City of Mount Washington

Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Council Meeting

September 26, 2005

City Hall Annex Building, 186 Branham Way

Mayor Sullivan called the meeting to order at 6:30pm with the following Council members present:  Lloyd Dooley, Ralph Lutes, Joetta Calhoun, Ed Hilbert, Sid Griffin and Larry Porter. 

Also present were City Clerk Christi Franklin, Utility Superintendent Ronnie Fick, City Treasurer Peggy Brinkman, City Engineer Dave Derrick and City Attorney Jim Winchell. 

Larry Porter gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Sullivan welcomed the students from a Bullitt East political science class.   

Minutes

Christi Franklin read the minutes of the September 12, 2005 Council meeting.  Sid Griffin made a motion to accept the minutes of the September 12, 2005 meeting as written.  Joetta Calhoun seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.  Ms. Franklin also read the minutes of the September 20, 2005 special Council meeting.  Sid Griffin made a motion to accept the minutes of the September 20, 2005 special meeting as written.  Larry Porter seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote with Joetta Calhoun and Lloyd Dooley abstaining and the abstentions going with the majority.

Explorers

Mayor Sullivan congratulated the police department for their time and talent to the Explorer program and introduced the cadets to the Council.  Chief Rodney Hockenbury discussed the details of the program and how the cadets can assist the police department in a non-law enforcement capacity.  Mayor Sullivan recognized police officers Steve Cox, Rebecca Troutman, Scott Ballman, Ken Hardin, Roger Mullins, Bruce Rucker and Mike O’Donnell for an outstanding job promoting the Explorer program.  Cadet Trevor Ford thanked the Council for inviting them to attend the meeting and discussed the various security details the cadets assisted with.  He thanked the Mayor and Chief for allowing this program to take place.

Treasurer’s Report     

Peggy Brinkman presented the Treasurer’s Report for August 2005.  Lloyd Dooley made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report for August 2005.  Ralph Lutes seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.

Ordinances

The Council held second reading of an ordinance establishing the real and personal property tax rates for the calendar year 2005 and providing assessment equalization and collection. Larry Porter made a motion to pass the ordinance relating to the real and personal property tax rates.  Sid Griffin seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.

The Council held second reading of an ordinance amending the water meter testing fee.  Discussion followed.  Sid Griffin made a motion to pass the ordinance amending the water meter testing fee.  Larry Porter seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote. 

The Council held second reading of an ordinance amending the annual budget for the fiscal year 2005/2006.  Joetta Calhoun made a motion to pass the ordinance amending the budget.  Ralph Lutes seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.

The Council discussed an ordinance regulating dumpsters located in business, commercial and/or industrial areas.  Christi Franklin discussed the issue of gates on the enclosure around dumpsters.  Discussion followed.  Dave Wegley, representing Absolute Hauling, answered questions from the Council regarding their lot on Highway 44 and discussed his concerns about the ordinance.  Further discussion followed.  Larry Porter made a motion to pursue the dumpster ordinance.  Sid Griffin seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote. 

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 95.02 acres, more or less, known as the John and Donna Miller property located on the north side of Stringer Lane, 500’, more or less, west of S. Bardstown Road.  No one was present representing the property.

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 1.5 acres, more or less, known as the Gregory and Diana McIntyre property located at 13025 Highway 44E.  Greg McIntyre discussed the plans for the property. 

Disposition of Surplus Property

Christi Franklin reported the options available to the City to dispose of surplus real property.  The Council discussed using the sealed bid method and asked Ms. Franklin to prepare the necessary information to sell the old water plant property. 

Resolution

The Council reviewed a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign all documents relating to the financing of the new police station.  Lloyd Dooley made a motion to pass the resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign all documents relating to the financing of the new police station.  Joetta Calhoun seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote with Larry Porter abstaining and the abstention going with the majority.

Mayor’s Report

Mayor Sullivan welcomed all to attend the dedication and ribbon cutting of Frank Cornell Park on Waterford Road.

Report from Council

Sid Griffin was asked by a resident to have a crosswalk placed across Bardstown Road to the First Baptist Church.  Christi Franklin will contact the State Highway Department to see if this can be done.

Ed Hilbert discussed a nuisance complaint on Fairway.  Mayor Sullivan said the Code Enforcement Officer addressed this issue and the grass has been cut and the vehicles are licensed and can be moved, therefore they comply with the City’s nuisance ordinance.

Lloyd Dooley said he is glad to see the police department take on the Explorer program.

Chief Hockenbury discussed the grant for $16,300 and stated $10,000 is for overtime and $6,300 is for equipment.  The emphasis of the grant is impaired driving with some speed enforcement.

Executive Session

Sid Griffin made a motion to enter into executive session at 7:29pm for the purpose of pending litigation.  Joetta Calhoun seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.

Reconvene

Larry Porter made a motion to reconvene at 8:08pm.  Ralph Lutes seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.

Jim Winchell stated that no action was taken as a result of executive session.

Adjourn

Sid Griffin made a motion to adjourn at 8:09pm.  Joetta Calhoun seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.