KENTON COUNTY FISCAL COURT

M I N U T E S

JULY 24, 2007, 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 Jerry Knochelmann; Human Resources Director Joe Shriver; Public Safety Director Bill Dorsey; Assistant Public Safety Director Kirk Rinehart; Police Chief Ed Butler; Public Works Director Joe Murphy; County Engineer Charles Meyers; Assistant County Attorney Stacy Hege; Special Assistant Ivan Frye; 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 Kris Knochelmann.­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Approval of Minutes

Judge Drees asked the court for approval of the minutes dated July 10, 2007.  Commissioner Knochelmann made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Voelker.  The motion was unanimously approved with the vote of aye.

Judge Drees said that before the regular meeting of the court commenced he would like to make a few comments regarding the jail.  He said he appreciated the crowd being respectful and quiet so the court can do its business.  A lot will depend upon what the county can buy the land for to be able to compete with the land the county now has.  If the landowners get the idea that they want extra money for the land, the court will not be able to work with them.  Judge Drees said he had met with one owner previously on two occasions and was going to meet again tomorrow to see if something can be firmed up on a piece of land.  He also said the county wanted to get a site before it spends a lot of money.  The county is trying to find other places but there has to be a point in time where the county has to make a decision and we cannot hold off forever.  A Federal judge is also in the picture and decisions have to be made and something has to be built.

Delegations

There were not any delegations present to appear before the court.

General Business

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

Resolutions

Resolution No. 07-18

Requesting the execution of a grant agreement between the United States of America, Kenton County and the Kenton County Airport Board, Rob Ziegler reporting:  Mr. Ziegler said this is another grant for noise abatement at the airport and the noise compatibility program.  Commissioner Knochelmann made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Voelker and the motion unanimously passed with a roll call vote of Commissioner Humpert, yes; Commissioner Voelker, yes; Commissioner Knochelmann, yes; and Judge Drees, yes.

Ordinances

There were not any ordinances brought before the court.

Consent Agenda

Claims List-County Treasurer Jerry Knochelmann:  Commissioner Knochelmann asked if the item for Boone County Water Rescue was an annual payment and Mr. Knochelmann said that this was a once a year payment.  Judge Drees said since no other comments or questions were being raised, warrants will be issued and the bills paid.

Administrative Actions

Handout No. 07-60

Request approval of contract with MedBen for the county's prescription drug plan, Joe Shriver reporting:  Mr. Shriver said the current contract is a perpetual contract until one party terminates it and the contract that is before the court is for its benefit, and a revision to give a more favorable rebate situation.

Commissioner Humpert made the motion for approval followed by a second from Commissioner Voelker and 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. 07-61

Year end closing statements for fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, Ivan Frye reporting:  Thr year-end settlement has been published as required by KRS and it amounts to an end of term settlement as well.  The last year was a very good year for the county in terms of being able to reduce some of the expenses and work toward building up a better reserve.

Commissioner Knochelmann made the motion to accept the report subject to correction by audit; seconded by Commissioner Humpert and the motion unanimously passed with the voice vote of aye.

Handout No. 07-62

Request approval of award of St. Elizabeth access road project to Barrett Paving Materials, Inc. in the amount of $858,748.67, Charles Meyers reporting:  Four bids were received on July 16 and this was the low bid and the committee met and decided this is the bid that should be awarded.  Commissioner Voelker made the motion to accept followed by a second from Commissioner Knochelmann.

Commissioner Knochelmann said he had received a copy of the bids and asked if this was all pass through dollars that is being facilitated for St. Elizabeth and Mr. Meyers answered yes.  Commissioner Knochelmann asked if the overage would be covered by St. Elizabeth and Mr. Meyers said that the state had committed $3,200,000 for the project and anything over and above this amount will be borne by St. Elizabeth Hospital.

Judge Drees asked for a roll call vote whereupon the following votes were counted:  Commissioner Knochelmann, yes; Commissioner Humpert, yes; Commissioner Voelker, yes and Judge Drees, yes.

