CITY OF UNION, KENTUCKY
Regular Business Meeting
MINUTES
Mayor Don Kirby called the regular meeting of the
Union City Commission to order in the Union City Building at 7:30 p.m., Monday,
March 10, 2003.
The following members of the Commission were
present: Ana Hitzel, Jonathan Jennings, and Wayne McClellan and Gary McCormick.
Also present were City Attorney Greg D. Voss, City
Clerk Kathy Porter and City Engineer Representative Mr. Jim Curry of David
Estes Engineering, Inc.
Motion to approve the February 10, 2003 meeting
minutes as presented was made by Mr.
McCormick
and seconded by Mr. Jennings. Motion carried.
Mayor Kirby presented the Treasurer’s Report as of
February 28, 2003. Mr. McClellan moved
to accept the Treasurer’s Report.
Motion seconded by Mr. Jennings and motion carried.
The bills for payment were reviewed. Mr. Jennings
made a motion to pay the bills as presented and Mr. McCormick seconded the
motion. Motion carried.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/CORRESPONDENCE:
Letter received from Mary
Shinkle, Boone County Solid Waste Coordinator requesting the City of Union’s
participation in the same capacity as last year in the Great American Cleanup
Event that will be held April 26, 2003 from 8:30 am to 12:00 noon.
The City of Florence
announcing its fifth annual Memorial Day Parade and Program for Monday, May 26,
2003 with an invitation to participate.
Received correspondence from
Mrs. Carolyn Schrage in reference to two tires punctured on the right side of
her vehicle while traveling on Wetherington Blvd. After discussion, it was
agreeable to pay for the tires and a letter forwarded to the construction
company requesting reimbursement.
An e-mail was received from
Jeff Wallace requesting the City to petition the State to split the traffic
light at Mt. Zion Road and U.S. 42 to show left hand signals. Some times a lot of time lapses when turning
due to heavy traffic. Mr. Curry will
contact the Department of Transportation with the problem and request the
installation of the left turn signals.
Mr. Randy Barlow, Union’s Representative reported
that he had attended the Public Hearing two weeks ago and the committee meeting
last week for the 10 ½ acres located at 1056 Mt. Zion Road requesting a zone
change. This will come back up on March
19th. Mr. Barlow has a
sketch for review. The Commission
expressed concern as not having control over what is being built and a
possibility of acquiring the additional 10 acres as green space. The homes will be within the city
limits. Mr. McClellan suggests keeping
a watchful eye on the development.
CITY ENGINEER REPORT
Mr. Jim Curry of David Estes Engineering, Inc.
reported:
1.
Kathy
had relayed pothole locations and Boone County Public Works has helped in a
timely manner.
2.
Arbor
Springs potholes are still under the control of the developer.
3.
Churchill
Drive has a defective catch basin, a huge hole, is working with Boone County on
this.
4.
Regarding
the proposal for the street assessment project, will be taking a look at all
the streets and enter them into a computer database so as to prioritize the
work.
5.
A
copy of the data base report can be available for review with completion in
approximately 60 days.
6. Street signs will be
worked on as to declare city identification by color, size and cost.
After discussion, Mr. McClellan moved to proceed
with the Street Assessment Project. Ms.
Hitzel seconded the motion. Motion
carried.
CEMETERY REPORT;
Mr.
Eddie Johnson, City Sexton/Cemetery Manager reported he had received a call
from Margo Warminski, an Environmental Archeologist requesting the feasibility
of relocating a total of 9 graves with five decent markers from an old cemetery
into the Union Rice Cemetery. The cost would be $250.00 dollars per body per
grave. Mr. Johnson recommends that the cemetery be accepted by our
cemetery. Mr. Johnson talked to Doug
Stith about the requirement that the remains be in a concrete vault, done by a
licensed undertaker and be the responsibility of the mover. There is a location
available and corner stones would be required. Mr. McClellan commented that this
would be the proper thing to do with respect to the deceased due to
progress. He would like to know when
this will occur and would like to have the old headstones. Thirteen lots were sold in 2001 and eight
lots in 2002. The cemetery does not pay
for itself and the cost of one lot is $300.00 dollars with $50.00 dollars less
per additional lots. The cost is in line with surrounding cemeteries. There are
140 lots available in the old section.
The new front section to be developed would require a survey. There has
been many compliments on the appearance of the cemetery since the city has had
the driveway blacktopped, planted trees and landscaped the entryway.
Mr. McClellan is still working on the mowing
specifications. He will get with Jim
Curry to incorporate Lassing Green needs.
This should be done before next month’s meeting, as it will soon be
mowing time.
