Eminence Kentucky-Minutes

The City Council of the City of Eminence, Kentucky met in a regular session on Monday, January 14, 2008 at 6:15 p.m. at the Eminence City Hall Council Chambers with Mayor Jim Petitt and the following members present: George Armstrong, Richard Thomas, Jr., Drane Stephens, Shawn Bright, Treva Browning, and Danny Meadows. Absent were none.

Mayor Petitt called the meeting to order at 6:17 p.m. and welcomed everyone and expressed his appreciation for the interest of the large crowd present.

Subject: Making Waves – Several individuals present spoke to the council expressing their concerns with getting the pool open. Misty and Kaitlin Vanlandingham (youth) expressed their desires to council that the pool be re-opened. Janice Vanlandingham stated they were told by former Mayor Doug Bates that the pool would be open in the next two years. She stated they have five children and when they moved here from Atlanta they were really excited to know there was a pool in the community and have been very disappointed to see that it is not open. Ms. Vanlandingham presented council with a list of 60 ideas her daughter had come up with for raising funds to open the pool including an art auction. She asked the council to vote “yes” to opening the pool. Carey Monroe stated he feels opening the pool is the way to go. Brenda Chism expressed her appreciation for the many good things she has seen so far during this administration including the beautiful flowers, a good Police Department, Music on Main, and the new Christmas decorations. She stated we now must make another difficult decision that will greatly affect our children and that is to resolve to getting the pool open regardless that it loses money each year as this is so important to the development of our children and that we should look at culling in other areas. Manda Gingrich, Chairman of Making Waves, stated that their first step toward getting the pool open is raising money. Ms. Gingrich read a letter from Rosalind Roberts of Wee Warriors supporting getting the pool open and reviewed the many benefits this would have for her program. In her letter Ms. Roberts stated they would use the pool as it would cut the cost for their program and to the parents as they would no longer have to pay for transportation to another city and that a swim lesson program would be beneficial to them as well. Ms. Gingrich stated she knows of a teacher at the school who is a licensed instructor who might be interested in working at the pool this summer. Ms. Gingrich stated that re-opening the pool would provide a higher quality of live for our children. Ms. Gingrich stated she has had a lot of community support so far with two public meetings having been held with 60+ at the first meeting and 40+ at the second meeting with $5,000.00 being pledged at the first meeting within five minutes of starting the meeting. She currently has $500.00 in cash and has twelve contractors pledged to offer free labor. The Whitney Young Job Corps have also agreed to assist. Making Waves is committed to raising $30,000.00 to open the pool and feels it can be done as people want to help. Plants have already been donated by Rose Hill. Craig Meadows is using the Making Waves Project as his Senior Project.

Ms. Gingrich stated the cost to repair the pool is being worked on by the Mayor and the committee. A grant is also being worked on which has a March 1st deadline however the committee wants the work done now and not be contingent on getting the grant. She stated they intend to ask the previous individuals who pledged a total of $14,500.00 toward the trails project to reallocate their pledge to the pool. Arvin Sango of Campbellsburg had previously pledged $10,000.00 of this $14,500.00. Ms. Gingrich stated she feels the City can do a lot of the work with the City’s backhoe with most of the work being donated. The materials can be purchased out of the money raised by the committee and from City funds. She feels the benefits to our kids is overwhelming as swimming assists with childhood obesity problems, helps develop socialization skills, and draws families into the community. The committee is asking the council to pass a resolution tonight agreeing to re-open the pool by June, 2008. She also stated she would like to have a citizen group appointed to oversee the entire project and the group to be given the authority to do the work.

Subject: Resolution Regarding the Land and Water Grant Application – Attorney Brammell read a resolution to make every reasonable effort to re-open the pool by June, 2008 and to authorize the Mayor to make application for a land and water grant for a 50% amount for proposed project costs estimated at $150,000.00. Motion to adopt the resolution as read was made by Member Meadows and seconded by Member Armstrong. On a call of vote by Clerk Doane, all members present voted “Yea”.

Mayor Petitt expressed his appreciation to the Making Waves Group and the Council on this project.

Subject: City Pool Representative – Mayor Petitt appointed Council Member Richard Thomas as the City’s contact and representative on a new Pool Commission.

Subject: Pool Commission – Mayor Petitt appointed Manda Gingrich and Janice Vanlandingham along with Mr. Thomas to serve on the Pool Commission. Motion made by Member Meadows and seconded by Member Browning to approve these appointments to the Pool Commission. On a call of vote by Clerk Doane, all members present voted “Yea”. Member Thomas expressed his thanks to the Mayor, Council, Ms. Gingrich and the Making Waves group for all their assistance and work. He stated he is retired and available almost anytime to assist.

Member Bright stated that June 1, 2008 is coming quick so he feels it is imperative that we start immediately.

Subject: Minutes – The minutes of the previous regular session held on December 10, 2007 were reviewed. Mayor Petitt asked for any additions or changes to the minutes and with none forthcoming, stated they would stand approved as presented.

Subject: Cost Recovery Corporation Ordinance – Attorney Brammell held the first reading of an ordinance implementing a program with Cost Recovery Corporation to recover user fees for motor vehicle accident services. Attorney Brammell stated this ordinance was mostly prepared entirely by the entity proposing to do this service for the City.

Subject: Police Department Report – Police Chief Carey Duncan reviewed the monthly and yearly activity reports with council. The yearly report shows a total of 3,539 complaints/calls.

Subject: Property Ordinance Enforcement Report – Major Kevin Kemper reviewed the yearly ordinance violation report with council showing 54 complaints being handled with three complaints becoming criminal cases all of which came into compliance before the court date. Member Meadows asked about the status of the new ordinance. Chief Duncan stated it is being working on, but is slow going.