Handout No. 07-63

Request approval of award of depository agreement/banking services, Jerry Knochelmann reporting:  Mr. Knochelmann said proposals were accepted and five banks participated.  After review of all fees, charges, interest, etc., the recommendation is made that the county stay with Fifth Third Bank.  Commissioner Humpert made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Knochelmann and the motion was passed with a roll call vote of Commissioner Humpert, yes; Commissioner Voelker, yes; Commissioner Knochelmann, yes and Judge Drees, yes.

Handout No. 07-64

Action to approve change order on URS contract for the engineering and design of St. Elizabeth road project in the amount of $1,414.27, Charles Meyers reporting:  Mr. Meyers said this was not a change order but a final payment on the original contract that was for $95,987,027 and they had a final billing of this amount.  Judge Drees asked what this was for and Mr. Meyers said it was for the design work and this is the final billing on the original fee.  Commissioner Voelker asked if this was the remainder of the fee and Mr. Meyers answered yes.  During the course of the project, St. Elizabeth requested some changes so there will be a change order later for the revised contract.

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

Executive Orders

Executive Order No. 07-86

Approval of reappointment of Harry Riggs to the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky Board for a four-year term, effective July 1, 2007:  Commissioner Humpert moved for approval with a second from Commissioner Knochelmann and the motion unanimously passed with the aye vote.

Executive Order No. 07-87

Approval of reappointment of Andrew Collins and Frank Jackson to the Northern Kentucky Water Service District Board for a four-year term, effective August 28, 2007:  Commissioner Knochelmann made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Humpert and the motion unanimously passed with the vote of aye.

Executive Order No. 07-89

Approval of reappointment of William Terwort to the Northern Kentucky Area Development District Board of Directors for a three-year term, effective October 4, 2007:  This executive order was tabled.

Executive Order No. 07-88

Approval of resignations of Tina Hardy, effective July 28, 2007, and Dave Matthews, effective July 13, 2007, from the Kenton County Dispatch Center:  Commissioner Knochelmann moved for approval; seconded by Commissioner Voelker and the motion unanimously passed with the vote of aye.

Administrative Reporting

DEPUTY JUDGE EXECUTIVE-Scott Kimmich:  Nothing to report.

COUNTY TREASURER-Jerry Knochelmann:  Nothing further to report.

HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR-Joe Shriver:  Nothing to report.

COUNTY ATTORNEY'S REPORT-Garry Edmondson:  Mr. Edmondson asked the court for authorization for Judge Drees to be able to execute the deed of easement for Nie's Pharmacy to access his pharmacy.  Commissioner Voelker made the motion for approval with a second from Commissioner Humpert and the motion unanimously passed with the vote of aye.

Mr. Edmondson said that Hamilton County is the original recipient of a number of pieces of equipment for homeland security emergency management and they are allocating certain amounts of this to Kenton County pursuant to the Uasi grants.  The county needs to get a motion to give the Judge authority to sign the documents necessary to effectuate the transfer of this equipment.  Commissioner Humpert made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Knochelmann and the motion unanimously passed with an aye vote.

Commissioners' Reports

COMMISSIONER DAN HUMPERT-Nothing to report.

COMMISSIONER SARA VOELKER-Nothing to report.

COMMISSIONER KRIS KNOCHELMANN-Mr. Knochelmann said he would like to touch briefly on the working group in regard to the dispatch center and said there would be savings found by not duplicating services.  A report should be given to the court within the next couple of meetings.

Judge-Executive's Report

Nothing further to report at this time.

Citizens Address

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

Executive Session

There was no business to be conducted in executive session.

Adjournment

There being no further business to come before the court, Judge Drees asked for a motion to adjourn.  Commissioner Humpert made the motion with a second from Commissioner Knochelmann, and the court was adjourned with the unanimous vote of aye.