The Flemingsburg City Council held their regular monthly meeting Monday, June 14, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall.  Council members present were Marty Voiers, Carl Haight, Nancy Suit, Georgianna Sparks, Meredith Story, and Scott Manning.   Mayor Louie K. Flanery presided.

 

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

 

Karen Sanders of Emmons Dr. addressed Council regarding the use of cannons to scare the birds.  According to Sanders, a neighbor was using the cannon from approximately 8:30 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.  The noise was annoying and was causing the birds to flock to her house.  Mayor Flanery explained that the intent was for the cannons to be moved from area to area to scare off the birds indefinitely.  Sanders commented that it was too late to be using the cannons.  The birds are nesting and are not going to leave.  Mayor Flanery asked if she would consider using a cannon, but Sanders declined, noting that the birds are not any worse now than they have been for the last three years she has lived there.  Mayor Flanery stated that the person using the cannon might not know how to use it properly; it should only be used about 15-20 minutes.  He will check with Gene Schwartz, who is overseeing the cannons.

 

Lynn Workman addressed Council on behalf of FCCLA.  Workman stated that 37 student delegates would be going to Chicago July 11th.  Approximately 6-7 chaperones would accompany them.  The costs of the trip will be $30,000.  Parents paid 1/3 of the costs up front and the group has raised all but $10,000.  Workman noted that students had to win at the state level to go on this trip.  It is a big accomplishment.  Mayor Flanery stated that he would consider her request and the funds available, and will contact her.

 

Cloria Hamm addressed Council regarding a culvert she had placed in her driveway.  According to Hamm, Walter Bratcher hit a gas line when he was dozing the area to place the culvert.  Acting Utilities Supervisor Kenny Dearing was notified but told them to go on with the project.  Bratcher placed the culvert in front of the gas line.  Now water is backing up because the culvert is too high and will have to be redone.  Hamm spent all her money installing it the first time and feels the City is at fault because the gas line was not removed.  Dearing stated that Danny Vice had contacted him about digging there before they began.  Dearing informed him that the gas line was dead and no longer in use.  Mayor Flanery stated he would review the matter with all the people involved.

 

City Clerk Joy Roark presented the first reading of Ordinance No. 6-04-1 regarding the annual budget for the City government.  Councilwoman Suit moved to approve.  Councilman Haight seconded the motion and asked if the finance committee had anything to report.  Councilman Story reviewed the budget noting that there were not many changes made to the proposed budget and that it was cash flow positive.  Some general fund revenues may be a little conservative.  Councilman Story questioned the Mayor about the allowance for the ambulance service, noting that it had not been paid this year.  Mayor Flanery explained that the obligation was for a three-year period and was contingent upon them providing a financial statement.  Councilman Story stated that he had received a financial statement and had brought it before Council to review, but no one expressed an interest.  He felt that the obligation should be paid or removed from the budget.  Mayor Flanery instructed City Clerk Joy Roark to review the minutes to determine the original agreement with the ambulance service.  Until then the allowance will remain in the budget.  The dispatch allowance was also questioned.  City Attorney Tom MacDonald assured Council that the dispatch board would be in place by July.  Council voted unanimously to approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 6-04-1.

 

City Clerk Joy Roark presented the first reading of Ordinance No. 6-04-2 regarding the annual budget for natural gas, water, and wastewater.  Councilman Story explained that if the Water Commission has the water line up and running there will be additional funds available to add to the budget to retire the debt on the Maysville water line.  He also noted that the City was in better financial shape now.  Some major repairs have been added this year for both the utility and wastewater.  These repairs have been needed for some time but no funds have been available in the past few years.  Councilwoman Suit moved to approve.  Councilman Haight seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

Mayor Flanery called a special meeting for Monday, June 21st at 5:00.

