CITY OF CRESTVIEW HILLS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2005
4:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER
With the Pledge of Allegiance and a silent prayer, Mayor Paul W. Meier called the meeting to order at 4:00 PM.
ROLL CALL
Present - Messrs. Ralph Laird, David Kramer, Frank Sommerkamp, and Thomas Moser. Absent – David Meier II and David Thiel.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Agenda approved as submitted.
Motion: Mr. Sommerkamp Second: Mr. Moser
Ayes carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mayor Meier asked for approval of the November 16, 2005, Special Council Meeting with any additions, deletions or corrections.
Mr. Kramer noted that under Approval of the Minutes that he did not comment on Mr. Moser’s late arrival. Mayor Meier noted that it was he who acknowledged Mr. Moser who was not present during role call. Mr. Moser was 10 minutes late. Mr. Moser at that time reported that Mr. Thiel’s name was misspelled and should be corrected to Thiel instead of Theil.
Approved as amended.
Motion: Mr. Sommerkamp Second: Mr. Kramer
Ayes carried.
CITIZENS AND GUESTS
David Jansing, Ft. Mitchell Fire/EMS, Mr. Rick Robinson, Crestview Hills Citizen, and Andrea Remke, Enquirer.
MAYOR’S REPORT
There will be no Mayor’s Group meeting this month.
Eggs & Issues is Tuesday, December 10th at Five Seasons at 7:15 – 9:00 A.M. Subject is “Home for the Holidays” by guest speaker Dr. Russ Proctor, Northern Kentucky University.
Mr. Laird stated that those who would wish to bring a gift for a child may still do so, since the weather interfered with the collection.
Northern Kentucky Chamber Day and Night in Frankfort will be February 2nd. Council is encouraged to attend either or both sessions. Mayor Meier recommended a program referring to Section 220 of the KRS Statutes that deals with Storm Water Management. Previously, this had been “Night in Frankfort,” however the Chamber has extended the program to both day and night sessions.
Mayor Meier read a Council resignation letter from David Meier II, effective today. Mr. Meier II is moving from the City and, with regrets he will be no longer be eligible to serve on Council. Mr. Meier II offered, since he is employed as a Professor at Thomas More College, to still serve as Recreation Director on the city’s Recreation Committee.
Several applications have been received from those who are seeking to fill the vacated Council seat for Mr. Meier II. Those applications will be reviewed and those individuals will be interviewed a week from tomorrow.
Mr. Groth reported:
Due to the present construction of the new City Building, residents are advised to use the following alternatives to drop off Christmas Trees for recycling:
January 7 – Northern Kentucky University
January 9 – Lakeside Park City Building
January 20 – Edgewood at President’s Park
For those residents, who do not wish to recycle, trees may be placed at the curb on regular trash pick-up days.
Mayor Meier and Mr. Groth attended a reception to welcome home our adopted troop at Ft. Bragg, NC on Monday November 28. They presented to each soldier a hooded Kentucky sweatshirt. Mr. Groth showed Council a framed flag and proclamation of thanks from the Troop, thanking the City for sending boxes of goods over the last year, a total of 93 boxes of which the troop received 89 boxes. Mr. Groth presented a letter of thanks from Lieutenant Colonel James Iococca, from Ft. Bragg, which he read to Council.
Mr. Groth read a thank you letter from former Council Member Joe Maloney, in which Mr. Maloney thanked the city for the clock and the appreciation dinner.
Mr. Groth read a congratulatory citation from State Representative John Draud with regard to the grand opening of the Crestview Hills Town Center.
A construction meeting was held this week to assess progress on the New City Building. Construction is on schedule. Weather permitting, the concrete floor will be poured next week and the following week the steel frame will be constructed.
OLD BUSINESS
None to report.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Presentation of the Audit for fiscal year 2004-2005 Jim Sparrow, Rankin & Rankin presented the audit for Council approval. He highlighted the following:
Page 9 – The City received the Certificate of Excellence for fiscal year 2003-2004. This certificate was awarded to only five Kentucky Cities.
Page 10 – The Independent Auditors report, which states that the City is in compliance with generally accepted accounting principals for government accounting as well as the letter of management discussion & analysis.
