KENTON COUNTY FISCAL COURT

M I N U T E S

JULY 10, 2007, 9:00 A.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 Jerry Knochelmann; Human Resources Director Joe Shriver; Police Chief Ed Butler; County Engineer Charles Meyers; Court Reporter Cathy Johnston; and Guests.

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

The invocation was given and pledge of allegiance led by Commissioner Humpert­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Approval of Minutes

Judge Drees asked the court for approval of the minutes dated June 26, 2007.  Commissioner Knochelmann made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Voelker.  The motion was approved with the vote of aye.  Commissioner Humpert abstained from voting because he was not in attendance at the meeting.

Delegations

There were not any delegations presented to the court.

General Business

No general business items were brought to the court's attention.

Resolutions

Resolution 07-16

A resolution authorizing, adopting, approving, accepting and ratifying the execution of a grant agreement between the United States of America, the County of Kenton, Kentucky and the Kenton County Airport Board, Rob Ziegler reporting:  Mr. Ziegler said this grant will provide for rehabilitation and construction of runway 927 and associated taxiways.  Judge Drees asked when the last time reconstruction was done on runway 927 and Mr. Ziegler said an extension was done that closed it down and two or three years ago some patchwork was done.

Commissioner Knochelmann made the motion to accept; seconded by Commissioner Voelker and the motion unanimously passed with a vote of aye.

Resolution 07-01E

Request approval of adjustments and transfers between appropriation accounts as recommended by the county treasurer, Jerry Knochelmann reporting:  Judge Drees said this was Mr. Knochelmann's first meeting as the official treasurer of Kenton County and welcomed him aboard.  Mr. Knochelmann thanked Judge Drees and said these were items that had to be tided up from last year that rolled over into this year.  Commissioner Humpert asked if these were items that were approved in the last year's budget and Mr. Knochelmann said yes.  Mr. Kimmich said that on June 30, according to state law, the books have to be closed and go to zero balance.  Any encumbered purchase orders for which bills have not yet been received are amended into the next budget and with this budget adjustment the purchase orders can be paid.

Commissioner Voelker made the motion for approval followed by a second from Commissioner Humpert, and the motion unanimously passed with the roll call vote of Commissioner Humpert, yes; Commissioner Voelker, yes; Commissioner Knochelmann, yes and Judge Drees, yes.

Resolution 07-17

Resolution to concur in setting of property tax rates for the Kenton County Board of Health, Scott Kimmich reporting:  Mr. Kimmich read the resolution into the record by title and summary.  It is a resolution of the fiscal court of the County of Kenton, Kentucky concurring in the establishment of the tax rate for the Kenton County Board of Health maintaining the rate of two cents per 100 evaluation of the assessed property for real property, personal property and motor vehicles.  This is the third year the same rate has been maintained at two cents per 100 evaluation.

Commissioner Humpert made the motion for approval with a second from Commissioner Knochelmann, and the motion unanimously passed with a roll call vote of Commissioner Voelker, yes; Commissioner Knochelmann, yes; Commissioner Humpert, yes and Judge Drees, yes.

Ordinances

There were not any ordinances brought before the court.

Consent Agenda

Claims List-County Treasurer Jerry Knochelmann:  There being no questions, Judge Drees said the treasurer will issue warrants and the bills paid.

Administrative Actions

Handout No. 07-56

Request approval of loss control services for the 2007-08 Fiscal Year, Joe Shriver reporting:  This is a renewal of the loss control contract.  Brooks Consulting was hired last year and at midyear they came in and set up some services.  Instead of actually setting a schedule, we are conferring with department heads to best fit their department's schedule so that we are not disrupting their operation.  We should have that calendar set in a short period of time.

Judge Drees asked how many years the county had been doing this and Mr. Shriver answered he thought it started in 1999.  The underwriters for property, casualty and liability insurance saw a number of high claims and there were a number of alarming cases.  Loss control was incorporated and it is a factor that underwriters consider when they are doing reinsurance.  This is a $6,000,000 umbrella that the county goes above their self insurance.

Commissioner Voelker made the motion to approve; seconded by Commissioner Knochelmann and the motion unanimously passed with the following roll call vote:  Commissioner Knochelmann, yes; Commissioner Humpert, yes; Commissioner Voelker, yes and Judge Drees, yes.

