CITY OF CRESTVIEW HILLS
MINUTES - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
MARCH 14, 2002
CALL TO ORDER - With the Pledge of Allegiance and a
silent prayer, Mayor Paul W. Meier called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.
ROLL CALL - Present was, Mrs. Terri Jameson,
Messrs. David Kramer, Joe Maloney, Ralph Laird, and Harold Ries. Frank Sommerkamp was in absentia.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA -
Mayor Meier asked that under New
Business the addition of “B. First Reading of Ordinance 2002-3-1 –
Ordinance Enacting and Adopting a Supplement to the Code of Ordinances
including a Reprint of the Text Without a Change in Content, should be added to
the agenda. Motion to accept as
amended:
Motion: Mr. Ries Second:
Mr. Maloney
Ayes carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
- of the regular meeting of February 14,
2002.
Motion made
to accept as presented. Ayes carried.
Motion: Mr. Kramer Second:
Mr. Laird
CITIZENS
AND GUESTS
Colonel Paul Herbst, Chief of Lakeside
Park/Crestview Hills Police Authority and Kathleen Corneil, representing the
Lookout Farm Homeowners Association were present. Jim Connelly, City of Crestview Hills Public Works.
Mr. Groth
reported on the following:
1.
Welcome
to Crestview Hills Signs have been installed throughout the City. There is one spare sign being kept on
hand. Landscaping around those signs
will be done in the next couple of weeks.
2. Streets signs are currently being installed. The City lost several signs during high winds this week, one at Lookout Farm & Shinkle and one at Vernon and Parkway. Those were replaced. Mr. Kramer inquired if large metal signs were being put up in Lookout Farm. Mr. Groth stated that repairs and new wooden signs with wooden posts were being put in Lookout Farm. Mayor Meier stated that a cost comparison found the metal to be about ten times more costly than the wooden signs and the wood last for 25 – 30 years, therefore, the committee decided to go with the wooden signs.
3. Health Insurance for city employees has escalated substantially in cost. Mr. Groth will get bids from CHA, United Health Care and Choice Care in addition to Blue Cross/Blue Shield in an attempt to get a better rate.
4. Mayor & Guests attended an event for the opening of Panera Bread. Mayor Meier presented a proclamation declaring Friday, March 15, 2002 to be Panera Bread Day in Crestview Hills.
5. Mr. Groth met with Jim Brewer, ULH&P this week and received quotes on lighting for Thomas More Parkway. He has received two sets of quotes and will present them at the next committee meeting.
6. The Finance Committee will meet at 7:00 PM April 10.
The Cheer Committee will meet March 18th at 4:00 PM
The Recreation Committee met on Mar. 11th at 11Am and will meet again April 15. Mr. Grant suggested another way to communicate the various events to the public other than the city newsletter. It was suggested that some reference signs be placed throughout the city. Also, it was suggested that e-mail may be an effective way to spread the word about events.
7. Mr. Groth stated that he had received numerous complaints about the left turn light from Fraternity Court onto Turkeyfoot Road. There are 2 turn lanes. The inner lane turns and a lot of times people in the other lane are turning. When people on Fraternity get the turn arrow, they start to turn. Other people are still coming out of Thomas More Parkway cutting them off, cutting lanes, etc. This has almost caused a few accidents. Mr. Groth & Chief Herbst have met and talked and both agree that only one thing can be done. That is to put a sign on curb lane that traffic must hold the lane. Mr. Laird recommends a no turn on red sign. Chief Herbst suggested that if somehow you could reroute traffic to Dudley it could take some stress off of that intersection. Mr. Berling suggested painting solid white lines to assist with controlling the lanes on Thomas More. Mr. Maloney suggested that writing tickets for a time could help slow down those turning illegally. Mr. Berling will contact the contractor about putting some solid white lines on Thomas More Parkway.
Mayor Meier
reported on the following:
Ø
On
February 28, 2002, Governor Patton was in town to support HB540. Joe Maloney, Terri Jameson, Dan Groth and
Mayor Meier attended that press conference.
Ø
C.R.
Wirthlin and Mayor Meier attended the Kentucky Legislature on February 28 and
were able to meet with Sentors Jack Westwood and Dick Roeding to ask that the
senators support HB540. The senators
advised that at that time they thought that a new senate bill, SB257 will be
coming out soon. Mayor Meier stated
that he will bring it up for discussion a bit later.
Ø
Mayor
Meier during the past month attended two Northern Kentucky Caucus
Meetings. Mayor Meier and Dan Groth
attended one of these at the City of Covington on February 28. This caucus meeting consisted of a
discussion of how HB 540 gets through the Senate and House. Mr. Kramer posed a question regarding
whether it had been determined at this caucus if HB 540 would be retroactive. Mayor Meier answered that the bill would be
retroactive. Mr. Kramer also asked
whether council should urge citizens to contact their legislators about
supporting HB 540 or SB 257. Mayor
Meier answered that both bills to date were held up in the Agriculture &
Natural Resource Committee of the Senate.
