There was a regular meeting of the Flemingsburg City Council Monday, July 14th, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Annex. Council members present were Ricky Hurst, Marty Voiers, Scott Manning, Georgianna Sparks, Meredith Story, and Van Alexander. Also present were Tom MacDonald, City Attorney, Joy Roark, City Clerk/Treasurer, Codes Enforcement Officer Ben Moran, Police Chief Randy Sergent, Assistant Chief Falon Fugett, Public Works Superintendent Jim Compton, Utilities Superintendent Kenny Dearing, Wastewater Superintendent Dale Clary, T. J. Flynn, Tourism Chair, Crystal Ruark, Chamber Executive Director, and Jackie Thompson, guest. Mayor Louie Flanery presided.
Councilman Hurst led the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes of the June 9th meeting
were presented. It was noted that the
date was incorrectly stated as June 6th in the first paragraph. Councilman Manning moved to approve with the
noted correction. Councilwoman Sparks
seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Jackie Thompson addressed Council regarding a
traffic problem on Amanda Brook Dr.
Thompson stated that the original plat called for a turn around in the
cull de sac, but one was never put in so people use his driveway as a turning
place. In three days he saw twenty-six
vehicles turn around there. His
driveway is starting to deteriorate because of the excessive use, which
includes heavy trucks. Mayor Flanery
said if the plat called for the turn around the developer should have put it
in. Thompson stated that the developer
had given the street to the City. City
Attorney Tom MacDonald said he would look into the matter further. Councilman Manning suggested putting up a
sign saying “dead end”, noting that it wouldn’t solve the problem, but might
help deter some of the traffic.
T.J. Flynn presented an update on the Covered Bridge
Festival. Flynn thanked Councilmen
Voiers and Story and Mayor Flanery for attending the Tourism meeting. Flynn stated that Tourism has a budget of
$12,000 for the festival, which largely depends on donations. Currently $4,200 has been collected. Flynn stated that the Fiscal Court had
agreed to donate $1,000 and asked if the City would do the same. Councilman Story noted that contingency funds
were already budgeted. Councilman
Voiers moved to donate $1,000 to help with the festival expenses. Councilwoman Sparks seconded the motion. All
were in favor.
Crystal Ruark presented the Chamber report. Ruark stated that she and EDC Director Steve
Donovan had attended an EDC meeting in Bardstown. Several businesses that had moved their facilities to other
countries are now finding it cheaper to manufacture in the United States due to
freight costs.
Tom MacDonald reported that Municipal Gas is still
willing to let the City sign their contract, but they are not allowing anyone
to join in on the discount program at this time. They will not offer any discounts until there is a new bond issue
so the City would receive no immediate benefit. Councilman Story felt it would benefit the City to have the
contract in place when discounts are offered again and moved to continue with
the Municipal Gas contract. Council
Hurst seconded the motion. Councilman
Story stated he would follow up with Phil Kennedy at Vanceburg to see if they
were still receiving a discount. All
were in favor.
Mayor Flanery stated that Dwayne Price was unable to
attend the July meeting, but was scheduled to attend the August meeting.
Councilman Manning moved to appoint Garry Barker to
the Board of Adjustments. Councilman
Alexander seconded the motion. All were
in favor.
Waste Water Superintendent Dale Clary reported that
Quest Engineering had determined Flemingsburg’s rates for Ewing and Hillsboro
for the Regional Sewer Project.
Engineering Reps for both entities said the rates were outrageous. Clary
stated that the City hadn’t done a sewer rate study since 1993. Another study is needed to get a handle on
the true costs. The other entities are
at a stand still until we can give them a true rate. Councilman Story questioned how a true rate could be determined
until the amount of grant money and debt service is known. Clary stated the study would determine the
current rate, which could be calculated separate from debt service. The City is a member of Rural Water and
their engineer will do the study for $3,500-$4,000, which is much less than the
cost of having the City’s engineering firm to do it. Mayor Flanery commented that the City would be reimbursed in the
long run through our funding for a new sewer plant. Councilman Story stated a rate study would be needed when the
City builds a new plant and moved to proceed with the study for an amount not
to exceed $4000. Councilman Manning
seconded the motion. All were in
favor. Mayor Flanery stated he would be
meeting with the engineer prior to the study and invited Council to sit in on
the meeting before a final decision is made on the study.
