KENTON COUNTY FISCAL COURT

NOVEMBER 9, 2004

MINUTES

The regular meeting of the Kenton County Fiscal Court convened at the courthouse in Independence, Kentucky at 7:00 p.m.  Present at the meeting were Judge Executive Ralph A. Drees; Commissioners Dan Humpert, Barbara Black and Adam Koenig; Special Projects Manager Ralph Bailey; Assistant County Attorney Stacey Hege; Treasurer Ivan Frye; Police Chief Bill Dorsey; Public Works Director Joe Murphy; Fleet Management Director Fred McKenney; Court Reporter Cathy Johnston; and Guests.

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

Approval of Minutes

Judge Drees asked if there were any comments and approval for the minutes of October 26, 2004.  Commissioner Humpert made the motion for approval; seconded by Commissioner Black.  The minutes were unanimously approved with the vote of aye.

Judge Drees introduced Assistant County Attorney Stacey Hege to the court who was there representing the office of County Attorney Garry Edmondson.

Delegations

Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission regarding one stop shop, Dennis Gordon reporting:  The one stop shop is an effort on the part of the area planning commission to become a collaborative partner with the 20 local governments in Kenton County.  There are currently 11 local governments that are under contract which provides code enforcement, assistance to the board of adjustments, building code compliance, and property maintenance code administration.  The local governments are billed on an hourly basis for the cost to provide the services.  The area planning commission wants to get their operation in order because there are big plans they want to pursue so the revenue coming in had to be looked at and one-third of the budget was coming in by way of the contractual agreements.

In the 2004 county budget, there was over $50,000 allocated to the planning commission to supplement the services provided for and there were no fees for certain items such as building permits.  This is a drain on the county's budget and the local governments are also in this position.  Over the years the planning commission has created a critical mass of professional support staff and it is very easy to provide these basic services more so than it is on a much smaller scale for local governments.  It was important for the planning commission to start looking at a way to provide services and the one stop shop was the result.  In its simplest form, the one stop shop is much more cost effective for services on a larger scale than it is on a local scale, particularly with the size of the local governments in Kenton County.  It is also much easier for residents, builders and those who have to deal with local governments to go to one place.  Persons coming to get the permits will also be charged the same rate at the one stop shop.

The planning commission worked extensively with County Attorney Edmondson and several of the city attorneys to put together the interlocal agreement and the attached ordinances that are necessary to bring the one stop shop to closure.  By terms of the agreement, local governments are delegating to area planning those responsibilities and not just the responsibilities, but also in paying the bills.  There will not be any more bills coming to the fiscal court that will have to be supplemented in what is coming in for fees.  The interlocal agreement specifies several different levels of service that was provided by the cities and there are four different levels that cities can choose.  Depending on the level the city opts into will depend on how much money the city will pay for the service.  The total cost of the services is being borne by two services:  1) by the fees that are coming in, and 2) the area planning commission's levy.

The planning commission has been given verbal commitment for the one stop shop from 16 cities.  Clearly, this is getting closer to truly being a one stop shop for the residents of Kenton County.

Judge Drees asked if the court had any questions.  Commissioner Black asked if the area planning staff could have the latest information so the questions that come in could be given to the proper member to answer.  She also asked if additional staff would be required and how the current staff would be educated to answer all of the questions.  Mr. Gordon said that everything that needed to be accomplished could not be done without adding new staff and that has been incorporated into the 2005 budget.  The process of getting all 20 cities to sign their contract is now in place and staff will not be hired until there is a documented need.

Mr. Gordon also said remodeling will start within the next couple of months.  There will be a single reception desk and the best and friendliest personality will be sitting at that desk.  There will also be a permit desk next to the reception area.  There will also be software that will be on the internet and zoning complaints can be submitted on line and eventually will be to the point where building permits can also be purchased on line and plans submitted via a credit card.  An elected official can go into the site to check zoning complaints or you can also call the office.  This will be a county database and everyone who needs to will have access to this site and the county treasurer's office can make sure the people should have the licenses they need before permits are issued.

Commissioner Black asked that a statement be put on line for anyone who wishes to file a complaint, that someone will contact that person within a reasonable amount of time because it is often voiced that no one ever returns the call or responds.  Mr. Gordon stated that when an e-mail is received, an immediate response will be given that it has been received and someone will return the call or send an e-mail.

Judge Drees asked if how many days the customer will receive a response depends on the level of service between levels one and two.  Mr. Gordon answered yes and that level one is the lower priced service and level two is the higher price.  He also said the main difference is the property maintenance code that was adopted years ago by the fiscal court and when there is a flagrant violation, it is much easier to get action under the property maintenance code than a zoning ordinance.  Some local governments do not have it but the majority of them have the code.  For the basic level where there is no cost, the property maintenance code is not included.  It is included in level two and for this service a total of 25 cents on the dollar is paid for the provision of those services.

