Home: Meeting Minutes List: Meeting Minutes

MARCH 24, 2003

Mayor Sohm welcomed and thanked everyone for attending the meeting.

Reverend Ray Armstrong, Eastside Baptist Church gave the invocation.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was said.

Mayor Sohm called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m.

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

Don Cundiff made motion to dispense with reading of 3/10/2003 regular meeting minutes and 3/18/2003 special meeting minutes. James Watkins 2^nd. Motion carried 6-0.

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

Mayor Sohm announced that the special meeting called for tonight had been cancelled and rescheduled for April 3^rd, 5:30.

Further discussion followed on building inspections. Mayor Sohm reported he had sat down with Judge Executive Kenny Rigdon and discussed the County doing the City’s inspections with the City receiving 25% of the fee. Judge Rigdon stated he would take this proposal to Fiscal Court for discussion.

Larry Hatfield made motion to enter into an agreement with the County to do inspections under 20,000 square feet and allow the State to do inspections over 20,000 square feet and remove Melvin Atcher altogether.  Tony Miller 2^nd.

Mayor Sohm stated this would cause the City to lose expanded jurisdiction if we give control of inspections to the County. He stated that as long as the City continues doing inspections we would keep expanded jurisdiction.

Don Cundiff stated we should wait until we hear back from Judge Rigdon before making a decision on what to do.

Tony Miller asked if we contract with the County to do inspections can we have the state do inspections over 20,000 square feet?

Don Cundiff stated he feels we need to get definite information before deciding what to do here. We need to research further and find out for sure what will happen.

Larry Hatfield withdrew his motion and Tony Miller withdrew his second. We will discuss further and vote at next meeting on what to do.

City Attorney Norman Lemme reported that he received a response from the insurance company on one of his concerns in the agreement with Fiscal Court for the purpose of street repair and ditching. He stated he has spoken with County Attorney Walt Sholar regarding the agreement and he is working on the revisions requested by the City.

Public Works Foreman Jesse Walls reported that the sewer plant construction is moving along.

Elaine Wilson, Chairperson of the Historical Committee reported that the Committee had not met since the last meeting. Their next meeting is April 9^th.

Mayor Sohm reported Shepherdsville Florist donated yellow ribbons for all the flowerpots throughout the City in support of the troops overseas.

Mayor Sohm stated the Recreation Committee’s report had been put in the Council packets. He also stated that Margaret Moore had an excellent idea on how to monitor streetlights by suggesting the police department report any outages they see while on patrol. The Police Clerk will call in the outages.

Monica Henderson, Attorney for the Shepherdsville Bullitt County Tourism Commission addressed the Council asking for their support in the Commission’s efforts to buy the Conference Centre. She asked that the Mayor sign a Resolution in support of the Conference Centre guaranteeing that the restaurant tax continue and will go forward until the debt to buy the Centre is paid.

James Watkins made motion to give Mayor authorization to sign the Resolution standing behind the Tourism Commission in their endeavor the purchase the Conference Centre. Stacey Cline 2^nd. Motion carried 5-1 (Larry Hatfield voted against).

City Attorney Lemme had first summary reading of Ordinance 003-(number to be assigned) relating to rezoning real property of Charles L. Hamilton Living Trust, Mary T. Hamilton Living Trust, Mary Ann Miller Revocable Trust, James C. Hamilton Living Trust and the Sarah Nell McDade Revocable Trust, containing 34.39 acres, more or less, located on the south side of Cedar Grove Road across from Cedar Grove Elementary School to B-1 Highway Business and 122.35 acres, more or less, on the south side of Cedar Grove Road across from Cedar Grove Elementary School to IL Light Industrial.

City Attorney Lemme had first summary reading of Ordinance 003-(number to be assigned) rezoning real property of Judy Newsome, containing 4.78 acres, more or less, located at 212 Cedar Grove Road to IL Light Industrial.

City Attorney Lemme had first summary reading of Ordinance 003-(number to be assigned) rezoning real property of Kerrin Hester Sr. containing 10 acres, more or less, located at 1689 S. Preston Highway to B-1 Highway Business.

