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FEBRUARY 24, 2003

 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, Larry Hatfield, Tony Miller, Margaret Moore and James Watkins.  Stacey Cline made motion to dispense with reading of 2/10/2003 regular meeting minutes. Don Cundiff 2nd. Motion carried 6-0.  James Watkins made motion to approve minutes as printed. Stacey Cline 2nd. Motion carried 6-0.  Mayor Sohm announced the County is sponsoring a Tire Amnesty program April 3-5, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at the State Highway Garage.  Mayor Sohm also announced that the House of Representatives passed its version of the State budget bill eliminating the City’s $85,496 share of base court revenue. He stated this would be lost out of the City’s general fund budget. Mayor Sohm stated that this comes at a terrible time as the City has incurred several costs this year that were not anticipated. He stated revenue is running short and the City could be facing a $114,000 shortfall to the budget. This number could possibly rise to $200,000 with losing the court revenue. He stated the Senate is set to vote on the budget bill in the next several days.  City Attorney Norman Lemme had second summary reading and public hearing on Ordinance 003-(number to be assigned) relating to rezoning real property of Dogwood Homes of KY, LLC containing 10.58 acres, more or less, located between 614 and 718 Beech Grove Road to R-3 Residential.  There was no one present to speak on this rezoning request.  After some discussion Tony Miller made motion to approve. Stacey Cline 2nd. Motion carried 6-0. (Ordinance 003-568 passes)   City Attorney Lemme had second summary reading of Ordinance 003-(number to be assigned) annexing approximately 8.61 acres of land contiguous to the existing city limits and located on Kentucky Highway 1020 between Highway 61 and West Blue Lick Road.  James Watkins removed himself from discussion and vote on this Ordinance.  After some discussion Stacey Cline made motion to pass. Tony Miller 2nd. Motion carried 4-0-1 (Margaret Moore abstained). (Ordinance 003-569 passes)  Discussion followed on the renewal of the YMCA Lease. Don Cundiff stated that June Daugherty with the YMCA wanted to be present at the meeting but was ill. He stated she had concerns about two items in the Lease that needed clarification.  Larry Hatfield stated he would like to hold this discussion for the next meeting.  Don Cundiff stated that Ms. Daugherty is concerned because soccer starts in March and she would like assurance they can use the park for their games.  After further discussion Larry Hatfield made motion for City Attorney Lemme to draw up a new lease with changes and get to Ms. Daugherty for signature. Tony Miller 2nd. Motion carried 6-0.  Mayor Sohm introduced James Stahl with FMSM Engineers who updated the Council on the major elements of the five-year Phase II storm water plan. He stated he was here to get authorization for the Mayor to sign the notice of intent so the permit application could be sent to the State by the March 10th deadline.  Larry Hatfield asked Mr. Stahl how much this was going to cost the cities? Mr. Stahl answered it was going to cost the City of Shepherdsville $400,000 over the next five years.  Margaret Moore made motion to authorize Mayor Sohm to sign the notice of intent. Don Cundiff 2nd. Motion carried 6-0.  Mayor Sohm reported Elaine Wilson with the Tourism Commission would be present at the next Council meeting to discuss some ideas she has about combining Tourism and the Historical Committee.  Mayor Sohm stated there are several potholes throughout the City that were caused by the bad weather that need attention.  Mayor Sohm reported the Recreation Committee had met on Thursday, February 20th and discussed several issues. He stated that Mr. Taylor, Chairperson of the Recreation Committee had talked with Elaine Wilson, Chairperson of the Historical Committee to make sure nothing was being duplicated.  James Watkins made motion to pay February bills. Stacey Cline 2nd. Motion carried 6-0.  Discussion followed on building inspections. Mayor Sohm stated that currently the County is doing residential inspections and receives 100% of the fee. He stated the City has a commercial and industrial building inspector and he receives 100% of the fee. He stated the County wants to start doing commercial and industrial inspections up to 20,000 square feet and the City will receive a portion of the fee. Mayor Sohm stated we’ve talked about Code Enforcement for several years. He feels the City has the opportunity of doing our own building inspections that could possibly be combined with code enforcement with all fees coming to the City.  Mayor Sohm asked the Council if they would be interested in the City doing it’s own residential, commercial and industrial inspections, up to a certain square footage? He stated we would keep the present building inspector, Melvin Atcher, or hire the state for inspections on higher square footage.  Don Cundiff asked what the current charge was for inspections? Mayor Sohm stated residential is at least $120 and   commercial/industrial is $0.05 per square foot.  Larry Hatfield asked if this would be doubling expenses? Mayor Sohm answered no because the County would not be involved because the City would do all inspections.  