Eminence Kentucky-Minutes

The City Council of the City of Eminence, Kentucky met in a regular session on Monday, September 13, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. with Mayor Doug Bates and the following members present: Laura Whitney, Howard Roberts, Tom Ferguson, Drane Stephens and Leeroy Winburn. Absent was Member Kelly Shannon.

Subject: Police Department Report – Police Chief Mount Hadden reviewed the monthly activity report with council. Chief Hadden reported that the department is averaging between 150-180 calls for service per month.

Chief Hadden reported that they have received a highway safety grant for $8,000.00 for overtime and $4,000.00 for equipment. Chief Hadden reported that we requested $721,000.00 on a Homeland Security grant countywide, but only received $28,800.00. Chief Hadden reported that we have also received a COPS in Schools grant in the amount of $125,000.00. This is a non-matching grant spread over three years. Altogether we received a total of $165,800.00 last week in grant money. On behalf of the Police Department, Chief Hadden thanked Dr. Sandy Rhodes for her assistance in applying for these grants on behalf of the City and County. She is a super asset to have available to the City.

Chief Hadden reported that Detective Kevin Kemper started with the City of Eminence Police Department in December of 2000 and has been able, due to his training, to investigate incidents in the City that have never been done before. Due to this outstanding service to the City, Chief Hadden promoted Detective Kemper to Detective-Sergeant effective September 13, 2004 and awarded him a gold Detective badge. Council congratulated Detective Kemper on his service and promotion.

Subject: Minutes - The minutes of the previous regular session held on August 9, 2004 were reviewed. Motion made by Member Stephens and seconded by Member Ferguson to approve the minutes as presented. All members present voted “Yea”.

Subject: Special Minutes – The minutes of the previous special called meeting held on September 9, 2004 were reviewed. Motion made by Member Winburn and seconded by Member Whitney to approve the minutes as presented. All members present voted “Yea”.

Subject: Presentation – Mayor Bates reported he has purchased a $100.00 gift certificate for Betsy Jones. Ms. Jones has been weeding the flowers in front of City Hall on her own. She declined to attend and receive the presentation as she stated she did not expect anything for doing this work. Council signed a card to go along with the certificate, both of which will be given to Ms. Jones later.

Subject: West Owen Street Re-Development Project – Project Manager Kriss Lowry was present to report on the West Owen Street Re-Development Project. Ms. Lowry reported she is still working on the acquisition of the Whitson McGruder Estate and the Tye property, and is still working on getting the lien release on the Hill property.

Ms. Lowry reported that the Rupert Hayden new construction is 100% complete and that as soon as he gets his insurance he can move in. Ms. Lowry stated she did mention to Rupert that he will probably need to move an old car which is on the property.

Ms. Lowry reported that the George Owens house is also complete, even the storm damage. The storage building door will be painted tomorrow.

Ms. Lowry reported that Roderick Miles has never occupied the apartment he claims to have moved into and that she cannot pay him any more money if he doesn’t move into the apartment.

It was reported that the Fire Department burned 110 West Owen Street and around the corner at the end of the street. The trees have been taken out by Greg Wright with all the debris also having been removed.

Subject: Kinman Chrysler Zone Change Request – Mayor Bates reported that we will need to wait on Planning and Zoning to decide on the Kinman Chrysler requested zone change prior to it coming to us for approval or not. The plan is to tear the house down and re-zone to commercial. Kinman has the property sold contingent on the zone change approval. This zone change will not be addressed by planning and zoning until the first Wednesday in October. Kinman did give a verbal agreement to install a sidewalk, but has not given any commitment on the lighting. Mr. Kinman was looking for a consensus of council that we support his plan prior to having to spend a lot of money for the zone change. This will be re-addressed next month.

Subject: Request for Playground Project Donation – Jennifer Stephens was present on behalf of the Eminence Elementary PTSO requesting assistance with a project to purchase new playground equipment for the schoolyard. Ms. Stephens reviewed information on the increased concern with obesity and Type Two Diabetes in children with all officials being encouraged to do what they can to assist with this increased area of concern. Mayor Bates referred to Attorney Brammell as to what we can do. Attorney Brammell stated it is not appropriate for us to make a donation but that we could designate a specific dollar amount for an item or items to be purchased direct by the City. Ms. Stephens stated that the specific item being looked at for Phase I costs around $25,000.00 with them having received a grant for approximately $19,000.00 of the cost. Motion made by Member Roberts and seconded by Member Whitney to obligate $3,000.00 toward this initial phase of playground equipment purchase with the City to pay a portion of the actual invoice when the equipment arrives. All members present voted “Yea”.

Subject: Fire Department Report – Member Roberts reviewed the monthly fire department activity report with council.

The various financing options for the purchase of the fire department truck and equipment were reviewed. Attorney Brammell reported on the KLC financing and the change that allows non-use of the holdings corporation. This would be a lease/purchase agreement and would be based upon one yearly payment obligation at a time and would be similar to what we have used in the past to purchase police cruisers. Discussion held. Council declined to make a firm decision pending the Fire Board’s meeting on Wednesday where they need to confirm which payment would work for them. A special council meeting will be held if necessary.

Subject: Eminence Tomorrow – Mayor Bates introduced John Scharfenberger to council. John is the new main street director, replacing Mary Jane Yates.

