September 2007 Newsletter

PAVING & INTERSECTION CURBING

Work will begin the week of September 10, with forms being built for curbing and raising manholes and any additional covers on the streets.

Flynn Brothers will use the Blowing Tree entrance for equipment.  Their intention is to do Woodfield Road last as it is a thoroughfare.

Any questions, please make me aware. 

Donna Nichols

ANNUAL CITY PICNIC

Sunday, September 30    2 pm – 6 pm

Stanley B. Welch Park

2 pm – CLASSIC FIRE TRUCK PARADE – Kids are encouraged to decorate their bikes & meet at the Park entrance to follow the fire truck through the city.

2:30 – GOLF SHOT CLOSEST TO THE HOLE

            Men, women and kids – PRIZES!!

            CORN BAGS PITCH TO THE HOLE - New This Year

            Hit the hole with the corn bag.

            2 to a team, 4 people play at once – PRIZES!!

            INFLATABLE ELEPHANT SLIDE

            Parents must provide direct supervision for their         children & guests.

            KARAOKE-STYLE MUSIC

            Pick a song & sing it, or sing along with a group; just   enjoy the music; children welcome.

3 pm – Opening Ceremony – American Legion GI Post

                                   Honor Guard

4 pm – Dinner catered by Old Hickory Pit, #1 BBQ!!

Serving BBQ ribs & all the fixings; drinks provided by the city; serving ends at 6 pm.

Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs and a favorite dessert to serve 6.  Any questions – please feel free to give me a call.

Brent O. Hardin

Commissioner of Parks

491-6142 or 432-4069

 OUR POLICE CHIEF CONTINUES TO MONITOR PEOPLE WHO WALK THROUGH OUR CITY DURING THE NIGHT.  ALWAYS KEEP YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS LOCKED.

OUR CITY IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH SKUNKS.  WE HAVE HIRED CRITTER RIDDERS (YELLOW TRUCK, YELLOW SHIRTS).  THEY HAVE PLACED TRAPS IN OUR CITY AND CAUGHT SOME SKUNKS.  PLEASE DON'T MOVE THE TRAPS. 

MARTY DUNN

POLICE AND SKUNK COMMISSIONER

 CITY PROPERTY TAXES DUE

   Second notices for unpaid taxes will go out this week.  To avoid penalty & interest, postmark your envelope by October 1.

John Price, Treasurer

MINUTES                                              August 9, 2007

Mayor Fore called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm in the large meeting room of Nunnlea adjacent to City Hall, 1940 So. Hurstbourne Parkway, with the following individuals present:

            Mayor Sean Fore

            Commissioners:

                        Donna Nichols

                        Brent Hardin

                        Marty Dunn

                        Jim Lynch

            John Price, Treasurer

            Police Chief Chris Redman

            Attorney Steve Emery

            Residents:

                        Chester Franck

                        Doug Rogers

                        Mike Block

                        Teresa Myers

                        Don Smith

                        Jeri Heck

                        Pearlie Woods

                        Margaret Carter

                        Ella L. Crump

Treasurer’s Report

Read by John Price, the Treasurer’s report was approved unanimously following a first motion by Marty Dunn and second by Brent Hardin ($1,039,224.74 in grand total cash and investments, with 203 of 204 property taxes paid for FY 06-07, and 182 of 204 for FY 07-08). 

Warrants 2008-14 through 2008-41 totaling $18,355.70 were read by the Treasurer, with first and second motions by Marty Dunn and Donna Nichols, followed by unanimous vote of approval.  The charge by Martin Tree Service was for the removal of five storm-damaged and dead trees behind homes on Hurstbourne Circle on City property.  Brent Hardin and Jim Lynch are following up on the planting of additional trees to be planted on the berm this fall.

Police Report

Chief Redman reported 247 hours of coverage between July 12 and August 9, with 237 police-public contacts; no arrests or citations, two reports, one car break-in, the theft of a large condenser and one act of criminal littering (large refrigerator).  Additionally, Chief Redman reported on one non-injury accident, nine traffic stops and 17 suspicious person confrontations.  Mileage on the cruiser is 8,097. 

• Chief Redman advised that particular attention be paid to lowering garage doors overnight. 
• A flag pole will be installed at Nunnlea as a memorial to Chief Heggs, partially funded by a $500 donation from LG&E.  An honor guard from Metro Police is anticipated for the dedication on the afternoon of the City Picnic.  Lighting will be installed as needed. 
• A 14-year-old runaway was returned home from the park.
• Grant money will be available in September for digital videocamera equipment, with distribution expected in December. 
• Although the City has a no-solicitation policy, religious-based visitors are exempted from this policy. 
• Mayor Fore stressed that $1,176 for the purchase of three handguns received as a grant from the Governor’s Office of Local Affairs had been returned unused and unnecessary. 
• A $682 grant had been received for personal body armor and a safety vest has been ordered. 

Attorney’s Report

Steve Emery stated new ordinances and their summaries for publication were complete, and following a motion by Marty Dunn and seconded by Donna Nichols with unanimous approval, Mayor Fore gave the first reading pertaining to a new pay scale for the City Clerk of $288.45/mo. and $687.25/mo. for the Treasurer, both retroactive to July 1, 2007, as well as the first reading for a new pay scale of $350/mo. for Commissioners who begin serving on 1/1/2009

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Police Commissioner’s Report

Marty Dunn reiterated the report of Chief Redman and stated that about one-third of reported coverage hours are after 11 pm and that Chief Redman is working 50+ hours a week for the City.  Mayor Fore inquired and Commissioner Dunn confirmed that he monitors and signs off on scheduling and hours worked by Chief Redman. 

