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MINUTES - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING October 10, 1996 CALL TO ORDER - The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM by Mayor Harold A. Ries with the Pledge of Allegiance and a silent prayer. ROLL CALL - Present were Mrs. Peggy Sensel, Mrs. Beverly Draud, Messrs. John Drummey, Ralph Laird, Joe Maloney, and Paul Meier. APPROVAL OF AGENDA - The Mayor requested item E. under New Business be added to discuss the October 19th Kenton County Mayors Group meeting. Mr. Meier suggested adding approval of minutes from August 8 and September 5 special meeting. Approved as amended. Motion: Mrs. Sensel Second: Mr. Meier APPROVAL OF MINUTES - The minutes from August 8, the special meeting of September 5, and the regular meeting of September 12 were approved with a motion from Mr. Drummey, seconded by Mr. Laird. CITIZENS AND GUESTS The Mayor introduced Tim Hollenkamp, Fire Chief of the Ft. Mitchell Fire Department. Mr. Hollenkamp recalled the fire on Saxony Drive on September 30, then asked that Ray Wilshere and Rob Kruetzkamp step forward to receive a certificate of appreciation from the Ft. Mitchell Fire Dept. Mayor Ries presented a plaque to each of the men on behalf of the City. Mr. Wilshere and Mr. Kruetzkamp explained what happened that day from their perspective. Pictures were taken by Mr. Celarek and the men’s families as they met Katherine Green, the resident of the condo unit that was on fire. Mr. Hollenkamp then recounted how the Fire Dept. tackled the blaze, injuries sustained by firefighters, their present condition, structural damage, etc. It was mentioned that Mr. David Kean from Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission inspected the property and pronounced the fire walls sound. Mr. Celarek mentioned that the insurance company had said it hopes to have the condo rebuilt in seven to eight weeks. CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT Mr. Celarek reported on the following:
OLD BUSINESS B. Engineering Mr. Berling stated that it was a good month for getting much accomplished. The weather cooperated so currently the drainage system is in, most curbing is done, the dirt has all been moved, some of the sidewalk has been put in and some paving has been done. Mr. Berling believes that the project will be completed on time. B. Ordinance 1996-9-2 Mr. Wehrman had second reading of an ordinance that would set the property tax rate at .1525 per one hundred dollars valuation of real property. Motion to accept made by Mr. Laird, seconded by Mr. Meier. Motion Approved Yes - 6 No - 0 Absent - 0 NEW BUSINESS
Mrs. Draud motioned the Halloween hours be set 6 to 8PM on October 31, as is the Crestview Hills tradition. Mr. Maloney seconded. Motion Approved Yes - 6 No - 0 Absent - 0
Mr. Celarek mentioned that this subject had been covered in full in the earlier presentation from Mr. Hollenkamp.
