City of Mount Washington
Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Council Meeting
August 23, 2004
City Hall Annex Building, 186 Branham Way
Mayor Sullivan called the meeting to order at 6:30pm 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 Rodney Burress.
Boy Scout Troop 333’s Color Guard presented the flags. Senior Patrol Leader Alex Calloway led the Pledge of Allegiance. Chaplin David Bowen from Troop 333 gave the invocation.
Chief Rodney Hockenbury introduced Mike Huffman, Mike O’Donnell and Scott Ballman as the newest officers of the Mt. Washington Police Department.
Melvin Davis presented Brian Doheny, President and CEO of Jewish Hospital Medical Center South. Mr. Doheny gave an update on the new Jewish Hospital facility in Bullitt County.
Minutes
Sid Griffin made a motion to accept the minutes of the August 9, 2004 meeting as written. Ralph Lutes seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.
Treasurer’s Report
Peggy Brinkman stated that the auditor has completed 80 hours of fieldwork and is on schedule to submit a draft proposal on September 15th and the final audit at the second Council meeting in October.
Peggy Brinkman gave the Treasurer’s Report for July 2004. Sid Griffin made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report for July 2004. Joetta Calhoun seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.
Code Enforcement
Rodney Burress stated the City has an ordinance that empowers the Mayor to take criminal complaints in district court. Code Enforcement Officer, Mike Bowen updated the Council on the properties that are not in compliance with the City’s ordinances. Mr. Burress said the Council must decide at what point they want to take further action and he discussed the options available to the Council. Discussion followed. Rodney Burress recommended that the Council direct the Mayor to file criminal complaints, since the current City ordinances seem to be sufficient. Further discussion followed. Sid Griffin made a motion recommending that the Mayor proceed with criminal complaints on those actions where the ordinance notice requirements have been complied with. Larry Porter seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.
Ordinances
Sid Griffin introduced and the Council held first reading of an ordinance to adopt or reject the recommendation of the Bullitt County Joint Planning Commission to re-zone 2.08 acres, more or less, from R-2 Residential to R-3 Residential, located at 262 Hardy Lane, Docket No. 2004Z-40. Kenny Stout distributed a plat of the entire development.
Beverly Rock, 262 Hardy Lane (current owner of the property), said the Planning Commission brought up drainage and road issues for the entire development, and did not just consider the property applied for. Both of these issues were addressed in previous applications to the Planning Commission. She said the drainage is poor, but Kenny Stout has agreed to make the necessary drainage improvements and will widen the road.
Kenny Stout said the person at the Planning Commission that made the motion to deny the re-zoning, was confused about which text he was voting on. In addition, the density requirements stated in the recommendation are incorrect. The property does meet medium density requirements. The other issues noted by the Planning Commission were the drainage and road. This had been addressed previously. Mt. Washington’s representative to the Planning Commission voted against the motion to deny the re-zoning. The proposal improves drainage and will allow for a sidewalk to be connected to Twelve Oaks. Mr. Stout answered questions from the Council.
Greg Dorris, 114 Sunshine Court, said he was shocked the Planning Commission voted to deny the re-zoning. He felt that questions raised about the development should have been addressed at the time the first tract was brought before the Planning Commission. Also, confusion surrounded around the electric pole, but during the answer phase of the meeting, he was told how the issue could be solved, therefore the problem was resolved. Mr. Dorris is concerned about the increased traffic and asked the Council to take this into consideration.
Mike Mann, 294 Hardy Lane, said he was surprised by the action taken by the Planning Commission on this re-zoning, although he does not want to assume the person who made the motion didn’t know what he was voting on. Mr. Mann stated he does not want to look out his back door and see the patio homes. It seems that houses similar to those existing would be more compatible for the area, or he would like to have a buffer. Another concern is the additional traffic. Mr. Mann asked that the rezoning be rejected as recommended by the Planning Commission.
Kenny Stout discussed the road issues.