Mr. Scharfenberger presented his monthly report and reviewed the project with council. Reported that per the Board Meeting last week, the next phase proposed will include the west side of Main Street from the alley to the end of Shoppers Mart and that drainage improvements are also included for this area along with finishing up the Penn Street area by locating the transformers on the ground to eliminate the poles. The portion of the project on the east side of Main Street from Video Vender to the bank has been recommended for elimination at this time as it will cause a cost overrun of $13,456.31. The amount quoted for the east side of Main Street by MAC Construction is $22,260.00 (adjusted) which would put us back ahead by approximately $8,803.69.

Mayor Bates reported that Farmers Deposit Bank is sharing ½ the cost of $4,200.00 for the sidewalk in their area.

Mayor Bates reported that the drainage from Five Star and the Bank also drains down to the alley. He has asked the highway department to put in catch basins at the beauty shop and a drain down beside the Church and Shoppers Mart. They have declined to assist with this project.

The Board is recommending that we proceed with the west side of Main Street and finish the Penn Avenue area with possibly some drainage corrections under Phase III work. MAC Construction is requesting a letter of commitment so they can proceed with ordering of materials in order not to delay the project.

It was discussed whether we can treat this phase as a change-order or if we need to do a separate contract. Upon checking with the state and checking the KRS ruling it was decided that a change-order would have to be done. Motion made by Member Winburn and seconded by Member Ferguson to authorize proceeding with the necessary change-order for the work recommended by the Board as listed above. All members present voted “Yea”.

Mr. Scharfenberger stated that Katie Crotzer has indicated she plans to be on schedule with her façade work.

Mr. Scharfenberger reported that he has been doing some background work on the park brick project by visiting other communities, checking with Lucas Monument and other companies on engraving the bricks and working on promotional ideas. He is trying to be able to get the bricks with 13-14 letters across, which has been done in other communities.

Subject: Public Works Report – Public Works Director William Smith reviewed the monthly activity report with council. Council complimented Bill and his crew for the good job cleaning up the Saydah lot from the tornado debris.

Mr. Smith reported that the public works building demolished during the tornado is slowly being replaced. He contracted with Rod Raisor, who has now combined with Jerry Martin.

Mr. Smith reported that the new truck is in, but had to have a few minor body repairs so he does not have it yet.

Mr. Smith reported that the chain link fence at the Community Center around the air conditioning units has been installed.

Subject: Administrative Office Report – City Clerk Sandra Doane reviewed the monthly activity report with council.

Ms. Doane reported on several financial changes that she and Mayor Bates have made to increase the amount of interest earnings in several accounts, including the transfer of some funds to Central Bank as previously discussed.

Ms. Doane questioned the feasibility of sending out extremely small franchise tax bills and suggested council put a dollar limit on these. Motion made by Member Stephens and seconded by Member Ferguson that franchise bills not be sent out unless they total more than $2.00. All members present voted “Yea”.

Subject: Garbage Collection Increase – City Clerk Sandra Doane reported that we should have raised the garbage collection fee effective July 1st; however no one involved remembered to do so. The additional amount due Industrial Disposal if we had put this into place on July 1st has calculated out to be $924.12. We could justifiably back bill our customers; however, this would be an ordeal. Motion made by Member Roberts not to try and collect from our customers and to offer to settle with Industrial Disposal for ½ of the amount due or $462.06, but if they are not willing to settle to proceed to pay the amount due in full of $924.12. Motion seconded by Member Ferguson. All members present voted “Yea”.

Subject: Employee Health Insurance for 2005 – City Clerk Sandra Doane reviewed the health insurance proposals from the state for the 2005 renewal. They have increased the premiums substantially with only the one carrier of United Healthcare being offered for Henry County and with the benefits being substantially decreased. City Clerk Doane stated that the budget does include enough money in each department to continue to pay for the current census of plans in full for each employee and to allow for the better of the three plans being offered. Discussion of options held. Motion made by Member Stephens that considering all that has happened to all our salaries and employees and benefits that we take the Commonwealth Premium plan and that we continue to pay as we have 100% of what is needed (what each person needs) or currently has. Motion seconded by Member Winburn. All members present voted “Yea”.

Subject: Community Center Report – Mayor Bates reviewed the monthly activity report from the Community Center. He reported on the assistance of Dr. Sandy Rhodes with the COPS in Schools grant as well as others she has assisted us with.

Mayor Bates reported he has allowed Dr. Rhodes to move into the front office to allow for more privacy as we have had no success in renting the office anyway.

Subject: Halloween Trick or Treating – It was discussed when to observe Halloween Trick or Treating this year as it falls on a Sunday. It has been the custom in the past not to do this on a Sunday. Motion made by Member Stephens and seconded by Member Whitney to observe Trick or Treating on Saturday, October 30th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Subject: Property Ordinance Revision – Attorney Brammell held the first reading of a revised property enforcement ordinance.

Subject: Warrants – The warrants presented for payment were reviewed. Motion made by Member Winburn and seconded by Member Whitney to approve the warrants for payment as presented. All members present voted “Yea”.

With no further business to be discussed, motion made by Member Stephens and seconded by Member Roberts to adjourn. All members present voted “Yea”. Meeting adjourned at 8:46 p.m.

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