Mr. Meier stated that the Harris Corp. is looking into relocating to the Research Park and have met with Dan Tobergte from the Tri-County Economic Development and Mike Hargis from Hemmer Construction Co. to discuss what type of facility would be built and where. However, the City’s current zoning would require an amendment to the text to allow an assembly plant. Dan Tobergte recommended passing the text amendment favorably to the KC&MP&ZC. Mr. Tobergte had spoken with Harris Corp. representatives about a meeting that was held in Florida and the company was still very much interested in the Thomas More Centre location. Mentioned and explained was the Kentucky Jobs Development Act Credit of which Crestview Hills would participate by giving a .7% reduction and Kenton County would give a .3% credit for a total of one percent. The Jobs Acts Credit is one of the deciding factors as is the completion of Thomas More Parkway. Employees of the company now working in Florence would just transfer over, however when the project would be complete, a total of over two hundred new jobs would be created. Mike Hargis handed out a preliminary site plan showing the company would take lots 11 & 12 which is approximately 37 to 40 acres that will be used for the plant, administration building and parking lots. There are certain portions of the acreage are unavailable for development because of topography. However, Harris Corp. liked the location because it is easily accessible, very visible from I-275 and close to the airport. They also appreciated the layout of the area. Mr. Hargis expressed that council’s full support is needed on this project. The two phases of the project were then explained according to the preliminary site plan. The plans show extending Centreview Blvd into a cul de sac and leaving the current utilities in place. Discussion then ensued about whether council was pleased with an assembly plant in the area at all. Mr. Laird was concerned with noise, truck traffic, waste and appearance. Mr. Maloney expressed consternation over the City’s proposal to give a tax incentive of .7% when the payroll tax rate is just 1%, trucks traveling on Rhine Valley Lane as an alternate to Thomas More Parkway and if Harris Corp. should decide on an Ohio location, would the proposed text amendment stay on the books? Mr. Hargis replied that the company was told that trucks were not allowed on Rhine Valley Lane and the amount of trucks traveling on Thomas More Parkway should not exceed ten trucks a week. Mr. Berling said that is not a frightening number and should not wear excessively on the road, as it is being designed for a 20,000 lb. axle load. Mr. Meier stated that initially the Economic Development Committee was not pleased with the idea of an assembly plant in the research park area but warmed to the idea feeling that it would be a high class operation because of the clientele. Also, the operation would be kept in order by other tenants and the zoning ordinance. Mr. Hargis interjected that parking also should not present a problem and if the parking became maxed, some berming might be done. Mr. Celarek made council aware that the text amendment, if approved through council, would be reviewed at the November 7th meeting of the NKAPC and that the business community in the research park would be notified. Mr. Drummey believed that pursuing the text amendment is a necessary step in the progress of Crestview Hills and made a motion stating such, seconded by Mr. Meier. Vote Call Mr. Laird - Yes, Mr. Drummey - Yes, Mr. Meier - Yes, Mrs. Draud - Yes, Mrs. Sensel - Yes, Mr. Maloney - No. Motion Approved Yes - 5 No - 1 Absent - 0
Mr. Celarek handed out booklets explaining the Quest project and encouraged Councilmembers to read it. Also handed out was a list of committees connected with the Quest project. Council was asked to join a committee. The most dynamic suggestion coming out of this project is the consolidation of county governments. Over the next twenty years, major movement in the Northern Kentucky area is expected and this is a chance for the City to be proactive as opposed to reactive.
Mayor Ries expressed interest from the Mayors Group to possibly enter a lawsuit against Kenton County to fight the consolidation issue as listed in HB 913. He would like to go to the October 19 meeting ready to tell the group Crestview Hill’s position on the matter. Each member of council was asked their position and all agreed they are not in favor of HB 913 as it is written now, however, they feel that there are some issues that could be looked into. Mr. Celarek mentioned that a lawsuit would cost and would the City be willing to contribute anything toward this fight. Mr. Meier motioned contributing up to two thousand to fight the legal battle with reference to HB 913, seconded by Mr. Drummey. Vote Call Mr. Drummey - Yes, Mr. Meier - Yes, Mr. Maloney - No, Mr. Laird - No, Mrs. Sensel - Yes, Mrs. Draud - Yes. Motion Approved Yes - 4 No - 2 Absent - 0 Committee Reports Police Authority Mr. Meier said that the Police Authority had received an award at the KLC convention for low risk management. An application was sent for the COPS grant, but the department was not qualified to receive it. The Police Authority Board was pleased with the audit conducted by Rankin & Rankin, CPA and refunds would be issued based upon splits. Next year, Lakeside Park will have three members on the Board as Crestview Hills goes back to two members. Cable Board Mrs. Sensel said there would be a meeting of the cable board October 12th at the Ft. Mitchell City Building at 10AM. On the agenda are current actions taken at TKR Cable with reference to stock transfers and how that will affect negotiations with the Kenton/Boone Cable Board. Mayor Ries expressed appreciation to Councilmembers individually and as a whole for the exceptional job over the last two years. Motion to adjourn made by Mrs. Draud, seconded by Mr. Maloney at 9:21PM.
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