CITY OF UNION, KENTUCKY

REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING

MINUTES

6:30 p.m., Monday, July 14, 2008

Ryle High School Auditorium

PRESENT: Mayor Don Kirby, Commissioners Bob Kelly, John Mefford, Todd Sayers, John Adams, City Administrator Warren Moore, City Attorney Greg Voss, City Engineer Barry Burke and City Clerk Kathy Porter. 

CALL TO ORDER:

Mayor Kirby called the Regular Business Meeting of the Union City Commission to order at 6:30 p.m., Monday, July 14, 2008.

MINUTES: (All Commissioners were provided copies prior to tonight’s meeting)

Mr. Sayers moved to accept the minutes of the June 9, 2008 Public Hearing on the MRA/LGEA Fund. Mr. Kelly seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Mr. Kelly moved to accept the minutes of the June 9, 2008 Regular Business Meeting. Mr. Mefford seconded the motion. Motion carried.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

Mr. Adams made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report as of June 30, 2008 as presented. Mr. Sayers seconded the motion. Motion carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

There was no correspondence on the agenda to present.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:

City Administrator Warren Moore made a short report.

He has had no new inquires regarding the Town Center due to the request by Midland-Atlantic to hold the public hearing regarding the zoning change.

He also reported that while all of the necessary easements for the sanitary sewer project have not been received from all affected citizens the city is moving forward with the project and held a pre-construction meeting with the city engineer, city attorney, and the contractor in June. Due to an existing project for Boone County, the contractor is estimating a start date of August 1, 2008.

Regarding the Urban Forest Commission, the removal and replanting of the street plantings that were killed by last year’s late freeze and ensuing drought will take place at the same time, this fall

Regarding the Old Fire District Facility, he is corresponding with the Boone County Parks Board as well as Public Works to determine if they have an interest in a sublease of any or all of the parking bays for their equipment.

He also noted that the city is receiving more complaints this year about properties being neglected, most likely because of the number of foreclosure actions due to the current housing market meltdown.  

CITY ENGINEER REPORT:

Mr. Burke’s monthly report containing about 35 ongoing and new items had been transmitted/provided to the Commissioners and City Administration prior to tonight’s meeting for public record. Mr. Burke discussed two (2) new items and elaborated on several items within the monthly report.

Mr. Burke stated that he is working with City Administrator Warren Moore to assist the residents of Hempsteade Subdivision (9813 Burleigh Drive) with the regulatory issue of a neighbor building a fence over a sewer and on a berm considering the planning commission’s approval of the plat, the HOA documents, and protective covenants. He advised that SD#1 records and the subdivision’s HOA documents may include the answer to the issues. The sanitation district is continuing its work on Stormwater Quality Plan as well, which Union being one (1) of 44 co-permittees due by the end of the year.  

He also referenced the on-going City sanitary sewer project. He stated he understands that the city has 52 of the 87 easements needed. There is another effort in process to procure the remaining easements. He stated that he is also working with Mr. Kojima on Russwill Dr. regarding the storm sewer and how it interfaces with the sanitary sewer on his property. The property owned on Russwill by Mr. Terry Dwelly and Mr. Scott May on Old Union Road will not have any design plan changes or easements due to the fact that they do not want to pay for the extra engineering cost of relocating the planned sewer. He reported that Mr. Dwelly stated to him that he intends to contest the easement.

Mr. Burke reported that on June 25, 2008 at the Union City Building he met with G&T Excavation Inc. and other entities involved to discuss the sewer project. G&T Excavation has indicated to Mr. Burke that they plan on starting on the project the first of August, subject to the acquisition of easements.

He also reported that the City received three (3) grants in the amount of $200,000 each and a loan from the state to help pay for the project. The City is also required to make quarterly reports on those funds.

Item # 4 (page 4 and 5 of Engineer’s report) – Mr. Burke commented on the 2008 street repairs including those along Churchill Dr., one of four areas. The costs of the total repairs are estimated to be about $80,000 divided among four (4) reputable contractors as a public bids were not required. Based upon the directives of the city at the June meeting, certain additional work that may need to be done to address the effects of “natural springs” brought to the engineer’s attention by the Lamberts. This work may be paid for by using Municipal Aid Road Funds, subject to city’s approval.

Item # 8 (page 6 of the Engineer’s report) – Mr. Burke updated the commission on the joint project with the City of Florence/City of Union to address drainage and traffic improvements along Wetherington Blvd. Sixteen percent (16%) of the street is within the Union city limits and the remainder of the street is within the City of Florence.  Recent discovery revealed that underground irrigation systems exist along the edge of the pavement within the public right-of-way. Both cities support the decision that the Plantation Point Homeowners Association is responsible for the relocation of those systems. Bids were opened for this work by the city of Florence. Union share of the work will about $75,580, higher than the original estimate of $61,900, primarily due to primarily due to increases in the price of oil for the asphalt.

Item # 15 (page 7 of the Engineer’s report) – Regarding the Storm Water Runoff Controls – Detention Catch Basins in Union Bluffs and Hampshire Subdivisions: Mr. Burke updated the commission on the status of processing the deed transfers necessary. Once the deeds are transferred the properties should be added to the city’s responsibilities for permanent maintenance.

Item # 30 (page 11 of the Engineer’s report) – Mr. Burke gave the commission an update on Gateway KYTC parcels. Mr. Burke assessed possible property parcels for the purpose of placing north and south gateways to the city. These parcels could be used for monument signage, beautification or other public use. With previous partnering regarding signage, Kevin Costello from the Planning Commission, attending the meeting may be able assist on this project. Mr. Costello stated that he would.

