There was a regular meeting of the Flemingsburg City Council Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Annex. Council members present were Ricky Hurst, Marty Voiers, Scott Manning, Meredith Story, and Van Alexander. Georgianna Sparks was absent. Mayor Louie Flanery presided.

Councilman Manning led the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes of the December meetings were presented. Councilman Manning moved to approve. Councilman Alexander seconded the motion. All were in favor.

Chris Perry, Fleming County Chamber President, thanked the City for all their support. Crystal Ruark, Executive Director of the Chamber, presented a report of recent and upcoming events. Ruark said the Chamber would be focusing less this year on increasing membership numbers and more on the quality of service provided to Chamber members. Davie Lloyd, Fleming Co. Hospital CEO, will be the guest speaker for the General Membership Breakfast in February. She will be speaking on health care reform. Ruark stated that the Chamber would be doing a new map this year and warned of a reported scam where someone was soliciting advertising and claimed to be representing the Chamber. Only Ruark, her staff, or Chamber Board members will be contacting businesses regarding advertising. Even though the economy has been bad, several new businesses have opened in the community. Future plans include an Ag Day to promote agriculture related businesses in our area.

Steve Donovan, Economic Development Director, reported that the Industrial Authority had met to discuss a couple of county projects. Donovan stated that world companies are picking up small businesses that are going under, noting the recent purchase of Tinnerman. He has been talking with the owner of a business located in Western Kentucky about relocating to Fleming County. That business is currently booming. The owner indicated that he might visit our area in July. Donovan talked to the Economic Development Cabinet in Frankfort about ways to market our community. The EDC website is being reworked to make it more attractive to worldwide businesses.

Flemingsburg Fire Chief Jerry McCloud reported that he had not received written confirmation from FEMA, but had heard that chances of receiving the grant were good. Councilman Voiers suggested that, if the grant is awarded, funds budgeted for turn out gear be moved to the fire engine fund.

Council discussed the PHI Air Medical program. Councilman Story said it was a good program and suggested that the City sponsor a group and make the program available to all citizens of the City and County. Membership fees would be the individual member’s responsibility. There would be no cost to the City. After a brief discussion Councilman Story moved that the City form a group and make the PHI Air Medical program available to any citizen of the City or County. Councilman Manning seconded the motion. Council voted as follows: Hurst-yes, Voiers-yes, Manning-yes, Story-yes, Alexander-yes. Motion carried.

City Attorney Tom MacDonald reported that he had prepared an ordinance revising the community television access board and had made all changes discussed previously. However, he was still researching whether the mayor and council member could be voting members of the cable board and preferred that Council wait until he heard from KLC before making a decision.

City Clerk Joy Roark reviewed Resolution 2010-1-1 supporting HR 3745. Per Linda Ain, Attorney for the KRCC, the two main objectives were to preserve the location of the access channel and preserve the current agreement with our cable provider should a competitor take over the cable service in our area. Councilman Voiers moved to adopt Resolution 2010-1-1 in support of HR 3745. Councilman Hurst seconded the motion. Council voted as follows: Hurst-yes, Voiers-yes, Manning-yes, Story-yes, Alexander-yes. Motion carried.

Council reviewed an ordinance to increase water rates by 8% and an ordinance to reduce sewer rates by 8%. No action was taken due to an error in the rates.

Council discussed the KLC Safety Grant. Funds can be used to replace park equipment. Mayor Flanery referred the matter to the Parks Committee.

Tom MacDonald presented an ordinance adopting the new flood plain maps. The ordinance was prepared from a model ordinance and contains long details about definitions, both state and federal based. MacDonald recommended that no action be taken until Council had read the ordinance.

Mayor Flanery reviewed the conditions of the ARC grant for $350,000 for the sewer project. Monty Rhody with Cann-Tech went over each item in detail. It was noted that since RUS would be administering the grant the City’s portion, $70,000, would have to be spent up front. If BTADD had administered the grant the City could have avoided spending any money up front.

Councilman Voiers moved to adopt Resolution 2010-1-2 to accept ARC funds for the sewer project. Councilman Manning seconded the motion. Council voted as follows: Hurst-yes, Voiers-yes, Manning-yes, Story-yes, Alexander-yes. Motion carried.

Councilman Voiers moved to authorize the Mayor to sign all the required documents going along with the Resolution. Councilman Story seconded the motion. Council voted as follows: Hurst-yes, Voiers-yes, Manning-yes, Story-yes, Alexander-yes. Motion carried.

Mayor Flanery stated that Tony Overbey’s term on the Industrial Board had ended, but he had agreed to serve another term with Council’s approval. Councilman Hurst moved to approve. Councilman Manning seconded the motion. Council voted as follows: Hurst-yes, Voiers-yes, Manning-yes, Story-yes, Alexander-yes. Motion carried.

Mayor Flanery stated that Monica Burns’ term on the Buffalo Trace Area Development Board was also up. Councilman Story moved to reappoint Burns. Councilman Hurst seconded the motion. Council voted as follows: Hurst-yes, Voiers-yes, Manning-yes, Story-yes, Alexander-yes. Motion carried.

Joy Roark reported that the second apartment on S. Main Cross had been rented. It was noted that some repairs were made to the lighting, a new heater was installed, and insulation had been blown in.

The Finance Committee scheduled a meeting for January 27^th at 5:00 p.m. in the Annex to review the annual audit.

Councilman Voiers will schedule a Recycling Committee meeting the first part of February.

Codes Enforcement Officer Ben Moran reported on income collected for various permits. A list of blighted property was presented. Owners have been notified and given an opportunity to clean up their property. Moran said he used a rating scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being the least blighted and 5 the most blighted based on safety concerns and observation. Councilman Voiers suggested using warning signs or roping off the property with caution tape where there are safety concerns. Tom MacDonald said the City could demolish blighted property, but had to go through the condemnation process. The property would have to be appraised and the City would have to pay the fair market value, also to have it demolished. If the property is unsafe the City can demolish the structure and take a lien on the underlying ground.

Chief Sergent reported on annual totals for the Police Dept. He is still waiting on grant paper work to file for funds to purchase computers for the cruisers.

Utilities Department Superintendent Joe Dunaway reported that it was a busy time for his crew. They had been dealing with frozen meters and frozen water lines. Councilman Alexander questioned funding through FEMA to purchase generators for the water plant. That funding had been withdrawn; the program is no longer offered. Dunaway stated that the gas system had been in service since the sixties and was getting worn out. More meter sets were being replaced.

Tom MacDonald reported that the first set of updated plats had been taken to the Secretary of State’s office. Tommy Carpenter’s work on the plats was excellent.

Councilman Hurst expressed his appreciation to the Mayor, Council and City employees for their support during the loss of his father.

Councilman Manning thanked City employees for all their hard work during the bad weather.

Council discussed KLC City Day and Nite February 3^rd and expressed an interest in attending the legislative sessions during the day in addition to the evening reception.

There being no further business Councilman Manning moved to adjourn at 9:10 p.m. Councilman Alexander seconded the motion. All were in favor.

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Louie Flanery, Mayor

ATTESTED:

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Joy Story Roark, City Clerk/Treasurer