CITY OF FORT THOMAS,

CAMPBELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY, ON

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2009

Mayor Mary Brown called the meeting of City Council to order at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, February 2, 2009. The Clerk called the roll and the following Councilmembers were present: Lisa Kelly, Jim Doepker, Jill Steller, Eric Haas, Roger Peterman and Tom Lampe. Staff members in attendance included: City Administrative Officer Don Martin, City Clerk Melissa Kelly, Finance Director Fred Ewald, Police Chief Mike Daly, Fire Chief Mark Bailey, and City Attorney Jann Seidenfaden.

Mayor Mary Brown led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

Minutes

The minutes of the January 20, 2009 meeting were presented to council for consideration. A motion was made by Mr. Peterman and seconded by Mr. Lampe to approve the minutes as written. The motion passed by a unanimous vote.

Visitors and Communications

Chief Bailey introduced several members of Boy Scout Troop 86 that were not able to attend the previous council meeting. Part of the nine requirements to earn their “Citizenship in the Community” badge is to attend a city council meeting. Mayor Brown welcomed them and thanked them for coming.

A letter was received from Mary Vieth, a resident of Fort Thomas, thanking the General Services crews for all of their hard work on clearing our streets of snow and ice during the winter storm we had on January 26, 2009. A motion was made by Mr. Doepker and seconded by Mr. Lampe to receive and file the letter from Mrs. Veith.

Reports of Boards, Committees and Commissions

Public Works Committee Report: The Public Works Committee met on January 27, 2009 to discuss the 2009 Street Resurfacing Program. The recommended streets to be included in the program for 2009 are: Midway Court, Manor Lane, Audubon Place, Montvale Court, Sweetbriar Avenue, Woodland Place, Carmel Drive, and Newman Avenue (from Kyles Lane to Churchill Drive). All streets will be subject to a special assessment to abutting property owners on a 50% - city and 50% - property owner cost sharing basis, with the exception of Carmel Drive. A motion was made by Mr. Peterman and seconded by Mrs. Steller to direct staff to proceed with additional planning and preparation for the 2009 Capital Improvement Program. Upon call of the roll, the following members voted “aye” – Ms. Kelly, Mr. Doepker, Mrs. Steller, Mr. Haas, Mr. Peterman, and Mr. Lampe. Voting “no” – none. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Reports of Officers

Renaissance Annual Report, Debbie Buckley: Debbie Buckley presented the 2008 Annual Report from the Fort Thomas Renaissance Board. A motion was made by Mr. Haas and seconded by Mrs. Steller to receive and file the annual report from the Renaissance Board. The motion passed by a unanimous vote.

City Administrator’s Report: Don Martin presented his report to Council on the following:

Midway Streetscape Project: The city anticipates that the utility relocation work will begin in February. Work on the streetscape will likely begin in May after bids are accepted by the city. A public hearing for special assessments will be conducted by the Public Works Committee on Monday, March 16 at 6:00 p.m. in conjunction with the 2009 Capital Improvement Program public hearing.

New Business Assistance Program: The city is in the process of creating a “New Business Assistance Program”. This program will serve new businesses desiring to open within Fort Thomas. Jay Treft will serve as the advocate to guide them through the approval process. This program should be operational in February.

Disaster Declaration: The federal government has issued a disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Campbell County Office of Emergency Management is collecting information from cities regarding the cost of storm clean-up and debris removal.

Grading Improvements near Amphitheater: At the last council meeting, council approved a filling and grading project near the amphitheater. The project entailed removal of four large maple trees. The Tree Commission met on Thursday, January 29 to review the request to remove the trees for the amphitheater project. The removal of the trees was approved. The Tree Commission also reviewed the area slated for brush removal. A large Catalpa Tree was discovered and they would like to see it preserved.

New Business

The Finance Committee of Council met prior to the Council meeting on the following:

Consideration of Bids for the Police Dept. Renovation and HVAC Project: The Finance Committee recommends to the Board of Council that the city reward the contract bid for the Police Department Renovation and the HVAC project to Schrudde & Zimmerman, Inc. This was the lowest and best bid at $586,981. A motion was made by Mr. Doepker and seconded by Mrs. Steller to reward the bid for the Police Department and HVAC project to Schrudde & Zimmerman in the amount of $586,981. Upon call of the roll, the following members voted “aye” – Ms. Kelly, Mr. Doepker, Mrs. Steller, Mr. Haas, Mr. Peterman, and Mr. Lampe. Voting “no” – none. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Consideration of Bids for Hazardous Materials Abatement: Two bids were received by the city for the process of hazardous material abatement. The Finance Committee recommends to the Board of Council that the bid for the removal of asbestos be awarded to Environmental Demolition Group, LLC in the amount of $12,000. A motion was made by Mr. Doepker and seconded by Mr. Peterman to awarded to Environmental Demolition Group, LLC in the amount of $12,000. Upon call of the roll, the following members voted “aye” – Ms. Kelly, Mr. Doepker, Mrs. Steller, Mr. Haas, Mr. Peterman, and Mr. Lampe. Voting “no” – none. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Consideration of Proposal from BHE for Hazardous Materials Abatement Oversight and Monitoring of Air Quality: BHE has submitted a proposal in the amount of $5,790 for the oversight of the hazardous materials abatement and to monitor air quality in the city building during the abatement process. The Finance Committee recommends to the Board of Council that the proposal from BHE be accepted. A motion was made by Mrs. Steller and seconded by Mr. Doepker to accept the proposal from BHE in the amount of $5,790 to oversee the hazardous materials abatement and monitor air quality within the city building. Upon call of the roll, the following members voted “aye”- Ms. Kelly, Mr. Doepker, Mrs. Steller, Mr. Haas, Mr. Peterman, and Mr. Lampe. Voting “no” – none. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Consideration of Financing Options for Police/HVAC Project: Staff had investigated several options for financing the projects. It was the recommendation of the Finance Committee of Council that the city borrow up to $800,000 from the Kentucky League of Cities’ Williamstown Bond Pool at a fixed interest rate of approximately 2.56%, to authorize Mayor Brown and city staff to execute the necessary paperwork for such loan and to amend the 2008-2009 budget to reflect this expenditure. A motion was made by Mrs. Steller and seconded by Mr. Doepker to finance the Police/HVAC project with the Kentucky League of Cities for an amount not to exceed $800,000, to authorize the Mayor and staff to execute the necessary paperwork and to amend the 2008-2009 budget to reflect this expenditure. Upon call of the roll, the following members voted “aye” – Ms. Kelly, Mr. Doepker, Mrs. Steller, Mr. Haas, and Mr. Lampe. Voting “no” – none. Roger Peterman disclosed that his employer represents the Kentucky League of Cities on several bond issues and recused himself from discussion or voting on this issue.

Report on Vouchers

The Finance Committee presented its Report of Disbursements and recommended the payment of warrants numbered 57363 through 57439 for the period of January 20 – Feb ruary 2, 2009. A motion was made by Mr. Doepker and seconded by Mr. Haas to concur in the recommendation of the Finance Committee. Upon call of the roll, the following members voted “aye” – Ms. Kelly, Mr. Doepker, Mrs. Steller, Mr. Haas, Mr. Peterman, and Mr. Lampe. Voting "no" - none. The motion passed by a unanimous vote.

Ordinances, Resolutions, and Orders

None.

With no further business to come before council, the meeting was adjourned by Mayor Brown.

APPROVED:

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Mary H. Brown, Mayor

ATTEST:

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Melissa K. Kelly, City Clerk