Larry Hatfield stated he thinks we better be looking real hard at the general fund budget with the shortfall of the State before we go hire someone to do inspections and code enforcement. He stated we need to make sure we’ve got enough revenue or we are going to be faced with cutting expenses or raising revenue and the only way to raise revenue is to raise occupational tax or raise the people’s taxes. He stated we’re not far from it right now. He asked that by doing our own inspections and code enforcement in the long run are we getting into more restrictions and more cost? He stated his point is we’re losing revenue. He stated with this economy and the way the State is doing things he thinks things could get worse than what the average individual is aware of. He stated when you see your State in the financial state of mind that they’re in right now; it’s going to roll down hill. They are going to cut out these things. He asked for other input on this and urged not to jump the gun and look at some real numbers.  Mayor Sohm stated he agreed with Mr. Hatfield in that something is going to have to be done.  Don Cundiff feels we should get some projections together and see if by doing this ourselves what we could bring in before we decide if it would be financially feasible or not. Mayor Sohm stated we could do that. He stated we could look at all the permits we’ve issued over the past three to five years and find out how much money we could have brought in had we had our own residential inspector. Mr. Cundiff stated that’s the place to start and then decide.  Mayor Sohm asked everyone to think about it. He feels if we do our own inspections we can pay for our code enforcement officer.   Mayor Sohm also asked the Council to be thinking about what they would like to do to address the revenue shortfall.  Discussion followed on a Resolution Agreement between Fiscal Court of Bullitt County and the City of Shepherdsville for the purpose of street repair and ditching. City Attorney Lemme stated he had some concerns with the wording of the Resolution.  Mayor Sohm stated it is not necessary we enter into this agreement. City Attorney Lemme stated he thinks it can be worked out and negotiated.  After some discussion Mayor Sohm instructed City Attorney Lemme to contact County Attorney Walt Sholar to negotiate the change in language to protect the City and present at the next Council meeting.  Mayor Sohm stated that Wabuck Development Company has requested a letter of support for their Highland Avenue Elderly Household project. The development will contain up to 32 units of rental housing for families with at least one person in the household being 55 years of age or older.  James Watkins made motion to write letter of support. Tony Miller 2nd. Motion carried 5-0-1 (Don Cundiff abstained).  Planning Commission Appointee Ben Robards reported there was nothing new for Shepherdsville.   Board of Adjustments Appointee Scott Isert was not present at the meeting.  Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Mike Schroeder reported that John Clan had completed a training course on the operation and maintenance of wastewater collection systems.  Tony Miller asked if there was an Ordinance on parking on the street? He stated there are several cars parking on Jackie Way. Police Chief Ron Morris asked Mr. Miller to call the police department when the problem was occurring and he would send someone at that time. He stated he would have more patrol along Jackie Way to check for parking on the street.  Mr. Miller also stated that the culvert at Jackie Way and Eastview needs to be paved.  Larry Hatfield asked if a letter could be put in all employees’ paychecks explaining the progress in getting back their social security refunds. City Clerk Tammy Owen answered yes; she would put a letter in with this week’s check.  Mr. Hatfield also stated he had received a call from Ronnie Clark voicing his concern about a sewer line being run across his property. Mayor Sohm stated he had spoken with Mr. Clark about this matter previously but would call him again.  Mr. Hatfield also asked if the paving of the road right of ways in the sewer project was going to be paid out of money we borrowed? Mayor Sohm answered yes; the part of the road disturbed by the project would be paid out of the money borrowed. The remainder of the paving would be paid part out of sewer and part out of municipal road aid fund.  Mr. Hatfield also asked what employees were being paid out of City and what employees were being paid out of sewer? The City Clerk will furnish him with that information.  Margaret Moore asked if the City still had a website? Mayor Sohm answered yes but it has not been updated due to the office staff shortage.  Don Cundiff stated the minutes need to be taken off the website or updated.  Ms. Moore then stated that cars are blocking the sidewalk at the Leland Cundiff building and there are semis parked on the lot. She asked everyone to look at the list she prepared to discuss at the next meeting.  Ms. Moore also asked that each department head give a report at each meeting.  Ms. Moore also reported that the drain by the railroad track by the Ed Royalty building needs more attention than it’s getting. WWTPS Mike Schroeder said he would look at it.  Mayor Sohm asked for a motion to adjourn to executive session to discuss litigation, possible property acquisition and personnel. Don Cundiff made motion to adjourn to executive session. James Watkins 2nd. Motion carried 6-0.  James Watkins made motion to return to regular session. Stacey Cline 2nd. Motion carried 6-0. Mayor Sohm stated that personnel and litigation had been discussed with no final action taken.  Larry Hatfield made motion to adjourn. Don Cundiff 2nd. Motion carried 6-0. Meeting adjourned at 10:33 p.m. 

APPROVED:                                               ATTEST:

Joseph G. Sohm, Mayor                              Tammy Owen, City Clerk


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