Item # 32 (page 12 of the Engineer’s report) - Mr. Burke gave the commission an update on what he thought was a study or plans on repairing Hempsteade Blvd. This work may include under drain and side drain systems, milling concrete lanes, traffic calming and resurfacing. Mr. Burke answered commissioner’s questions in regard to the estimated cost of the work/repairs and the funds that the city would use to address these repairs. The street is 20 years old and signs of aging are present at 15 years such as concrete joints and exposed expansion filler. More information on plans is forthcoming.   

The above text concludes the City Engineering Report for the July meeting.

PLANNING AND ZONING:

Mr. Patrick Reynolds, Planning and Zoning Representative, was not present.

PUBLIC WORKS/UNION  VISIONING COMMITTEE        Commissioner Bob Kelly

Commissioner Bob Kelly reported that the city’s contract with Spillman Landscaping is expiring soon. Attorney Voss stated that they contract would need to be bid out.

Mr. Kelly also discussed that the city will not allow the grass of property owners to be longer than eight (8”) in length. The city will ask the owner to cut the grass and if they do not do so a lien would be placed against their property as the city will cut the grass for them if they do not.

Mr. Kelly reported that the Union Visioning Committee met on June 27, 2008 and they would like to hold an event in the future at the old Union Fire District building that has just been purchased by the City of Union.

He also reported that members of the Visioning Committee will be going to Gahanna, Ohio, outside of Columbus, on July 18, 2008 to visit and tour their new mixed-used, new urbanism development.

Mr. Kelly stated that there would be a report on Economic Development firms to assist the city in pursuing the Union Town Center plan and invited that presentation to begin.   

Mr. Kevin Costello from the Boone County Planning Commission (BCPC) was present to speak about the Union Towne Center. He gave a brief presentation on the chronology of events on the Union Town Center (UTC) Plan from 1998 to 2000. He presented documents dated July 11, 2008 that includes a lists of the chronology of the history of the Town Center Plan, a brief overview of Pizzuti Solutions, the economic development firm that the BCPC is recommending per their search, and a UTC project plan overview of what Pizutti Firm proposes to do for the City of Union as part of the economic development plans.  

Joe Russell, the Executive Vice President of Pizutti addressed the commission and gave a brief overview of his background and the background of the company, its history and projects.

Barbara Fohl, a Pizutti employee with experience as a consultant and developer, gave an overview of the Pizutti team that would be providing services to the City of Union, should the City chose to procure those services. She also described some of those services.

Mr. Costello asked the commission if there were any questions

Commissioner Kelly made the comment that he appreciated that the Pizutti team has experience working in both city government and as developers. He asked Mr. Russell if he could expound on those experiences and what it would mean to the project. Mr. Russell elaborated on his experience and expressed that he felt it was important that cities have their own ideas of what their economic development will look like as opposed to letting developers decide.  He discussed the details of what the project plan would address and analyze.

CITIZENS/PUBLIC COMMENTS:

None

OLD BUSINESS:

Second reading of ORDINANCE NO. 2008-006 – AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING AN ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2008 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2009 BY ESTIMATING REVENUES AND RESOURCES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF CITY GOVERNMENT. Mr. Adams made a motion to approve the Ordinance. Mr. Sayers seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Second reading of ORDINANCE NO. 2008-007 – AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE DAY AND TIME OF THE MONTHLY CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS FOR THE CITY OF UNION, KENTUCKY WHEREAS THE DAY AND TIME OF MONTHLY UNION CITY MEETINGS HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY OF UNION, KENTUCKY IN ORDINANCE NO. 82-017 NOW THEREFORE THE CITY COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF UNION, KENTUCKY WHEREAS DUE TO THE INCREASED CITY BUSINESS IT IS NECESSARY TO BEGIN THIS MEETING AT 7:00 P.M. EACH MONTH THAT THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE CITY OF UNION, KENTUCKY SHALL HENCEFORTH MEET

ON THE SECOND MONDAY OF EACH CALENDAR MONTH AT 7 P.M. AT THE UNION CITY BUILDING. Mr. Sayers made a motion to approve the Ordinance. Mr. Mefford seconded the motion. Motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS:

Mayor Kirby read RESOLUTION NO. 2008-006 - A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF UNION, KENTUCKY CONDEMNATION OF REAL PROPERTY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MT. ZION/OLD UNION/RUSSWILL SEWER PROJECT LOCATED IN THE CITY OF UNION, KENTUCKY. Mr. Adams made a motion to accept the resolution. Mr. Sayers seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Mayor Kirby read RESOLUTION NO. 2008-007- A RESOLUTION ALLOWING THE CITY ATTORNEY OF UNION, KY TO PURSUE FORECLOSURE PROCEEDINGS ON THE VOLPENHEIN PROPERTY LOCATED AT 10015 Old Union Rd. Mr. Adams made the motion to accept the resolution. Mr. Sayers seconded the motion. Motion carried.

ADJOURNMENT:

No further business came before the Commission. Mayor Kirby moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Kelly made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Mefford seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Signed this 11th day of August, 2008.

APPROVED:                                                                      ATTEST:

Don Kirby                                                                                Kathy Porter

_____________________                                               _________________________________

Don Kirby, Mayor Kathy Porter, City Clerk/Treasurer