MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING

OF THE BOARD OF COUNCIL OF THE

CITY OF FORT THOMAS, CAMPBELL

COUNTY, KENTUCKY, ON WEDNESDAY,

AUGUST 9, 2006

 

Mayor Mary H. Brown called the Special Meeting of City Council to order at 6:00 P.M. on August 9, 2006.  She asked the Clerk to call the roll and the following Councilmembers were present:  Barb Runge, Jim Doepker, Eric Haas (arriving at 6:05), Roger Peterman and Tom Lampe.  Absent, Karen Lied.  Other staff members attending included:  City Administrative Officer Don Martin, City Clerk Melissa Kelly, City Attorney Jann Seidenfaden, Finance Director Fred Ewald, Fire Chief Mark Bailey, and Police Chief Mike Daly.

 

Mayor Brown led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

 

Minutes

 

Minutes from July 3, 2006 were presented to Council.  Mrs. Runge made a motion to approve the minutes as written.  It was seconded by Mr. Doepker.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Trophy Presentation for 4th of July winners

 

            Mayor Brown presented the trophies for the 4th of July Parade winners. 

            1st Place:  Dance Express (Present to receive trophy)

            2nd Place:  Bank of Kentucky

            3rd Place:  Girl Scouts (Present to receive trophy)

            Most Entertaining:  Highland United Methodist Church, Precision Lawn Chair Drill Team (Present)

            Most Unique:  Tom Rechtin Heating and Air

            Mayor Brown thanked all who participated in making our parade a great event.

 

Visitors and Communications 

 

A letter was received by the city from Byron G. Fehler of 56 Highview Avenue.  Mr. Fehler’s wife had fallen down a clay filled embankment during a storm and he was writing to thank the Fire Department for their helpfulness in the accident.  Mr. Fehler noted that the Fire Department employees were extremely courteous and professional.  It was moved by Mrs. Runge to receive and file the letter from Mr. Fehler.  It was seconded by Mr. Doepker.  Motion carried.

 

A letter from the Dan Beard Scout Reservation was received by the City.  The letter was regarding Fire Chief, Mark Bailey volunteering a week of his time to serve as a leader for their Boy Scout Troop.  Without Chief Bailey’s help, summer camp for the boys would not have been a reality.  It was moved by Mrs. Runge to receive and file the letter from the Boy Scouts of America.  It was seconded by Mr. Doepker.  Motion carried.

 

A letter from Campbell County Fiscal Court was received by the City.  The letter was regarding the 39th Annual Campbell County Senior Picnic to be held on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.  It was moved by Mr. Doepker to receive and file the letter from Campbell County Fiscal Court.  It was seconded by Mr. Peterman.  Motion carried.

 

Mr. Dan Orem of 33 W. Villa Place addressed Council.  Mr. Orem suggested to Council that they consider moving parking to the opposite side of the street on W. Villa Place due to several issues.  The fire hydrants are on the side of the street where people currently park and at times there are cars blocking them.  It is a concern of the neighborhood that if there were to be a fire, they would be blocked by a car and not be accessible by the Fire Department.  Moving the parking would also create two additional parking spaces on the other side of the street.  It was moved by Mr. Doepker to refer the issue to City staff for review of options to move the parking.  It was seconded by Mr. Lampe.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Mr. Joe Schwerling was present and addressed Council.  Mr. Schwerling showed concern regarding the work being done on Holiday Lane.  The driveway aprons are not equal to what they were before the work was preformed, and the tooling on the sidewalks was not done.  Mr. Schwerling requested that someone from Council or staff meet him on site to discuss some of these matters.  He also suggested that the City attorney or a committee review the plans for interpretation so that there are no oversights on the final product.

 

Reports of Officers

 

Fire Chief, Mark Bailey presented his monthly fire report for June.  Chief Bailey noted that for the month of June the Fire Department totaled 152 responses.  It was also mentioned that FF/Paramedic Tammy Webster attended the Cooper Institute in Dallas, Texas and received her certification for Firefighter Fitness and Wellness Educator.  Attending the Kentucky State Fire School in Lexington were, Captain Dale Cruze and Lieutenant Steve Lumpp.  Both attended the State Arson II class.

