City of Mount Washington

Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Council Meeting

July 24, 2006

City Hall Annex Building, 186 Branham Way

Mayor Sullivan called the meeting to order at 6:30pm with the following Council members present:  Joetta Calhoun, Ed Hilbert, Ralph Lutes, Sid Griffin, Lloyd Dooley and Larry Porter. 

Also present were City Clerk Christi Franklin, City Treasurer Peggy Brinkman, Utility Superintendent Ronnie Fick, City Engineer Dave Derrick and City Attorney Jim Winchell. 

Larry Porter gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Minutes

Christi Franklin read the minutes of the July 10, 2006 Council meeting.  Sid Griffin made a motion to accept the minutes as written.  Joetta Calhoun seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote with the abstention going with the majority as follows:

Yes                  Abstain

Sid Griffin         Lloyd Dooley  

Ed Hilbert

Ralph Lutes

Larry Porter

Joetta Calhoun

Treasurer’s Report

Peggy Brinkman gave the Treasurer’s Report for June 2006.  Larry Porter made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report.  Sid Griffin seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.

Ordinances

The Council held second reading of an ordinance amending §155.05(C) relating to political signs.  Discussion followed.  Jim Winchell advised the Council to adopt findings to be placed in the minutes.   Further discussion followed.  Sid Griffin made a motion to place into the minutes the specific findings as to why the ordinance is necessary based on the discussion at the July 10^th Council meeting, with the specific findings as follows: (1) The ordinance is necessary to protect and uphold the property values and physical appearance of the community by ensuring that the display of temporary political signs occurs only during the time period around the election to which the signs pertain.  (2) In order to protect automobile drivers from unnecessarily dangerous distractions.  Larry Porter seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.  Sid Griffin made a motion to pass the ordinance relating to political signs.  Joetta Calhoun seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.

The Council held second reading of an ordinance to adopt or reject the recommendation of the Bullitt County Joint Planning Commission to re-zone 26.9 acres, more or less (Docket No. 2006Z-22) known as the Oakbrooke Properties, LLC property under contract to purchase from Douglas and Doris Smith and is a portion of the property located at 340 N. 31E By-Pass.  Lloyd Dooley made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Bullitt County Joint Planning Commission and re-zone the Oakbrooke properties, LLC property.  Joetta Calhoun seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote. 

The Council held second reading of an ordinance annexing .95 acres known as the Lisa M. Lyvers property located at 3129 Greenbriar Road.  Joetta Calhoun made a motion to pass the ordinance annexing the Lyvers property.  Sid Griffin seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.

Lloyd Dooley introduced and the Council held first reading of an ordinance to accept or reject the recommendation of the Bullitt County Joint Planning Commission to re-zone 43.6 acres, more or less (Docket No. 2006Z-21) known as the R. Miles Properties, LLC property located at the northwest intersection of Bethel Church Road and Gentry Lane from Agricultural to R-2 Residential.  Richard Miles answered questions from the Council.      

Floyd’s Fork Park and Trail Project

Ruth Chowning from the Bullitt County Extension Office discussed the need for walking trails in Bullitt County and said the Floyds Fork Trail is one way to combat obesity and other health issues.  She asked the Council to consider allowing her and Cynthia to discuss this further with the Council and concerned businesses in the area.  Ms. Chowning answered questions from the Council.  Discussion followed.  The Council would like Steve Henry to come to a regular meeting to present a plan for the project and invite the business owners in the business park to attend. 

Report from Council

Lloyd Dooley reported tall weeds and grass off Highway 44 and the By-pass by the bank.  Ronnie Fick said the church owns a portion and the State owns a portion and only mows twice a year.  The Code Enforcement Officer will be sent out to investigate.  He also reported a street light out at the corner of Bardstown Road and Dooley Drive.  Ronnie Fick will contact the electric company again. 

Sid Griffin asked the status of the fire hydrant on Lakeview.  Ronnie Fick said the parts are in, but the State resurfaced over the valve and his crew was on site today tying to locate the shut off valve.  It will be fixed within a week.  Mr. Griffin also asked about the tall weeds behind the Senior Citizens Building.  Mayor Sullivan said the City will take care of it.  Mr. Griffin said it is time to make V Fisher clean up the property.  Jim Winchell said he was found guilty and given a fine.  He was also probated on the condition that there are no more problems.  If Mike Bowen finds additional violations he can file with the County Attorney.  Larry Porter said he will talk with Mr. Fisher and will inform the Council of the response. Mr. Griffin also discussed Woody Holt’s drainage problem on Sunnyside Drive.  Discussion followed.  Ronnie Fick said the City does not have an easement to do any work on the property.  Mr. Griffin discussed the loud music at Slowrides on Saturday night, the number of people allowed for live entertainment and drinking beer outside on the premises.  Discussion followed.  Mr. Griffin feels the ordinances need to be enforced or they need to be taken off the books.

Larry Porter discussed an article in The Courier Journal regarding growth estimates from the Census Bureau.  It showed that since 2001, the City has only grown by 139 people.  He would like to see the Mayor ask Christi to challenge the growth estimate.  Christi Franklin will check into this.

Mayor’s Report

Mayor Sullivan discussed the recent articles in The Pioneer News regarding the homeland security cell phones and insurance premium tax.  He discussed the reduction of cell phones by emergency management director Larry Stewart and resignation of Melvin Davis.  He stated the importance of cell phones in a disaster situation.  Mayor Sullivan said that contrary to what was stated in the article, he phoned Judge Rigdon and was told that “he would look into it”.  When he failed to receive feedback from Judge Rigdon he spoke to Larry Stewart.  He said it is these actions that question how some federal funds are distributed by County officials and the level of support received by the County.  He said that today the issue is about cell phones but tomorrow it could be another scenario when the City is faced with a catastrophic disaster.  Being cut off from external resources could allow problems mitigating the damages.  He stated that as elected leaders of the City, they are responsible for ensuring the safety and availability of resources to the citizens.  Therefore, he proposed for discussion, imposing up to five percent of the insurance premium tax.  The current two year contract for the $100,000 agreement with the County will be up for review in March 2007.  He discussed the revenue that could be received if the tax was imposed.  He would like to see the City re-coup at least three percent of the insurance premium tax.  Discussion followed.  Larry Porter said he would like to discuss this at the next meeting. 

Mayor Sullivan said the photos of the Mayors are now on the wall in the Council Chamber.

Adjourn

Larry Porter made a motion to adjourn at 7:41pm.  Ralph Lutes seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.