REGULAR MEETING
February 24, 2015
4:30 PM
CITY OF HURSTBOURNE
304 WHITTINGTON PARKWAY / SUITE 100
LOUISVILLE, KY
Mayor Mary Schneider called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
C.A.O. Leidgen conducted the roll call. A quorum of the Commission was present.
Present: Mary Schneider, Mayor
Earl Hubbuch, Commissioner
Ben Jackson, Commissioner
Lois Wagner, Commissioner
Rusty Wells, Commissioner
Others Jim Leidgen, C.A.O.
Present: John Singler, City Attorney
Chris Crumpton, City Engineer
Faye Tanner, Recording Secretary
PLEDGE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Schneider.
RECOGNITION OF GUESTS
Mr. Ken Weber spoke to the Commission about REACH Alert, a program that was developed to provide municipalities, schools, businesses, and other organizations with the ability to instantly communicate timely information in an easy and efficient way. For the first year of a contract, the fee for the City would be $1.00 per household based upon 1400-1500 households. Mr. Weber answered a number of questions from the Commissioners. Commissioner Jackson made the motion for the City to enter into an agreement with REACH Alert. His motion was seconded by Commissioner Wells; motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Hubbuch made the motion to approve the Minutes of the February 15, 2015 regular meeting of the City Commission. His motion was seconded by Commissioner Jackson; motion carried.
Commissioner Jackson made the motion to approve the Minutes of the February 16, 2015 Special Meeting of the City Hall Project Committee. His motion was seconded by Mayor Schneider; motion carried.
Commissioner Hubbuch made the motion to approve the Minutes of the February 17, 2015 Special Meeting of the City Commission. His motion was seconded by Commissioner Wells; motion carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Treasurer Bennett
City Treasurer Bill Bennett presented the financial statements for the month ended January 31, 2015 as well as totals for seven months into the City’s fiscal year. He noted that a number of Certificates of Deposit will be maturing and the City will have to make a decision about where to place the funds. All departments are within their budget.
There was discussion regarding the process for the collection of delinquent taxes. C.A.O. Leidgen commented that Hurstbourne has one of the lowest delinquency rates, if not the lowest, of any Metro Louisville suburban city.
BUSINESS ITEMS
Municipal Order 15-13 Relating to Check Register Approvals for January, 2015. Commissioner Wells made the motion to approve MO 15-13. His motion was seconded by Commissioner Wagner; motion carried.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT – Attorney Singler
Attorney Singler presented a draft of a data back-up policy which had been combined with the statutory mandate to create a privacy policy for personal data (social security, bank and credit card numbers, etc.). He asked the Commission to examine it for future adoption.
Attorney Singler distributed a draft of Municipal Order 15-14, A Municipal Order Relating to the Approval of a Detailed Development Plan and Related Revision to the General Development Plan and Waivers on Property Located at 9500 Williamsburg Plaza, Containing 5.34 Acres, Which Property is a Portion (Parts of Lots One and Two) of the Property Previously Rezoned in Planning Commission Case Number 13545; Being in the City of Hurstbourne (Case Number 14DEVPLAN1169). He also distributed the Staff Report from the Planning Commission pertaining to this Case. In connection with this, City Engineer Chris Crumpton disseminated to the Commission a chart which had been created indicating the peak hour trip generation numbers for this property. Attorney Singler asked for feedback from the Commissioners for any changes (additions or deletions) to the Binding Elements in order to finalize Municipal Order 15-14.
Attorney Singler had researched and reported that a restaurant named City Barbeque has filed for the approvals for a restaurant in the former PNC Bank Building. C.A.O. Leidgen and Engineer Crumpton will look into this further and report back to the Commission.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – C.A.O. Leidgen
C.A.O. Leidgen presented the Resident Call Log and stated that a number of the calls were related to trash pickup issues during the recent snow storm.