Sanitation Report

Jim Lynch has been in frequent contact with Rumpke personnel and accompanied their employees on their rounds.  He has received no complaints for the past four pickups. 

Parks & Recreation Report

Brent Hardin commented that the rental port-a-let in the park is cleaned every Tuesday and that some tree limbs have been removed.  The boundary boards around the playground equipment are to be replaced in the near future.  Commissioner Nichols asked Brent Hardin to address the issue of stop-sign visibility. 

The annual picnic is scheduled for Sunday, September 30, with the customary McMahan fire engine and tents from the Boy Scouts, as well as golf and corn-hole tournaments.  The caterer will wear gloves to distribute the food to patrons, and soft drinks will be in individual iced cans.  Desserts from neighbors are always welcome.  There are no plans to have ponies this year, but the parade and inflatables are expected.  A dedication of the flag pole is scheduled for 2 o’clock.  Commissioner Hardin will furnish further information for the next newsletter. 

Roads & Signs Report

Donna Nichols brought up concerns about bushes and tree limbs overhanging the roadway, particularly on Old Hurstbourne Lane, and Hagan Properties is addressing this issue.  A discussion developed about compliance on dumpster pickup times and professional parking lot sweepers/vacuums and the untimely noise these activities generate.  Chief Redman was directed to approach and confront any violators. 

MSD has made strides in fixing the April cave-in at the intersection of Woodfield and Haviland. 

Commissioner Nichols is conferring with LG&E about water pooling around the base of street lights in the city.  John Block of LG&E has confirmed that LG&E is responsible for painting the leased light poles and will be calling Commissioner Nichols with anticipated work dates.  A general discussion continued about LG&E’s lease agreement and unmetered charges, particularly a $750.40 lease fee, per John Block and Steve Hanna.  General questions and comments followed regarding commercial-type overhanging lights in the city. 

Regarding the installation of curbing at city intersections, Commissioner Nichols will review the curbing in Houston Acres.  It is her intent to have pictures available to the Commission by the September meeting to better explain her intended results for the approved $13,000 curbing project.  Donna Nichols made a motion to pursue Flynn Bros. regarding said installation, seconded by Brent Hardin, with a unanimous vote to have this work completed for $13,000.  Brent Hardin commented that he was in favor of pursuing this project pursuant to Donna Nichols’ review and recommendation. 

Commissioner Nichols will be revisiting the issue of extraneous and superfluous signs in the city. 

OLD BUSINESS

Mayor Fore read a July 25 letter he has sent to state government concerning traffic on Hurstbourne Lane blocking Hurstbourne Circle access, with particular reference to striping on in the Pewee Valley area on Hwy. 146.  He had written a prior letter in August of 2006 to which he had received no response. 

Donna Nichols reported to Marty Dunn that any speed bump along Blowing Tree Road should be half-way between the stop sign at Wesley and the beginning of the gravel portion, per traffic authorities, and Commissioner Dunn is to get particular approval from that homeowner.  Jim Lynch remarked that warning signs will need to be installed. 

No response has been received from the Attorney General’s office pertaining to recent inquiries, per Attorney Emery. 

Mayor Fore and Donna Nichols have observed several stop signs in the city obstructed by overhanging tree limbs.  Marty Dunn inquired of Attorney Emery regarding general obstruction by private-property bushes, and a general discussion of easement restrictions, at both front and rear property lines, followed.  Trimming is proposed to remove some growth for safety issues and general visibility, and this issue was discussed for greater clarification. 

Don Smith inquired about the possibility of moving the TARC bus stop on Taylorsville Road at the city entrance sign closer to the entrance to Cherrywood Apartments.  Julie Raque Adams (574-1118) could be requested to give a portion of her discretionary funds to TARC for the installation of a bus shelter at the more desirable location. 

Marty Dunn reported on rezoning issues pertinent to the Bullitt/Oxmoor proposed development, and his continued vigilance on this issue was acknowledged with appreciation by Mayor Fore on behalf of the residents of Hurstbourne Acres. 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Sally Price, Acting Clerk for Michael Bolten

What does 53¢ buy you?

A cup of senior citizens coffee at McDonald’s

OR

1.  Garbage pickup (front or back) twice a week

2.  Recycling – once a week

3.  Yard waste pickup – once a week

4.  Leaf pickup at front yard in fall

5.  Snow removal after 2” accumulation in winter

6.  Grass cut in front of the berm & throughout the       city

7.  A park & playground for you & your family

8.  Soon – newly paved streets & corner curbs

9.  Street lights & decorated street signs

10. City Hall & Police – Ever see a Metro police officer             in our city—maybe once or twice a year?

11. Elect a Mayor & 4 Commissioners who overlook the   operation of the City to the best of their           ability. 

The average property tax in our City amounts to about 53¢ per day.  In our 5^th-class city we have 3 apartment complexes and 2 shopping centers besides our homes.  The taxes these commercial developments pay keep our taxes very low.  Think and enjoy!

Brent O. Hardin

Park Commissioner