CITY OF UNION, KENTUCKY
Regular Business Meeting
Monday, May 10, 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, May 10, 2004
Present: Mayor Don Kirby, Commissioners: Wayne McClellan, Jonathan
Jennings and Warren Moore. Absent: Gary
McCormick. Also present were Greg D.
Voss (City Attorney), Kathy Porter (City Clerk/Treasurer.) Barry Burke, P.E., P.L.S., (City Engineer) with Foppe Technical
Group and Randy Barlow (City Representative, P& Z).
Visitors: Signing the attendance list were Mike Trout, Gregory Lloyd,
Steve and Betsy Conrad, Derick Stride, Boone County Planning Executive Director
Kevin Costello, Rick Harvey and Aaron Goy – Boone County Urban Forest
Commission.
MINUTES:
After reviewing the past meeting minutes presented, Mayor Kirby asked
for any comments or corrections. Mr. Moore moved to dispense with reading of
the minutes and accept as presented.
Mr. McClellan seconded the motion.
Motion passed.
TREASURER' REPORT:
Mayor Kirby read the Treasurer's Report of April 30, 2004. 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. Jennings made a motion to approve monthly bills presented. Mr. Moore seconded the motion. Motion passed.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Mayor Kirby read correspondence from Kevin Costello-Executive Director,
Boone County Planning Commission on behalf of Boone County Urban Forest
Commission requesting a contribution in preparing a Master Streetscape Plan
along the new U.S. 42 from Scheben Library to Ryle High School. Mr. Costello was present and introduced
Aaron Goy, a member of the Urban Forest Commission. Mr. Costello proceeded to explain the proposed request that had
been presented to the Commission. Pictures were reviewed and the Commission
informed that there are landscape requirements on private property issued by
the Planning Commission, City of Union and District Court, also setback
locations. Landscaping will be reviewed as to what is best suited for the
community. Mayor
Kirby asked if the sidewalk along the new U.S. 42 would be up against
the road. The answer was affirmative
and would be five (5) foot wide with no grass between. The request for $20,000.00 dollars would
include a portion for Khris Stone, who runs the Central Park Arboretum. The
plan is to minimize the cost of the landscape architect to approximately $3,000
- $4,000 dollars so as to use as much as possible for the first phase.
Decisions have to be made about what type materials to use and encroachment
permits. Other local funds can be used
for Grant matching to obtain Federal and State money. Mr. Goy thanked the Mayor and Commission for considering the
request and asked if there were any further questions. Mr. McClellan said he was asked two years
ago to be involved in the future planning of this project. He has been very dedicated by attending
meetings and seminars. Mr. Costello informed the Commission that Planning &
Zoning would take on all the responsibility of bidding and necessary
procedures. Mayor Kirby and Commissioners expressed their views as to being a
budget item. After hearing the plan,
Mr. McClellan made a motion to authorize the Boone County Urban Forest
Commission request for $20,000 and make a part of the budget for fiscal year
2004-2005. Mr. Moore seconded the
motion. Motion carried.
Mayor Kirby read a letter from Chris Taylor of BFT Investments
answering complaints of debris on their property, Lot 16 in Union Village
Subdivision and requesting their appearance for a hearing at tonight’s meeting
to discuss abatement. The letter stated
that the debris had been dumped without their permission and they would address
the issue upon commencement of construction.
They would be unable to attend the scheduled hearing. After discussion
of the condition existing for years and is a safety concern, Attorney Voss
advised that the lot needed to be cleaned up.
A certified letter is to be forwarded to BFT Investments informing them
that the City of Union will have the lot cleaned up and a lien applied to their
property tax bill.
Steve and Betsy Conrad, members of the Dinsmore Homestead were
approaching the Commission for support of the Dinsmore Homestead. The presentation was made with a slide show.
Funds are needed to restore and maintain the property. Dinsmore is an 1842 building and is open to
the public to tour. It is felt the home
is a national treasure comparative to Mount Vernon and Monticello. Five generations have made this their
home. Many unique artifacts fill the
home along with letters and information of the families’ connection with many
prominent persons. Each year there is
activities and various fees to help support the home. A $38,000 grant has just been awarded from the Greater Cincinnati
Foundation, which requires a match.