C.A.O. Leidgen reported on his recent KCCMA (city managers) meeting presented by the Kentucky League of Cities. Specifically, they presented a step-by-step guide for Strategic Planning for cities. Mr. Leidgen thought this would be very helpful to the City in their long-range planning. KLC also distributed information that should be helpful when dealing with the media. Commissioner Wagner reminded the Commission that the City has a policy that all information disseminated to the media should go through C.A.O. Leidgen. Commissioner Jackson also stated that when talking with the media the City should definitely have one voice. Mayor Schneider emphasized that Commissioners should give any talking points to Mr. Leidgen so that he could speak to those points when informing the media.
There was discussion related to the distribution of the next Hurstbourne Herald. There will be a few minor changes including the addition of information related to REACH Alert. It was decided to print the newsletter and insert in black and white.
C.A.O. Leidgen asked for any recommendation of individuals to serve on the City’s Ethics Committee.
Mr. Leidgen reported he has been in communication with Stacy Keith from Louisville Metro about the new Blairwood sign. She said that sign will be installed tomorrow.
KLC will begin to offer a “reverse auction” for the sale of road salt. The City would have to commit to the purchase of at least fifty tons of salt, but the cost per ton should be much less than what the City is currently paying.
MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Schneider
Mayor Schneider, Commissioner Wells and Prospect Mayor John Evans will visit the Rumpke Recycling Center in Cincinnati next week.
Mayor Schneider had attended a meeting of the Inverness Homeowners’ Association to hear about their concerns.
Mayor Schneider met with Commissioner Hubbuch and C.A.O. Leidgen regarding the schedule for the Hurstbourne Herald. She asked the Commissioners to turn in their articles for the May issue as quickly as possible in order to keep the proper schedule for publication. C.A.O. Leidgen will give the Commissioners the deadline for each of the future publications.
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT – Commissioner Hubbuch
Commissioner Hubbuch had received a list of the properties sold in Hurstbourne during 2014 and distributed copies to the Commissioners. Commissioner Wagner stated that very few of the homes had sold for less than their assessed value. In fact, the total sale price for all properties was more than
$1 million over the assessed value.
Commissioner Hubbuch expressed his frustration that the proposed flashing light at on Hurstbourne Parkway at Williamsburg Plaza has still not been installed, but indications are that it will be installed soon.
CODE ENFORCEMENT/SANITATION REPORT – Commissioner Wagner
No report.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT – Commissioner Wells
City Engineer Chris Crumpton distributed a cost estimate of $67,444 for the sidewalk and ramp improvements on Colonel Anderson Parkway and on Hogarth Drive. Since this would be part of the ADA Sidewalk Improvement project, Mr. Crumpton suggested the City go ahead and apply for a grant from Metro Louisville to be used for this purpose.
After discussion Commissioner Wells made the motion to proceed to submit to Metro Louisville for funding for Colonel Anderson and Hogarth sidewalk project as recommended by the City Engineer. His motion was seconded by Commissioner Hubbuch; motion carried.
Engineer Crumpton distributed two options for the construction of entrances on Linn Station at Hurstbourne Lane. The first option presented depicted a low wall design with large “City of Hurstbourne” letters and small cast iron plaques. The second option presented depicted a taller wall with large cast iron plaques instead of individual letters. During discussion, it was decided to approve the low wall option. Since the Linn Station entrance project had already been bid and awarded to Lawrence & Associates, Commissioner Wells made the motion to accept the selected plan and to approve a renegotiation of that contract with Lawrence & Associates for the project. His motion was seconded by Commissioner Hubbuch; motion carried.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Commissioner Jackson made the motion that the Commission go into closed session according to KRS 61.810(1) (b) for deliberations on the possible acquisition of real estate. His motion was seconded by Commissioner Wells. Motion carried.
On the Commission’s return from closed session, it was stated that the Commission discussed the possible acquisition of real estate and no action had been taken in closed session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Commissioner Jackson made the motion that the Commission go into another closed session according to KRS 61.810(1) (f) for discussions relating to personnel. His motion was seconded by Commissioner Hubbuch; motion carried.
Commissioner Wells made the motion to return to open session. His motion was seconded by Commissioner Hubbuch. It was stated that the Commission discussed matters relating to personnel of a general nature and no action had been taken in closed session.
ADJOURNMENT
At 7:35 p.m. Commissioner Wagner made the motion to adjourn. Her motion was seconded by Commissioner Hubbuch; Motion carried.