Home: Meeting Minutes List: Meeting Minutes

July 11, 2005

Mayor Sohm welcomed and thanked everyone for taking time to attend the meeting.

Reverend Paul Hines, Eastside Baptist Church gave the invocation.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was said.

Mayor Sohm called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m.

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

Stacey Cline made motion to dispense with reading of 6/20/2005 rescheduled regular meeting and 6/21/2005 special meeting minutes. Trina Summers 2^nd. Motion carried 5-0.

Trina Summers made motion to approve minutes as printed. Stacey Cline 2^nd. Motion carried 5-0.

Mayor Sohm announced that Councilman Tony Miller is recovering well at home from recent surgery.

Mayor Sohm announced that the City had been awarded funding from the Governor’s Office for engineering and construction dollars to relocate Beech Grove Road. He stated this was a great day for Shepherdsville in that it will allow one of the unsafest roads in the City to be improved. He stated thanks needed to go to Senator Gary Tapp, Representative Mary Harper and Representative Gerry Lynn for the work toward this project that has been discussed for over six years.

Mayor Sohm announced that the July 4^th Bullitt Blast was a great success and he commended Elaine Wilson and everyone involved for a job well done. He also thanked the police department for the job in getting people in and out of the Conference Centre and the fire department for their participation.

Mayor Sohm stated at this time he would ask City Attorney Joe Wantland to re-read the five Ordinances passed at the special meeting held on June 20^th as there was a question as to the time the Special Meeting notice was posted.

City Attorney Wantland re-read Ordinance 005-662 confirming annexation of unincorporated territory situated in Bullitt County south of Cedar Grove Road (159.336 acre tract). Trina Summers made motion to re-accept. Faith Portman 2^nd. Motion carried 5-0.

City Attorney Wantland re-read Ordinance 005-663 amending a portion of Ordinance #005-652 and Ordinance #000-508 establishing all fees for the City of Shepherdsville’s Wastewater Treatment facilities. Alan Wetzel made motion to re-approve. Faith Portman 2^nd. Motion carried 5-0.

City Attorney Wantland re-read Ordinance 005-664 amending Ordinance #994-324 an Ordinance of the City of Shepherdsville establishing new rates and charges for the use of and the service rendered by the municipal waterworks system and the municipal sewer system of said City; and providing for the collection and enforcement of such rates and charges. Trina Summers made motion to re-accept. Faith Portman 2^nd. Motion carried 5-0.

City Attorney Wantland re-read Ordinance 005-665 concerning request for rezoning from Arville Dale Bridwell and Norma Jean Bridwell to rezone 6.66 acres, more or less, located at 3088 Highway 44 East from Agricultural to B-2 Central Business. Stacey Cline made motion to re-reject the finding of the Planning Commission and rezone the property to B-2 Central Business due to the existing zoning classification given to this property is inappropriate and the requested zoning classification is more appropriate because the following major economic, physical, and/or social changes have occurred within the area of the requested zoning change which were not anticipated in the adopted comprehensive plan which have substantially altered the basic character of the area around this requested zoning change. The requested zoning change is in agreement with the adopted Comprehensive Plan. Alan Wetzel 2^nd. Motion carries 5-0.

City Attorney Wantland re-read Ordinance 005-666 concerning request for rezoning from Arville Dale Bridwell and Norma Jean Bridwell to rezone 40.64 acres, more or less, located at 3088 Highway 44 East from Agricultural to R-2 Residential. Faith Portman made motion to re-approve rezoning. Trina Summers 2^nd. Motion carried 5-0.

There was no report from the Sewer, Historical or Recreation Committees. And no further report on the Transportation/Beautification Committee.

Mike Wright with Land Design & Development was present to ask the Council to close the private alley known on deeds as Croan & Griffin Alley. He stated that Walgreens is planning to build a 14,500 square foot store on the northeast corner of Highway 44 and 61. Mayor Sohm asked Mr. Wright if he would agree to a clause in the agreement that if within six months the property is not purchased for the Walgreens development it would revert back to what it is now. In other words, no Walgreens, no alley closure. Mr. Wright stated he did not see a problem with that. Mayor Sohm stated the City would discuss further and make a decision at the July 25^th meeting. City Attorney will have documents ready for first reading and asked that the spouse also sign off on the agreement.

City Attorney Wantland had first reading of Ordinance 005-(number to be assigned) amending Ordinance 976-13 an Ordinance providing for the unsheltered storage of old, unused, stripped, junked and other automobiles not in good and safe operating condition and of any other vehicle, machinery, implements, and/or equipment which is no longer safely usable for the purpose for which it was manufactured.

City Attorney Wantland had first reading of Ordinance 005-(number to be assigned) amending Ordinance 003-575 relating to the imposition and administration of an occupational license requirement, and payment of an occupational license tax by persons and business entities conducting businesses, occupations and professions within the City.

