KENTON COUNTY FISCAL COURT
M I N U T E S
APRIL 24, 7:00 P.M.
The regular meeting of the Kenton County Fiscal Court was called to order at the Independence Courthouse. Present at the meeting were Judge Executive Ralph A. Drees; Commissioners Dan Humpert, Kris Knochelmann and Sara Voelker; Deputy Judge Executive Scott Kimmich; County Attorney Garry Edmondson; County Treasurer Ivan Frye; Human Resources Director Joe Shriver; Public Safety Director Bill Dorsey; Police Chief Ed Butler; Public Works Director Joe Murphy; Jailer Terry Carl; Court Reporter Cathy Johnston; and Guests.
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
The invocation was given and pledge of allegiance led by Commissioner Knochelmann.
Approval of Minutes
Judge Drees asked the court for approval of the minutes dated April 10, 2007. Commissioner Knochelmann made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Humpert with grammatical changes submitted by the county attorney. Judge Drees confirmed the changes were not of substance and would not affect the record of the proceedings. The motion was unanimously approved with the vote of aye.
Delegations
There were not any delegations to appear before the court.
General Business
Judge Drees requested authorization for a budget transfer to effectuate the acquisition of two dump trucks equipped with plows and sanders in an amount not to exceed $100,000 from the state price contract: Commissioner Knochelmann made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Humpert. Mr. Frye said it should be noted that the amount of $100,000 should be for each truck. The motion unanimously passed with the following roll call vote: Commissioner Humpert, yes; Commissioner Voelker, yes; Commissioner Knochelmann, yes; and Judge Drees, yes.
Resolutions
Resolution 07-09
Authorization of an application to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for reimbursement of expenditures for the transportation of non-public school students, and authorization for Judge Executive Ralph A. Drees to contract with the city of Covington and Kenton County school district for the transportation of students: Commissioner Humpert asked if this was a continuation where the county is reimbursed for a portion of the expenses of transporting the students and Judge Drees answered yes. Commissioner Humpert made the motion for approval with a second from Commissioner Voelker and the motion unanimously passed with the vote of aye.
Resolution 07-10
Request that Judge Executive Ralph A. Drees be granted authority to execute all necessary agreements for the purpose of funding the operation of Recovery Kentucky: Mr. Kimmich said this resolution would enable Transitions to begin the draw of funds for the Recovery Center that is being built. The purpose of executing the agreement prior to construction of the facility is to commit the funds for FY 2006-07. An amended agreement will be entered into next February for 2007-08. They will actually receive $600,000 in operational funds but the first amount will have to be locked in prior to July 1. This will allow us to move forward with signing the final documents and advertise the public hearing consistent with the community development block grant guidelines.
Commissioner Voelker made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Humpert and the motion unanimously passed with the aye vote.
Ordinances
There were not any ordinances brought before the court.
Consent Agenda
Claims List-County Treasurer Ivan Frye: Judge Drees asked Mr. Frye if the Panorama apartments had been added to the claims list and Mr. Frye answered yes that it was on a separate list.
Commissioner Knochelmann asked about the $15,000 funds that were transferred for the election expense and Mr. Frye said there was a check written to the 5/3rd Bank to draw cash for the payment of the training and the work on election day of poll workers. He also asked if the maintenance agreement on the Motorola for dispatch was for one year and Chief Butler said that the $21,000 was for six months, January – June 30, 2007.
There being no further discussion or questions, the Judge said that warrants will be issued and the bills paid.
Administrative Actions
Handout No. 07-30
Requesting permission to go out to bid for gasoline and diesel: Mr. Frye said this is an annual routine action to take bids for these products and the county buys from the lowest bidder based on their spread that is offered from the opus price that is set on a daily basis. Commissioner Humpert made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Knochelmann and the motion unanimously passed with the vote of aye.
Handout No. 07-31
Approval of County Clerk's claim for preparation of tax bills for motor vehicles: Mr. Frye said this is a state statute stating that the county pays the clerk 15 cents per preparation for each automobile taxed in the county. This is also recorded in the official minutes and sent to the state so they can also pay the clerk. Commissioner Voelker made the motion for approval with a second from Commissioner Knochelmann. The motion unanimously passed with the vote of aye.
Executive Orders
Executive Order No. 07-49
Reappointment of Anthony Lucas to the Independence Fire District Board, effective July 1, 2007, for a three-year period: Commissioner Knochelmann moved for approval; seconded by Commissioner Voelker and the motion unanimously passed with the voice vote of aye.
Executive Order No. 07-50
Appointment of Judy Cooper to fill the unexpired term of Robert Wehner on the Piner-Fiskburg Fire Protection District, effective April 24, 2007: Commissioner Voelker made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Humpert and the motion unanimously passed with the voice vote of aye.
Executive Order No. 07-56
An executive order confirming the following city appointees to the Kenton County Unified Code Enforcement Board: One-year appointments-Mike Dunn, Crescent Springs; and Kathy Fricke, Kenton Vale; two-year appointments-Frank Henn, Ft. Wright; and Donna Houston, Ryland Heights; three-year appointments-Terri Jameson, Crestview Hills; Claire Moriconi, Kenton County at-large; and Bob Wehner, unincorporated Kenton County: Commissioner Humpert made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Knochelmann and the motion unanimously passed with the voice vote of aye.