Council discussed a resolution providing approval
for the spin-off of Time Warner Cable Inc.
Tom MacDonald stated he didn’t feel the resolution was necessary since the
City doesn’t have any control over time Warner Cable or Time Warner Inc. Mayor Flanery said the RCC had expressed
some concern about the resolution, so MacDonald recommended that Council not
adopt the resolution.
City Clerk Joy Roark reported that the Buildings and
Grounds Committee recommended three rooms on the second floor of the Police
Dept. be made available to the Chamber for office space. The Chamber would be responsible for
maintenance and cosmetic items such as painting, new carpeting, etc. No rent or utilities would be charged the
first year, but would be reviewed during the next year’s budget process. The Chamber had requested a 1-3 year lease
to allow time to obtain permanent office space. The Committee also recommended that the former Helphenstine and
Kozy Nook properties be made available to the Chamber for purchase at the same
price paid by the City should funding become available. Councilman Voiers moved to accept the
recommendation of the B & G Committee to allow the Chamber to use the rooms
available on the second floor of the police dept for a 1-3 year period and
revisit the cost of utilities after one year.
Councilwoman Sparks seconded the motion. All were in favor. Chief
Sergent stated that there were still desks and filing cabinets stored upstairs
and suggested donating those items to the Chamber rather than move them to
storage.
A Finance Committee meeting was scheduled for
Wednesday, July 16th at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall.
Councilwoman Sparks asked a time frame for finishing
the work at the Foxspring Ave. Park.
Public Works Superintendent Jim Compton said he could finish the park if
he had one good week. Sparks suggested
hiring a contractor if needed since Compton had a lot of work to do. Compton had been unable to obtain a bid for
blacktop so Sparks volunteered to contact the paving company.
Councilman Voiers reported that the recycling was
working well in Indian Fields and Gardenside.
They planned to target the Crest Ave. area next. The committee is looking at a portable baler
if funding is available. Purchasing a
new garbage packer and using the old packer for recycling was discussed. It would cut down on costs and make it
easier on employees. Councilman Manning
volunteered to go door to door in his neighborhood to promote the recycling
program.
Joy Roark reported that plans had
been finalized for the WEG meeting at the Horse Park sponsored by the
Bluegrass, Gateway and Buffalo Trace Clerk’s Association. The meeting is scheduled for August 27th
with Ms. Cathy Rutter of the WEG Foundation as guest speaker. Rutter will be addressing ways communities
can start preparing for the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Roark stated that some invitations would be
mailed, but extended an invitation to anyone interested in the WEG and
promoting our community.
Codes Enforcement Officer Ben Moran reported that
Southern States wanted to put in diesel tanks to sell farm diesel. This would require a zoning change; a public
hearing had been scheduled for August 11th. Moran also reported that Amy Graff had
requested a permit from the Board of Adjustments. Graff currently has a daycare, but would like to upgrade to a
type II daycare, which would allow her to get state funding and keep more
children.
Police Chief Randy Sergent reported that Officer
Tyler Rushing had accepted a position with the Sheriff’s office. The department
will receive $7,900 in Safety Grant funds. Citations are down, which shows the
grants are working.
Jim Compton stated that the new storage building was
80% complete. He is waiting on the
electrician.
Utilities Superintendent Kenny Dearing reported that
the plant has a new roof. Dearing
stated that the old reservoir had been treated twice with little success. Samples would be taken during the Stockton
Creek study to help determine the best treatment.
Councilman Alexander questioned the status of the
water problem in front of the new health facility on Windsor Dr. Mayor Flanery stated that they would have to
cut the street and put a drop box in to drain the water.
Councilman Story requested that Chapel Lane be
patched. Jim Compton stated it would be
done the next week. Story stated he
thought the City should take advantage of the safety grant through KLC.
Councilwoman Sparks suggested that the City have a
celebration when the Foxspring Ave. Park is finished.
Councilman Hurst reported that water run off from
the hill behind his residence is damaging his fence and washing out the
road. Jim Compton will check into it.
There being no further business, Councilman Manning
moved to adjourn at 8:30 p.m.
Councilwoman Sparks seconded the motion. All were in favor.
___________________________________
Louie
Flanery, Mayor
ATTESTED:
_______________________________________
Joy
Story Roark, City Clerk/Treasurer
Date
approved: _________________________