City Attorney Lemme had first summary reading of Ordinance 003-(number to be assigned) rezoning real property of Dogwood Homes of Kentucky, LLC containing 39.35 acres, more or less, located at 348 Old Ford Road to R-3 Residential.

City Attorney Lemme stated that all four rezoning requests had received favorable recommendation from the Planning Commission and that the second reading and public hearing would be held on April 14^th.

Mayor Sohm stated the Council had received a spreadsheet on the proposed breakdown of the occupational tax increase needed to offset the City’s deficit due to unforeseen expenses that have come up in the last fiscal year. Margaret Moore stated she thinks people need to be told a tax increase is being discussed.

Mayor Sohm stated at the last meeting he reported a revenue shortfall and asked the Council to start thinking of ways to generate revenue. Margaret Moore stated perhaps the City should look at cutting back. Larry Hatfield stated he needs more time to look at this. He stated he was not prepared to talk about this at all and feels the City needs to look at some other avenues.

Mayor Sohm stated that on February 10^th he reported the revenue short fall and asked the Council to begin thinking about ways to offset. On February 24^th he reported that the base court revenue had been lost.  Mayor Sohm stated we need to decide what we’re going to do.

Margaret Moore stated she feels we should have a special meeting to discuss this. She stated she would rather raise property tax than occupational tax.

Larry Hatfield suggested waiting until the next meeting to discuss this further. He wants all department heads to get their budgets together and have a special meeting to discuss.

James Watkins made motion to pay March bills. Stacey Cline 2^nd. Motion carried 6-0.

Stan Kapso, who lives on Cedar View Drive, addressed the Council about open burning in the City. He asked the Council to think about doing something to ban this in the City.

Planning Commission Appointee Ben Robards reported the Shepherd’s Glen plat had been approved.

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

Public Works Foreman Jesse Walls reported that they have started to clean up around the building.

Margaret Moore asked how her list of clean up was going? The City Clerk reported that letters had been sent to everyone on her list and they have 30 days to respond before further action can be taken. Ms. Moore stated that she has complained about a person on her street many times. She stated she would give the City Clerk their name so a letter could be sent.

Mayor Sohm asked for a motion to adjourn to executive session to discuss litigation, possible purchase of property and personnel. Don Cundiff made motion to adjourn to executive session. Stacey Cline 2^nd. Motion carried 6-0.

James Watkins made motion to return to regular session. Tony Miller 2^nd. Motion carried 6-0. Mayor Sohm stated that changes in personnel had been discussed; they had been informed on current litigation by the Attorney; and possible property purchase was discussed.

Mayor Sohm stated we have an option to enter into a property purchase for sewer plant expansion. He asked what the favor of the Council was?

City Attorney Lemme stated this is an option to purchase. Direction was given to the City Attorney and Mayor to work this up to purchase 35 acres adjoining the sewer plant to be paid for by funding for the sewer plant expansion land acquisition. That is not out of general revenue. The purchase price would be $5800 per acre subject to final survey. The maximum purchase price would be $203,000 but would not increase if the acreage was greater than 35 acres but it would decrease if it were less than 35 acres. Upon tender of payment the general warranty deed such as the title would ensure that the City would pay the funds provided however that the seller, Dogwood Homes and/or Dogwood Run LLC when they purchased the property gave their grantor the right to cut hay until August 3, 2004. This option is for a period of 90 days. If the City does not give notification of intent to purchase and tender the funds then the agreement would be null and void with no further obligation on the part of the City. This has been negotiated by the Mayor following the direction of the Council and in consultation with the City Attorney. And it now can be discussed because the owner of the property has signed the option to purchase.

Don Cundiff made motion to enter into the option to purchase. James Watkins 2^nd. Motion carried 6-0.

Larry Hatfield made motion to adjourn. Don Cundiff 2^nd. Motion carried 6-0. Meeting adjourned at 9:54 p.m.

APPROVED:                                                                                       ATTEST:

Joseph G. Sohm, Mayor                                                               Tammy Owen, City Clerk