There was
a regular meeting of the Flemingsburg City Council Monday, December 14, 2009 at
7:00 p.m. in the City Annex. Council
members present were Ricky Hurst, Marty Voiers, Scott Manning, Meredith Story,
and Van Alexander. Councilwoman Sparks
was absent. Mayor Louie Flanery
presided.
Councilman Story led the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes of the November meetings were
presented. Councilman Manning moved to
approve. Councilman Alexander seconded
the motion. All were in favor.
Marty Nemes, KLC Marketing Agent, presented a check
to the City for $1,656, a 5% discount on the City’s worker’s compensation
premium. Nemes stated that the City
received the discount for being approved by the state as a Drug Free Workplace.
Police Chief Randy Sergent discussed the
neighborhood watch program. The third
neighborhood to participate in the program includes Lawrence St., Crawford St.,
Shady Brook Lane, Ingram Ave., Garr Ave., and Mc Mullin Ave. Twenty- four property owners and tenants
attended the first meeting. Ronnie
Bramel, one of the neighborhood captains, addressed Council regarding their
concerns. Bramel stated that residents
had been surveyed and some of their issues were: (1) the need for better lighting, (2) a curfew for children, (3)
brush grown up around blighted or abandoned properties (4) speeding, (5) upkeep
of rental properties, (6) empty houses, (7) firewood left on the sidewalk that
attracted skunks, raccoons and rats, (8) drug activity, (9) unsupervised young
children playing in the street and on other people’s property, (10) fire hazard
due to houses being closely located and (11) the affect of these issues on
their property value.
Chief Sergent said the group had already been
advised how to handle suspected drug activity.
It was noted that the City has a curfew ordinance in place. Mayor Flanery said all of their issues were
valid points and asked Chief Sergent to set up a meeting with the neighborhood
captains to address their concerns.
Chief Sergent requested that the Codes Enforcement Officer also be
included. Councilman Voiers suggested
that Social Services be contacted regarding the children being left
unattended. Council commended the group
for all their work and the good turn out.
Josh Brand with PHI Air Medical addressed Council
regarding a supplemental group policy covering helicopter transport. Brand stated that the average cost for being
transported from Fleming Co. Hospital to an area trauma center is $20,000. Most health insurances cover 55-60%. This coverage is a supplement and picks up
what insurance doesn’t pay. They have
units at St. Joe, UK, Williamstown, and Morehead to serve this area, and have
80 national helicopters. Groups of 15
or more can purchase this coverage for $40 annually and it covers anyone in the
household. This supplement would only
cover transport by PHI Air Medical.
Crews are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and 365 days per
year.
Colby McCloud presented the Flemingsburg Fire Dept.
report. McCloud stated that all fire
department captains voted this year to have Mutual Aid, which means that two
fire departments will be called out when there is a structural fire. The Ewing Fire Department will be called to
assist Flemingsburg.
City Attorney Tom MacDonald presented a draft of Ordinance
No. 12-09-1 regarding the Community Television Access Board. MacDonald stated that the board had been cut
back to 7 members, which would include the mayor and one council member and
five members at least 18 years of age with at least three members who are city
residents or own businesses in the city.
Council discussed allowing the mayor and council member having voting
rights; currently they do not.
MacDonald will check on this matter.
Mayor Flanery asked that it be required to keep all funds in a local
bank and noted that terms of board members needed to be staggered. Councilman Voiers suggested that the board’s
designated member be required to report to Council at Council’s request. Voiers also stated that the City should
maintain oversight or control of all funds.
A resolution supporting the Community Access
Preservation Act was presented for Council’s review. The resolution prepared by Linda Ain, attorney for KRCC, refers
to HR 3745. City Attorney Tom MacDonald
and members of Council were not familiar with HR 3745. No action was taken.
Councilman Story reported that the Finance Committee
had met last month and discussed six items: the cable board, Farm Bureau’s
request for gas service, a sidewalk program, turn out gear for the fire department,
the garbage packer, and water and sewer rates.
The Committee is waiting on more information from Farm Bureau. They are also gathering information on a
sidewalk program. Councilman Voiers
stated that the fire department had applied for a grant that might cover the
turn out gear. There’s no need to take
any action until the outcome of the grant is known. Mayor Flanery said repairs had been made to the garbage packer and
he thought the truck would last awhile longer.
