The Flemingsburg City Council held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, June 13, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall.  Council members present were Marty Voiers, Carl Haight, Nancy Suit, Scott Manning, Meredith Story, and Robbie Graham.  Mayor Louie K. Flanery presided.

 

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

 

            Matt Doyle addressed Council representing the Rescue Squad.  Doyle stated that the State E.M. Director and an attorney for the Rescue Squad would like to be on the agenda for the July 11th meeting.

 

            Gerald Carpenter addressed Council requesting that he be retained as the City’s insurance agent and KLC as the City’s insurance provider.  Carpenter stated that he had sold his insurance agency, but had a two-year contract to work with the agency and a three- year contract to service the City’s account.  Changes in the City’s insurance premiums were reviewed.  After a brief discussion, Councilman Story moved to retain Carpenter as the City’s agent and KLC as the City’s property and liability insurance provider.  Councilman Manning seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

            Mayor Flanery stated that the Fleming County Rec. Park had requested a $1,000 donation for the July 4th celebration, noting that the City had donated the same amount for the past two years.  Councilwoman Suit moved to approve.  Councilman Graham seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

            City Clerk Joy Roark presented the first reading of Ordinance No. 6-05-2 adopting the annual General Fund budget for the fiscal year July 2005 through June 2006.  Councilman Story reviewed the Finance Committee’s recommendations.  Councilman Voiers moved to approve.  Councilman Manning seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

            Councilman Story Reviewed the water rate increases recommended by the Finance Committee.  Story noted that the rate increases were necessary because the water department should stand alone financially, but has been dependent on the natural gas department to subsidize it’s operating costs for many years.  The rate increases first considered were much higher, but Story explained that monies had already been set aside to reduce the City water line debt, funds from the GFCRWC would be applied to the Maysville Water Line debt, and the A Bond would be paid off in three years.  A lesser rate increase was recommended.  With this rate increase, once the debt has been reduced, the water department should be able to stand-alone financially within a few years. 

 

            City Clerk Joy Roark presented the first reading of Ordinance No. 6-05-6 providing for rate increases for water customers of the Flemingsburg Utility System.  Councilman Story moved to approve.  Councilman Voiers seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

            Councilman Story presented the Finance Committee’s recommendation for increases to the sewer rates.  Wastewater Superintendent Dale Clary questioned the need for a rate increase noting that his department was operating around $100,000 under budget this year.  Story noted that the increase should generate about $65,000 in additional revenue per year and was needed for a five-year plan to pay off existing debt on the sewer plant.  A 201-facility plan has just been completed which allows for a new sewer plant to accommodate sewer service for Hillsboro and Ewing.  Any excess funds in addition to those generated by the rate increase would be set aside for the new plant. 

 

            City Clerk Joy Roark presented the first reading of Ordinance No. 6-05-7 providing for a sewer rate increase for sewer customers of the Flemingsburg Utility System.  Councilman Story moved to approve.  Councilman Voiers seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

            City Clerk Joy Roark presented the first reading of Ordinance No. 6-05-3 adopting the annual natural gas, water, and wastewater budget for fiscal year July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006.  Councilman Manning moved to approve.  Councilwoman Suit seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

            City Attorney Tom MacDonald reviewed the abandoned urban property ordinance stating that the document called for the maximum rate of $.75 per $100 of assessed valuation for real property identified as abandoned urban property within the city limits.  This was done to encourage property owners to clean up their property.  City Clerk Joy Roark presented the first reading of Ordinance No. 6-05-4 adopting the provisions of 2004 H.B. 373 regarding abandoned urban property.  Councilman Voiers moved to approve.  Councilman Graham seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

            Council discussed Ordinance No. 6-05-5 regarding an amendment to the occupational license tax.  After a brief discussion Councilwoman Suit moved to table this matter until the July meeting.  Councilman Voiers seconded the motion and recommended that the ordinance be referred to the Finance Committee.  All were in favor.

 

            City Clerk Joy Roark presented the first reading of Ordinance No. 6-05-8 creating a non-exclusive telephone franchise.  After a brief discussion Councilman Voiers moved to approve.  Councilman Haight seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

            City Clerk Joy Roark presented the seconded reading of Ordinance No. 6-05-1 regarding the cable franchise.  Mayor Flanery noted that Linda Ain, Attorney for the KRCC, had met with the cable company and had determined that the sentence omitted from page 44, section ‘O’, line 6 should not be added back to the document.  The wording was sufficient as is.  This being a second reading a roll call was given with all voting in favor.

 

            Mayor Flanery stated that a representative from City Council had to be appointed to the E911 board.  Councilman Story moved to appoint Councilman Voiers due to his experience as a council member and volunteer fireman.  Councilwoman Suit seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

            Mayor Flanery presented an update on the improvements to the Newman building.

 

            Police Chief Danny Carpenter reported that Safety Committee members had attended a training session on codes enforcement.  Carpenter also presented a list of pros and cons for moving City Hall to the depot building.  Councilman Haight stated that Council had already approved the move at a previous meeting.  Mayor Flanery called for a motion to rescind the previous motion.  There was no response.  Therefore Mayor Flanery declared that the previous motion would stand.

 

            Councilman Story moved to disband the dispatch committee and have Councilman Voiers report on the E911.  Councilwoman Suit seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

            Utilities Superintendent Kenny Dearing reported that several customers were complaining about the water from the GFCRWC.  This matter had been discussed with the Commission and the water should be getting better soon.  Councilman Story moved to have Rural Water to do a water loss study.  Dearing stated that the Utility System was a member of Rural Water and the study would be at no charge.  Councilman Manning seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

            Codes Enforcement Officer Gene Schwartz stated that Tommy Carpenter would be looking at deeds for properties on Crest and Dairy Queen St. to see what could be done with the streets in that area.

 

            Police Chief Danny Carpenter stated that there would be a homeland security inspection the week of June 13th.  A public announcement is scheduled for Friday, June 17th, at the Extension Office to report their findings and recommendations.

 

            Councilman Graham reported streetlights out on School St.   He also expressed concern about speeding traffic on School St. and requested a “children playing” sign.  Graham moved that the speed limit be reduced to 15 mph.  Councilwoman Suit seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

            Councilman Story questioned if there was going to be a court day this year.  If not, the Finance Committee suggested doing away with the court day holiday.   Mayor Flanery will look into this matter at a later date.  Story suggested that a retire/rehire policy needed to be in place.  Mayor Flanery instructed the City Clerk to contact Paul Combs regarding this matter.

 

            Mayor Flanery reported that he had visited Frankfort requesting consideration for funds from GOLD and KIA for the sewer project.

 

            A special meeting was set for Friday, June 24th at 5:00 p.m.  Councilman Manning moved to adjourn at 9:30 p.m.  Councilman Haight seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

 

 

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                             Louie K. Flanery, Mayor

 

 

 

ATTESTED:

 

 

 

_____________________________

Joy Story Roark, City Clerk

 

 

 

Date Approved:  ______________