Home: Meeting Minutes List: Meeting Minutes

OCTOBER 11, 2004

Mayor Sohm welcomed and thanked everyone for attending the meeting.

Councilman Tony Miller gave the invocation.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was said.

Mayor Sohm called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.

In attendance were Council members Stacey Cline, Don Cundiff, Tony Miller, Margaret Moore and James Watkins.

Stacey Cline made motion to dispense with reading of 9/27/2004 regular meeting minutes. James Watkins 2^nd. Motion carried 5-0.

James Watkins made motion to approve minutes as printed. Don Cundiff 2^nd. Motion carried 5-0.

Mayor Sohm reminded everyone about the sewer plant tour on October 15^th at 1:00 p.m.

Mayor Sohm announced the Courthouse Dedication Ceremony would be October 19^th at 1:00 p.m.

Mayor Sohm announced that the right lanes of I-65 at Exit 116 South would be closed on October 12^th from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Mayor Sohm read portions of a letter received by the Police Department thanking Officer Kenny Proffitt and Officer David Moats for their assistance when he was broken down in Shepherdsville recently.

Michael Sweeten and James Robbins with Rumpke were present to address additional concerns the Council had regarding garbage pick up. Councilman Tony Miller stated that the majority of the problems he had experiences had been taken care of satisfactorily. He asked Mr. Sweeten to meet with Ms. Glover to get her problems resolved and Mr. Sweeten agreed to call her right away. Councilwoman Stacey Cline stated she had received no new calls. Councilman James Watkins stated when he called customer service he was told that his trash was not being picked up because all Rumpke had for him as an address was a P.O. Box. Mr. Watkins stated he gave them his street address four weeks ago and his trash has still not been picked up. Mr. Sweeten assured Mr. Watkins that he would receive a credit on his bill and trash service would begin immediately. Mayor Sohm asked Mr. Sweeten to have someone go through the list that Rumpke has of Shepherdsville customers and check for post office boxes and street addresses. Mayor Sohm also stated that Mr. Larry Geralds who resides on Fincastle Way was paying a higher price for trash pick up. Mr. Sweeten stated he would check on Mr. Gerald’s rate and make sure he is being billed the correct amount for service. Mayor Sohm asked Mr. Sweeten to check all residents of Fincastle Way to make sure they were paying the correct amount for trash service. Mayor Sohm also reported that the Bullitt County Stock Yards was having problems with trash being picked up. Mr. Sweeten stated he had spoken with the owner and that problem was being resolved. Mayor Sohm also stated that Ms. Hartlage who lives on Frank E. Simon has been skipped for the last two weeks in a row. Mr. Sweeten said he would make sure Ms. Hartlage is not missed again. Councilman Don Cundiff stated he had nothing additional. Councilwoman Margaret Moore stated she had no more complaints since she last met with Mr. Sweeten.

City Attorney Wantland had second reading of Ordinance 004-(number to be assigned) amending Ordinance 995-345 imposing a business license fee upon businesses, occupations, trades and professions carried on, conducted or read within the limits of the City requiring all persons, firms, or corporations pursuing same to first obtain a license therefore and providing penalties for engaging in same without a license. James Watkins made motion to approve. Margaret Moore 2^nd. Motion carried 5-0. (This Ordinance will be numbered 004-640.)

Mayor Sohm stated he would like to pass on the second reading of Ordinance 004-(number to be assigned) imposing a license upon insurance companies doing business within the corporate boundaries of the City of Shepherdsville. He stated he would like the Council to consider a few changes to bring the Ordinance more in line with what other cities have passed. He stated the Council may want to consider a 3% tax instead of a 5% tax. Councilman Don Cundiff stated he feels we should talk with the County and work something out with them. He stated he does not feel its right to just take the tax. He stated he has spoken with Kenny Rigdon and he is open to revenue sharing. Mayor Sohm stated he had talked with Judge Rigdon about this over a year ago but would call and sit down with him to try to work something out. Mayor Sohm also stated he would keep working on the numbers. Councilwoman Margaret Moore stated she feels the timing is wrong. She stated we just finished the budget and thinks we should wait and consider this for the next budget. Mayor Sohm stated that the timing is that we are going to have a revenue shortfall this budget and the Council needs to think of ways to bring in more revenue or what services to cut. City Attorney Wantland stated that the revenue paid to us at the state and national level is less and less. He stated that Fiscal Court enacted this tax not the City Council and all this Ordinance will do is determine how much money stays in Shepherdsville and how much money goes to unincorporated areas of the County. Councilwoman Stacey Cline stated she thinks it’s a good idea to share revenue.