 

Danny Long addressed Council regarding the KU franchise 20- year contract.  The City will continue to receive 3% of revenues.  Councilman Haight moved to approve.  Councilman Manning seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

Joy Roark reported that the City had received two proposals for the year ending June 30, 2004 audit.  Robert Montgomery of Flemingsburg proposed a maximum fee of $8,500.  Bob Ross of Louisville proposed a negotiable fee of $10,000.  Councilwoman Suit moved to hire Robert Montgomery for 1 year with an option for a longer term at the same rate provided both parties are pleased.  Councilman Manning seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

Kevin Cornette with B.T.A.D.D. addressed Council regarding a hazard mitigation plan.  Cornette explained that the City had to have a hazard mitigation plan in order to get FEMA funding.  The City falls under the County’s emergency plan.  However, the mitigation plan is a preliminary to identify hazard areas and ways to reduce hazard.  To receive FEMA credit the City has to pass a resolution to adopt this plan or draft the City’s own plan by November 1st.  The A.D. districts received grant funds from KY Emergency Management thru FEMA to develop this plan, which took nearly a year at a cost of about $50,000. The Fleming County Mitigation Committee recommended this plan be adopted.  Councilwoman Suit moved to approve the resolution.  Councilman Haight seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

Mayor Flanery reported that the Fleming County Rec. Park had asked for a $1,000 donation to be used for the July 4th fireworks.  Councilman Haight noted that it was a good event for the community and moved to approve the donation.  Councilman Story seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

The Planning Commission made a recommendation to change the zoning on the old shoe factory from light industrial to commercial.  Councilman Manning moved to approve.  Councilwoman Sparks seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

Danetta Barker complained of skate boarding at the Fleming County Rec. Park shelter house.  According to Barker some youth were moving tables to make a ramp and creating a disturbance.  Councilman Haight asked if she had contacted the manager, Donnie Story, who lives next to the park.  Barker stated she didn’t know he lived there.  She also noted that she was not against the sport, but this facility was not appropriate.  Councilman Haight stated that it had been a problem in the past.  Mayor Flanery commented that he was looking into funding for a skateboard park behind City Hall.

 

Police Chief suggested that the Fleming County Rec. Park Board might need to look into a policy on the shelter house to eliminate abusive situations like this.

 

Wastewater Supervisor Dale Clary reported that he had an employee that had been off work for eight weeks on sick leave.  His staff is down to where it was in 1987 and they can’t do all the work.  The plant takes a minimum of five hours a day.  That doesn’t leave much time for the additional work.  Mayor Flanery stated that he was looking into it.

 

Councilman Voiers requested that individual information be included on the police report rather than just totals.

 

Councilman Story questioned a check to Alltel for $46,600.  City Clerk Joy Roark explained that Alltel required an advance payment for their work on phase II of the streetscape project.  Once the check clears the bank a copy can be submitted for reimbursement at 80%.

 

Mary Jo Litton reported that Main Street has been designated as a 2004 National Main Street Program.  She had submitted an application to be a Preserve America Community last, but it was not approved.  She will resubmit the application this August.

 

Joetta Marshall, Carol Gast, and Judy Story participated in a free computer class sponsored by the Chamber at the Maysville Community College.  There will be another free class next week for the police and sheriff’s department. 

 

Tuesday, June 22nd, there will be a ‘Business During Hours’ at Courtyard from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  The Courtyard currently has two rooms that rent for  $69 per night.  The rooms share one bath.

 

Councilwoman Suit questioned if any apartments had been rented at the Fischer Building.  Mayor Flanery said there are still some items to complete, but Judy Muse has been interviewing prospective tenants.

 

Councilman Voiers reported that the ISO had inspected the City’s fire department facilities.   The rate stayed the same at six, which is a major accomplishment, but could be lowered if the department had better equipment and more fire hydrants. 

 

Mayor Flanery called for Council comments.  Councilman Voiers questioned the status of the property next to Ott Coleman.  Mayor Flanery reported that Codes Enforcement Officer Gene Schwartz had contacted them.  Councilman Haight asked for an update on the sewer problem on Foxspring Ave.  Mayor Flanery stated that the owner and tenant had both been notified that services would be terminated if the property was not brought into compliance.  Councilwoman Suit commented that Danny Coleman and his helper did an excellent job cleaning up brush on Chapel Lane.

 

City Attorney requested that the Council go into executive session at 8:30 p.m. to discuss a personnel matter.  Councilman Voiers so moved.  Councilman Story seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

Councilman Voiers moved to go out of executive session at 9:24 p.m.  Councilman Haight seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

There being no further business Councilman Manning moved to adjourn at 9:25 p.m.  Councilman Haight seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                    __________________________

                                                                                           Louie K. Flanery, Mayor

 

 

 

ATTESTED:

 

 

 

__________________________

Joy Story Roark, City Clerk

 

Date Approved:  ____________