Mr. Gordon said he had also spoken with Judge Drees about creating a county code enforcement board.  This is something the general assembly created not long ago.  If there is a violation, we now have to file with the county attorney's office and a zoning code or property maintenance code violation has to wind its way through the court.  The courts are not enthused about dealing with this "mundane subject" when there is murder, robbery, etc. that has to go through the courts.  A code enforcement board is a group of local citizens appointed by the judge where citations are brought that are adjudicated.  The county code enforcement board will give the ability to enforce the codes and compliance will be brought about without clogging up the court system dockets.

Judge Drees said he would not have any problem with having this board but asked who would bear the expenses, taking of minutes, etc.  Mr. Gordon said the planning commission would take care of this.

Commissioner Humpert said there had not been many of these situations and anything dealing with these violations had come before the fiscal court and there had not been an enforcement board.  He asked the treasurer if this was not true and Mr. Frye answered that these complaints are never seen by the fiscal court.  The enforcement board would also take care of the local governments as a one- stop shop who would like to have a county-wide board to service all of the cities.

Commissioner Black said she thought more citizens would register complaints if it did not have to go through the court system.  Commissioner Humpert said he did not know the entire story and now this made more sense to him.

Judge Drees said this could be put on the agenda for the next meeting and he thanked Mr. Gordon for coming.

General Business

There was not any general business presented to the court.

Resolutions

There were not any resolutions to be brought before the court.

Ordinances

ORDINANCE No. 451.9-First reading revising regulations involving sexually oriented business, Assistant County Attorney Stacey Hege reporting:  A copy of the ordinance had been distributed to the court.  Ms. Hege said there were some minor changes such as grammar in the ordinance but nothing substantive.

Commissioner Humpert mentioned that the first ordinance that was written had been gone over very thoroughly, and since this was the first reading, he would make the motion to approve.  Commissioner Black seconded the motion.  There being no questions, the Judge called for a roll call vote whereupon the motion unanimously passed.

Consent Agenda

CLAIMS LIST, County Treasurer Frye reporting:  Judge Drees asked Mr. Frye to give comments on what had been spent to date and an up-to-date on the budget.  Mr. Frye said the commissioners had been presented a copy of the financial report for the end of October, and for the most part, the budget as a total is in good shape.  Individually, there are some accounts that need transfers and they will be brought before the next meeting.  Feel free to call the treasurer's office if there are any questions regarding the budget.

There are not any significant events regarding the budget beyond the fact that area planning was not in the budget this year because it was thought that the one-stop shop would be in place, but it was not so we had to have money for that line because this program had not taken place before July 1.

The court said that they were in agreement with the claims list.

Citizens Address

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

Administrative Reporting

HANDOUT NO. 04-72-Authorize the Kenton County Judge Executive to sign two agreements for emergency management funds, Ivan Frye reporting:  Mr. Frye said that one grant is in the amount of $6,317 and the other one is for $1,667 from the Federal Department of Homeland Security through the state to establish a citizens corps council to be trained to work in conjunction with the emergency response team.

Judge Drees entertained the motion for approval which was moved by Commissioner Humpert; seconded by Commissioner Black.  The motion passed with the unanimous vote of aye.

HANDOUT NO. 04-73-Approve revenue bond increases and decreases for the Kenton County Sheriff.  Commissioner Humpert moved for approval; seconded by Commissioner Koenig.  Judge Drees asked for a roll call vote whereupon the approval was unanimously granted.

Staff Reports

Deputy Judge-Executive-Ralph Bailey standing in for Scott Kimmich had nothing to report.

Treasurer-Mr. Frye announced there is scheduled for November 20, a computer recycling event on Alexandria Pike, South of Northern Kentucky University, at the old Thriftway store.  All persons are being asked for any computers or parts that are no longer being used to be brought there for recycling.  If further information is needed, please call 441-5166, Department of Public Works or the Judge Executive's office.

He also said the program Mr. Dennis Gordon had talked about coincides with one in the Police Department that allows connection through the county-wide network to access data, and this system will work through the Pentamation program that is one of the most powerful.  The program will interface with property evaluation and county occupational licenses files so that when a permit is issued, all of these offices will know it.  If there is a contractor named that does not have a license, a hold can be put on the permit.  The PVA currently deals with paperwork after the permit is issued in order to determine the new changes and assessment changes, and now the PVA's office can immediately access this information on line.  Once a permit is issued, the public will be able to access the information and its status can be looked at as to whether it is pending approval, has been issued approval, etc., and cities will be able to monitor open permits at any given time.  The cities will be able to monitor on line with the county for the first time and this will be of value to them.  This will be paid for through the planning commission and will be no cost to the county.

County Attorney-No report.

Commissioner Black-Nothing to report.

Commissioner Humpert-Nothing to report.

Commissioner Koenig-Nothing to report.

Judge Executive-Nothing further to report.

Executive Session

There was no executive session called.

Adjournment

Commissioner Black made the motion to adjourn; seconded by Commissioner Humpert.  The meeting was adjourned with the unanimous vote of aye.