Page 24 – The balance sheet that shows the financial position of the City, which is positive at 2.77 million. There is a deferred balance due to property taxes that are in litigation. This brings the fund balance to 3 million. The expenses are within budget.
Mr. Moser inquired about the back taxes. Mary Ann Stewart, Attorney stated that they are in litigation.
Mr. Kramer asked about the determination of Assessed Value on Page 44. Mr. Sparrow answered that property valuation is determined by the Kenton County PVA. Mayor Meier explained that there are a number of tax exempt properties in the City.
Motion to accept the Fiscal Year 2004-2005 Audit as presented: Ralph Laird
Second: Frank Sommerkamp
Motion passed, unanimously.
Presentation of Ordinance 2005-12-1 – Mr. Groth presented an ordinance making the 2003 International Maintenance Code a part of the permanent records of the City of Crestview Hills and adopting the previsions thereof, by reference thereto, with certain amendments thereof.
This is first reading of the Ordinance 2005-12-1.
Mayor Meier – KC&MP&ZC Representative – Mayor Meier reported that no progress has been made in choosing a representative to date. He asked Mr. Berling, City Engineer if he could assist with the process of recommending someone. Mr. Berling said that he would do so.
Resolution 2005-12-1 – Pertaining to Sexually Oriented Businesses. Mayor Meier recommended that the resolution not be passed at this time. He will report on the matter at a future Council Meeting.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Public Works
Mr. Sommerkamp reported on the following:
1) Storm Sewer For Dixie Heights an the Summit Drive Area
The project is complete to Summit Drive. The contractor is crossing Summit Drive and the Dixie Heights Drive this week. Phase One has been completed. We will bid phase Two in late December or early January. Mr. Berling stated that he will get the documentation from the School Board and the State of Kentucky regarding the percentage amounts owed by them. The City’s portion is not to exceed $60,000. Mr. Berling further stated that he will meet on December 21st with K-Dot regarding the Turkeyfoot,-Dixie to Dudley situation.
2) The storm water surface drainage problem at the intersection of Calumet and Lookout Farm Drive is under construction. It should be complete this month.
3) Parkway Drive resurfacing has been completed from Dixie Highway to Vernon Drive.
4) Campus Drive has been rotomilled and resurfaced from Dudley Road to the cul-de-sac at the northeast end of the street.
5) The pylons have been replaced on Dixie Highway.
Fire and Safety -
Dave Jansen reported that a grant has been awarded for the purchase of smoke detectors for the home of elderly residents. They are local alarms, lithium with 10 year guarantees. Senior Citizens will be first in line for the detectors and no apartment buildings are eligible unless there are leftover alarms.
He also advised that fire safety will be of great concern because of folks using alternative heaters, fireplaces, etc. to aid the heating homes due to the high cost of gasoline and oil. He advised that fireplaces should be checked and heaters used cautiously. He also added that folks with live Christmas trees should be watered extensively and tree lighting cords be checked to assure they are in good repair and adhere to the UL safety rules.
Economic Development –
Mr. Kramer reported that the committee discussed the following at the last meeting:
County Attorney Garry Edmondson spoke to the committee about the Sexually Oriented Business issue.
The Animal Ordinance was deferred for further study. They discussed the possibility of fines and computer chips for animal identification.
There is no formal Sunday, packaged liquor requirements.
One-Stop-Shop and the property Maintenance Code were discussed.
CHEER/Recycling –
Mr. Groth reported that the Garbage & Recycling contract expires June 30, 2006. He will gather information for proposals and publishing for bids.
Recreation – Mr. Groth reported:
Mr. Meier II has offered to stay on as Recreation Committee Chair and has offered to get tickets to 2 Reds Games and one night at Florence Freedom.
Communications –No Report.
Building –
Mr. Groth reported that the committee will meet on Tuesday, December 20th at 10:00 A.M.
Adjournment –
Motion to adjourn: Ralph Laird
Second: Frank Sommerkamp
Motion passed.
Attest:
____________________________ ______________________________
Mayor Paul W. Meier Acting Clerk, Judy Rae Cox