Aaron Williams, 375 S. Buckman was present to address the Council regarding his business. He stated he owns a car lot on the corner of Highway 61 and 2^nd Street and feels he is being hassled for not being zoned correctly. City Attorney Wantland stated there is no car lot in the City with the correct zoning of B-1 to sell cars. He stated that under the law you must have the proper zoning to have a car lot. Mr. Williams stated that the County approved his business and the City issued him a business license. City Attorney Wantland stated that many auto retailers do not have proper zoning and that he has prepared a letter going out to each of them to get in compliance by January 1^st. City Attorney Wantland stated he has received many complaints about parking on 2^nd Street. He stated there has been an Ordinance in effect since 1965 that does not allow parking on 2^nd Street. He stated it has not been enforced but that it will be. Police Chief Ron Morris stated that the City needs to determine whether to keep or change this Ordinance. He stated that the vehicles at the business in questions have been moved off the sidewalk. Mr. Williams stated that none of his cars are blocking the sidewalk and that he has moved cars off the side to allow for customer parking. City Attorney Wantland suggested Mr. Williams have the property staked but stated he could not park cars on the side. Mr. Williams stated he would like to allow customers to park on 2^nd Street. Mr. Wantland stated there is an Ordinance in place that does not allow for parking along 2^nd Street.

Tim Garrett, President of Auto Paint and Performance stated he has been in business for three years and he is concerned about the parking issue. He stated there are eight spots that serve the entire block of businesses on 2^nd Street and they all use the north side of 2^nd Street and there is no where to park for customers. He asked if the Council would consider amending the Ordinance to allow for some parking along 2^nd Street. He stated the Ordinance is not entirely relevant to the existing traffic flow of today. He also stated that removal of parking spaces would hinder customer’s convenience. Mayor Sohm stated the Council must make the decision on how best to address this problem. He also stated there have been some zoning requests in the area that have been turned down because of the lack of parking spaces available. Mr. Garrett stated that as the sidewalk comes around the corner of 2^nd Street the parking is recessed as far down as Troutman’s. He stated this would eliminate most parking in this area. He feels that most businesses rely on the recessed parking on 2^nd Street. He asked for a period of time before businesses are deprived parking spaces. City Attorney Wantland asked what a reasonable amount of time would be to park. Mr. Garrett stated he feels 2 hour parking would be adequate for his business. City Attorney Wantland stated whatever is decided it would probably not going to satisfy all involved. City Attorney Wantland stated that the double parking is going to end. Mayor Sohm stated that if the Council decides to put meters back up that will limit time to one hour. He asked the Council to look at before the next meeting. Mr. Garrett asked if there had been any discussion on adding lanes. Mayor Sohm stated there had not been any discussion on adding lanes. Mr. Garrett stated that if the City if not going to put in lanes it seems some parking spaces can be made available. Mayor Sohm stated there was no question. There is 20 foot on each side that leaves 40 foot left for road. He stated this issue will be taken under consideration at the July 25^th meeting.

Joseph Odell, 341 Oak Grove addressed the Council regarding his sewer bill. He stated he had received a bill for $1000 and that he is a new resident and would ask the Council to consider a sod allowance for water. Mayor Sohm asked Mr. Odell how this would be kept track of. Mr. Odell suggested contacting other communities to see how they handle this situation. Councilwoman Trina Summers stated the City has looked at what other cities do and they don’t give allowances. She stated there is really no recourse other than paying the bill.

Jim Rice addressed the Council and stated that customers can call the water company and get a portable meter to use for watering sod. He stated that the Mayor had appointed a committee to look at the Design Criteria Standards that were in place by the City. He stated at a meeting he had with the Mayor recently he was shown a copy of a document 2” thick, which is not the document the Committee he worked on put together. He stated he doesn’t feel the committee has been given a fair response back after the time and effort put forth by several people on behalf of the City. He feels if the City keeps their standards simple it will entice people to build here while at the same time protecting both the City and the County. He would like a response back to set up a meeting to discuss this matter. He also invited the Council to look at the 20 acres of land off Conestoga Parkway so those plans can also be finalized.

Planning Commission Appointee Ben Robards stated there was one new rezoning case for Shepherdsville. Patsy and William Coulter to rezone property recently annexed into the City from AG to R-3 residential.

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

Chief Morris reported that the Code Enforcement officer is still trying to locate the owner of the trailer of Highway 44 and that the car had been removed from the car lot on 480.

Councilwoman Trina Summers stated she would like to congratulate the several police officers for completing a career development program. She also stated that the grading at the Mac Convenience Store on Highway 44 looks like some one had fixed it. Public Works Foreman Jesse Walls stated that the contractors had fixed it. Ms. Summers also asked who owned the old machine shop. PWF Walls stated that the owners are looking to sell the property and suggested talking to them about providing parking for tenants and possibly providing parking by the curbing.

Councilwoman Faith Portman stated she agrees with Councilwoman Summers. She feels this parking issue needs to be looked at again.

Councilwoman Margaret Moore stated the lot the City just purchased could be made into a parking lot and putting meters in there for parking. 

Mayor Sohm stated his biggest concern with parking along 2^nd Street other than parallel parking is backing out. He stated he feels this is a safety issue. Mayor Sohm also stated the City also has a lot on 1^st Street that meters could be put on.

Mayor Sohm asked the Council if they would like to hold off enforcing the parking ordinance until a decision can be made at the July 25^th meeting. All were in favor.

Councilwoman Moore asked if there was a way the City could condense Ordinances. City Attorney Wantland stated not ones that have numbers in them.

Councilwoman Moore stated that on Cherry Street there is a lot of grass grown up in behind the Short Stop.

Mayor Sohm stated he too would like to congratulate the several police officers who completed a career development program.

Faith Portman made motion to adjourn. Alan Wetzel 2^nd. Motion carried 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

ATTEST:                                                                                             APPROVED:

Tammy Owen, City Clerk                                                                     Joseph G. Sohm, Mayor