Home: Meeting Minutes List: Meeting Minutes

JANUARY 24, 2005

Mayor Sohm welcomed and thanked everyone for attending the meeting.

Pastor Gary Hardin, First Baptist Church of Shepherdsville gave the invocation.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was said.

Mayor Sohm called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m.

In attendance were Council members Stacey Cline, Tony Miller, Margaret Moore, Faith Portman, Trina Summers and Alan Wetzel.

Tony Miller made motion to dispense with reading of 1/10/2005 regular meeting minutes. Trina Summers 2^nd. Motion carried 6-0.

Trina Summers made motion to approve minutes as printed. Stacey Cline 2^nd. Motion carried 6-0.

Councilwoman Summers announced that Governor Ernie Fletcher would be in Shepherdsville on Friday, 3:30 p.m. at the Paroquet Springs Conference Centre to discuss his tax reform plan.

Mayor Sohm announced that he had received a letter from Dr. Eberbaugh, Superintendent of Bullitt County School thanking Shepherdsville for proclaiming January as School Board Recognition Month.

Mayor Sohm announced that the Police Department had implemented an e-mail alert system and encouraged everyone to sign up. He stated he had received many letters of support and thanks. He thanked Police Chief Ron Morris for his good idea and stated he appreciated Chief Morris’ efforts in this project.

City Attorney Joe Wantland opened the bid received on the general liability and property/casualty insurance coverage for the City. He stated the bid was received from Lee & Marshall submitted by St. Paul. He stated the premium was $100,568.00. He stated terrorism coverage was not included and if the City would like to purchase it the cost would be an additional $1365.00. Tony Lee was present and stated the property values went up but the premium actually lowered from last year. Mayor Sohm suggested the City accept the bid if the City Attorney agrees because current coverage ends of 2/13/2005. Councilman Tony Miller stated he feels the City should take the terrorism coverage. Mr. Lee stated that the Congress of the United States must declare an act of terrorism before this coverage will take effect. After further discussion on the terrorism coverage Tony Miller made the motion to accept this bid subject to City Attorney Wantland’s approval, with the terrorism rider included. Stacey Cline 2^nd. City Attorney Wantland stated this bid was okay. Motion carried 6-0.

Trina Summers made motion to remove the rezoning request from Divine Savior Lutheran Church from the table for discussion. Stacey Cline 2^nd. Motion carried 6-0. City Attorney Wantland read Ordinance 004-(number to be assigned) on request by Divine Savior Lutheran Church of Shepherdsville, Inc. to rezone 2.25 acres, more or less, located on the south side of Northside Avenue, 400’, more or less, west of N Preston Highway from R-1 Residential to R-3 Residential. Mr. Steve Sahloff was present on behalf of Divine Savior. Mayor Sohm stated there were some questions as to the intended use of the property. Mr. Sahloff stated that when the church was bought on the property around it was R-1, now everything is R-3 and they feel the property will sell quicker if zoned the same as surrounding property. Mr. Sahloff stated the lay of the land is not favorable for the church to expand and he does not feel it would sell as R-1 when everything around it is R-3. He stated the 2.25 acres just behind the church is all that is being asked to rezone. The church is not included in this request, it is zoned R-1. Councilman Miller stated he would hate to see R-1 property rezoned to R-3 property because the lot size is smaller. He would like to see the land stay the same until the Church is sold and the new owner takes possession. Mayor Sohm stated it’s very rare to receive a request to rezone R-1 to R-3. Councilwoman Margaret Moore asked Mr. Sahloff how the state road would affect this property. Mr. Sahloff stated the road does not touch this property at all. Mr. Sahloff stated the Church thought the best scenario would be to rezone the property R-3, the same as all around it in order the sell. Trina Summers made motion to rezone 2.25 acres to R-3. Margaret Moore 2^nd. Motion carried 4-2 (Alan Wetzel and Tony Miller voted against.) (This Ordinance will be numbered 005-650.)

