MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING

OF THE BOARD OF COUNCIL OF THE

CITY OF FORT THOMAS, CAMPBELL

COUNTY, KENTUCKY, ON MONDAY,
NOVEMBER 7, 2005.

 

            Mayor Mary H. Brown called the Regular Meeting to order at 8:00 P.M. and asked the Clerk to call the roll.  The following Councilmembers were present:  Barbara Runge, Jim Doepker, Karen Lied, Eric Haas, Tom Lampe.  Absent:  Roger Peterman.  Also attending were:  City Administrative Officer Jeff Earlywine, City Clerk Dottie Ivie, City Treasurer Fred Ewald, Assistant to the CAO Jay Treft, Police Chief Mike Daly and Fire Chief Mark Bailey.  City Attorney Jann Seidenfaden was absent from this meeting.  The Mayor then led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

 

            Minutes from the last Regular Meeting were in Council packets for their review and any corrections that might be suggested or necessary.  It was moved (Lied) and seconded (Doepker) that they be accepted as presented; upon voice vote, it was unanimous Aye; motion carried. 

 

Mayor Brown then made a change in the agenda to have the next item be the swearing-in and appointment of two new police officer recruits.  She read Executive Order EO-10-2005, Appointing Brian J. Waldorf, and Executive Order EO-11-2005, Appointing Michael C. Dietz, as Police Officer Recruits.  After administration of the Oaths of Office, which will be notarized by the Police Clerk, she and Chief Daly presented each with a framed copy of their appointing order and a badge.  She welcomed both Brian J. Waldorf and Michael C. Dietz to the City family and asked each to introduce the guests they had in the audience.  After introductions and photographs, Chief Daly congratulated them for their achievement from a very long testing process, beginning with the highest number of candidates for the written test that we have ever had (there were 100 who took the written test).  The two officers are enrolled in the Police Academy in Richmond, Kentucky, which will begin in less than two weeks and they will be attending this training for approximately 14 weeks. 

 

            A letter was presented informing the City that it is the recipient of $140,00 in Renaissance Program Façade Grant money, submitted on behalf of eight (8) applicants within the area defined for submissions.  Mayor Brown asked Jay Treft to pass along her appreciation for the staff work and dedication that went into preparing the grant and getting it properly submitted for consideration.  Treft will inform the recipients individually. This grant for 150 K will leverage an additional 150K into the community in the form of property owner matches.

 

The Clerk read a written report from the Public Works Committee on Holiday Lane Reconstruction work and after some discussion, it was approved, with a motion (Runge), second (Lied) and unanimous Aye Roll Call vote.  (Some City funds will be involved in the completion of the project.)  All Aye votes were recorded; motion carried. 

 

The Planning Commission submitted a recommendation and a Finding of Facts regarding a proposed text amendment to the Official Zoning Ordinance (Section 13, B) regarding the ability of an applicant to present cause for adjustments in off-street parking requirements.  After some discussion, both Mr. Doepker and Mr. Haas agreed that it is important to get this into the Zoning Ordinance as soon as possible, and it was moved (Runge) and seconded (Lampe) to approve this issue and place 1st Reading of an Ordinance on the agenda this evening; upon voice vote, all voted Aye; motion carried.

 

            Under Old Business, Mr. Earlywine presented information regarding the bids received for a Lighting Plan for the Tower Park Ballfield; they were opened on November 3, and a worksheet was distributed to each Councilmember with bid amounts and specifications.  According to Mr. Earlywine, there is not enough in this FY Budget to underwrite the entire project and it may be necessary to spread this cost over two years.  Even though there was $150,000 included for Park improvements, the recent tennis court resurfacing project bid came in at $65,000, which leaves only $40,000 for the lights.  After discussion, he recommended that Council receive the bids and defer any action on them until the next Council meeting.  This would allow time for more evaluation and a clearer decision about which type of lights would best suit the City’s use at that site.  There was a motion (Lampe), and a second (Runge) to receive the bids as recommended and defer the awarding of the bid until the next Regular Council meeting. Upon voice vote, all voted Aye; motion carried.

 

            Next, a plan was presented for a development at the end of Hawthorne Avenue, (Hawthorne Acres Subdivision) with all public improvements in and completed, with necessary inspections.  The City now needs to accept this plan, sign it, and present it for recording.  Mr. Earlywine noted that the plan is completed with two exceptions, first, the addition of trees (need to be two per building lot) and second, street lights; both of these would come later.  It was moved (Runge) and seconded (Lampe) that the final plat be approved and the Mayor authorized to sign the plat, with the two noted exceptions indicated therein.  Upon Roll Call vote, all voted Aye; motion carried. 

 

            Mr. Earlywine reported that the City is very pleased with the completion of the street resurfacing work this past week.  Also, the pier wall projects are all underway.  He said that, for the record, he wanted to compliment the General Services staff who pitched in and assisted the utility company personnel with their work to accomplish the ultimate goal of better serving our customers.  Their cooperative attitude and hard work are very much appreciated, he continued. 

 

The Finance Committee presented their Report on Vouchers, with the recommendation that bills be processed for payment.  So moved (Doepker), seconded (Lied) and upon Roll Call vote, all Councilmembers voted to concur in their recommendation. 

 

Next, several Ordinances were presented by the Clerk:  Ordinance O-26-2005, Amending 922 Service Fee Maximum Amount (range of $.55 to $3.30), was adopted upon motion (Doepker), second (Lied) and unanimous Aye Roll Call vote.  Ordinance O-27-2005, Amending Interlocal Agreement/ 911 Service Fee (to $3.00/line/mo.) was read and adopted upon motion (Lied), second (Doepker) and unanimous Aye Roll Call vote.

 

Ordinance O-28-2005, Intent to Proceed with the Holiday Lane Project, and Ordinance O-29-2005, Amending the Official Zoning Ordinance, Off-Street Parking Requirements, were both given 1st Readings and will be laid over for a second review and vote by Council.  Mayor Brown said she would like to take this opportunity to extend our sympathy to Councilmember Roger Peterman on the recent death of his father.  There being no further business to come before Council, the meeting was adjourned.

 

                                                                                    APPROVED:

 

 

 

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                    Mary H. Brown, Mayor

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

________________________________

Dorothy A. Ivie, City Clerk