City of Mount Washington

Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Council Meeting

May 24, 2004

City Hall Annex Building, 186 Branham Way

Mayor Sullivan called the meeting to order at 6:33pm 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, City Engineer Dave Derrick and City Attorney Rodney Burress. 

Dr. Chitwood, Pastor of the First Baptist Church gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Minutes

Sid Griffin made a motion to accept the minutes of the May 10, 2004 meeting as written.  Ralph Lutes seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote. 

Treasurer’s Report

Peggy Brinkman gave the Treasurer’s Report for April 2004.  Discussion followed.  Larry Porter made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report for April 2004.  Ralph Lutes seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.

Ordinances

The Council held second reading of an ordinance annexing 21.046 acres known as the Board of Education property referenced to the west line of the Ellis Cook Division.  Discussion followed.  Joetta Calhoun made a motion to pass the ordinance annexing the Board of Education property.  Ralph Lutes seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.

The Council held second reading of an ordinance to adopt or reject the recommendation of the Bullitt County Joint Planning Commission to rezone 20 acres, more or less, located on both sides of Fernwood Drive off of Lloyds Lane (Docket No. 2004Z-16).  Lloyd Dooley made a motion to pass the ordinance adopting the recommendation of the Bullitt County Joint Planning Commission for Docket No. 2004Z-16.  Larry Porter seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote. 

Sam Beichler introduced and the Council held first reading of a resubmission of an ordinance annexing 39.33 acres known as the Stout Bros. Farm (former Maddox property) located on Bardstown Road.  Bill Smithwick from the Kentucky Baptist Home for Children (KBHC) discussed the proposal for a residential and corporate facility located on 10 acres of this property and answered questions that were brought up at prior meetings. 

Jerry Hurt, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Kentucky Baptist Home for Children said he felt strongly that the City would be proud of the children’s home and he has never heard a complaint from a neighbor or an issue of a child having a problem with a neighbor.

Belinda Snider, 765 Hunter Road, Taylorsville, said she serves on the Spring Meadows Auxiliary.  This is a group of 30 to 40 women who meet once a month at Spring Meadows and have lunch and interact with the children.  She said she has never been uncomfortable, felt anxious or had any safety concerns and enjoys spending time with the children.  She feels Dr. Bill Smithwick is an honorable man and her observation is that KBHC does not spin the truth to make it sound any better or any different. 

Barbara Henry, 277 Cedar Point Ct.,  submitted petitions from various residents in Twelve Oaks and other areas of Mt. Washington opposing KBHC’s plan to put the Spring Meadows level five treatment center or home anywhere near any Mt. Washington residential neighborhood.  She asked Mr. Smithwick why the children need to be locked in a facility and why they cannot go to public school if they are not a harm or a threat to others as well as themselves.  She stated that the residents of Twelve Oaks have many reasons to want this denied, but the main reason is safety. 

J. Scott Wantland, 302 Landis Lane, said he is representing a group of Twelve Oaks residents and is a City resident and a City voter.  He stated that before he rehashed what he had heard at this meeting, he would have to re-visit the public records again because his numbers don’t add up with what he heard.  He doesn’t feel the City needs to act on this now and the City services received by KBHC would outweigh the occupational tax revenue.  Mr. Wantland said that if the facility will come to Mt. Washington anyway, the City should wait to approve this facility after it’s here. 

Betty Fitzgerald, 161 Cedar Point Drive, stated she took offense to Mr. Smithwick’s comments about the police runs to Bullitt East and Twelve Oaks.  It is her understanding that people feel that the residents in Twelve Oaks are above everyone else.  That is not the truth.  The residents in Twelve Oaks worked hard to be in the financial position they are today.  She feels the real reason KBHC wants to come to Mt. Washington is, as stated in a Courier Journal article; the property is valuable in the east end and they can come to Bullitt County and get more bang for their buck. 

Rick Smith, 158 Oak Park Ct., asked if this facility is such a great thing for the City and Bullitt County, then why were only the residents adjoining the property notified of this proposed facility.  He felt people were kept in the dark.  If it’s a great thing for Middletown, they should stay on there and re-develop the land.  He also felt that Mr. Smithwick should have talked with the residents of Twelve Oaks.  This facility does not belong next to a residential area and hopes the Council would “stick to their guns”.

Billy Pyles, 1635 Kings Church Road, said he looks forward to the opportunity to help KBHC.  When he started a small business the community supported him, and this is an opportunity for the community to help these young people.  He asked the Council and Mt. Washington to do everything to support the children. 

Charles Gruber, 167 Hare Lane, said he is the pastor of Bethany Baptist Church and previously worked with juvenile criminals in Ohio.  The children need this care and someone to love them. 

Kenny Stout, 672 Twelve Oaks Drive, stated his concerns about Mr. Smithwick bashing the high school and Twelve Oaks.  He has never heard anyone present their case for annexation that had to bash the school and residents.  He also said the Pioneer News did an injustice to the residents in Twelve Oaks in the recent editorial.  He felt that if Mr. Smithwick and KBHC have to bash the high school and the residents of Twelve Oaks, they have a hidden agenda.  Mr. Stout said his parents were foster parents with children coming from Spring Meadows and Glendale.  He doesn’t feel that Spring Meadows is the same facility that is was in the past. 