 

Police Chief, Mike Daly presented his monthly police report for June.  Chief Daly noted that in June, the officers wrote 55 speeding charges, 34 charges for non-traffic offenses, and 75 traffic charges.  The officers issued 281 written warnings for the month of June and totaled 41 court appearances.  Chief Daly also indicated that on June 21, Lieutenant Ken Fecher received a plaque of recognition for serving on the Campbell County Consolidated Dispatching Board for the last two years. 

On the training side, Officers Tom Carr and Chris Armstrong attended a 3-day Drug Interdiction seminar.  Officers Chris Goshorn and Adam Brown attended a 3-day Highway Drug Interdiction seminar, and Detective Ray Metz attended a 2-week Homicide Investigations Course.  Officer Mike Jansen attended the Safe School Conference.

 

New Business

 

On Friday, July 28, 2006 the bids were opened on the Fort Thomas Towne Center Redevelopment Project.  The low bidder was R.E. Schweitzer Construction Company with a bid of $1,085,910.00.  The City’s portion of the project was originally estimated to be $552,980.00.  After receiving the low bid amount, the City’s portion of the project increased to $659,700.  It was the determination of Council to refer this issue to the Finance Committee for review on or before September 5, 2006.  At the September 5, 2006 Council meeting, the Finance Committee will have a recommendation for Council on whether the extra cost can be absorbed.  The City has also requested that Cardinal Engineering consider a “civic contribution” during the construction phase via a reduced hourly rate. 

With that, Mr. Lampe made a motion to refer this item to the Finance Committee for their review.  It was seconded by Mr. Doepker.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

It is that time of the year once again when Council sets Trick-or-Treat for the City of Fort Thomas.  After some discussion, it was decided to schedule this event on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.  It was moved by Mr. Lampe to approve this date and time, seconded by Mr. Doepker.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

            Don Martin referred to an ordinance recently amended by Campbell County in respect to their sale of alcoholic beverages on Sunday.  It was the suggestion of council that the City’s ordinance should mirror the County’s and asked that staff draft a correction to the ordinance on liquor sales.  Council will review this draft at their September 5th meeting.

 

            Fred Ewald noted that in order to have the tax bills out to residents in a timely manner, it was necessary to have an emergency reading of the ordinance at the September 5, 2006 Council meeting or schedule a special Council meeting.  The Finance Office would like to send the bills out on September 7, 2006.  Jann Seidenfaden noted that as long as the City held the public hearing and then have the first and second reading and set forth the basis of the emergency in the Ordinance, there should be no problem.  Mayor Brown indicated that since it is hard to get Council together for special meetings due to vacations during the summer, the tax public hearing should be at 7:45 before the Council meeting and an emergency first and second reading of the Ordinance take place at the meeting on September 5, 2006.  For the record, since this item was not on the agenda for discussion, there will be no “official” action taken by Council. 

 

            Finance Committee Vouchers

 

            The Finance Committee presented their report on Vouchers and recommended the payment of disbursements for the period July 3 thru August 9, 2006.  A motion was made by Mr. Doepker to concur in the recommendation of the Finance Committee.  It was seconded by Mr. Haas.  Upon call of the roll, the following members voted “aye” – Mrs. Runge, Mr. Doepker, Mr. Haas, Mr. Peterman, and Mr. Lampe.  Voting “no” – none.  Motion carried.

 

Ordinances, Resolutions, and Orders

 

            Ordinance O-12-2006 regarding the Zone Change for 627 Highland Avenue was given a second reading and was adopted upon a motion by Mr. Peterman and second by Mr. Lampe.  Upon call of the roll, the following members voted “aye” – Mrs. Runge, Mr. Doepker, Mr. Haas, Mr. Peterman, and Mr. Lampe.  Voting “no” – none.  Motion carried. 

 

            Resolution R-7-2006 regarding curb replacement was adopted upon motion by Mr. Doepker and second by Mr. Lampe.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

            Resolution R-8-2006 regarding the Municipal Road Aid Bond Fund was adopted upon motion by Mr. Lampe and second by Mr. Doepker.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

            Resolution R-9-2006 regarding changing signatories on the City checking account was adopted upon motion by Mr. Doepker and second by Mrs. Runge.  Motion carried 5-0. 

 

           


 

 

A Proclamation for National Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery Month was read by the clerk. 

 

            There being no further business to come before Council, the meeting was adjourned.

                                                                       

 

APPROVED:

 

 

                                                                                    _____________________________

                                                                                    Mary H. Brown, Mayor

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

______________________________

Melissa K. Kelly, City Clerk