Mayor Kirby gave first reading of ORDINANCE
NO.: 2003-001 – AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY TREASURER AND THE
CITY ATTORNEY TO FILE AN ACTION IN THE APPROPRIATE COURT TO COLLECT ANY AD
VALOREM TAX, PENALTY, INTEREST OR RELATED CHARGES AND TO COVER ALL COURT COSTS
AND REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES INCURRED.
Motion to accept on first reading by Mr. McCormick and seconded by Mrs.
Hitzel. Motion carried.
David Geohegan and Mark Bowman, citizens of Boone County and
residents of the Charles Duncan Subdivision were present tonight to
discuss the city's future plans for Annexation and the Sanitation District’s
plans for providing Sanitary Sewers for the subdivision. Mr. Geohegan expressed
his concerns over the poor leach line conditions throughout Charles Duncan
Subdivision and the lack of a sanitary sewer system. Mr. Geohegan attended a SD
#1 public hearing on this project last week and thought the issue could be
presented to the City of Union for consideration of annexation and assistance
in getting the sewer problem solved. Mr. Geohegan provided copies of an
estimated project cost to the Commissioners. The estimated cost being
$448, 365.00, Boone County contribution $149,455.00, assessed amount being
$298,910.00 shared by 35 property owners, which would equal $8,540.00 (does not
include tap in fee or monthly sewer service charge). This amount could be
financed for 15 years resulting in a per-house payment of about $75.00 per
month. There was discussion of how this cost could be lowered if the city could
contribute an additional 1/3 of the project amount in response to annexation of
the subdivision. It was generally agreed to not determine an amount at this
time. Mayor Kirby suggested that an investigation be made to see what the tax
base would be; also the infrastructure and roads in that area to see if the
city can go forward. A special meeting can be called if needed. Mrs.
Hitzel made a motion to proceed with an investigation of the possible
annexation of Charles Duncan Subdivision; the motion was seconded by Mr.
McClellan. Motion carried.
Mr. McCormick left meeting at 8:55p.m.
Mayor Kirby announced that a Tree Seminar will be
held this week at the Florence Government Center. This program will be
providing information on improving and managing trees and green spaces on the
best trees to plant for the appropriate locations.
We are still having complaints on CSI regarding
their service not being satisfactory.
Complaints have been logged and will serve to help when contracts are
negotiated this year.
Discussion of the separate phone line that was put
in for the Sheriff’s Department is rarely used. The possibility of converting to a two-line phone for the city would
be beneficial during work hours to help eliminate some of the voice mails and
provide better customer communication. The Sheriff’s Department could still
continue to use the city’s phone line when needed.
Mayor Kirby had discussed with each Commissioner
individually about the development of a new website. The website needs to be
not only business information, but a use for key marketing to promote and
develop the city. The website can also be a two-way communication between
citizens, developers and the city. There has been some demos of web
development, hosting and tools been observed that the National League of Cities
has. This provides tools that a
layperson can use to develop the website and add technical enhancement. The Matrix Website Service (Totally Web
Government) would tie us in with the National League of Cities and the Kentucky
League of Cities, thus providing additional tools at additional cost such as if
we would want to collect taxes online.
The new contract would provide us with free support; this program was
built with cities and counties in mind.
There has been some work on the current website by additional
information and this could be easily transferred to the new website. John Harding of Boone County has agreed to
provide support. The current contract
cost would be the initial fee of $255.00 dollars and $55.00 dollars per
month. It was the consensus of the
Commission that the contract should be negotiated to see if it can help our
city.
Mr. McClellan was very concerned that the special
section, Boone County Recorder Guide had not mentioned the City of Union. Other
cities had special recognition along with mention of Ryle High School. Mayor Kirby had followed up on the article
and found that the section had come out of their Cincinnati office. He had contacted Julie Hale, Editor of the
Boone County Recorder, who was very apologetic. Kathy had provided information,
but space had been a factor. Ms. Hale
will do a special section on the city in an upcoming issue. If there is any other special information
about the city to notify her and she will follow through.
Jim Ducat of Boy Scout Troop 228 was present to
inform that the troop would be meeting at Camp Ernst to work on their 1st
Class Badge.
ADJOURNMENT
No further business to come before the Commission,
Mayor Kirby asked for a motion to adjourn. Mr. Jennings moved to adjourn the
meeting at 9:10 p.m. and seconded by Mrs. Hitzel. Motion carried.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
____________________________ _________________________
Donald G. Kirby II, Mayor Kathy
Porter, City Clerk
Date: April 14, 2003