MINUTES OF A REGULAR
MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF
COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF FORT THOMAS, CAMPBELL
COUNTY, KENTUCKY, ON MONDAY,
OCTOBER 17, 2005
The Regular Meeting was called to order at 8:00 P.M. by Mayor Mary H.
Brown. After a call of the roll, the group was led in the Pledge of
Allegiance to the flag by Mayor Brown. The following Councilmembers
were present: Barbara Runge, James Doepker, Karen Lied, Eric Haas, Roger Peterman, and Tom
Lampe. Also present were the following staff members: City
Administrative Officer Jeff Earlywine, City Clerk
Dottie Ivie, City Attorney Jann
Seidenfaden, City Treasurer Fred Ewald,
Assistant to the CAO Jay Treft,
Fire Chief Mark Bailey and Police Chief Mike Daly.
Minutes from the last Regular Meeting were presented to Council in their
packets for review; these were approved upon motion (Peterman), second (Lampe)
and unanimous Aye voice vote. The Clerk read a letter from Mary and Vito Ciepiel, Vito’s Café, congratulating Council on the work
being done on a Gateway Park at Highland
and Grand. It was moved (Lampe) and seconded (Doepker)
to receive and file this letter. Mr. Earlywine
then announced that the dedication and opening ceremony for this Gateway Park has been set for Sunday, October
30, 2005, at 2:00 P.M.
Addressing Council from the audience was Mr. John Corcoran, 809 South Ft. Thomas Avenue. He
lives on the corner adjacent to Crescent Avenue and suggested that the speed
limit on that street, currently at the standard 25 mph, be lowered to 15
mph. He said there were numerous children on that street. He also
noted that he lives across from the Stone
Tower at the entrance to Tower Park
and even though it is beautifully lit and visible as you are coming north,
there are trees blocking the view of the City’s landmark as you travel north to
south. He suggested that some of these trees be trimmed back
He also expressed the hope that the homes that are rapidly deteriorating at the
end of Alexander Circle
within the Park be used as a business district as he has observed in some other
areas of the country. He said that the ball field in the center would be
useful as a parking lot, and he thinks this would be an ideal use of this
area. Mayor Brown said that the City is hoping to keep the area strictly
residential, but thanked Mr. Corcoran for his comments and suggestions.
Mr. Earlywine commented that in regards to the
request for a lower speed limit, the city has in place a Neighborhood Traffic
Program, involving the police speed check trailer, and residents in the area
are welcome to contact him if they want to implement that program to determine
needs for lowered speed limits along the streets. There was some
discussion about the current leaf schedule wherein the city crews make three
complete run-throughs of the city every three weeks from mid-October to mid
December.
The Fire Department Monthly Report was presented by Chief Mark Bailey and it
was received and filed upon motion (Runge), second
(Lied) and unanimous Aye voice vote. Bailey noted that fire loss was at
$2,000 this past month. This past month has been “Fire Prevention Month”
and along with that, the department has conducted a successful smoke detector
blitz (visiting 332 homes in four hours), and has visited many school classes,
churches, and senior groups within the community. They have emphasized
the National Fire Protection agency theme for this year: Use Candles with
Care. He said they are appreciative of the help given by 23 members of
the National Honor Society on the Saturday morning blitz. A recurrent
theme this month is a reminder to residents to change the batteries in their
smoke detectors. Chief Bailey also reported that due to a paint problem
with our current squad, we will have an American LaFrance squad as a loner for
approximately 3 to 3 ˝ weeks while the company is repainting it. Mr.
Peterman suggested that the information and reminders about using candles with
care should be placed on our website, and or place in the next City
newsletter. Chief Bailey will get that information, which is in flyer
form, to our webmaster and keep it on file for the next opportunity to put in
our publications.
Police Chief Mike Daly then
presented the Police Department Monthly Report; it was moved (Runge) and seconded (Doepker) to
receive and file the report; a voice vote was 6-0; and the motion
carried. Daly noted that officers have just completed firearm
qualifications this past week, during which they practiced night firing.
He recognized several officers for outstanding actions during the period.
On behalf of the Finance Committee, whose members met just prior to the Council
meeting, CAO Jeff Earlywine presented their findings
and recommendations on several issues. The first was a proposed amendment
to the City’s ordinance funding 911 Dispatching Fees. Due to a steadily
decreasing number of telephone land lines, funding for the 911 Dispatching has
suffered. Whereas $2.00 is received from each home phone, only $.70 is
designated from a cell phone. It is the recommendation of the Finance
Committee that the City draft an ordinance increasing the funding on a per line
per month basis from $2.00 to $3.00. Other cities’ actions will add to
this amount and permit the continuation of full 911 service
to the community. Jeff will respond to the Agency to provide an
explanation of our planned funding. This was approved upon motion (Lied), second (Doepker) and a unanimous
Aye Roll Call vote.
Next, he reviewed a request from the Northern Ky. Drug Strike Force for per
capita funding from each city in the area. For the City to provide the
amount requested, this will require an amendment to the current General Fund
Budget. He stated that this agency was formed 25 years ago and since that
time there has been a 43% increase in activities, but a decrease in the amount
contributed from the cities to fund it. It is proposed that the cities
share the deficit, with an amount of $7,021.60 set for a Fort Thomas contribution. We currently
have allotted $2,500 in the current Fiscal Year Budget. It was then
moved (Doepker) and seconded (Lied) to approve the
amount requested for the Northern Ky. Drug Strike Force, with the requisite
amendment to the Budget to be made. Upon Roll Call vote, the tally was
unanimous Aye votes; motion carried.
Mr. Earlywine
then reviewed the five (5) Tennis
Court Bids received in response to an advertised
reconstruction project. He explained that there are two low bidders that
seemed to require some extra investigation and both he and our Director of
Recreation, Mr. Dave Buerger, recently took a drive
to Lexington to
inspect recent jobs completed by these companies. Based upon this sight
inspection as well as conversations with other agencies who
have used their services, they are recommending that the bid be awarded to
Tennis Technology, for the amount of $64,858. Mr. Lampe asked when the
work would be completed; however, even though some of the work could be done
this fall, it will probably be early spring before it is ready for tennis
play. It was moved (Lampe) and seconded (Peterman) to award the bid to
the Tennis Technology Co. and upon Roll Call vote, all vote Aye; motion
carried.
Under Old Business, Mr. Earlywine provided an update
for Council on several Capital Improvement Projects with no action required
The Finance Committee presented their Report on Vouchers and recommended they
be processed for payments. Upon motion (Lied), and second (Doepker) to concur in their recommendation, a Roll Call
vote was taken, with all voting Aye, 6-0; motion carried.
Ordinance O-26-2005, Amending 911 Service Fee on Telephone Land Lines ($.55
ranging up to $3.30), was given a 1st Reading. Ordinance O-27-2005, was also given a 1st Reading and it amended and Interlocal Agreement regarding 911 Service Fees, setting
the fee at $3.00 per line per month. These Ordinances will be brought
back for a second reading and a vote at the next Regular Meeting.
Mayor Brown reviewed a list of upcoming meetings and events and their dates and
times. There being no further business to come before Council, the
meeting was adjourned.
APPROVED:
______________________________
Mary
H. Brown, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________________
Dorothy A. Ivie,
City Clerk