Executive Order No. 07-51
Approval of hiring of the following persons as part-time employees for the golf courses: Robert Fossett, effective April 17; Roy Reece, effective April 23; and Mary Colleen O'Connor, effective May 7: Commissioner Voelker made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Humpert and the motion unanimously passed with the voice vote of aye.
Executive Order No. 07-52
Approval of hiring of Thomas Hurtt as full-time employee for the golf courses, effective April 23, 2007: Commissioner Voelker made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Knochelmann and the motion unanimously passed with the voice vote of aye.
Executive Order No. 07-53
Approve resignation of Scott Holten as a park trustee from parks and recreation, effective April 12, 2007: Commissioner Humpert made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Voelker and the motion unanimously passed with the voice vote of aye.
Executive Order No. 07-54
Approval of appointment of Sherry Miller as a tax clerk in the treasurer's office, effective April 23, 2007: Commissioner Knochelmann made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Voelker and the motion unanimously passed with the voice vote of aye.
Executive Order No. 07-55
Approval of appointment of Steven Lee as applications/senior programmer in the information technology department, effective May 7, 2007: Commissioner Humpert made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Voelker and the motion unanimously passed with the voice vote of aye.
Judge Drees said there was an item to be talked about as a result of the caucus meeting before the citizens address portion of the agenda. There is a list of projects that were looked at for the jail site and it should be brought up at this time since there are a lot of questions as to where the fiscal court is in the process. These sites were visited by the entire fiscal court and the committee that was set up. The ones that are listed are 3442 Richardson Road, the topography is too rough and there is no way that it can be built on the side of this hill; 4125 Madison, a very hilly site that is next door to a condo project; 320 Pleasure Isle, topography is too close to the rail system which would create a problem if any grading is done; 1725 Bullock Pen Road, the topography is a problem and a bridge would have to be built across the creek; 800 Parkview, has inadequate acreage and most of the land is on the floodplain--this site has been looked at three or four times before the other site was purchased, TANK also has bought some of this land so their buses could go out at the stop light and this took away all of the fill and the site is not now feasible; 3443 Richardson Road, this goes through a subdivision and you would have to come out on the backside of it, it also has to cross the railroad tracks and is also a very hilly site; and Boron Drive, very expensive land and most of this acreage is in the floodplain.
The court is working on some of the other sites that have some possibilities. Going back to the site in Crestview Hills, representatives of the citizens collaborative went to the city council meeting and talked about it and will have to get the okay from that city before this site can be further explored. At this point, some engineering would be done on the site and could be somewhat landlocked by Paul Hemmer Construction. Some engineering is being done on the Webster Road site and the county will probably know something in a couple of weeks. We also met with a land planner to take a look at the 780 Parkview site to see if there is any way we could work this out and he will probably come back in two to three weeks with an answer. As to the spot behind the animal shelter, engineering was previously done for this site but the county is taking another look at it. Judge Drees asked for approval from the Commissioners as to what has been done thus far on the jail site. Commissioner Humpert asked if all of the sites had been reduced down to five and Judge Drees said yes.
Mr. Kimmich said that the projects that warrant further examination as far as engineering to determine if in fact they can be used, and if so, how they compare cost wise to the site that is already there and the cost of developing that site. Commissioner Humpert said that a comparison and contrast was being done to the sites and Judge Drees said also the feasibility of use and cost estimates are being considered.
Judge Drees asked for a motion to accept the report as written and Commissioner Humpert made the motion. A second was received from Commissioner Knochelmann who said that now that the county has a comparison, this will allow the county to move forward but doesn't mean that any of the sites are more or less popular than any other. The following votes were taken on a roll call vote: Commissioner Voelker, yes; Commissioner Knochelmann, yes; Commissioner Humpert, yes; and Judge Drees, yes.
Citizens Address
Ms. Catherine Wilson and Ms. Carol Franzen came forward to speak for the citizen jail committee that has also been working on the jail site.
Administrative Reporting
DEPUTY JUDGE EXECUTIVE-Scott Kimmich: Nothing to report.
COUNTY TREASURER-Ivan Frye: Nothing to report.
HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR-Joe Shriver: Nothing to report.
COUNTY ATTORNEY'S REPORT-Garry Edmondson: Said there were some members of the Kenton County Government Academy present in the courtroom watching the proceedings and they are learning a lot.
Commissioners' Reports
COMMISSIONER DAN HUMPERT-Nothing to report.
COMMISSIONER SARA VOELKER-Nothing to report.
COMMISSIONER KRIS KNOCHELMANN-Nothing to report.
Judge-Executive's Report
Judge Drees said there was a suit against the county that is really against the Kenton County Clerk which the county insures. The county would like to hire outside counsel, Beverly Storm, who has worked for the county before. Judge Drees asked for a motion for the employment of Ms. Storm. Commissioner Knochelmann made the motion to approve.
Commissioner Humpert asked if there was a set fee for this and Mr. Edmondson said that she was employed by the fund. She wants more money than is routinely paid by the court but based on her expertise in personnel law, he would recommend that the court pay the higher fee. He reiterated the specifics of the case which is an employer/employee situation that is one of her specialties. She is requesting $175.00 per hour.
Commissioner Humpert seconded the motion and the motion unanimously passed with the voice vote of aye.
Executive Session
There was no executive session called.
Adjournment
Since there was no further business to come before the court, Judge Drees asked for a motion for adjournment. The motion was made by Commissioner Humpert; seconded by Commissioner Knochelmann, and the court was adjourned with the unanimous vote of aye.
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