There was no Sewer, Historical or Recreation Committee reports.

Councilman James Watkins asked about the Paroquet Springs sign. Mayor Sohm stated that we are awaiting word from Brian Meade with the State on widening the road to determine what needs to be done with the sign.

City Attorney Wantland had first reading of Ordinance 004-(number to be assigned) on request by The Marshall McPherson and Rita R. McPherson Revocable Trust to rezone 5 acres, more or less, from Agricultural to B-1 Highway Business located on the east side of the connector road, 1000’, more or less, south of Cedar Grove Road.

Motion made by Don Cundiff to observe Halloween Trick or Treating on Saturday, October 30^th from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. James Watkins 2^nd. Motion carried 4-1. (Stacey Cline voted against.)

James Watkins made motion to remove Ordinance 004-(number to be assigned) on request by Properties Limited, LLC to rezone 9.95 acres, more or less, located on the south side of Highway 44 East abutting the east property line of 2003 Highway 44 East from R-2 and Stream Valley Reserve to B-2 Central Business from the table for further discussion. Margaret Moore 2^nd. Motion carried 5-0. John Miller and Richard Haarman were present on behalf of Properties Limited. City Attorney Wantland stated that the rezoning restriction passed by the Planning Commission was for a 20 foot setback from the right of way with a buffer. He stated that B-1 zoning requires a 50 foot setback and asked Mr. Miller and Mr. Haarman if they would be willing to add this additional setback from Highway 44. Mr. Miller and Mr. Haarman both agreed to this additional restriction. Mayor Sohm asked if they had plans for the property. Mr. Haarman stated the property is not sold but most businesses want commercial zoning prior to purchase. At this time they don’t have plans. Mr. Miller stated the whole tract is 28 acres and the rear has been rezoned. This portion is ten acres and five acres is the RV Park. The rest will remain natural. Mayor Sohm stated that the City has not received any site review plans, sewer plans or drainage plans. Mr. Haarman stated they are not that far along yet, nothing is set in stone. Councilwoman Moore asked what the buffer would be. Mr. Miller stated there would be an evergreen buffer between B-2 and Residential. Mayor Sohm stated planning and zoning requires a fence and an evergreen buffer. Margaret Moore stated she would like to see something nice put up front. Mr. Haarman stated they will have restrictions on the buildings. Tony Miller made motion to approve with additional restriction. James Watkins 2^nd. Motion carried 5-0.

Planning Commission Appointee Ben Robards stated there was one new case for Shepherdsville. Charles Burris and Judy Burris requested to rezone 10 acres from Agricultural to B-1 Highway Business. Mayor Sohm reported that the City had sent a letter to the Planning Commission regarding the property on Howlett Drive. Mr. Lee called and stated he checked this property and found no zoning violations.

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

Councilman Tony Miller thanked the City for cleaning the streets. Mayor Sohm stated the street cleaning would continue on a monthly basis and that he would rely on the Council to determine when cleaning was needed.

Councilwoman Stacey Cline stated that she had received a complaint about the pot hole on Old Ford Road but that Mr. Hedgespeth would not let us do anything about it. Mayor Sohm stated that if the Council agrees to condemn the property the City will fill it, fix it and pave it. Public Works Foreman Jesse Walls stated there is no radius on either end but it does need widened. Mayor Sohm stated there are eight properties that we need to get easements on. City Attorney Wantland explained the procedure of what it takes to condemn a property and the expense involved with it. He asked PWF Walls to get Mr. Hedgepeth’s property engineering drawing to him at the next meeting.

Councilman James Watkins asked if the City had a signed easement from Ms. Hardesty on Highway 44 West for the sidewalk. The City Clerk will check for the easement to make sure the City has it.

Councilman Don Cundiff asked if anything was going to be done to the alleys, they are getting in bad shape. Mayor Sohm stated we would pave them when we could afford to. Mayor Sohm stated he has mixed feelings on opening the alleys. City Attorney Wantland stated if it is a public right of way and has not been closed it is still public right of way and can be used. Councilman Cundiff also asked about the connector road. Mayor Sohm stated he had met with Flynn Brothers last week and the road should be done by the end of the year. Councilman Cundiff also asked about the movie theater. Mayor Sohm stated there is a hold up that has something to do with the trees. An environmental assessment has to be done before they can proceed. Councilman Cundiff asked if there were any plans for the Winn Dixie property when Winn Dixie closed. Mayor Sohm stated he had received several inquiries on the property but there were no definite plans as yet.

James Watkins made motion to adjourn. Don Cundiff 2^nd. Motion carried 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

ATTEST:                                                                                             APPROVED: