City of Mount Washington
Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Council Meeting
April 14, 2003
City Hall Annex Building, 186 Branham Way
Mayor Frank Sullivan called the meeting to order at 6:47 p.m. with the following Council members present: Sam Beichler, Joetta Calhoun, Lloyd Dooley, Sid Griffin, Ralph Lutes, and Larry Porter.
Also present were City Clerk Christi Franklin, City Treasurer Peggy Brinkman, Utility Superintendent Ronnie Fick, City Engineer Dave Derrick and City Attorney Joe Wantland.
The invocation was given by Brother Van Morris of the Calvary Christian Church.
Brother Van Morris also led the pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes
Sid Griffin made a motion to accept the minutes of the March 24, 2003 meeting as written. Joetta Calhoun seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.
Ordinances
Joetta Calhoun introduced and the Council held first reading of an ordinance proposing annexation of the Ed Berger property consisting of 40 acres located on Bethel Church Road.
Joetta Calhoun introduced and the Council held first reading on an ordinance amending the City of Mt. Washington budget for the fiscal year 2002/2003.
Sam Beichler introduced and the Council held first reading of two ordinances relating to the employee compensation rates through the adoption of the pay scale for the 2003/2004 fiscal year. The first ordinance relates to a pay scale increase of 3.5% and the second ordinance relates to a pay scale increase of 4%. Discussion followed.
Mayor’s Report
Mayor Sullivan announced that the City received a donation of 25 acres for the public use of walking trails, picnic areas, soccer fields and other recreational uses. The property was donated by Frank Cornell and located approximately one mile from the by-pass and ½ mile north of highway 44. Mayor Sullivan introduced Frank Cornell and Mr. Cornell indicated on a map the location of the property and stated his desire for the community to use this property.
Pictures from Kidsfest and the March police report are available to view.
Guests to Address the Council
Burton Cosby of 506 Truman Drive stated his opposition to alcohol beverages for the following reasons: additional deaths on the highways, broken homes, and children going hungry. The more alcohol is available, the more people drink. As for the legal aspect, if the current Council passes liquor by the drink, future City Council’s can vote to repeal the ordinance. The State ABC Board controls the license to sell liquor by the drink, but the City Council votes to set the license fees. As for County-wide, a vote can be placed on a referendum, then the City could collect the taxes and fees. The City should keep the City as it is and not allow alcoholic beverages.
Angela Decker of 1161 Shawnee Circle said she is proud of Mt. Washington and as a business owner she does not believe in alcohol by the drink due to the violence that it could bring to the City. She also said that revenue can be brought into the City through other businesses and the cons for liquor by the drink outweigh the pros.
Dale Miller of 146 Shannon Lane thanked the Council for allowing the public to be involved early in the process for the liquor by the drink issue. He is against liquor by the drink and would like the City to find businesses that fit the current lifestyle in the City. Regarding additional revenue, he felt that the City would receive a small amount in occupational taxes because the majority of employees at these types of restaurants make their money off of tips and the City does not receive occupational taxes from tips.
Bill Whelan of the Bullitt East Bowling Center stated his support for liquor in the community. He felt that the City should have control of who is issued liquor licenses and not the State. If the City has an ordinance, that gives the City more control than if the issue of liquor by the drink is passed by a referendum. He said that if anyone would like to talk with him regarding this issue, he would be happy to do so.
Bruce Clark, a resident of Mt. Washington asked the Council how many non-business people were surveyed on the liquor by the drink issue. Mayor Sullivan responded that a survey was not done, but he has had several people in the City approach him about obtaining a liquor by the drink license to open a bar. He felt that this ordinance might hold off a referendum for liquor by the drink. Mr. Clark asked if the ordinance is passed, would the City lose control of issuing the license and if the City can restrict the number of liquor licenses issued. Joe Wantland responded no. Mr. Clark stated he is opposed to this ordinance and liquor by the drink and would like the City to stay the way it is. He felt that this type of restaurant is a bar that serves food and it would be detrimental to the community.
Anna Ruth Clark, a resident of Mt. Washington said she concurs with her husband, Bruce Clark. The growth in the community is young couples with children and the children don’t need to see liquor. Mrs. Clark asked how many drinks the restaurants would allow before allowing a patron to drive. She said that the City does not need that responsibility and that drunken driving is more likely to occur if liquor is available in the City.
Brother Van Morris of 519 Burlwood Circle stated his desire that Mt. Washington be free of liquor by the drink. He would like to think that this community would not get enough names on a petition to place this issue on the ballot, but understands the Council’s concern. He would personally do all he can do to prevent a referendum vote from succeeding. Brother Morris said that if the Council votes in favor of this ordinance, that the ordinance should impose the strictest measures, which would prove that the Council is trying to keep a handle on this issue. He asked the Council not to vote in favor of this ordinance for economic reasons. Due to the deaths that alcohol brings, the community would be better off without liquor by the drink.
John Chapman of 247 Hardwood Drive appreciated the opportunity to speak and as a staff minister of the First Baptist Church, he is opposed to alcohol. He came from a larger community that was dry and that community was doing well economically. At this time, the City does not have any “family” restaurants that do not serve liquor. Maybe it is because the City is too far from the interstate, the population base is not that dense, or the City does not have the things to draw people here. The impression he is getting from the Council is that the restaurants that serve liquor by the drink will want to build restaurants immediately. That is unrealistic and would like the Council to consider this.
Carolyn Weakley of 245 Gene Street felt that the less alcohol in the community, the better. She discussed how addictive alcohol is and felt that the more alcohol is available, the more children will drink or see their role models drink. If restaurants serve liquor by the drink, that would hurt the community in both these ways.
Eric Dickerson of 129 Burlwood Court stated his opposition to liquor by the drink for personal reasons. He felt that once this ordinance is passed, it would very difficult to regulate.
Joe Wells of 319 Millwood Drive stated that he is behind the Council 110% regardless of the outcome of the liquor by the drink issue. He attends almost all Council meetings, and feels that the Council takes their job seriously and encouraged the audience to attend more meetings to give the Council more forethought on other issues. He is not sure about the legalities of this issue, but he does not want any adult entertainment or bars in the City.
Sharon Turner of 152 Oak Run Drive would like to see regulations to make it difficult to sell liquor in the City. She felt that 70% food sales is insufficient and that 95% of food sales would be better. This would allow the City to have more control. Liquor has a higher alcohol content, therefore less liquor is needed to go over the limit. She would prefer liquor to stay out of the City but understands that if it comes in, strict regulations need to be in place.
Mayor Sullivan thanked all guests for their comments, and invited the guests to all meetings.
Report from the Council
Sid Griffin commended the audience for their comments and questions. He also asked if the City or the developer puts up street signs in new subdivisions. Ronnie responded that the City puts the signs up. Sid said that a resident contacted him because some people have trouble finding her house off of Bethel Church Road because of the lack of street signs. Ronnie stated that some signs are up already, but he is waiting for more signs to come in.
Ralph Lutes thanked the people that came to the meeting and spoke against liquor by the drink. He feels that liquor by the drink would be bad for the community.
Larry Porter doesn’t feel that any Council member would vote for anything that would hurt this community. He asked the residents for patience and input.
Sam Beichler thanked the audience for coming and stated that he respects everyone’s opinion. He hopes that if the Council votes in favor of the liquor by the drink ordinance with restrictions that the residents will respect the Council’s decision, not to necessarily agree with the decision. Several residents have asked him when Mt. Washington will get a decent restaurant, although he understands that some residents don’t want liquor by the drink.
Joetta Calhoun promised to listen and make informed decisions.
Lloyd Dooley thanked the audience for coming and stated that this will be a hard decision to make.
Joe Wantland submitted his resignation effective at the end of the month as City Attorney but would like to continue representing the City on the voting redistricting lawsuit.
Adjourn
There being no further business before the Council, Joetta Calhoun made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:00pm. Larry Porter seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.