KENTON COUNTY FISCAL COURT
A G E N D A
OCTOBER 9, 2007, 9:00 A.M.
Call to Order
Judge-Executive Ralph Drees called the meeting of the Kenton County Fiscal Court to order. Those in attendance for the meeting: Judge Ralph Drees, Commissioners Dan Humpert, Kris Knochelmann and Sara Reeder Voelker; County Attorney Garry Edmondson; Deputy Judge-Executive Scott Kimmich; County Treasurer Jerome Knochelmann; and Captain Darin Gilpin of the Kenton County Police Department.
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
Judge-Executive Ralph Drees called upon Commissioner Dan Humpert for the invocation and to lead in the pledge of allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
Judge-Executive Ralph Drees presented the minutes of the meeting held on September 25 for approval of the court. Commissioner Knochelmann moved approval and Commissioner Humpert seconded the motion. There being no further discussion Judge Drees requested a voice vote whereupon all members voted aye.
Delegations
There were no delegations to come before the court.
General Business
There was no general business to come before the court.
Resolutions
Resolution 07-24
Judge Ralph Drees presented for consideration, Resolution 07-24, a resolution recognizing the extraordinary service of those who served in the Merchant Marines during World War II and calling upon the United States Senate to move the passage of S961, a companion bill to HR 23.
Commissioner Knochelmann moved approval of the passage of Resolution 07-24 and Commissioner Humpert seconded the motion. There being no further discussion Judge Drees requested a roll call vote whereupon Commissioner Humpert voted aye, Commissioner Knochelmann voted aye, Commissioner Reeder-Voelker voted aye and Judge Ralph Drees voted aye.
Resolution 07-01G
Judge Ralph Drees presented for consideration Resolution 07-01G, adjustments recommended between appropriation accounts to provide necessary funding for items as identified on the attached schedule and called upon County Treasurer Jerry Knochelmann for a report.
Following the treasurer's report, Commissioner Humpert moved approval of the passage of Resolution 07-01G and Commissioner Reeder-Voelker seconded the motion. There being no further discussion, Judge Drees requested a roll call vote whereupon Commissioner Humpert voted aye, Commissioner Knochelmann voted aye, Commissioner Reeder-Voelker voted aye and Judge Ralph Drees voted aye.
Ordinances*
There were no ordinances requiring action of the court.
Consent Agenda
A. Operations
1. Claims List
Judge Drees presented the claims list for review of the fiscal court. Commissioner Knochelmann questioned the high water bills at the golf course and was advised by County Treasurer Knochelmann that money will be transferred within the golf course budget to cover this cost. Most likely the transfer will come from the equipment line item of the courts.
There being no objections, Judge Drees advised that the warrants will be issued and the claims will be paid.
2. Administrative Actions
Handout No. 07-79
Judge Drees presented 07-79, a request of the Kenton County Police Department, Division of Public Safety Communications, for approval of a contract in the sum of $30,725.33 for Mobilcomm to remove old equipment and install new equipment at Mt. Echo for a new tower site to continue providing more efficient coverage to the Kenton County Police Department. Deputy Judge Kimmich reported that this tower site is critical to the overall sustainability of public safety communications, particularly in the areas along the Ohio River.
Captain Gilvin expressed to the court the overall importance of maintaining the connectivity to the Mt. Echo site and further expressed that this is a sole source in that the package at the county and Mt. Echo are currently Motorola equipment.
Judge Drees confirmed with Capt. Gilvin that this is critical to the ability to serve Park Hills and Capt. Gilvin confirmed it is.
Following a brief discussion, Commissioner Humpert moved approval of the passage of Handout 07-79 and Commissioner Reeder-Voelker seconded the motion. There being no further discussion, Judge Drees requested a roll call vote whereupon Commissioner Dan Humpert voted aye, Commissioner Kris Knochelmann voted aye, Commissioner Reeder-Voelker voted aye and Judge Ralph Drees voted aye.
Handout No. 07-80
Judge Drees presented Handout 07-80, a request that he be authorized to sign an application for area development funds in the amount of $32,523.00.
Deputy Judge Kimmich advised that this is an appropriation by the Kentucky General Assembly and the court has the option to expend the funds on a project of county-wide impact and significance or to distribute the funds in smaller grants to other government entities. He advised that the proposed expenditure of the funds for the construction project at the Kenton County Animal Shelter is of county-wide significance and has advertised the availability of the funds as required. With no public input having been received, it is staff recommendation to proceed with use of the funds for the shelter expansion project.
