December 2009 Newsletter
Next City Meeting:
Thursday, December 10
City Hall 7:30 pm
Block Watch 7 pm
POLICE CORNER
The BLOCK WATCH meeting will be held at 7pm Dec. 10 preceding the monthly city meeting. Refreshments will be served. Anyone who has suggestions or ideas to improve our Block Watch is invited to attend.
SNOW SEASON
When there is a forecast of measurable snow DO NOT PARK ON THE CITY STREETS. We have passed an ordinance and we can tow your vehicles. This is a safety issue. Please move your cars into your driveway.
STOP MEANS STOP
It has been noted by our police department and numerous residents that many vehicles are running our stop signs. In the past we have given "consideration" to our residents. The consideration period is over. It is not acceptable to slow down, look for traffic and run through a stop sign. Let’s keep our streets safe - S-T-O-P MEANS STOP.
PUT YOUR JUNK, IN YOUR TRUNK.
When you are shopping, store all packages in your trunk to prevent parking lot thieves
ENJOY SAFE & HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Mayor’s Comments
I would like to thank the Commission for conducting the November meeting during my convalescence. As it relates to Mr. Lynch’s comments, he is ill advised. The City receives and has received for the last 12 years a fee from the cable company determined to be a franchise tax. The franchise tax is added on to the individual bills and paid monthly to the City of Hurstbourne Acres. Currently the City receives approximately $ 650 per month. The City of Hurstbourne Acres was a charter member of the Jefferson County Cable Commission at its inception in 1994. My home phone number appears on the back of every cable bill for the Hurstbourne Acres area regarding questions related to the franchise tax. The amounts of the annual collection of cable franchise tax are clearly delineated in the annual audit conducted by DePrie & Adkisson, CPAs and have been over the last 12 years.
Sanitation Pickup
Christmas Day’s pickup will be delayed until Saturday, 12/26. The usual Friday, New Year’s Day service will be delayed until Saturday. 1/2.
Teresa Renninger
MINUTES Thursday, November 5, 2009
The regular meeting of the City Commission was called to order at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at City Hall (Nunnlea) and the following people attended:
Commissioners Marty Dunn
Brent O. Hardin
Jim Lynch
Treasurer John Price
Police Officers Chris Redman
Steve Skaggs
Residents
Greg Winebrenner Frank Kamenish
Sally Price Ron Walter
Charles Pennington Leslie Dunn
Norma Pennington Jane Blair
Commissioner Dunn conducted the meeting in the absence of Mayor Fore.
Minutes for Meeting of October 8, 2009
Commissioner Hardin made a motion to accept the minutes of the prior meeting, which was seconded by Commissioner Lynch.
Treasurer’s Report
The Treasurer’s Report, showing a total value of cash and investments of $907,628.04, was read by John Price and copied to all in attendance. A motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report was made by Lynch and seconded by Hardin.
Warrants (27) totaling $21,865.21 were itemized and read by John Price, with motion to accept made by Lynch and seconded by Hardin. Officer Redman had two clarifications: Warrant #147 - $548.40 was for a hand-held radio package, not the cruiser, and #153 - $37.45 was Nextel’s final bill for a cell phone.
Attorney’s Report
The City Attorney was not present at the meeting.
Police Report
10/9 – 11/5/09: 310 coverage hours
arrests – 3 assists with LvMetroPD
citations – 3
reports – 4
traffic stops – 7
investigations – 4 (2 ongoing)
police/public contacts – 233
suspicious persons – 22
The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) is ready to be submitted to the Kentucky State Police for their approval, and Colonel Redman acknowledged the effort of Officer Skaggs in completing this documentation.
In discussion, Lynch asked for general clarification on the activity and status of the home at 1908 Addington Avenue. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to rectify the methamphetamine lab situation, and he has been furnished documentation from the Health Department and the Environmental Protection Association. Louisville Metro Police had been summoned a second time regarding an illegal entry into the house. About six regional agencies have been involved in this incident, and Lynch had an itemized list of requested equipment submitted by Redman. In the absence of Mayor Fore and Commissioner Renninger, it was decided to table Items 1 ( ) and 4 ( ). Lynch made a motion to get two OSHA-approved masks (approx. $200 ea.) and two crowd-dispersal OC-Foggers (approx. $250 ea.). Redman and Sally Price disagreed on whether these items should be mentioned in the Minutes.
Further to the meth lab, Redman stated this is now a Metro Health Department issue, but that CHA police would continue to monitor the clean-up progress.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Sanitation Commissioner: In Renninger’s absence, Dunn provided her follow-up to the previous month’s question: the Rumpke sanitation contract is due in June, 2010.
Parks Commissioner: Hardin informed the seasonal port-a-can at the park is still on site but only awaiting removal by the provider; we are not being billed. Our Metro Representative, Jon Ackerson, will pay for half of the cost for a replacement entrance sign designating Stanley B. Welch Park. One additional tree is to be planted at the park, as soon as a provider can be scheduled.
Police Commissioner: Although he had nothing further to add to Redman’s police report, Dunn presented information regarding a Kentucky anti-litter campaign which might reimburse CHA for some of the money paid for monthly litter pickup.
Regarding seasonal leaf removal, Dunn said 20-30 homes had taken advantage of the first pickup, and two additional pickups are now scheduled: for Nov. 14, 15, 16 and Dec. 5, 6, 7.
Roads & Lighting Commissioner: Regarding the tree limbs blocking the street lights on Old Hurstbourne Lane, Lynch said trimming has not yet been done which would increase the lighting but that Mayor Fore was to contact Taylorhurst management on this matter. Warning signs for the three speed humps are ready for installation, as are signs pertaining to usage hours for Welch Park. Pertaining to a hole on Haviland, MSD has not replied but it is expected they will be checking for underground pipe leaks in the general area. Dunn commented that MSD will also be checking sewer lines in the area of the meth lab.
NEW BUSINESS: Dunn remarked that Hurstbourne Acres has been a 5th-class city since about 1988 and that an ad hoc committee will be making a preliminary inquiry into the pros and cons of 4th-class designation. Outlined advantages (e.g., last say on zoning matters; authority to tax alcohol sales) were mentioned. Dunn said he as well as Lynch and Renninger had indicated an interest in being on this ad hoc committee, which is tasked with a report at the December meeting. He stated that this would be a slow, considered process.
Lynch had been in contact with City of Hurstbourne (4th class) and contrasted their taxing authority and larger receipts, particularly for cable TV tax, and stated our city receives zero. He stated that increasing tax income from outside sources could lower the taxes paid by the residents.
Hardin raised the question of whether the snow removal contract needed to be discussed and signed, but Dunn stated that Fore had already contracted with DirtWorks for the 2009/10 season. Redman had spoken with Dirt Works’ management and said they were equipped and ready to go. Jim Lynch made a motion, seconded by Dunn, to retroactively approve said contract, with Hardin abstaining. Flagging will protect damage to the new speed humps.
Dunn had the second reading of Resolution #1, “Capital Projects Funding”, pertinent to the installation of a computer in the police cruiser. Ackerson’s Metro funds will provide $3,000 to $4,000 toward same, and CHA will pay $1,000 to $1,500 to improve communications with various regional agencies and departments.
A motion was made by Hardin and seconded by Lynch to adjourn the meeting, and there being no further business or discussion, Dunn adjourned the meeting at 8:15.
Respectfully submitted,
Sally Price, for
Michael Bolten, City Clerk