Larry Porter introduced and the Council held first reading of an ordinance annexing 71.31 acres known as the Wilmer T. and Virginia L. McAlister property located at 1475 North Bardstown Road. No one was present to discuss the proposed use of the property. Virginia McAlister said she doesn’t want her property annexed. Rodney Burress said Virginia McAlister consented to the proposed annexation of 71.31 acres, and if she did not want her property annexed, she can withdraw the application. Without consent from the owners of the property, the Council cannot proceed with a consensual annexation. Sid Griffin made a motion to table the ordinance annexing the McAlister property until the next meeting so a representative can be present to discuss the proposed use of the property. Lloyd Dooley seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.
Joetta Calhoun introduced and the Council held first reading of an ordinance relating to the meeting time for the City of Mt. Washington. Prior to the reading, Ms. Calhoun asked that Section 1 (A) of the ordinance be amended as follows: 6:00pm changed to 6:30pm and 6:30pm changed to 7:00pm. Rodney Burress read the ordinance with the amendment. Discussion followed.
Mayor’s Report
Mayor Sullivan asked Christi Franklin to report on the meeting with the Bullitt County officials on the base mapping system offered by the Louisville Water Company. She said 25 Bullitt County officials were present representing 12 governmental entities as well as 10 other interested people. Ms. Franklin stated she also met with PVA, Bruce Johnson on Friday and viewed their software, and she, Mayor Sullivan and Larry Porter will meet with the coordinator of LOJIC, Curt Bynum on September 3rd. Discussion followed.
Mayor Sullivan asked Christi Franklin to read the letter written to Alltel regarding the utility pole in front of Cyclone and asked the Council if any changes are needed before it is mailed. No changes were made, and the letter will be mailed.
Emergency Management Update
Melvin Davis updated the Council on the tornado warning sirens. Currently there are 18 sirens throughout Bullitt County and he discussed the locations and how the sirens are activated. He also stated four new sirens will be installed within the next year, although the locations have not yet been determined. Discussion followed.
Guests to Address the Council
Jim Phelps, 9972 Highway 44E, asked for clarification of the code enforcement motion earlier in the meeting and the results of the vote. Rodney Burress stated the motion and Christi Franklin said the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Phelps also asked the Council if an industrial plant is permitted in the B-2 zoning classification. Rodney Burress said it is inappropriate for the Council to address this and Mr. Phelps should discuss this with Bullitt County Planning and Zoning. In addition, Mr. Phelps said in the storm five weeks ago, a tree from his neighbor’s property fell onto his and his neighbor has not cleaned it up. Ronnie Fick stated that Mike Bowen has been working on this and supposedly has someone to clean it up.
Report from Council
Sid Griffin asked if the fire hydrant will be replaced on Gene Street. Ronnie Fick said that he cannot replace it because fire hydrants cannot be placed on a 4” line, although there are several other fire hydrants in that area to service those properties. Mr. Griffin also stated his concern about a property on Dogwood that has been a mess for 20-25 years. Mr. Fick will have the Code Enforcement Officer look at this. He also stated that the grass on the by-pass is high. Ronnie said the State cuts that grass twice a year. In addition, Mr. Griffin discussed the traffic problem at the schools. Rodney Burress stated that the City cannot do anything, and this issue should be addressed by the School Board. Discussion followed. Rodney Burress stated his concerns as a parent. Chief Rodney Hockenbury said he has discussed the issues with the traffic around Bullitt East with Ms. Atherton and other school officials and they have now opened the school 10 minutes earlier, which has helped some. The school is urging students to carpool. Discussion followed.
Larry Porter asked about the drainage at the corner of Greenbriar and Highway 44E. Ronnie Fick said that is a private development, but he can possibly give him dirt. Ronnie will speak to the owner.
Joetta Calhoun asked about the entrance to Walgreens. Ronnie Fick stated it will be tied into the Five Star and Twelve Oaks Drive. Ms. Calhoun also said she measured the grass on the lot next to Doggie Dimensions, and in some places it is 5 ½’ tall. Ronnie Fick will have Mike Bowen look at the lot.
Dave Derrick reported that the bids for the Grant lift station will be considered at the next Council meeting.
Adjourn
Joetta Calhoun made a motion to adjourn at 8:41pm. Ralph Lutes seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.