MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING

OF THE BOARD OF COUNCIL OF THE

CITY OF FORT THOMAS, CAMPBELL

COUNTY, KENTUCKY, ON MONDAY,
JANUARY 3, 2006

Mayor Mary H. Brown called the Regular Meeting to order at 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, January 3, 2006.  She asked for a call of the roll and then led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.  The following Councilmembers were present:  Barbara Runge, Jim Doepker, Karen Lied, Eric Haas, Roger Peterman, and Tom Lampe.  Attending from the staff were:  City Clerk Dottie Ivie, City Administrative Officer Jeff Earlywine, City Treasurer Fred Ewald, Fire Chief Mark Bailey, City Attorney Jann Seidenfaden, Assistant to the CAO Jay Treft and Chief of Police Mike Daly. 

            Minutes from the last Regular Meeting (December) were presented for Council’s review and approval.  The December 19, 2005, Council meeting was cancelled.  It was moved (Lied) and seconded (Doepker) to approve the minutes as presented.  Upon voice vote, it was unanimous Aye (6 – 0); the motion carried.

            A letter was read from the Ky. Justice Cabinet informing the City that the Police Department is in compliance with all requirements of the recent audit conducted by Investigator Manager Ron Godsey.  He expressed appreciation for the cooperation and work of Chief Daly and Lt. Whitford during their visit.  It was moved (Lampe) and seconded (Runge) to receive and file the letter, with a copy to the Police Chief for his departmental records.  Upon voice vote, all voted Aye; motion carried.

            Two citizens were in the audience regarding the Planning Commission decision on Fischer Estates, but were informed that this issue is strictly that of the Planning Commission and Council has no say so in it.  They thanked the Mayor and said they would just stay for some of the Council meeting as they had not attended one before.

            The Monthly Report of the Police Department was presented by Chief Mike Daly and it was received and filed upon motion (Runge), second (Doepker) and unanimous Aye voice vote.

            The Monthly Report of the Fire Department was presented by Chief Mark Bailey and it was received and filed upon motion (Lampe), second (Runge), and unanimous Aye voice vote.  The Chief reported on a recent structure fire at 17 Rossmore Avenue (at 0337 A.M. on New Year’s morning.  The six persons on duty at the Fire House arrived at 0341 A.M. to discover a fully involved fire, with no one at home at the time.  He said that although the Ky. Fire Marshall’s office is investigating, the probably cause is electrical.  Mrs. Lied asked if anyone was hurt; Chief Bailey said there were, fortunately, no injuries.

            The Public Works Committee presented a report regarding the Final Inspection and approval of streets within the 2005 Street Resurfacing Program.  It was moved (Peterman), seconded (Lied) to approve the Report and concur in its recommendations; upon Roll Call vote, all voted Aye; motion carried.

            Under Old Business, Mr. Earlywine reviewed for Council a request for a one year extension to the existing contract with our City Engineers, CDS Associates. He stated that this company provides for the City a “full range of services that meet our needs.”   He said that the proposed contract asks for no changes in the fee schedule, but an overall 3.75! increase in overall categories which is in line with cost of living increases.  It was moved (Runge) and seconded (Doepker) to approve this request; upon Roll Call vote, all voted Aye; motion carried.

            Also, he addressed a one year extension in the existing contract with MCA, who has provided ALS billing services for the City over the past 10 years. He said the billing process is a specialized business and the City staff is pleased with their work.  They receive a 9% collection fee for this work. Upon motion (Runge), second (Doepker) and unanimous Aye Roll Call vote; all voted Aye; motion carried.

            Mr. Earlywine presented two requests for an adjustment to existing fees; the first was information about an ordinance coming up on the agenda tonight for 1^st Reading to adjust the fee scheduled for Ambulance Runs.  The City has had an ALS Unit for 20 years, since 1986, but didn’t collect fees for the first 10 years..  Two reasons were given for the requested increases, first, expenses have increase over the past 6 years, especially, and second, the City wants to be a “good team player” in our region.  Rates are set by ordinance and the City fees have been among the lowest, which holds all cities’ fees down.  This was approved upon motion (Runge), second (Lied) and unanimous Aye Roll Call vote; motion carried to go forward with the Ordinance. 

Next, a listing was provided of proposed fee adjustments to several categories in the rental of the Community Center.  The City last adjusted fees in January, 2004 and the scale has been simplified in terms of cost and numbers of people using the facility.  Upon motion (Lampe), second (Peterman) and unanimous Aye Roll Call vote, this was approved, and a Municipal Order will be presented later on the Agenda.

            The Finance Committee presented their Report on Vouchers for the period and upon motion (Doepker), second (Lied) and unanimous Aye Roll Call vote, Council concurred in their recommendation for processing of payments.

            Ordinance O-1-2006, Setting Date and Time of Regular Council and Committee Meetings was given a 1^st Reading.  Ordinance O-2-2006, Adjusting Ambulance Fee Schedule was given a 1^st Reading.  These will be laid over and presented for vote at the next Regular Council meeting.  Municipal Order MO-1-2006, Adjusting the Community Center Fee Schedule, was approved upon motion (Lied), second (Lampe) and unanimous Aye voice vote. 

Several Committees need to schedule meetings and Dottie Ivie, City Clerk, will be contacting Councilmembers for those dates and times.  These include:  Public Works Committee, regarding Capital Planning, Finance Committee, review of the recently-completed Audit Report, with the Auditors, and a Law-Labor-License Committee which will be set for 7:15 P.M. prior to the next Council meeting.  Two Public Safety  Committee group interviews will need to be conducted, one with candidates for Fire Dept. Captain and one for Fire Department Lieutenant., likely this will be done in February. 

            Mr. Lampe asked if there could be some discussion about a change for the time of Council meetings, and after a number of opinions, it was recommended that the date and time be kept as it is, so as to permit putting the Committee Meetings on the same night and second, to permit time for family meal time and then for the necessary meetings after that. 

Various announcements were made, including the next Council meeting on Tuesday, January 17, delayed one day due to the Federal Holiday, Martin Luther King’s Birthday.  The Filing Date for Council elections is January 31^st and Mayor Brown invites anyone interested to run.  At the 1^st meeting in February, Patrolman Ray Metz will be taking photographs of Council members for the City records.  There being no further business to come before Council, the meeting was adjourned.

APPROVED:

______________________________

Mary H. Brown, Mayor

ATTEST:

________________________________

Dorothy A. Ivie, City Clerk