Stacey Cline made motion to remove request from Donna Ferguson Satterly from the table for discussion. Trina Summers 2^nd. Motion carried 6-0. City Attorney Wantland read Ordinance 004-(number to be assigned) on request by Donna Ferguson Satterly to rezone .67 acres, more or less, located at 2002 Highway 44 East from R-1 Residential to B-2 Central Business.  Doug Satterly, 2002 Highway 44 East was present to answer questions from the Council. Councilwoman Moore asked Mr. Satterly if he would require a brick front on any building going there. Mr. Satterly stated he would not want to agree to that because some things come in prefab. After further discussion on the property’s use Tony Miller made motion to rezone. Trina Summers 2^nd. Motion carried 6-0. (This Ordinance will be numbered 005-051.)

There were no Sewer, Historical, Transportation/Beautification or Recreation Committee reports.

Mr. Russ Godwin with Kennedy Septic addressed the Council regarding dumping at the Sewer Plant. He stated he wants a permit to dump port a pot waste at the sewer plant. He stated he would only dump what is picked up in Shepherdsville. He stated he has two trucks, one 1000 gallon and one 1200 gallon. Mayor Sohm stated the City had passed guidelines and the Council decides who can dump at the plant. He stated there have been none accepted because the plant is not set up to take extra sewage. He stated the City does not make any money from this if the waste is not dewatered. Mr. Godwin stated what he would dump would be mainly water. Mayor Sohm stated that Mr. Godwin would have to agree to have samples done at his cost. Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Mike Schroeder stated he only has two tanks to dump into. When the plant was updated it was not set up to dump. Councilwoman Summers stated she is not comfortable with accepting more at the plant. There are liability issues and disposal issues. Mayor Sohm stated he agrees. The plant is not equipped to accept any additional waste. Trina Summers made motion to decline request by Kennedy Septic to dump at the sewer plant. Stacey Cline 2^nd. Motion carried 6-0.

Stacey Cline made motion to approve January bills. Tony Miller 2^nd. Motion carried 6-0.

Planning Commission Appointee Ben Robards stated there was one case coming up that does not affect Shepherdsville at this time but the applicant may seek annexation as a later date. He also stated that the Commission approved the plat for Zappos.com.

Board of Adjustments Appointee Scott Isert was not present at the meeting.

Police Chief Ron Morris reported that the in car cameras were being installed this week and without any complications should be finished next week. He stated he had handed out a draft copy of a cost recovery ordinance he would like the council to review.

Mayor Sohm stated there was no representative from the Fire Department present because they were participating in an ice rescue training exercise. He reported the Fire Department had hired two full time firefighters, John Kilroy and Matt Smothers. Mayor Sohm stated that the department had received several good applicants interested in the job. At this time part time positions will be used to cover shifts at the pay of $7.00/hour.

Councilwoman Moore asked if the Code Enforcement Officer was going through the City looking for violations or if someone should still call and report them. Chief Morris stated that Officer Bradley was going through the City looking for violations but encouraged anyone who saw a violation to call and report it.  Councilwoman Moore asked if the audit would be presented at the next meeting. The City Clerk stated that the audit was scheduled to be presented at the next meeting barring any further delays. Councilwoman Moore expressed concern over using same preachers all the time. She stated she would like to spread around to other churches. Councilwoman Moore also asked is Mr. Isert was attending Planning Commission meetings. Councilwoman Summers stated that she thinks he is working second shift but feels he is attending meetings.

Mayor Sohm asked for a motion to adjourn to executive session to discuss possible purchase of property and litigation. Margaret Moore made motion to adjourn to executive session. Alan Wetzel 2^nd. Motion carried 6-0.

Stacey Cline made motion to return to regular session. Tony Miller 2^nd. Motion carried 6-0.

City Attorney Wantland stated the Council directed the Mayor to follow up on acquisition of property and report back at the next meeting.

Margaret Moore made motion to adjourn. Alan Wetzel 2^nd. Motion carried 6-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m.

ATTEST:                                                                                             APPROVED:

Tammy Owen, City Clerk                                                                     Joseph G. Sohm, Mayor