MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING

OF THE BOARD OF COUNCIL OF THE

CITY OF FORT THOMAS, CAMPBELL

COUNTY, KENTUCKY, ON MONDAY,
OCTOBER 3, 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, Roger Peterman, Karen Lied.  Also present were:  City Clerk Dottie Ivie, City Administrative Officer Jeff Earlywine, City Attorney Jann Seidenfaden, City Treasurer Fred Ewald, Assistant to the CAO Jay Treft, Fire Chief Mark Bailey and Police Chief Mike Daly.  Mayor Brown led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and then asked for disposition of the Minutes from the previous Regular Meeting.  They were approved upon motion (Peterman), second (Lampe) and unanimous Aye voice vote.

            Reports of City Officers were then presented:  Chief Mike Daly presented the Monthly Report of Police activities and reviewed statistics for Council.  He said that the Police Recruit Testing has recently been completed and after initial interviews with the officers, a list will be prepared for interviews with the Public Safety Committee members within the next week or two.  It was moved (Lampe) and seconded (Haas) to Receive and File; upon voice vote, it was unanimous Aye; motion carried.  Chief Mark Bailey then presented information from the Fire Department Monthly Report.  He reported that Eric Scherpenberg, hired at the last Council meeting, has completed a training orientation period and is now on the 24/48 schedule, having been added to Shift #1.  It was moved (Runge) and seconded (Lied) to receive and file; upon unanimous Aye voice vote, motion carried.

            Mr. Earlywine then discussed issues relating to Public Safety regarding Campbell County 911 Dispatch Funding and regarding Northern Ky. Drug Strike Force Funding.  He said that the Annual Report of the Dispatch Center shows that funding has decreased  due to less users of land line telephones within the area at a rate of 8% over the past 2 and ½ years of the Center and is continuing to decrease 3% per year.  The increasing numbers of cell phone users who pay only $.70 per month rather than the $2.00 per month from land line phones is having an adverse effect on funding of the Dispatch Center.  Various solutions are being studied and could be presented initially to the City Council’s Finance Committee if that is Council’s desire.  So moved (Runge), seconded (Lied) to refer this to the Finance Committee; with a 6-0 voice vote, the motion carried.

            Mr. Earlywine reviewed the history of the NK Drug Strike Force Unit and our participation in that group.  It was created approximately 25 years ago via an interlocal agreement between the three counties (Kenton, Boone, Campbell) in the area who participated in funding and staffing along with federal funding.

            Subsequently, federal monies have decreased 43%, and forfeitures (that could be resold) are down as well due to the change in nature of the drug type, which is currently meth labs and arrest of those manufacturing drugs.  He said that annual contributions from the three counties and these two other factors have resulted in a shortfall of $120,000.  A letter from the Unit bases a contribution formula on per capita, which would result in a Fort Thomas share of $7,021.60.  The City would need to review this request and if necessary, amend the Budget to provide for this contribution; therefore, referring this to the Finance Committee is also requested by the staff; so moved (Lampe) seconded (Runge) and upon unanimous Aye voice vote, it, too, was approved. 

            Under New Business, Bids received for tennis courts rehabilitation were presented and explained by Mr. Earlywine.  Five bids, ranging from $59,742 to $95,745, were received, and carefully reviewed by Director of Recreation Dave Buerger and CAO Earlywine.  Due to a number of factors, it is now thought it would be minimizing the impact on the High School varsity team and making the most of weather, to defer the entire project until next spring.  In the meantime, Buerger and Earlywine plan a trip to Lexington and maybe Georgetown, Kentucky, to observe the work and performance of the low bidders.  Waiting could result in an increase in the cost of asphalt, but seems to be a more prudent and simpler pattern for the project.  Earlywine suggested that this also be referred to the Finance Committee, but that the project bids be held in abeyance, and the bids be awarded at the next Council meeting, with the work deferred to next Spring.

            It was so moved (Runge), seconded (Lied) and a voice vote taken was 6-0 Ayes; motion carried.

            The Finance Committee presented their Report on Vouchers and recommended payment of the bills for the period.  It was moved (Lied) and seconded (Doepker) to concur in their recommendation and upon Roll Call vote, all voted Aye; motion carried.

            Resolution R-7-2005, Supporting the Renaissance Program Grant Application, was presented and commented upon by Mr. Treft.  He said that eight (8) projects have been submitted to the City, which would be in competition with projects from other cities as well.  After discussion, it was agreed that approval of all of these projects would be ideal and would provide an excellent opportunity for the public to see the benefit from these upgrades which would generate more interest.  There is a limited dollar amount statewide ($2 million) and a limit of $150,000 on the amount each city can apply for in total.   There was some discussion of the possibilities of getting some or all of this funding, and of specific businesses that have been included in the application process.  A number of banks within the City have met recently and agreed to offer low interest façade improvement rates (prime +1) and these included:  Bank One, Fifth Third Bank, Bank of Kentucky, Citizens Bank and US Bank. 

            Applicants are required to match funding from the grant, with the City certifying that match on the application form.  Mr. Treft stated that the Renaissance Board ranked the applicants for submission.  After some further discussion, it was moved (Lied) and seconded (Runge) to approve the Resolution for submission to the Program and it was given a unanimous Aye (6-0) vote; motion carried.

            Announcements were made regarding upcoming meetings and events, as follows:

Public Safety Comm. interviews of Police Officer Recruit candidates on Tues., Oct. 18, at 4:00 P.M.  The Public Works Comm. will conduct a Public Hearing on the Holiday Lane Reconstruction Project on Wed., Oct. 26, at 7:00 P.M.  The Highland Hills Park Access Study has been completed and will be presented at the next Council meeting on November 21, 2005.  Coming up in late October will be a dedication ceremony for the Gateway Park at Highland and Grand Avenue; however a specific date has not been set as yet. 

            There being no further business to come before Council, the meeting was adjourned. 

APPROVED:

______________________________

Mary H. Brown, Mayor

ATTEST:

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Dorothy A. Ivie, City Clerk