CITY OF UNION, KENTUCKY

Business Meeting

MINUTES

Monday, May 9, 2005

 

 

CALL TO ORDER:

Mayor Don Kirby called the Regular Business Meeting of the Union City Commission to order at 7:30 p.m., Monday, May 9, 2005.

 

Present: Mayor Don Kirby and City Commissioners: Gary McCormick, Wayne McClellan, Greg T. Lloyd.  Absent: Warren Moore. Also present were Greg D. Voss (City Attorney), Kathy Porter (City Clerk/Treasurer) and Barry Burke (City Engineer).

 

Visitors signing the attendance list were: Sheri Wright, Jim Wright, Mike Trout, Nick Malatesta, Jennifer Campbell, Gavin and Sheila Rees.

 

MINUTES:

Mayor Kirby called attention to a change that needed to be made to last month’s minutes, in the first paragraph under the heading of City Engineer Report, in which Dr. Lloyd made comments concerning the retention pond in Union Village.  Mayor Kirby stated that this should state the city expects that the homeowners will bear some of the cost of repairs.  Mayor Kirby asked for any other comments or corrections.  Mr. McCormick moved to dispense with reading of the minutes and accept as presented.  Mr. McClellan seconded the motion. Motion carried.

 

TREASURER'S REPORT:

Mr. McClellan moved to accept the Treasurer's Report as of April 30, 2005 as presented.  Dr. Lloyd seconded the motion. Motion carried.

 

BILLS FOR PAYMENT:

The bills for payment were reviewed. Dr. Lloyd made a motion to pay the bills as presented. Mr. McCormick seconded the motion.  Motion carried. 

                                                         

CORRESPONDENCE:

Mr. McClellan discussed the emails received regarding the four way stop sign at Wetherington and Mt. Zion Road.  In looking at it himself, he is of the opinion that the road should be repaired first, then get the larger signs erected of the type that is located at Gunpowder, then see how everything goes.  He stated that he believes the people who are running the stop sign are doing so intentionally.  Dr. Lloyd agreed.  Mayor Kirby asked if anyone present had comments regarding this stop sign situation.  Mrs. Wright stated that patients come in who are upset about people running the sign, one person in particular, who is a police officer, who ran thru the sign because he did not see it.  Mr. McCormick commented that people who travel that road are not use to having to stop.  Mayor Kirby stated that someone who does not travel that road everyday would stop at the sign.  The re-paving is now taking place, which should improve the situation, and the larger more visible stop signs, which the state will erect, should improve visibility, as well as people getting use to the change.  The city will also make a suggestion to the state that they erect some type of advance sign warning of a stop sign ahead.

 

 

Regular Business Meeting of Union City Commission

MINUTES – May 9, 2005 – Page 2

 

 

 

CITY ENGINEER REPORT:

Mr. Burke’s monthly report had been given to Commissioners and he discussed and improvised on several items:

 

Mr. Burke stated that he had submitted an original report dated May 4, as well as an Addendum dated May 9, 2005.  He explained the correction in item numbers as it relates to his report. He elaborated on the high points in terms of there being roughly $140,000 worth of public improvement work listed, $100,000 of which is the resurfacing asphalt of two (2) streets that have been approved by the Planning Commission to seek bids.  What is basically being done is getting Boone County’s low bids and the alternatives in terms of getting a quality product. It is recommended that Bluegrass Paving do two (2) subdivision streets (Gunpowder Greens), and Whispering Trail be done by Barret Paving. Both contractors are included in Boone County’s Bid Awards, but due to separate methods involved, it would be in the best interest of the City of Union to split this work so we can tell where the real quality is for the future.

 

Item # 4 – Mr. Burke addressed the sidewalks fronting lots along Braxton Road and Sherman Court. The sidewalk is in except for ten (10) feet; the other house is under construction and it is expected that portion of sidewalk will be completed as well. 

 

Item # 5 – There is no new information on the Drees Company/Harmony Estates.  There is a meeting scheduled for Thursday with the Sanitation District to make some final decisions relative to the temporary waste water treatment plant. 

 

At this point Mayor Kirby revisited the subject of resurfacing on Whispering Trail. He wanted to know if the process was at the stage of needing approval or if there was more work to do.  Mr. Burke stated that this issue is addressed in the Addendum section of his report in Item # 3.  He is recommending approval; he has talked with both contractors, they are satisfied and prepared to begin work.  As a result of this specification on Whispering Trail, a leveling course will not be used; the street will be milled then the SAMI (an anti-reflective cracking interlayer) will be applied. 

 

Attorney Voss stated that with larger costs projects, the city has to bid them publicly unless we use the Boone County Bids.  Boone County bid the resurfacing for costs. He asked Mr. Burke to explain the bidding/award process.  Mr. Burke stated that it is an annual bid award, and the bid awards include all three: the low bid, first alternate, and second alternate. All three contractors received the bid award for asphalt overlays. Due to their similarities, Mr. Burke found it necessary to mix and match projects to assure that the city received a low bid with quality. There will be savings of almost $6,000 on the “milling” regarding the Whispering Trail project.

 

Attorney Voss stated that the city needs to pass a Resolution, for the future, so that the city takes advantage of the bidding process that Boone County does.  This will save the citizens money. Attorney Voss stated that the city needs a Resolution that would incorporate Union in the Boone County bidding process. Mayor Kirby asked for a motion to pass a Resolution so that the City of Union will be able to use Boone County’s competitive bidding on road and infrastructure work for remainder of this fiscal year. Mr. McClellan made the motion and seconded by Mr. McCormick. Motion carried.

