The Flemingsburg City Council held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, September 12, 2005 in the City Annex at 7:00 p.m. Council members present were Marty Voiers, Carl Haight, Georgianna Sparks, Meredith Story, and Scott Manning. Councilwoman Suit was absent. Mayor Louie Flanery presided.

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

There was one bid on surplus property. Harold Applegate presented a bid of $599.62 for the water tank removed from the Utility Storage building. Councilman Haight moved to accept the bid. Councilman Manning seconded the motion. All were in favor.

Kevin Cornett, with BTADD, addressed council regarding the CEGG grant. Cornett stated that $10,000,000 in grant funds would be available statewide. It was recommended that the City and County submit a joint application for a City/County dispatch center. The property would be constructed in two phases; phase one would be the dispatch center and phase 2 would be the fire department. The grant would be for $400,000 with no matching funds required. Facilities could also be used as a community center.

Councilman Story noted that it had previously been suggested the funds from this grant be used for gas and water lines to the new industrial park. Mayor Flanery stated that the Industrial Authority was going to apply for those funds under the same grant. Cornett stated that a community survey would have to be done to see if the City qualified for the phase 2 funds. The Flemingsburg Fire Department volunteered to take the survey. Funds would be for structure and land only, no equipment. Sites have been discussed, but nothing definite has been determined. The application must be submitted to BTADD by Tuesday, September 20^th. BTADD will forward the application to the state; it will be early spring before the City will receive a response. Cornett stated that the Fiscal Court plans to adopt this resolution. Councilman Haight moved to adopt. Councilwoman Sparks seconded the motion. Danny Carpenter questioned the cost of moving the dispatch and fire department. Cornett stated that grant funds have been applied for through homeland security to cover the cost of updating to new technology. All were in favor.

City Clerk Joy Roark presented the second reading of Ordinance No. 9-05-1 regarding motor vehicle tax. Councilman Story moved to approve. Councilman Manning seconded the motion. A roll call was given with all voting in favor.

City Clerk Joy Roark presented the second reading of Ordinance No. 9-05-2 regarding the pay scale. Councilwoman Sparks moved to approve. Councilman Story seconded the motion. A roll call was given with all voting in favor.

Kevin Cornett addressed Council regarding the NIMS resolution. Cornett stated that the Flemingsburg Fire Dept. was already following NIMS. This system allows for federal, state, local and tribal governments to use the same language regarding incidents. Any first responder needs to be NIMS compliant. To be eligible for Homeland Security or preparedness funds entities must be NIMS compliant and have adopted the NIMS resolution. The City has until September 30^th to submit the application. It was noted that the resolution listed an exhibit A, which was not included. No decision was made.

City Clerk Joy Roark presented the first reading of Ordinance No. 9-05-3 regarding real estate property tax. Councilman Story moved to approve. Councilwoman Sparks seconded the motion. All were in favor.

Council discussed naming two streets. After a brief discussion Councilwoman Sparks moved to name the street to the Utility plant and the old reservoir McVey Way in memory of Glen McVey, former Utilities Superintendent, and the street between Quality Appliance and the Christian Business Center Wright Street after Goebel Wright, long-time business owner of Wright‘s Hardware formally located in the Quality Appliance building. Councilman Manning seconded the motion. All were in favor.

Mayor Flanery presented a municipal order regarding vacation and court day. City Attorney Tom MacDonald explained that the order would amend policies in the employee handbook to change the following: page 27, Section A, Line h from court day to Columbus day; and page 28, Section B, Line 3 allowing key employees to carry forward accrued vacation time rather than loose time they are unable to take due to emergency situations such as major city projects or a lack of personnel. MacDonald noted that the Mayor could waive vacation leave until the project is complete, then allow the employee to take the time off or draw the pay.

Councilman Story questioned the need for Columbus Day as a holiday. The Finance Committee had recommended that, if court day was discontinued, the holiday should be eliminated. Story noted that other cities have an average of ten holidays; Flemingsburg has fourteen. Story also asked for examples of a need to change the vacation policy, noting the time spent developing the employee handbook. Mayor Flanery stated that Dale Clary had been short-handed for some time; he had been borrowing employees from the Utility department to pick up the slack. Jim Compton had been heading the remodeling projects of the city buildings and wanted to complete the projects. Both have accrued the maximum vacation allowed. Mayor Flanery defended adding Columbus Day in place of Court Day. Flanery stated that eliminating the holiday would destroy employee morale. The City currently has good benefits and he would like to keep it that way; it makes up for having a lower pay scale. Flanery stated that the change regarding vacation was not intended to allow employees to deliberately save time to gain an extra paycheck. MacDonald stated the intent was to allow the employees to choose which way would work best for them. Flanery noted that it was wrong to penalize a long time employee for wanting to see a project finished or for filling in when his department was short-handed. Councilman Story suggested not changing handbook; rather review each situation case by case so Council would be informed of the City’s needs. Mayor Flanery recommended that Council think about this matter until the next meeting. Councilman Voiers stated that once a decision is made it would be the mayor’s responsibility to enforce; the matter should not be brought back to Council. Mayor Flanery scheduled a special meeting for Wednesday, September 21^st at 5:30 p.m.

Council discussed placing a plaque at the Utility Plant in memory of Glen McVey. Mayor Flanery appointed a committee of Georgianna Sparks, Marty Voiers, Tom MacDonald, and Joy Roark to review this matter and make recommendations at the next meeting.