Subject: Public Works Department Report – Public Works Director William Smith reviewed the public works department monthly activity report with council. Mr. Smith reported that the check valve has been installed at James Fowler’s location on Sulphur Avenue and seems to be working well.

Subject: Administrative Office Report - City Clerk Sandra Doane reviewed the monthly administrative office report with council. Clerk Doane reported the property taxes are coming in steadily with another rush probably due by January 31st prior to the 10% penalty and 1% interest per month being added on February 1st. Clerk Doane reminded council to turn their financial interest statements in by January 31st if they have not done so already.

Subject: Fire Department Report – Member Meadows reviewed the monthly and yearly activity reports with council. The yearly report showed the fire department responding to 40 motor vehicle accidents in 2007.

Subject: Bid Opening – 1985 F-250 Ambulance – Mayor Petitt opened the only bid received for sale of a Fire Department 1985 F-350 ambulance. The bid was from Darrell Abbott for $250.00. Member Meadows asked Public Works Director Smith if they had any use for the vehicle. Mr. Smith stated possibly, but he would have to look into the possibility. Motion made by Member Meadows and seconded by Member Thomas to reject the bid and allow the Public Works Department to have the ambulance and if they do not want it to re-advertise for sale. On a call of vote by Clerk Doane, all members present voted “Yea”.

Subject: Community Center Report – The December Community Center report was presented to council.

Subject: Mayor’s Update – Mayor Petitt stated that he has received the blighted and abandoned property ordinance training material and has sent it to all the members for discussion at their January 18th meeting.

Mayor Petitt reported that he has had several complaints of semis parking and running for a long time on various City streets with some of them starting up during the early morning hours around 2:00 a.m. Some semis are also backing up City streets which also create a safety hazard. These running vehicles are left unattended and he suggests we revise our ordinance which only dealt with one street with the assistance of the Police Department. Member Bright stated Browning Pontiac allowed the use of their lot last year and feels we should have some alternative in mind for these truck drivers to use. Member Thomas stated they also used the lot at Doug’s Pawn Shop last year. Chief Duncan will review the current ordinance. He has already had three complaints – one on Raintree Drive, West Owen Street and Spring Oak.

Mayor Petitt reported that he has had complaints on vicious dogs and that our current dog ordinance was written in 1984 and does not cover vicious dogs. Clerk Doane has sent out a global e-mail to all the cities in KY to obtain copies and/or input from then as to how they address this problem. Brenda Chism asked if we would consider limiting the number of dogs so we can avoid having kennels in the residential neighborhoods. Attorney Brammell stated he believes the statutes already address this and he will check into this prior to revising the ordinance.

Mayor Petitt reported that he has discussed with Nellie Druin of the Care Team about writing our pool grant and she has agreed to do so. She would like $1,500.00 to be used for kids’ project paid to the Care Team only if we get the grant and if we do not get the grant we would owe them nothing. Motion made by Member Armstrong and seconded by Member Thomas to authorize Nellie Druin to proceed with the grant application and agreeing to pay the Care Team $1,500.00 should the grant be successful. On a call of vote by Clerk Doane, all members present voted “Yea”.

Subject: Liquor/Beer License Application – Member Armstrong reviewed the proposed liquor/beer license application form with council to see if they would like anything else to be included. Discussion held including how to determine the 70-30 split for food and alcohol. It was determined that financial statements would be required to determine the appropriate split and on-site inspections will be held. The State ABC Commission will have to approve any new establishments wishing to sell liquor by the drink prior to our approval. Fire Chief Lucas has agreed to verify that the applicable seating capacity exists and all seating must be confined inside. Question rose as to what constitutes a bona fide restaurant with no definite decision being made on this since this verbage came straight from the ABC rules and regulations manual. Consensus of council was that the form looked good and to commence using the form immediately.

Subject: Ethics Committee Reappointment – Mayor Petitt stated that Jerry Clark’s term on the ethics committee has expired and that he would like to reappoint Mr. Clark for another term of three years. Motion made by Member Browning and seconded by Member Thomas to ratify the appointment of Jerry Clark to a three year term on the ethics committee. On a call of vote by Clerk Doane, all members present voted “Yea”.

Subject: Warrants - The warrants presented for payment were reviewed. Motion made by Member Bright and seconded by Member Meadows to approve the warrants for payment as presented. On a call of vote by Clerk Doane, all members present.

Helen Moore asked if she could address the council since she was previously on the agenda but asked to be removed. Mayor Petitt declined.

Victor Harrod, Pleasureville Council Member, asked if he could address the council with a complaint. Mayor Petitt declined stating he must call to be put on the agenda.

Member Browning asked who to contact about employment with the Family Dollar Store. Mayor Petitt stated it will be twenty days until the contractor hands over the keys to the Family Dollar Store and hopefully we will have the information at that time to inform the public of employment opportunities.

Member Bright asked if we were going to act on the Graybeal maintenance contact proposal which was in their packets. Mayor Petitt stated we were not since upon checking we did not spend anywhere near the amount for actual service runs as they are asking for their service agreement.

Subject: Closed Session – Member Bright made the motion to go into closed session to discuss a personnel issue for possible disciplinary action. Motion seconded by Member Armstrong. On a call of vote by Clerk Doane, all members present voted “Yea”. Closed session began at 7:30 p.m.

Subject: Withdrawal of Resignation – Member Stephens stated that after further consideration, he is withdrawing his resignation from the council. Attorney Brammell stated this would need to be done in writing prior to the February regular meeting.

With no further business to be discussed, motion made by Member Bright and seconded by Member Meadows to adjourn. All members present voted “Yea”. Meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.

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