Following discussion, Commissioner Kris Knochelmann moved approval of the passage of Handout 07-80 and Commissioner Sara Reeder-Voelker seconded the motion. There being no further discussion Judge Drees requested a roll call vote whereupon Commissioner Humpert voted aye, Commissioner Knochelmann voted aye, Commissioner Reeder-Voelker voted aye and Judge Ralph Drees voted aye.
Parking Garage Amendment:
Judge Drees presented to the court a request to be authorized to proceed in the execution of an extension of the parking contract with Ashland, Inc. through 2013. Judge Drees expressed that he would be in favor of extending the contract on the contingency that there be a provision for annual increases to keep up with the cost of living in maintaining the facility.
County Treasurer Knochelmann advised that such a provision is in the contract.
Judge Drees queried whether the county has annually taken the increases as provided for in the contract. Treasurer Knochelmann was unable to provide specifics as to the increases that have been charged.
Judge Drees requested that this issue be reviewed and reported back to him. He said if they had not, you may not be able to catch them up all at one time but getting caught up over a period of time would be something we need to explore.
Following discussion, Commissioner Sara Reeder-Voelker moved approval of the approval of the extension of the parking garage contract as recommended by the County Judge, contingent upon ability of the county to increase the fees to cover cost of living and Commissioner Dan Humpert seconded the motion. There being no further discussion Judge Drees requested a roll call vote whereupon Commissioner Humpert voted aye, Commissioner Knochelmann voted aye, Commissioner Reeder-Voelker voted aye and Judge Ralph Drees voted aye.
B. Executive Orders
1. Board Appointments/Operations
Executive Order No. 07-104
Judge Drees presented for recognition Executive Order 07-104, enacting a ban on open burning because of a major fire hazard that does exist because of drought conditions resulting in dry vegetation.
Deputy Judge Scott Kimmich reported that this had been brought up at the previous meeting, but inasmuch as that was a special called meeting and the approval of executive orders of this nature are to be presented at the "next regular called meeting" of the fiscal court, he would respectfully request that the item be acted upon at this meeting.
Commissioner Sara Reeder-Voelker moved acknowledgement of Executive Order 07-104 and Commissioner Dan Humpert seconded the motion. There being no further discussion Judge Drees requested a roll call vote whereupon Commissioner Humpert voted aye, Commissioner Knochelmann voted aye, Commissioner Reeder-Voelker voted aye and Judge Ralph Drees voted aye.
Executive Order No. 07-105
Judge Drees presented for acknowledgement of the fiscal court, Executive Order 07-105, an order declaring that an emergency does exist in the need for road signage to insure access for emergency vehicles in the area commonly referred to and legally known as the city of Latonia Lakes.
Deputy Judge Scott Kimmich advised the court that he had taken this action when in conversations with the county police and public works it was determined that a safety hazard did exist in this community with the lack of adequate signage.
Commissioner Sara Reeder-Voelker moved acknowledgement of Executive Order 07-105 and Commissioner Knochelmann seconded the motion. There being no further discussion, Judge Drees requested a roll call vote whereupon Commissioner Humpert voted aye, Commissioner Knochelmann voted aye, Commissioner Reeder-Voelker voted aye and Judge Ralph Drees voted aye.
2. Personnel
Executive Order No. 07-106
Judge Drees presented Executive Order 07-106, acceptance of Mike Taylor's resignation as part-time programmer in the Department of Information Technology, effective September 24, 2007.
Commissioner Knochelmann advised that while this is an order of termination of employment, others on the agenda today for employment do not provide the starting salary. He would like to see this placed on orders brought before the court as they have been in the past.
Staff advised this had been a clerical error and that it will be corrected.
Commissioner Dan Humpert moved approval of Executive Order 07-106 and Commissioner Sara Reeder-Voelker seconded the motion. There being no further discussion, Judge Drees requested a roll call vote whereupon Commissioner Humpert voted aye, Commissioner Knochelmann voted aye, Commissioner Reeder-Voelker voted aye and Judge Ralph Drees voted aye.
Executive Order No. 07-107
Judge Drees presented Executive Order 07-107, acceptance of resignation of Shannon Hinsdale as animal control officer in the Kenton County Police Department, effective October 5, 2007.
Commissioner Kris Knochelmann moved approval of Executive Order 07-107 and Commissioner Sara Reeder-Voelker seconded the motion. There being no further discussion Judge Drees requested a roll call vote whereupon Commissioner Humpert voted aye, Commissioner Knochelmann voted aye, Commissioner Reeder-Voelker voted aye and Judge Ralph Drees voted aye.