He believes one may come out today but will talk about it a little later
under Old Business.
Ø
The
Mayor’s Group met at the City Building last month and had a good showing of
about 30 individuals present. This
coming Saturday the 16th, Park Hills will host the meeting at Wood
Brothers at 9:00 AM.
Ø
The
Municipal Government League of Northern Kentucky will have the next meeting
Thursday, the 21st at Ft. Thomas Community Center in Tower
Park. Dinner at 6:00 PM. The topic will be “Northern Kentucky
University Emerging Technology Triangle”.
They are trying to get businesses to locate near the College. The Triangle is I-275, US27, and AAA
Highway. Also, “Metropolitan Education
Training Services” the model telecommunications ordinance is going to be
discussed.
Ø
Mayor
Meier and Dan Groth will meet with representatives of Grandview Summit next
Tuesday at 7:30 PM. One of the topics
will be about concerns regarding gas grills on decks.
Ø
Mayor
Meier attended the March 6th meeting of the Kenton Country Task
Force to express the cities concerns about the volume of traffic on Turkeyfoot
Road between I-275 & Thomas More Parkway.
Mayor Meier had previously sent a letter to Dick Murgatroyd requesting
that the Task Force consider the concerns.
Mayor Meier went to the Task Force meeting to clarify, should they have
any questions. OKI representatives will
look into the matter at their next meeting on Thursday, March 21 at 1:30 at
Thomas More College.
Ø
Council
members should have received an invitation to the Fort Mitchell annual
appreciation dinner on April 6 at 6:30 PM.
Ø
The
March edition of the Fort Mitchell Living contained a two page article about
Crestview Hills 50th Anniversary.
The article had pictures of the Crestview Hills Council members.
Ø
The
spring issue of the Eagles View is out.
Ø
The
Covington Catholic High School sponsored the annual award for Northern
Kentuckian of the year. The award will
be presented to Paul Hemmer Sr. on May 9, 2002 at 11:30 AM at an honorary
luncheon at the Drawbridge. The City
has reserved a table to accommodate ten people. If council members wish to attend, please notify Dan Groth by
Thursday.
Discussion followed with regard to the
volume and flow of traffic on Turkeyfoot Road.
Concern was expressed that the wait at the traffic light at the
intersection of Turkeyfoot and Thomas More Parkway is much longer than
usual. Mayor Meier stated that because
of the planned road construction projects in the general area, ongoing
construction is bound to affect the traffic flow as those projects are in
process. This is the reason he asked
the County Task Force to study the area.
A. Public Utilities - Proposed Cinergy Plant -
Update
Mayor
Meier reported that he has done a comparison between HB540, the bill Jon Draud
drafted and put into the house, which was in turn put into the Senate
committee, Agriculture and Natural Resources where it now sits and has not
moved, and SB 257. SB 257was submitted
by Ernie Harris from Oldham County.
Oldham County has also had some power plant issues. SB 257 was submitted because it was decided
that the language of HB540 was too strong.
It dealt with regulated, along with non-regulated and transmission. SB257 only deals with non-regulated and
transmission. There were some
differences besides the regulated and non-regulated. Mayor Meier stated that he thinks the Erlanger Plant was
protected under both bills. Instead of
the 3,000 feet distance from business & residences on the House Bill it was
2,000 on the Senate bill. There is a
Senate member siting board on both bills.
The house bill, Jon Draud’s bill, had two local members put on the
committee. The senate bill only had one
member. The house bill stated that if
the readings were 10 mega-watts or greater the matter had to go before siting
board. The senate bill only said 25
mega-watts or more. When Mayor Meier went
down to the Caucus on Saturday, some of the senators felt the house bill was
dead in committee, but he learned from Senator Roeding, that the Senator felt
the house bill was going to come out of committee today. However, a call came from down state that
the senate bill came out of committee with some changes. One change dealt with the requirement of
notification of a public hearing.
According to Dick Roeding, that is in the bill. Mayor Meier stated that he is not sure what
the senate bill looks like. His concern
is still trying to get the house bill through because if you get the house bill
out it only has to go through the senate.
The senate bill has to go through the senate then through the house. His concern is that there is only 14 or 15
days left. He stated, also, that he
can’t imagine the senate bill would get through both the Senate and the House.
Mr.
Kramer asked Mayor Meier if this is an ultimate motive on the part of the
Senate to kill the whole process. Mayor
Meier answered that he did not know.