Councilman Story reported on behalf of the Finance Committee. Story suggested that the City’s insurance policies be reviewed to see if coverage could be lowered and save the City some money. Story noted that premiums had risen considerably over the past few years.

Police Chief Danny Carpenter passed out a copy of the noise ordinance for members of the Safety Committee to review.

City Clerk Joy Roark reported on the progress of remodeling the depot building. It is anticipated that City Hall may be able to move in three to four weeks.

Mary Jo Litton reported on community activities including Business and Industry day September 22^nd and “Swing on Main” September 24^th.

Chief Carpenter presented an update on the Highway Safety Grant. Carpenter stressed that the hours officers were patrolling out in the county were strictly overtime. Officers would continue to patrol the City during regular hours. Grant funds would cover overtime expense as well as mileage. Carpenter stated that a police officer had volunteered to help with disaster relief due to Hurricane Katrina. Currently only state employees are serving, but a waiting list is being developed for city police officers. Councilman Voiers suggested that the City of Flemingsburg needs to help out in any way possible. Carpenter stated the officer would be required to spend thirty days. Two would travel together and would be sworn in as emergency officers for the state they are serving. Associated expenses including gas and salaries would be reimbursed. Carpenter stated that Officer Darren Hull should return to work by October 1^st so his department would not be left short-handed. Carpenter stated that the Police Department would be receiving a second grant to be used for radar guns. Councilman Voiers questioned the status of prisoner transport. Carpenter stated that he had heard nothing new; the sheriff‘s department will continue to transport prisoners until the first of the year.

Utilities Superintendent Kenny Dearing had been unable to do a water loss report due to flushing the lines. Councilman Story questioned the status of the auto meter readers. Dearing stated that they were trying to put in a few at a time and hopefully would have them going by the first of the year. Dearing stated that they were still having trouble with manganese, but it was getting better. Councilman Haight reported odor in the water at Crest View. Dearing stated that there was still some problem, but it had not been as bad since they had flushed the lines. Councilman Story asked how many hours the plant was running. Dearing stated that it had been down three days due to high manganese. The City had to buy more water from Maysville.

Wastewater Superintendent Dale Clary had nothing new to report. Councilman Story asked if a new employee had been hired for his department. Mayor Flanery said he had been working with employees from other departments. Clary has also been working on the sewer line project on the Cherry Grove road.

Councilman Voiers questioned the status of the dispatch board. City Attorney Tom MacDonald stated that the documents have still not been approved. GOLD did not receive some of the documents from the Attorney General, so he sent them directly to GOLD. Councilman Voiers asked if our legislator could help speed things along. MacDonald stated that he would contact GOLD and get an explanation first. MacDonald said he had not worked on the Codes Enforcement Board this month, but will work on it when Gene Schwartz returns from vacation. Voiers questioned the delay. MacDonald explained it had to be determined who would be appointed to the board and what their job would include. Voiers expressed he was weary of asking the same question every month and seeing nothing happening. Mayor Flanery stated that he and MacDonald were working with Gene Schwartz and Chief Carpenter on this matter and assured that efforts would be more forth coming. Councilman Story commented that the noise ordinance was just one part that the Board would enforce; there would be other ordinances to enforce.

Councilman Voiers questioned the City’s relief efforts. Mary Jo Litton stated that the Main Street Committee would be taking collections during “Swing on Main”. City Clerk Joy Roark noted that SCCA was also collecting items and had a specific list of items requested. Voiers suggested that the list along with contacts be posted locally and on the website.

Councilman Haight expressed concern over increasing natural gas prices. Mayor Flanery stated that the City’s increased costs had exceeded 70%. Council agreed that increases would have to be passed on to consumers per ordinance. Haight questioned the date of the October meeting, noting that October 10^th was a holiday. MacDonald stated that the meeting could be held on the 11^th and still be considered a regular meeting due to the holiday.

Councilman Story noted the water tower on Mills Ave. was in need of painting. Dearing stated he had already contacted the vendor for an estimate and the City had allowed for this expense in the current budget. Story requested a list of streets selected for blacktopping. Story reported a yard on Elizaville Ave. that needs mowing and asked if any action had been taken. Story also reported that a resident of Stockwell Ave. had requested a streetlight, noting the area around his home was dark. Mayor Flanery stated that the trees needed to be trimmed. Either the utility or telephone company should take care of that. Story questioned if the City would reapply for the skateboard park grant. Mayor Flanery stated that the City had budgeted for a skateboard park and he would start work on that as soon as possible.

Council set the date for Halloween as October 31^st from 5 p.m. -7 p.m.

Councilwoman Sparks requested that the Sanitation Dept. pick up garbage at local businesses later in the day on Monday so garbage does not have to sit out all weekend for early morning pick up. Sparks also questioned if the light pole by the old Dairy Queen could be moved. Gene Schwartz was to meet with Tommy Carpenter on the matter. Council heard complaints of children skate boarding in the streets. Council discussed potential liability to the City from a skateboard park. Asking parents to work on development of the park was considered. Sparks stated that she had a play set she would donate to the Foxspring Ave. Park. Sparks questioned who appointed the Recreation Park Board and requested that someone from the Foxspring area be appointed as representation for that park.

There being no further business, Councilman Manning moved to adjourn at 9:20 p.m. Councilman Haight seconded the motion. All were in favor.

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Louie K. Flanery, Mayor

ATTESTED:

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Joy Story Roark, City Clerk

Date Approved: ________________