Handout No. 07-57

Request approval of the bond for Kenton County Treasurer Jerome Knochelmann:  Mr. Kimmich said this is a continuation of the bond that is carried on the treasurer by the county and is the same as it was with the former treasurer.  Commissioner Voelker made the motion to approve; seconded by Commissioner Humpert and the motion unanimously passed with a roll call vote of Commissioner Humpert, yes; Commissioner Voelker, yes; Commissioner Knochelmann, yes and Judge Drees, yes.

Handout No. 07-58

Recognition of notice from Kenton County Clerk Rodney Eldridge that he has no intention of serving as the Kenton County Fiscal Court clerk, and that the services are to be performed by the court's own fiscal court clerk:  Mr. Kimmich said statute provides that the county clerk shall be the clerk of the fiscal court unless he/she abdicates that responsibility to an appointee of the fiscal court.  The clerk in Kenton County has not served as clerk of the court for more than 30 years.  It would be appropriate to accept the abdication of Mr. Eldridge's responsibility in this capacity and on the record acknowledge Catherine Johnston as the clerk of the fiscal court and the official record keeper.

Judge Drees asked for a motion and Commissioner Humpert made the motion for approval with a second from Commissioner Knochelmann.  The motion unanimously passed with a roll call vote of Commissioner Voelker, yes; Commissioner Knochelmann, yes; Commissioner Humpert, yes; and Judge Drees, yes.

Handout No. 07-59

Approval of surplus of outdated computer equipment, Scott Kimmich reporting:  This is a list of outdated computers and the county is asking they be declared surplus and allow public works to dispose of them in the appropriate manner.

Commissioner Knochelmann moved for approval; seconded by Commissioner Voelker and the motion unanimously passed with an aye vote.

Executive Orders

Executive Order No. 83

Approval of employment of Scott Holten as a park trustee, effective date of July 7, 2007:  Commissioner Knochelmann made the motion for approval followed with a second from Commissioner Voelker and the motion unanimously passed with the vote of aye.

Executive Order No. 84

Approval of resignation of Scott Young as equipment operator in the Department of Public Works, effective July 2, 2007:  Commissioner Humpert moved for approval with a second from Commissioner Knochelmann and the motion unanimously passed with the vote of aye.

Executive Order No. 85

Approval of resignation of Amanda Davis as a dispatcher in the Kenton County Police Department, effective July 14, 2007:  Commissioner Voelker moved for approval; seconded by Commissioner Humpert.  Judge Drees asked if there were any questions and Commissioner Knochelmann asked how long Ms. Davis had been working at the dispatch center and Chief Butler said approximately two and one-half years. Commissioner Knochelmann asked if this would leave a spot to be filled and Chief Butler answered that this did create a vacancy.

Judge Drees said he thought the turnover there was high and that he understood the pressure was great on a dispatcher and asked Mr. Shriver if a study could be done on this.  Mr. Shriver said that if an employee stays for two and one-half years they usually stay and the turnover for new employees is greater.  He said this would be looked at in the near future.  Chief Butler said Ms. Davis had started a family and wanted to stop work to be with them.

Judge Drees asked for a voice vote whereupon the motion unanimously passed with a vote of aye.

Citizens Address

There were not any citizens present that wished to address the court.

Administrative Reporting

DEPUTY JUDGE EXECUTIVE-Scott Kimmich:  Nothing further to report.

COUNTY TREASURER-Jerry Knochelmann:  Nothing to report.

HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR-Joe Shriver:  Nothing to report.

COUNTY ATTORNEY'S REPORT-Garry Edmondson:  Nothing to report.

Commissioners' Reports

COMMISSIONER DAN HUMPERT-Said that it was good to see Jerry in the treasurer's chair and welcomed him to the fiscal court.

COMMISSIONER SARA VOELKER-Nothing to report.

COMMISSIONER KRIS KNOCHELMANN-Said he also wished to welcome Jerry to the court and that he was looking forward to serving in the fiscal court with him.

He also said that Commissioner Voelker and he would be meeting with the citizens collaborative tomorrow to talk about the different sites and future plans.  Judge Drees said this is not a formal public meeting and that it is just the group getting together.

Judge-Executive's Report

Nothing to report.

Executive Session

There was no executive session called.

Adjournment

There being no further business to come before the court, Judge Drees asked for a motion for adjournment.  Commissioner Humpert made the motion; seconded by Commissioner Voelker and the court adjourned with the unanimous vote of aye.