Councilman Story said at some time Council needed to consider raising
the garbage rates to offset increasing operating costs. Councilman Story also said the Committee
recommended a revenue neutral rate change that would increase water rates by 8%
and lower sewer rates by 8%. Sewer rates
were increased four years ago to generate funds to pay off the old sewer plant
before a new plant had to be built.
Enough funds have now been accumulated to pay off that debt. Story noted that previous audit reports
showed the water system operating at a loss and the auditor recommended an
increase in water rates. By moving
$40,000 from sewer revenues to water revenues the water system should break
even and possibly show a little profit.
Story stated that the change would be revenue neutral and customers
would not see a difference in their bills.
City Clerk Joy Roark pointed out that customers who have water only
would see an increase. Councilman
Voiers requested copies of sample bills so council could see the affect of the
rate changes. Councilman Story moved
that Tom MacDonald prepare an ordinance for a first reading that reflected the
rate changes discussed contingent on approval of council. Councilman Manning seconded the motion. Council voted as follows: Hurst-yes, Voiers-yes, Manning-yes, Story-yes,
and Alexander-yes. Motion carried.
Council discussed applying for the safety grant
through KLC. It will cover equipment
and crumb rubber for the playground.
Randy Sergent said the deadline was February 15th.
Joy Roark reported that the annual audit was
underway. Eighty-five percent of the
property taxes have already been collected.
Codes Enforcement Officer Ben Moran reported that he
and Tom MacDonald had met with Russell Neal, KY DOW. New flood plain maps will be available in 2010 and become
effective May 20th, 2010.
The City needs to pass an ordinance adopting the new flood plain maps as
soon as possible to allow property owners a chance to obtain insurance at a
lower rate prior to the effective date.
After May 20th insurance rates may be higher. Anyone with property in a flood plain that
has a mortgage backed by FDIC will be required to have flood insurance. Moran will be the Flood Plain Coordinator
for the City and will administer development permits. MacDonald noted this would create more paperwork for Moran. He won’t know the full extent of his duties
until his training is complete.
Chief Sergent reported that the grant had come in
for computers for the police cruisers.
He also stated that residents on Garr Ave. had agreed to alternate
on-street parking during the snow removal route.
Public Works Superintendent Dennis Masters reported
that the State Highway Dept. had cut a groove on one side of Mt. Sterling Ave.
trying to keep water from running across the street and forcing it down the
drain. So far this has been effective,
but it may become a problem again when temperatures drop and the water starts
to freeze.
Utilities Superintendent Joe Dunaway reported that
his department would start cleaning up the Crain property this week. There are about twenty piles of debris. They will burn what they can and haul away
the rest.
Waste Water Superintendent Dale Clary reported that
work on the plant roof was coming along well and should be finished this
week. Councilman Story questioned the
Notice of Violation mentioned in his written report. Clary stated that he receives a notice annually of the limits
exceeded and responds with an explanation of the causes, which has been
satisfactory. This notice did not ask
for a response. It stated that he would
be in compliance by March 1, 2010, so he expects to be called to Frankfort for
an enforcement hearing and may be under consent by the end of 2010.
Tom MacDonald reported that Tommy Carpenter had put
in a lot of time working on the map of the City’s boundaries and hoped he could
have the first plat ready by the first of next week. If so, a special council meeting would need to be called for
Monday, December 21st. Three
resolutions would need to be adopted.
MacDonald talked with the Secretary Of State’s office regarding the map
of the City’s boundaries and they were very cooperative. Several cities are dealing with the same
situation. MacDonald also stressed the
need to adopt the Flood Plain Ordinance as soon as possible so residents could
be grand fathered in on the flood plain insurance. Ben Moran stated the new flood plain maps were very
detailed. Mayor Flanery called a
tentative special meeting for Monday,
December 21st at 5:00 p.m.
There being no further business, Councilman Manning
moved to adjourn at 8:45 p.m.
Councilman Story seconded the motion.
All were in favor.
____________________________
Louie
Flanery, Mayor
ATTESTED:
________________________________
Joy
Story Roark, City Clerk/Treasurer
Date
approved: __________________