 

Regular Business Meeting of Union City Commission

MINUTES – May 9, 2005 – Page 3

 

 

 

Item # 6 – Mr. Burke had cost estimates for the blocked channel drainage problems at Pickett Run and Merrimac Court.  He recommended that Paul Michels be hired to perform that work for $7,000, subject to specifications and a contract for services prepared by Attorney Voss. Mayor Kirby stated to proceed to

take care of this project.

 

Item # 7 – Mr. Burke discussed the Union Village Pond/Retention Basin Dredging.  As far as he is concerned, at this point, the project is delayed.

 

Item # 8 – Mr. Burke has estimates on repairing the storm water safety grates at Indian Hill Drive and Mt. Zion Road at Sycamore Drive West, one of which is in back of the Campbell’s backyard, in terms of improving safety.  He met with Tom Schomaker at the Mt. Zion Road location and he agreed that something could be done in terms of the safety enclosure grate issue. The cost is inexpensive, at $845, and is recommended that the estimate by Benchmark Excavating be accepted subject to a final inspection by the City Engineer.

 

Item # 9 – The drainage problem along Mt. Zion Road at Sycamore Drive West on the Nantz property. Mr. Burke has not heard back from Benchmark Excavating but may have a lower bid. This will completely restore the drainage system on both sides of Mrs. Nantz’s home.

 

Item # 10 – This is a storm sewer inlet along Double Eagle Drive. Benchmark has indicated that he will do the job; Mr. Burke stated that he has been waiting six months for them to perform this job. If Benchmark does not respond, Paul Michels can perform the service for about a $100 more or a cost of $500.

 

Item # 15 – Mr. Burke addressed the street pavement settlement problem along Wetherington Drive in Plantation Pointe. He is waiting for Boone County Fiscal Court to fix this problem, with their contractors and their bid award. In the event they say that they couldn’t do this work for whatever reason, Mr. Burke has two (2) other estimates, one from Paul Michels for $4,794, and one other which is too high.

 

Mayor Kirby questioned what the county’s bid was. Since Mr. Burke did not know, Mayor Kirby suggested giving the county the opportunity to see if their bid will be lower.  Since we already have plenty of other work going on, this will be discussed again at the next business meeting.  If there is no bid by that time, the city will go with our contractor.

 

Item # 18 – Mr. Burke addressed the Hempsteade HOA regarding trench drains and other street repairs. He has met there with two (2) contractors concerning specifications. It was recommended that the estimate by Paul Michels and Sons be accepted at the cost of $4,630. Since it’s under $5000, a general agreement with the contractor will be accepted.

 

Item # 19 – There is a blocked channel drainage problem adjacent to storm sewer at the end of Hartwood Court, off Bayswater. This problem is a haven for mosquitoes and affects the function of the storm system. It was recommended that Paul Michels and Sons complete this work for cost estimate of $3,700.  Mayor Kirby gave the approval to proceed with this work. A general agreement will be accepted.

 

Item # 27 – Mr. Burke addressed the issue of storm sewer/drainage slope stabilization on Hempsteade Drive. There was a complaint that the stabilization work done in 1998-1999 has begun to settle/slide. Mr.

Regular Business Meeting of Union City Commission

MINUTES – May 9, 2005 – Page 4

 

 

 

Burke’s observation indicated that the problem was very slight and nothing needed to be done at this time. Since the resident (Mr. Evretes) is considering an addition which includes another retaining wall with embankment benching adjacent to the slope, an on-going monitoring approach may be the best solution at the present time.

 

Item # 28 – Mr. Burke addressed the problem with a catch basin on Braxton Drive at Scheben Library.

Inspection revealed structural failure and the basin would need to be reconstructed by County Public Works.

 

PLANNING & ZONING:

Mr. Randy Barlow, Planning & Zoning Representative, was not present.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

Second reading of ORDINANCE NO. 2005-004 – AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING AN AD VALOREM TAX RATE OF $0.75 PER $100.00 OF ASSESSED VALUE FOR ABANDONED URBAN PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF UNION, KENTUCKY.  Mr. McClellan made a motion to approve the Ordinance and Dr. Lloyd seconded the motion. Motion carried.

 

Mayor Kirby asked if anyone in the audience had anything to bring before the Commission.  No one did.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

First reading of ORDINANCE NO. 2005-005AN ORDINANCE ANNEXING TO INCORPORATED TERRITORY OF THE CITY OF UNION, KENTUCKY, CERTAIN UNINCORPORATED TERRITORY ADJACENT TO THE PRESENT BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF UNION.  Mr. McClellan made a motion to approve the Ordinance and Mr. McCormick seconded the motion. Motion carried.

 

Attorney Voss addressed the subject of the bond issue, which is required by statute, for city officials. Mayor Kirby commented that he wants to make sure that there is proper coverage but not spend money unnecessarily. Mr. Voss suggested further investigation to get a lower dollar figure; this needs a competitive bid so that it can become a part of the budget.   Mayor Kirby agreed with getting other competitive rates in order to obtain a better premium.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

No further business came before the Commission. Mr. McCormick moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m.  Mr. McClellan seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 

Signed this 13th day of June 2005.

 

 

APPROVED:                                                             ATTEST:

 

 

_____________________                                          _______________________________

Don Kirby, Mayor                                                     Kathy Porter, City Clerk/Treasurer