MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF CRESTVIEW
HILLS, KENTUCKY
THURSDAY, OCTOBER
9, 2003, 7:30 PM
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. Mayor Meier asked special remembrance for
the family of Henry Stark, the oldest resident, who died at 104 years of age.
ROLL CALL - Present were: Mrs. Terri Jameson
and Messrs. David Kramer, Ralph Laird, Joe Maloney, Harold Ries and Frank
Sommerkamp, Jr.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA - Addition of Item C. to decide the
Halloween hours for trick-or-treat. As corrected:
Motion: Mr. Laird Second: Mr. Maloney
Ayes: 6 Nays: 0
Motion
passed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Page 4 - Under Item B – 1st
paragraph word sing should
be since. Page 4 – Item B –
Second paragraph let the minutes reflect that the next to last sentence in
paragraph 2 should read The previous year it went up $5.2 million instead
of Last year it went up $5.2 million.
Motion
to accept as corrected:
Motion: Mr. Ries Second:
Mrs. Jameson
Ayes: 6 Nays:
0
Motion
Passed
CITIZENS
AND GUESTS
Merrick Krey, Kenton County PVA; Dave Jansing, Fire Inspector for Ft. Mitchell Fire Department; Kathleen Corneil, Lookout Farm Homeowners Assoc.
Mayor Meier asked Mr. Dave Jansing, Ft. Mitchell Fire Department for a run down on the number of fire/fighters. Mr. Jansing said that at present there are 4 full-time people, 14 part-time people, and 35 volunteers. On January 1 the life squad will merge with the fire department, which will simplify paper work. Dave Kramer asked how the two fire departments, since Edgewood & Ft. Mitchell cover different sections of the city, were doing working together. Mr. Jansing said that there is a good working relationship between cities in Kenton County. The system is on an automatic aid system. Equipment is shared when a need arises, such as sharing of pumpers, ladders, etc. Mayor Meier asked how the lockable sprinkler heads were going. Mr. Jansing stated that they are coming in daily with no troubles whatsoever. Mr. Jansing reported that the department is visiting the Carrabba’s Italian Grill and all is going well. Mr. Jansing asked that a set of plans be given to the Fire Department when a new building is built in the City.
Mayor Meier advised Council that the ALS system is discussed once a month at the Mayor’s meetings. As soon as he has news about the system he will let Council know.
Harold Ries inquired about whether it was advisable for Council to allow politicians to speak at Council meetings. Mayor Meier said he asked Mr. Krey not to mention the election when he asked to speak.. Mary Ann Stewart, City Attorney, agreed that there is no legal problem. She felt Mr. Krey was explaining the processes of the PVA office and that is allowable. Mr. Maloney stated that Council agreed at one time not to have a lot of speakers on an election year. He also felt there was nothing out of line about Mr. Krey’s address to Council. Mr. Sommerkamp suggested that a sub-committee be appointed that could make a rule that there be no politicians to speak 90 days before a meeting. Mayor Meier stated that he does not believe a sub-committee is needed.
Mayor Meier stated that he has no problem when a county official who provides a service wishes to address Council. Mr. Meier stated that he felt that Council could call down any speaker that would get out of hand on a case by case basis. Mrs. Jameson stated that Council should be careful not to restrict free speech, but handle it on a case per case basis.
Mr. Ries reported that he was approached by Kevin Black to speak at tonight’s meeting. Mayor Meier stated that he would have had no objection but would not wish him to speak about the election.
Mr. Ries reported that Ft. Mitchell Fire Department was called this week due to a fire in the City furnace. Mr. Groth will make claim with the insurance company. There was no damage to the building just smoke but the furnace was destroyed.
OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Sommerkamp indicated that he wished to withdraw the ordinance and submit a revised ordinance at the next meeting. Mr. Maloney asked that a copy of the ordinance be given to Council for review before presentation next month.
Mr. Kramer stated that based on his conversations with Mr. Sommerkamp thus far, the revised ordinance will reflect that Council salaries would be adjusted annually to keep pace with the consumer price index, so they are not eroded by inflation.
Mary Ann Stewart, Attorney, stated that the Kentucky Supreme Court has held that Mayor and Council salaries may be tied in with the Consumer Price Index.
Mr. Sommerkamp made a motion to withdraw this item until next month.
Motion: Mr. Sommerkamp Second: Mr. Ries
Yes 6 No 0
Motion passed
B. Second Reading of Ordinance 2003-9-2 to
set the Real Property Tax rate for Calendar Year 2003 at .1525 per $100
valuation.
This rate is the same as last year.
