CITY OF UNION, KENTUCKY

Regular Business Meeting

MINUTES

Monday, January 12, 2004

 

CALL TO ORDER:

Mayor Don Kirby called the Regular Business Meeting of the Union City Commission to order at 7:30 p.m., Monday, January 12, 2004

 

Present: Mayor Don Kirby, Commissioners: Gary McCormick, Wayne McClellan, Warren Moore and Jonathan Jennings.  Also present were Greg D. Voss (City Attorney), Kathy Porter (City Clerk/Treasurer) and Jim Curry (City Engineer).

 

Visitors: Signing the attendance list were Mike Trout, Frances Barlow, Gregory T. Lloyd, Pinky Morgan, William S. Yauch, and Wes Bittlinger.

 

MINUTES:

After reviewing the past meeting minutes presented, Mayor Kirby asked for any comments or corrections. The City Clerk made the Commission aware of a change she had made on page 2 of the draft that had been previously sent out regarding street stripping, useful life and regulations of hot tape versus paint. Mr. Moore moved to dispense with reading of the minutes and accept as presented and include the change.  Mr. McCormick seconded the motion.  Motion passed.

 

TREASURER' REPORT:

Mayor Kirby read the Treasurer's Report of December 31, 2003. The report being in balance, Mr.Jennings moved to accept the Treasurer's report. Second to the motion by Mr. McClellan and motion carried.

 

BILLS FOR PAYMENT:

Mr. McCormick asked about the Spillman Lawn Care bill in the amount of $35.00 dollars. City Clerk answered that Mr. Spillman made a concrete lid for the septic tank cover and that is how much he charged for doing the work. No more comments were made on the bills as presented, Mr. Moore moved to pay the bills. Mr. Jennings seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 

CORRESPONDENCE:

Mayor Kirby read a memorandum from Erin Pleiman, Sanitation District No.1 dated December 15, 2003. Re: Co-Permittee KPDES Compliance Submittal. In March, 2003 the Sanitation District No. 1 applied for the KPDES Storm Water Phase II Small Separate Storm Sewer Systems (SMS4) General Permit on behalf of the Northern Kentucky region. The region to be covered by the permit was established by the Kentucky Division of Water (KDOW) in order to comply with the federally mandated NPDES Phase II requirements. Co-permittees to the Permit included 30 cities, Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties as well as the

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Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The City of Union is listed as a Co-permittee. The permit retroactively became effective on January 1, 2003. Compliance with the Permit requires the parties to address and achieve measurable goals for six minimum control measures defined in the Permit.

 

An e-mail dated December 26, 2003 received from Abby Dummitt, 1154 Abbington Drive was read by Mayor Kirby.  Mrs. Dummitt was expressing her complaint as a new resident of an on going drainage problem. Ryland Builders had built her families' home and the drainage has caused much concern.   They have not been able to enjoy their yard because of the grass being mushy and growing some type of mold.  She had been told by Ryland Builders, the problem would be taken care of.  This has been a past problem and work has been done, according to City Engineer Jim Curry, P.E., Ryland Builders had installed the drain that Mr. Curry recommended.  Mayor Kirby asked if there had been any development on the legal action pending and if it would make a difference.  Despite compliance to the development by builders, should the City in regard to this problem and in the future have some stricter standards enacted above what the county has provided, so this type of problem will not occur.  The City Clerk will contact some other cities to get samples of guidelines or Ordinances that they have in place that deal with similar projects and have input from City Engineer Jim Curry P.E.  In the meantime Mayor Kirby will contact Mr. & Mrs. Dummitt.

 

Mayor Kirby read an e-mail from Gregory T. Lloyd of Union Village with four questions to be considered or answered.  The first question was concerning street lighting.  Mr. Lloyd had been informed that the City of Union paid for lighting in other subdivisions but not Union Village. Also, the Homeowners' Association is responsible not only for the upkeep and utility expenses of the street lights in the subdivision, but also for the ones on the street by the Banks, Skyline and the Library.  Mr. Lloyd feels this is unfair. Mayor Kirby explained that at the time of the development, gas lighting was requested. The developer opted out of installing the electric street lights. Therefore, the residents own the gas lights.  The City Clerk will check with Cinergy about the lights located at the Library, Bank and Skyline in the vicinity of Braxton and Richmond Road and see how they are being billed for the gas to those particular streetlights.  The City does pay for the electric and maintenance on electric streetlights in the city limits. The second item was in regard to the condition of some vacant lots in the subdivision.  Some people have been dumping all types of garbage on these lots and some violators can be identified. This is a criminal act, so witnesses should call 911 to report violators.  The City Clerk had checked with Boone County Solid Waste and they should be notified to research, also the City has Ordinances that could be enforced. A third item regarding any laws mandating pet owner's to pick up their pet's excrement when walking their pets.  The City Clerk has contacted the Boone County Animal Control and is waiting for their answer. Mr. Lloyd's fourth item