Executive Order No. 07-108
Judge Drees presented Executive Order 07-108, an order of employment of Kristopher Siegert as a mechanic in the Department of Fleet Management, effective October 15, 2007.
Commissioner Kris Knochelmann moved approval of Executive Order 07-107 and Commissioner Sara Reeder-Voelker seconded the motion. There being no further discussion, Judge Drees requested a roll call vote whereupon Commissioner Humpert voted aye, Commissioner Knochelmann voted aye, Commissioner Reeder-Voelker voted aye and Judge Ralph Drees voted aye.
Citizens Address
Judge Drees recognized Mr. George Heeger, Madison Pike, Piner.
Mr. Heeger expressed to the court his personal displeasure with the manner in which the tax bills are being sent out. He said that he and his neighbors have concerns about the formatting both from the perspective personal privacy of the information and that the cards look like a political advertisement and that residents may through them away due to confusion on this issue.
Mr. Heeger said he had called the sheriff's office and was told it was a collaborative decision in county government, not one agency, and he wanted to express his disapproval to the court and ask that the court adopt a resolution that in the future the tax bills be sent out in a sealed envelope or protected in some way from anyone being able to simply pick it up and read it.
Mr. Heeger said he was told this was done to save money and he does not believe a great deal of money could have been saved and that the money saved should be weighed against the property owner's privacy.
Judge Drees advised Mr. Heeger he had received a number of complaints about this issue and would direct a review of the process and evaluation of the savings before next year's tax bills are prepared.
Judge Drees recognized Mr. Harold Bullock, Jericho Drive, Latonia Lakes.
Mr. Bullock expressed to the court he has secured the signatures of more than 50 people requesting that the fiscal court take the main road in Latonia Lakes, Clubhouse Drive, into the county road maintenance system. He said that he has been assured that the county's work to create a bus turn around would insure snow removal on this section of roadway, but that a new fiscal court could come into office and reverse this policy.
Mr. Bullock advised that the county has received more than $43,900 from the sale of property since taking over the community and that this money could be applied to the maintenance of the roadway.
Mr. Bullock further advised that he believes since the petition has been provided, that pursuant to KRS 179.470, the county could take the road into the system.
Mr. Bullock indicated that in preliminary discussions Commissioner Dan Humpert had indicated a willingness to approve this issue and he is requesting that two other members of the court vote with him to get this resolved.
Judge Drees thanked Mr. Bullock for coming before the court and advised that with the repairs made to Clubhouse for school bus transportation and the money spent on community clean-up, the money received from the sale of property has long since been spent.
Judge Drees advised he had no intention as this time to take the road into the system and that the county would continue to maintain the road for school bus purposes.
Administrative Reporting
A. Deputy Judge-Executive Scott Kimmich- Nothing to report.
B. Treasurer Jerry Knochelmann- Nothing to report.
C. Human Resources Director Joe Shriver- Not present
County Attorney's Report
Garry L. Edmondson- Mr. Edmondson advised that at the appropriate time he would request the court to retire to executive session.
Commissioners' Reports
Commissioner Dan Humpert advised he had nothing to bring before the court.
Commissioner Sara Reeder-Voelker advised she had nothing to bring before the court.
Commissioner Kris Knochelmann advised he had nothing to bring before the court.
Judge-Executive's Report
Judge-Executive Ralph Drees advised he had nothing to bring before the court.
Executive Session
Judge-Executive Ralph Drees advised that on the request of counsel the court would need to retire to executive session.
Deputy Judge Kimmich advised a motion would be in order to retire to executive session pursuant to KRS 61.810 (1)(b), discussion of acquisition of property for the development of a county detention center in the vicinity of Mary Laidley Drive, the public discussion of which has the potential to effect the purchase price, and KRS 61.810 (1)(c) discussion of litigation in which the county is currently engaged, specifically Sexton –v- Kenton County and Beuchner –v- Kenton County.
Commissioner Kris Knochelmann moved to enter executive session as recommended by the County Attorney as described by the Deputy Judge-Executive. Commissioner Dan Humpert seconded the motion. There being no further discussion Judge Drees requested a voice vote whereupon all members present voted aye.
Commissioner Kris Knochelmann moved to reconvene in open session and Commissioner Dan Humpert seconded the motion. There being no further discussion Judge Drees requested a voice vote whereupon all members present voted aye.
Judge Drees advised there is no action to be taken as a result of the executive session.
Adjournment
Commissioner Dan Humpert moved adjournment and Commissioner Kris Knochelmann seconded the motion. There being no further discussion, Judge Drees requested a voice vote whereupon all members present voted aye.
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