MINUTES OF A REGULAR
MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF
COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF FORT THOMAS, CAMPBELL
COUNTY, KENTUCKY, ON MONDAY,
NOVEMBER 21, 2005.
The Regular Meeting was called to order at 8:00 P.M. by Mayor Mary H. Brown,
who asked for a call of the roll. The following Councilmembers
were present: Barbara Runge, Jim Doepker, Karen Lied, Eric Haas, Roger
Peterman. Absent: Tom Lampe. Also attending were: Jeff Earlywine, City
Administrative Officer, Dottie Ivie, City Clerk, City
Treasurer Fred Ewald, City Attorney Jann Seidenfaden, Police Chief Mike Daly and Fire Chief Mark Bailey.
The meeting opened with a presentation of the Highland Hills Park Access Study
prepared by City Engineer Mark Brueggemann, of CDS
& Associates, Inc. Property owners on Mayfield Avenue, Highland
Avenue, James Avenue
and other adjoining areas were invited to attend and hear the report and
participate in a question and answer session with Mr. Brueggemann
and Mr. Earlywine. Approximately two dozen residents
attended this presentation and participated in the discussion.
The Access Study presented
specific information, with area maps and drawings illustrating an alternate
route into the Park via James
Avenue, past the property owned by the Fort Thomas
Swim Club and into the park near the existing tennis courts. The roadway
would intersect with the road through the Park itself near the current picnic
shelter. Several questions were answered about the feasibility of
constructing a road with an estimated 12% grade near the top of the hill.
A considerable amount of fill would be needed (likely 28 to 30 feet of fill)
which would increase the total cost for the project now estimated at $530,000 to
$580,000.
There was also some
discussion of possibly selling two to four lots at the end of
Mayfield, which could be used toward the cost of the project, but which would
also eliminate approximately one acre from the park property of 77 acres.
Lots would likely sell in the range of $85,000 to $90,000, with a more exact
range to be determined later. In addition, there was general discussion
about benefit to the traffic flow around Moyer School,
for parents dropping off and picking up their children, as well as improved
parking area. This item would need to be discussed with school officials.
It was then decided to take no Council action at this time, but to first review
it with the School Board and with the Fort Thomas Swim Club. This information
will be brought back to Council at a future meeting.
Chief Mike Daly presented his
monthly report from the Police Department. He said that October was a
strong month for community-oriented policing, as the PD made 11 presentations
to groups and participated in two events, 2 station tours and 7 safety talks
within the schools.
Nine officers completed the
annual POPS Physical Fitness Test for 2005 and will receive a Fitness Ribbon
for their uniforms. These were: Lt. Mark Dill, Lt. Rich Whitford, Lt. Jamey Gadzala, Sgt.
Casey Kilgore, Det. Brad Adams, and Officers Doug
Bryant, Christ Carpenter, Chris Armstrong, and Tom Carr.
Our two recently-appointed
Police Recruits (Brian Waldorf and Michael Dietz) are both enrolled at the Police Academy
in Richmond, Kentucky. He presented a review of the
monthly statistics and it was moved (Runge) and
seconded (Lied) to receive and file same; upon voice vote, it was 5 – 0 Ayes;
motion carried.
Chief Mark Bailey then presented
the Fire Department monthly report, which show fire incident responded for
October at 30, with 110 EMS responses, 21 fire
inspections and other, such as mutual aid assistance to other
communities. The Department recently attended an eight-hour class taught
by staff and Dr. Jim Evans for ACLS recertification. Fire Prevention
activities encompasses most of the month; he again recognized the assistance of
the Highlands High School National Honor Society in the
Smoke Detector Blitz on October 15. His report was received and filed
upon motion (Doepker), second (Lied) and unanimous
Aye 5 – 0 voice vote; motion carried.
Mr. Earlywine reported on a recent staff and Planning
Commission meeting with the proposed developers of the Grand Communities
(Fischer), and said that information was exchanged that will result in this
being continued until the December meeting of the Commission.
He then presented bid proposals for the Tower Park Ballfield
Lighting Project and explained the staff recommendation that the low bid from Kyova of $127,541 be accepted. He stated that steel
poles at a cost of $9,100 to $9,500 each were a part of their base bid and
their work and end product are guaranteed for 25 years. It was moved (Runge), and seconded (Haas) to award the bid as recommended
and then restudied, upon Roll Call vote, all voted Aye; motion carried.
Mr. Earlywine and staff members will meet with Kyova officials for a pre-construction meeting within the
next week or so.
Under New Business, Mr. Earlywine presented
information about a proposed KDOT Grant Submission to obtain 50% matching funds
from the Ky. Transportation and Safety Division, along with the Economic
Development Office, under House Bill 267 (Discretionary Bond Money) for
possible reconstruction of Tower
Hill Road. This effort will be supported
with letters from Congressman Joe Fischer and Senator Katie Stine.
He will be able to deliver
the documentation directly to the agency in Frankfort. The estimated
total cost of the project is $400,000. It was moved (Haas), seconded
(Peterman) and given unanimous Aye voice vote to approve pursuing the funds for
this project via submitted grant application; motion carried.
The Finance Committee presented their report on vouchers, recommending approval
and upon motion (Doepker) and second (Lied) Council
concurred in their recommendation. A Roll Call vote was taken which
resulted in 5 Ayes – 0 Nos; motion carried.
Ordinance O-28-2005, Intent to Proceed with the Holiday Lane Project was
adopted upon motion (Peterman), second (Haas) and unanimous Aye Roll Call
vote. Ordinance O-29-2005, Amending the Official Zoning Ordinance,
providing for Off-Street Parking Requirements to be altered, was adopted upon
motion (Doepker), second (Lied) and unanimous Aye
Roll Call vote.
Resolution R-7-2005, accepting participation from the Ky. Dept. of
Transportation, for the Holiday Lane Project, was adopted upon motion
(Peterman), second (Doepker), and unanimous Aye Roll
Call vote. Resolution R-8-2005, Supporting the
Grant Application for the lower portion of Tower Hill Road was adopted upon motion (Runge), second (Lied) and unanimous Aye voice vote.
Municipal Order MO-21-2005, Appointing Barbara Manyet
to the Tree Commission for a two year term was approved upon motion (Lied),
second (Doepker) and unanimous Aye voice vote.
In a delayed action from an earlier agenda item, it was moved (Runge) and seconded (Lied) to receive and file a letter
from Dr. Michael and Dr. Jacqueline Hanson, who live at 304 Highland Avenue, regarding the
proposed alternate access road to Highland
Hills Park.
Mayor Brown reminded everyone of the Holiday Walk on December 4th from 5:30 P.M. until 8:30 P.M.
All voted Aye upon voice vote; motion carried.
There being no further
business to come before Council, the meeting was adjourned.
APPROVED:
______________________________
Mary
H. Brown, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________________
Dorothy A. Ivie,
City Clerk