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was if the City Engineer had found out who owns the property at the Braxton entrance regarding the need for a sidewalk on the north side of the street. The City Engineer responded that there were three lots at 9094 Braxton, that the owner is unknown.  The BFT parcel at the corner of Sherman and Braxton has no sidewalk, also the Kroger parcel has no sidewalk nearest to Sherman.  Subdivision regulations state the developer or lot owner can install sidewalks and if after two years after plat approval, the developer shall install sidewalks on each recorded lot. Mayor Kirby stated that the city will start the ground work for the sidewalks, especially with Kroger to get started when weather permits.  The snow removal is contracted with Boone County, if any problem, the City Clerk should be called as she can assist in getting the information to the County.

 

An e-mail received from Nick Ostrosky informing the Commission that the residents of Arbor Springs Subdivision in Plantation Pointe had circulated a petition to have Arlinghaus Builder amend restrictions to prohibit above ground pools and chain link fences with 75% of the residents signing.  To date, the residents have not received any information from the builder.  Mr. Ostrosky would like to know if the city can have any influence on this issue.  Attorney will respond and send a letter to Mr. Ostrosky.

 

Sue Lind's e-mail consisted of requesting a 4-way stop sign at Ashton Court and Cedarwood Drive, although there is stop signs on Ashton, people assume drivers will stop on Cedarwood too.  Due to almost getting hit, she feels this would be an effective safety measure.  City Engineer Mr. Curry will take a look at the problem and Mayor Kirby will respond to her e-mail.

 

An e-mail from Bill Smith of Arbor Spring Boulevard and Richmond Road was requesting a stop sign to be placed on the north and south corners of his streets.  People are creating a speedway going through to Kroger’s.  Mr. Curry will also check out this request.

 

ENGINEER REPORT:

Jim Curry, City Engineer reported that he had checked out the Lassing Green Subdivision and found five lots owned by Tom Schreiber are being mowed the first 30 feet and leaves the rest.  Construction debris is also being dumped. He will get with the City Clerk to notify Mr. Schreiber.  At the corner of Hempsteade Drive and Bayswater Drive, the house does have a drainage pipe which discharges approximately five feet from the sidewalk. There is evidence of water discharging over the sidewalk it was not draining at the present time.  Mr. Lloyd has similar situation in Union Village Subdivision.

 

Regulations will be researched on the amount of feet back from the right-of-way (property line) requirements and report back to the Mayor.

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PLANNING & ZONING:

Representative Randy Barlow was not present.

          

OLD BUSINESS:

Regarding the striping of streets, research has been done as to the comparison of the life span or durability of hot tape versus paint.  The striping work will be done when weather permits.

 

NEW BUSINESS;

New zoning is already in place as well as infrastructure for future development in the city, which will probably occur with the widening of US 42 this coming summer.  Mr. McClellan elaborated on the widening of Mt. Zion Road. Information on the status of development of the roads and Union Town Plan can be obtained on either the City of Union Website or Boone County Website. Mr. Moore mentioned that Bruce Ferguson will be presenting a history of the City of Union at the Union Scheben Library, January 26th. The Drees development (Harmony) has been approved and each Commissioner has a copy in his meeting packet. Mr. Trout wanted to know if there are any plans to expand the city.  Mayor Kirby answered that the city is interested in annexing St. Timothy's, the Post Office and the Resurrection Cemetery.  Mayor Kirby will be approaching the church soon and explain the city's position and with requesting their approval.  The properties would not be subjected to taxation. 

 

ADJOURNMENT:

No further business to come before the Commission, Mr. McCormick moved to adjourn meeting at 8:25 p.m.  Mr. Moore seconded the motion. Motion carried

 

APPROVED:                                                                       ATTEST:

 

 

_____________________                                          ______________________

Don Kirby, Mayor                                                 Kathy Porter, City Clerk

 

February 9, 2004