Mayor Meier urged that voice mails, e-mails and phone calls to Dick
Roeding, Jack Westwood, and Katie Stein, stating clearly that it is important
that one of these bills make it through were very important. Mayor Meier stated
that his concern is as he expressed to them not only at the Covington Caucus
this past Saturday, that one bill must make it through or the Governor will not
keep the moratorium in place for another year.
Mr. Maloney stated that he had attended the meeting at the Baptist home
when the Governor spoke and that the Governor had made it clear at that time
that the moratorium would not stay in effect should the bill not go
through. Mayor Meier informed Council
that the proposed changes to SB257 would probably be posted to the legislative
website tomorrow morning. Mayor Meier
reported that he intended to speak with Ernie Harris, Chair of the Agriculture
& Human Resources Committee, at a meeting at General Bulter State Park, but
Mr. Harris was not present at the meeting.
Mary
Ann Stewart, Atty., stated that it is important when sending correspondence to
the legislators to indicate that HB 540 was preferred.
NEW
BUSINESS
Appointment to Board of Adjustments – Mayor Meier asked for a motion to
appoint Hank Boehmer and Joseph Overmann to another two-year term on the Board
of Adjustments.
Motion to
appoint Mr. Boehmer & Mr. Overmann
Motion: Harold Ries Second: Ralph Laird
Ayes
5 Nays 0 Absent 1
First Reading of Ordinance 2002-3-1 – An Ordinance Enacting and Adopting a Supplement to the Code of Ordinances of the City of Crestview Hills, KY, Including a Reprint of the Text Without a Change in Content.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Public
Works – Mayor
Meier reported on the following:
Ø
Jim Berling, City Engineer reported that Bids
for the repaving of Lookout Farm Streets were due by 4:00 PM on March 27th.
Ø
Mr. Laird inquired about deterioration to
drainage across form the Pont in Thomas More Park. Mr. Berling said that he was aware of the problem and had plans
to work on it.
Ø
Mr. Berling also reported that work was still
on going on Horsebranch Road.
Ø
Mr. Groth stated that he and Jim Connelly,
Public works will be working on a long-range project to categorize and keep
record of road repairs throughout the city.
Ø
Mr. Groth reported that he had report of
potholes on Campus.
Ø
Mr. Groth said that he had been contacted
regarding the earthern berm. Mr.
Berling is still studying the situation.
FINANCE –Mr. Laird reported that a meeting was scheduled for April 10th at 4:00PM.
Safety – Mr. Groth reported that the Fire and Police Departments would attend the meeting at Grandview Summit regarding gas grills.
CHEER – The Committee will meet next week.
Recreation – Mrs. Jameson reported that Reds Tickets will be available for sale at the City building on the 20th of March for $30 ea., these tickets are for the Champions Box. Games are June, 20, July 20th , and August 15th. The annual Kings Island Picnic is scheduled for Fathers Day. Two Renfro Valley trips are planned; one for June 8th and the other for November 2nd.
Ms. Jameson said that the committee wanted temporary signs placed in the various sections of the city to better advertise the events. Also, a lettered sign was requested for the City Building to advertise recreation and other City events.
Discussion followed: Mayor Meier stated that he did not wish to have temporary signs since we could be in violation of our own sign ordinance. Mr. Maloney stated that he was not in favor of the temporary signs or marquees because it looks tacky to have these signs throughout the city. Mr. Kramer suggested that e-mails could be sent to those wishing to be notified of City events. Ms. Wirthlin stated that this could take much staff time to create and maintain the database. Mayor Meier stated that he was no opposed to a tasteful sign at the City building. Mr. Groth suggested perhaps a sign like the one at Ft. Mitchell City Building or Dixie Heights High School would look nice. Mr. Maloney stated that the city should be cautious about setting a bad example when it came to the signage. Mr. Ries stated that the ordinance should perhaps be examined since it has been a long time. Mayor Meier stated that there had been an examination of the ordinance January of 1995.
Communications – Ms. Wirthlin reported that the website has been updated and direct e-mail will soon be possible for staff and Council.
Peronnel – Mayor Meier
stated that a meeting needs to be called for sometime in April. Mr. Maloney reminded Council that the Ethics
Committee reports were due April 15.
EXECUTIVE
SESSION – Motion to convene the Executive Session to
discuss possible litigation pursuant to KRS 61.810.
Motion:
Terri Jameson Second:
Joe Maloney
Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Absent: 1
Motion to come out of Executive Session:
Motion:
Harold Ries Second: Ralph Laird
Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Absent: 1
Adjournment
– Motion to Adjourn immediately following the Executive Session.
Motion: Ralph
Laird Second: Joe Maloney
Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Absent: 1
Transcribed
by: __________________________
Judy Rae Cox, Admn. Asst.
____________________________
______________________________
Mayor Paul W. Meier City Clerk C.R. Wirthlin