Home: Meeting Minutes List: Meeting Minutes

JUNE 9, 2003

Mayor Sohm welcomed and thanked everyone for attending the meeting.

Reverend Carl Thomas, Immanuel Baptist Church gave the invocation.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was said.

Mayor Sohm called the meeting to order at 6:38 p.m.

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

Stacey Cline made motion to dispense with reading of 5/12/2003 regular meeting minutes and 5/13/2003 special meeting minutes. Don Cundiff 2^nd. Motion carried 4-0.

Don Cundiff made motion to approve minutes as printed. Stacey Cline 2^nd. Motion carried 4-0.

Mayor Sohm announced the Waste Tire Amnesty Program has been rescheduled for July 10 through July 12, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at the State Highway Garage.

Mayor Sohm introduced Elaine Wilson with the Bullitt County Conference Centre and Tourism Commission who updated the Council on plans for the July 4^th fireworks display. Ms. Wilson stated the fireworks display would begin at approximately 9:45 p.m. and there would be plenty of festivities throughout the day including the Olde Tyme Homecoming festival on First Street from July 3^rd through July 6^th. She stated she had spoken with Police Chief Ron Morris about crowd and traffic control on July 4^th. Ms. Wilson then stated that the Commission has pursued financing for the purchase of the Conference Centre through the Kentucky League of Cities. She stated the overall interest rate would be 4.58% for 15 years. Ms. Wilson also stated that the Recreation Committee is working with Tracey Corbit in applying for a grant to put trails in First Street Park. She stated the grant amount applied for would be $50,000 with the City to match either with funds or in kind services.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Mike Schroeder reported that the sewer project was complete except for restoration of property. He stated they need one week with good weather to be able to begin restoration. Once restoration is complete paving can begin.  

There was no report from the Historical Committee.

Mayor Sohm stated that Public Works Foreman Jesse Walls has a list of City streets to patch and pave. He stated he would ask PWF Walls to add Eastview Drive to the list.

Mayor Sohm reported the City Works Department had put in some playground equipment on First Street that had been donated to the City.

City Attorney Joe Wantland had first reading of Ordinance 003-(number to be assigned) amending Ordinance 003-575 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 of Shepherdsville, Bullitt County, Kentucky, requiring all persons, firms, or corporations pursuing same to first obtain a license therefore and providing penalties for engaging in same without a license.

City Attorney Wantland stated this amendment would exclude anyone with gross sales of less than $500.00 from paying an occupational license fee. He stated this covers people who go to flea markets as a hobby that do not gross more than $500.00 annually. He stated that once a year the merchants at flea markets and the stockyards would be visited and given a letter to pay the occupational license fee. It will then be up to the individual to show their proof of sales to prove exemption.

City Attorney Wantland had first reading of Ordinance 003-(number to be assigned) adopting the City of Shepherdsville, Bullitt County, Kentucky, annual budget for fiscal year July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004, by estimating revenues and resources and appropriating funds for the operation of City government.

City Attorney Wantland had first reading of Ordinance 003-(number to be assigned) adopting the City of Shepherdsville, Bullitt County, Kentucky, Water and Sewer operation and maintenance budges for fiscal year July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004 by estimating revenues and resources and appropriating funds for the operation of the Water and Sewer Department.

City Attorney Wantland had first reading of Ordinance 003-(number to be assigned) repealing Ordinance 002-548 restricting signs and permitting the placement of political election signs 30 days before an election and requiring the removal of political election signs no later than ten days after the election.

City Attorney Wantland had first reading of Ordinance 003-(number to be assigned) prohibiting signage within the public right of ways in the City of Shepherdsville and restricting the placement of any sign in any place in any public right of way.

City Attorney Wantland stated this ordinance would eliminate any signage in the right of ways in the City. Margaret Moore asked who was going to enforce this ordinance? Mayor Sohm stated he would contact the State and find out how they enforce it. City Attorney Wantland stated that the public works department or police department would enforce it by removing signs from right of ways. Margaret Moore stated she feels we need to put this in the paper and put up a sign letting people know we are going to enforce this ordinance.

City Attorney Wantland had first reading of Ordinance 003-(number to be assigned) repealing Ordinance #78 providing for the public health safety and welfare requiring all persons, firms or corporations to cut weeds and bushes, and forbidding the dumping of trash, cans, bottles or garbage on public or private streets, ways or property.