Betsy and Steve have visited our local cities requesting that the
individual city could have a day designated as their day with the citizens
having free admission and display some of their cities’ flags, etc. This would
promote advertisement of the home.
Betsy thanked the Commission for giving her time for her presentation
and hoped that the city could include an amount in
their upcoming budget for the home.
Mayor Kirby asked what type of contribution would be appropriate. The City of Florence had contributed
$1000.00.
PLANNING & ZONING:
Randy Barlow, P & Z Representative didn’t have a report.
CITY ENGINEER
REPORT:
Mr. Barry Burke P.E. gave a summary of what he
has accomplished the past month since acquiring the position served by Jim
Curry of Dave Estes Engineering. There has been various meetings with Mr.
McClellan, teleconferences with City Clerk and the Mayor, review of Estes’
files from past years. The report
consists of eighteen (18) items pertaining to complaints and various other work
needing attention and possible solution or recommendations. (A copy of the
report is attached to the current minutes). A meeting will be set with the
Sanitation District Staff to update the status of the sanitary sewer. The City Clerk will be notified of the meeting
date and will notify Mayor Kirby, Mr. McClellan and Attorney Voss. In closing,
an updated Proposal, Service Agreement, Terms and Conditions and 2004 Foppe
Rate Schedule for city related work was presented. A draft Resolution was presented for the city to examine, due to
Foppe Technical Group purchasing all the assets of Dave Estes Engineering.
Mayor Kirby mentioned that the city has had problems with storm water and
retention ponds the past couple years especially in Lancashire. Mr. Burke explained that due to streets and
individual lots being built at different times, the water shed was draining to
a common point; generally what happens is the type of grass blades that are
common to this area usually cannot withstand this type of concentrated water
flow. Unless there is sufficient
enough inlets and sub service pipes to take that water down there is a problem,
the home builder did put in some 4 inch pipes which took care of 4 % with still
96% remaining. The problem is there is
not a well defined swale sufficient to take the water down. The question was
whether the Subdivision Regulations are strict enough to require builders to develop
properly. Mayor Kirby said that some residents especially in Lancashire cannot
use their back yards. Mr. Costello said
the first draft of the new regulations is done and about to go to for Public
Hearing and he will see what can be determined. Regarding the Foppe Proposal,
after examining the Standard Terms and Conditions, it appeared that this was
more commercial basis and for the state of Ohio and would not provide a good
working relationship between Foppe Technical Group and the City Commission. Upon the recommendation of Attorney Voss.
Mr. Moore moved to sign a general agreement with the exception of the terms and
conditions with Foppe Technical Group and authorize that they be paid at their
free rate schedule for 2004. Mr.
Jennings seconded the motion. Motion
carried.
OLD BUSINESS:
Dr. Lloyd questioned the status of the crosswalks for Wetherington Blvd.
and
Lancashire Drive. Mr. Burke
informed him that the original plans have been completed and copies of the
proper information forwarded to the City of Florence and the Boone County Road
Department for questions and later to be coordinated with the City Clerk. When observing the streets around the community
Mr. McClellan mentioned that the next area in need of crosswalk installation is
at Braxton Drive with the entrance to Scheben Library and Kroger. Another issue is the striping of the
roadways at Braxton Drive and Richmond Road with the current striping not being
visible; this is the heaviest traffic area with people going to Kroger. Cars have been seen turning left on US 42
using the entrance lane, so this is definitely a safety concern and should be
taken care of as soon as possible. Regarding sidewalks, a letter had been
drafted based on their criteria and forwarded to the Union City Commission with
copies to the Boone County Planning Commission identifying the addresses for
the missing sidewalks.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mayor Kirby gave First reading of ORDINANCE NO: 2004-OO1 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF UNION, KENTUCKY ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2003 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2004 BY ESTIMATING REVENUES AND RESOURCES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF CITY GOVERNMENT. Motion made by Mr. Moore to accept first reading to include Exhibit A. Mr. Jennings seconded the motion. Motion passed.
ADJOURNMENT:
No further business to come before the Commission, Mr. McClellan moved
to adjourn meeting at 8:10 p.m. Mr.
Moore seconded the motion. Motion carried.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
___________________ ________________________________
Don Kirby, Mayor Kathy
Porter, City Clerk/Treasurer
June 22, 2004