Most of the problems are being worked out. Basically it boils down to the company having deadlines to meet or penalties will be involved. He has had no report on the negotiations with Janet Timberlake.

Subject: Police Department Report - Chief Hadden reviewed the monthly activity report with council. Reported that Officer Stratton had an accident in one of the 2002 cruisers with possible damage between $6,000 and $8,000. Officer Stratton, thankfully, was not injured nor was any other vehicles involved.

Discussion held concerning the increase in calls for service and the number outside the city limits. Citizen Katie Crotzer stated she is glad to see our department doing their job. She has already told the City of Shelbyville that she will not invest any more money into their city because she feels their police department is not doing enough to fight crime. The City of Eminence is still rated eight out of ten for crime on the internet neighborhood places site but she feels the statistics are not accurate. Mayor Bates stated that a safe area and quality of life were the top items on a list at an economic development meeting he recently attended. Mayor Bates stated that the next public meeting for the County on the proposed tax increase was scheduled for Tuesday, September 9th and he intends to stand up for the City and the Police Department and not let the public bash us for doing our job to fight crime.

Subject: Accounts Listed In Deceased Person's Names - Mayor Bates discussed with council that we have several water and sewer accounts in deceased or incorrect person's names and since we will be using this database for the garbage collection that he would like to see it cleaned up and in the proper names. Mostly this has to do with people not wanting to pay a deposit to put the service into their name. Consensus of council was to allow these changes due to deceased spouse or other relative to be made without a charge to the customer.

Mayor Bates stated we will set up one more meeting with Industrial Disposal to finalize any questions or concerns. The committee will be notified of the date and time if they wish to attend.

Subject: Public Works Activity Report - Public Works Director William Smith was absent. No report available. Member Roberts stated he would like to have any future or current developer come before the council instead of going through Mr. Smith and having him present their case for them.

Mayor Bates stated that the Seven Gables project has not been submitted to planning and zoning, which must be done prior to anything else being done.

Subject: Community Center Report - Council reviewed the community center activity report with council. Mayor Bates reported on the new sports club director position. The club meets during the week and on Saturdays and incorporates sports and academics. Council expressed their appreciation to Sandy Rhoades for the job she is doing at the center and suggested the Mayor send her a letter.

Subject: Roadside Litter Cleanup -Mayor Bates reported on a roadside litter cleanup campaign for Henry County scheduled for October 18, 2003. The organizational meeting is set for September 11, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. They are asking that the City sponsor a group to assist with this. Question asked if we could donate $100.00 to a school club or group and have them represent the City. Attorney Brammell stated that we cannot do a donation but we could assist with an expenditure item that benefits the City. Member Roberts asked if we could use the City's trucks. Attorney Brammell stated that we could. Council in agreement that they would like to participate. Mayor Bates asked Member Shannon to coordinate this project.

Subject: Administrative Office Report - City Clerk Sandra Doane reviewed the monthly activity report with council. She reported on the scholarships Robin Mullins received in the amount of $395.00 to attend the Kentucky Municipal Clerks Academy this year. The International Institute of Municipal Clerks reimbursed the City $300.00 of this with the Kentucky Municipal Clerks Association paying the additional $95.00.

Reported that we have received a refund totaling $6,357.86 from the Henry Circuit Clerk for monies paid into the court for condemnation payments to unknown heirs on our sewer expansion project back in the late 80's and early 90's. Any claims to the money would have to be made within the fifteen-year statute according to Attorney Brammell. The money was deposited back into the water and sewer revenue account.

Subject: Property Tax Rate Ordinance - Attorney Brammell held the second reading of the ad valorem tax ordinance. The proposed 2003 rates were 23.7 cents per $100 assessment for real property, 32.0 cents per $100 assessment for personal property and 26.6 cents per $100 assessment for motor vehicles and watercrafts. Motion made by Member Shannon and seconded by Member Winburn to adopt the ordinance as read setting the 2003 tax rates at 23.7 cents per $100 assessment for real property, 32.0 cents per $100 assessment for personal property and 26.6 cents per $100 assessment for motor vehicles and watercrafts. All members present voted "Yea".

Subject: Fire Department Report - The Fire Department activity report was reviewed. Member Roberts stated the Board has had two meetings so far with several new ideas for recruitment and others areas being discussed.

Subject: Warrants - The warrants presented for payment were reviewed. Motion made by Member Roberts and seconded by Member Shannon to approve the warrants for payment as presented. All members present voted "Yea".

Subject: Tree on Jerry Martin Property - Complaint presented on behalf of Elizabeth Armstrong concerning a tree on Jerry Martin's property on South Main that has already lost a large limb out into the highway. She is afraid that balance of the tree is going to come down on top of her house and would like to have it cut down. Attorney Brammell stated this is not the City's responsibility unless it is in the right of way, which it is not. The consensus of council was to send a courtesy letter if the Mayor desires but that we are not obligated in anyway.

With no further business to discuss, motion made by Member Roberts and seconded by Member Ferguson to adjourn. All members present voted "Yea". Meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

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