Motion to set the rate as reflected above:
Motion: Mr. Maloney Second: Mr. Sommerkamp
Yes 6 No 0
Motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS
Motion to set the date and time for Halloween trick-or-treat on Friday, October 31 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Motion: Mrs. Jameson Second: Mr. Sommerkamp
Yes 6 No 0
Motion Passed
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Public Works
1. K.D.O.T.
has been studying the intersection of Thomas More Parkway and Turkeyfoot Road
for several months. They recently
installed a new loop in the paving off of Fraternity Court, which means the
phase for Fraternity Court will now work only when there is traffic coming from
Fraternity Court.
The conclusion of their study is that this is all that can be done at this time
at that intersection.
2. The south lane of paving on Woodspoint Drive from House No. 131 to the cul-de-sac has been removed and repaved. This work was completed October 3, 2003. The street will be opened October 15, 2003.
3. The drainage problem on the sidewalk on Legends Way has been corrected by constructing an under drain and 4 inch pipe to intercept the water coming from a spring in the hillside.
4. Horsebranch Road and Crestview Hills Mall Road will be restriped within the next six weeks.
5. The City has replaced several sections of concrete curbs throughout the City during the summer.
6. Mayor Meier asked about the repaving of the circle on Claiborne and other repairs. Mr. Sommerkamp stated that it is on the list.
Finance Committee – No report.
Police Authority Committee – Mr. Kramer reported:
1. Salary adjustments have been set at 5% to 6%, based on the Chief’s evaluations.
2. The Police Authority voted to purchase a $400 digital camera for the sexual assault unit at St. Elizabeth.
3. There was a surplus of funds from last year and some of the funds will be deposited in the Authority’s reserve account and some returned to the Cities following the audit.
Mr. Maloney inquired about the age of the cruisers. Mr. Laird stated that there were none older than 3 years.
Mr. Sommerkamp asked where the salary adjustments placed us among other police departments. Mr. Kramer stated that it was somewhere in the middle to above average. Mr. Sommerkamp stated that the adjustment should be above the average to encourage officers to stay.
Mr. Laird stated that they were provided with the most up to date equipment.
Mr. Kramer stated that the department does an outstanding job and there has not been much turnover in the department.
Mr. Ries pointed out that there had been 13 calls due to two water department pumps affecting the sprinkler system at the Mall, which set off numerous false alarms and due to car fires on I-275.
Development & Zoning – Mr. Kramer reported that the Committee met Tuesday:
1. The Quasts’ request to widen the entrance to their buildings and add a connecting lane from the back of their parking lots to Chapel Place was discussed. Chapel Place would become two-way from this connector to Thomas More Parkway, but Chapel Place would be right turn only onto Thomas More Parkway. The Quasts and the Hemmer Company agreed to these changes. This would improve ingress and egress and should not affect the flow of traffic.
2. Mayor Meier asked for a motion from Council to approve the changes, including the two-way traffic on Chapel Place and the right turn only restriction from Chapel to Thomas More Parkway.
Mr. Kramer made a motion to approve the changes requested:
Motion: Mr. Kramer Second: Mr. Maloney
Ayes: 6 No: 0
Motion passed.
3. Mr. Ries commented that the traffic looks worse on Turkeyfoot & Thomas More Parkway. Mayor Meier stated that the State Traffic Task Force is studying this traffic problem. A bill is in transition to spend $200,000 to study the traffic problems. This is the State’s responsibility.
4. Mr. Kramer stated that the Manufactured Housing matter is still being discussed. Walter Blair is studying the proposed legislation.
5. Jeff Anderson is still negotiating with Dillards & Mr. Drieseszun about prospects for redevelopment of the Mall. Mr. Kramer stated that Jeffrey Anderson Real Estate has a web-site for anyone interested in the type of developments he does.
Recreation
1. Mrs. Jameson reported that the Tree Lighting ceremony has been set for December 5 from 4:30 – 7:00 PM.
2. The next meeting will be October 27th.
3. If anyone has information for the newsletter, please advise.
4. The sign for the City building has been approved and the contractor is looking for brick to match the City Building. Mr. Groth stated that the brick is on the way.
5. Mr. Sommerkamp stated that the sign should be kept up to date.
Personnel – No report
Building Committee
Mr. Groth reported that the RFQ’s are in and the Committee will be looking at the alternatives and conducting interviews.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: Ralph Laird Second: Terri Jameson
Ayes 6 Nays
0
Motion passed.
___________________________
Paul W.
Meier, Mayor
Attest: ____________________________
Judy Rae
Cox, Acting Clerk