City Attorney Wantland had first reading of Ordinance 003-(number to be assigned) repealing Ordinance #1010.4 an ordinance to protect the health of the public, to enhance the beauty of the City, to maintain property values to persons owning land with the City and to promote the general welfare of the City and its inhabitants.

City Attorney Wantland had first reading of Ordinance 003-(number to be assigned) providing and protecting the City of Shepherdsville’s health and the health of its residents, firms, and corporations by forbidding the dumping of any trash, in any place, under any condition and promoting the general welfare of the City by refusing to allow any discharge of any debris which also impedes the City’s property values.

City Attorney Wantland read Resolution 03-22 declaring support for our service personnel who provide for the freedom of our citizens. James Watkins made motion to pass. Margaret Moore 2^nd. Motion carried 4-0.

Mayor Sohm stated he would like to move forward with the purchase of property (35 acres) from Dogwood Homes of Kentucky LLC for the sewer plant. Margaret Moore made motion to exercise the option to purchase 35 acres of property from Dogwood Homes for $203,000.00. James Watkins 2^nd. Motion carried 4-0.

Charlie Burris with the Stockyards addressed the Council regarding his concern over the business license fee. He stated his concern that the $100 fee was too high for some of the people who sell items at the stockyards but with the change in the ordinance exempting anyone who grosses less than $500 annually he feels this will work better. 

Joyce Hollingfield addressed the Council regarding the business license fee stating there is only one way to collect this fairly. She feels that if the City works with Steve Gasser at the Flea Market and he has each individual fill out forms and pay a fee this would be fair.  She stated there are big trucks from out of town that come in only on weekends that will never pay. City Attorney Wantland stated that Mr. Gasser is not an agent of the City and therefore can’t collect money for the City. Police Chief Ron Morris stated this would be difficult to enforce if people come and go because there is not a police officer on site at all times.

Planning Commission Appointee Ben Robards reported there was one application for Shepherdsville. John Miller, George Dilley, Richard Haarman and Eugene Paul are requesting to rezone 28.0 acres, more or less, located on the south side of Highway 44 East abutting the east property line of 2003 Highway 44 East from Stream Reserve and R-2 Residential to R-3 Residential.

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

Assistant Fire Chief Terry Whittaker gave the monthly summary of fire responses for the fire department and stated that $27,404.27 had been collected for the Crusade for Children this year.

Police Chief Ron Morris stated that he expects to hear from the COPS in Schools grant late summer or early fall.

Stacey Cline asked when the City was going to have junk pick up days? Mayor Sohm stated that with money so tight right now we have postponed the spring junk pick up. Ms. Cline also stated that she had received a complaint from a citizen who stated their name had been turned in to City Hall to receive a clean up letter with the wrong name and the wrong address. She stated that she feels if someone is turning in a name to receive a letter they should make sure the information is correct on name and address and who owns the property.

Don Cundiff asked about the grass behind Shell that needs mowing. Mayor Sohm stated that he had talked with the property owner today and he has tried to mow it twice and it is too wet. He assured him that it would be mowed as soon as it dried out.

Margaret Moore asked if the City was going to get a code enforcement officer? Mayor Sohm stated that funds for the code enforcement officer had been cut from the budget. He stated it’s not that the City is not interested in a code enforcement officer we just can’t afford one right now.

Don Cundiff stated he feels we need to look in that direction and see what can be done to get a code enforcement officer. 

Ms. Moore stated she had received a call from someone who had received sewers and was asked when their yard would be repaired. Mayor Sohm stated when the weather breaks all yard restoration would be made.

Ms. Moore also stated that the sidewalk in front of Creations by Barbara needed to be repaired. She also stated that there is a pile of dirt on some rental property behind Papa John’s that needs to be cleaned up. Ms. Moore also asked that we check and see how much of Third Street had been closed.

Mayor Sohm asked for a motion to adjourn to executive session to discuss possible litigation.

Stacey Cline made motion to adjourn to executive session. Margaret Moore 2^nd. Motion carried 4-0.

James Watkins made motion to return to regular session. Don Cundiff 2^nd. Motion carried 4-0.

City Attorney Wantland stated general discussion was had concerning acquisition of real property and policies for acquiring same. The Council had been given instructions. No action was taken.

Don Cundiff made motion to adjourn. James Watkins 2^nd. Motion carried 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m.

APPROVED:                                                                                       ATTEST:

Joseph G. Sohm, Mayor                                                               Tammy Owen, City Clerk