Elaine Boone, 270 Oak Park Drive, said she worked in a facility where the teenagers were court ordered and had legal problems.  Although she was frightened to go to work and was never hurt, there was never a threat to the surrounding area. 

Mike Alcorn, 144 Shady Oak Ct., stated he agrees, in some aspects, that the proposed property to be annexed is prime property, although he asked why the property is asked to be annexed now and why not annex the entire farm.  He hopes the Council looks out for the best interests of the City, although he feels that if this facility relocates here, the City will not be proud about it later on.  In addition, the difference between the Middletown site and Mt.Washington is that the Middletown facility was in that location before the residential areas were built.  Mr. Alcorn commented that Mr. Smithwick is paid to convince the Council this facility is good, whereas, he is just a father trying to protect his children. 

Joey Stotts, 162 Cherokee Circle, said he sympathizes with the residents in Twelve Oaks, but tragedy can happen anywhere.  He and his wife are foster parents and live 4/10 of a mile from Twelve Oaks.  He stated that he looks forward to this facility coming to this community and will help in any way that he can. 

Karl Saier, 156 Willow Wood Dr., commented that he has observed the Council at several meetings, and sometimes the Council listens to the residents and sometimes they don’t.  He wishes the Council would listen to the people and vote like the last time and not annex the property. 

Debby Atherton, 151 Ashford Drive and Principal of Bullitt East High School, stated her concerns about what was said about Bullitt East tonight.  She said approximately 10 of those police runs were law related and she wants to stand up for the children that are already here.  Ms. Atherton stated she understands the neighbors concerns, but is not personally concerned about the relocation of the proposed facility.  Her only concern is that the people know that Bullitt East High School is a good place to be.

David Echsner, 121 Oak Leaf Ct. and President of the Twelve Oaks Homeowners Association, stated that his concerns, as discussed at a prior meeting, are still there.  He felt that the police runs for Bullitt East High School and Twelve Oaks should not be brought into this issue.  The children that attend the City’s schools are different than those at the proposed facility.  Mr. Echsner asked Mr. Smithwick to define a level 5 child.  He said it doesn’t matter how big the houses are in Twelve Oaks, there are 180 people concerned about the relocation of the proposed facility.  In addition, he said he didn’t like the comments in the Pioneer News editorial.

Frank Wieczorek, 1403 Fisher Lane, said he and his wife have been employees for KBHC and Spring Meadows for 10 years, and at one time, served as house parents.  He lived in the facility and loves the children and even took several of the children to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church to worship.  The neighbors of the Middletown facility do not want to see the facility move.  The children are not convicts, and need to be nurtured and loved.

Renee Wieczorek, 1403 Fisher Lane, agreed with her husband and has never felt threatened by the children at Spring Meadows.  She understands the concerns, but she was never threatened or physically assaulted.  The children need unconditional love and she would welcome them to the community. 

Mike Holt said he lives in the Mt. Washington area, and Mt. Washington has a chance to help these children.  He had the opportunity to work with these children and he doesn’t blame Mr. Smithwick for “sticking up” for his children.  He is in favor of the annexation, but however the vote, he hopes everyone can remain friends.

Bill Smithwick rebutted the comments made by some of the speakers and answered questions.  Mark Stout discussed the statistics regarding the number of jobs, occupational taxes and water and sewer bills for the proposed facility.

Rodney Burress asked Mr. Smithwick if the property is annexed, would he work with the neighbors on an appropriate plan for the site.  Mr. Smithwick said yes, within reason, but he would also like to focus on educating the community.  

Mayor Sullivan thanked the audience for their comments.

Report from Council

Sid Griffin complimented the audience on how they handled their comments and commended the Mayor on a job well done.

Ralph Lutes said he appreciated the audience coming. 

Sam Beichler stated he agrees with Mr. Griffin and thanked the audience for coming and presenting their side of the story. 

Joetta Calhoun said the monument signs are still not up due to the rain, but will go up when the rain stops.  Regarding grass cutting, she understands that Mike Bowen is citing people for violations, and if the residents contact the City with violations, Mr. Bowen will take appropriate action.  She also asked questions about Mr. Bowen’s code violation list.  Ms. Calhoun asked about the Farmer’s Market.  Mayor Sullivan said he spoke with Kenny Stout about a possible location and gave him material to review about the farmer’s market.  After Mr. Stout has an opportunity to review the material, he will contact Angie Woodward.  She asked the status of the Grant Lift Station.  Dave Derrick said the plans are in Frankfort and the bid package will be ready once they are approved by the State. 

Lloyd Dooley said the grass needs to be cut between Valley Drive and the By-pass.  Mayor Sullivan will take care of it.

Adjourn

Joetta Calhoun made a motion to adjourn at 8:52pm.  Sid Griffin seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.