City Council

Florence City Council Business Meeting Tuesday, October 22, 2024 6:00 p.m. MINUTES The City Council of the City of Florence, Kentucky, met in regular session on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Boulevard, Florence, Kentucky, with Mayor Julie M. Aubuchon presiding as chair. CALL TO ORDER & WELCOME: Mayor Julie M. Aubuchon called the regular meeting to order and declared the regular session open for the presentation of all city business. INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Aubuchon and Members of City Council recited the invocation. The Florence Elementary Girl Scout Troop proudly led all attendees in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: The roll was called, and the following five (5) members of council were registered present: Mel Carroll, Lesley Chambers, Jenna Kemper, Patricia Wingo, and Gary Winn. Councilmember David A. Osborne was absent. Staff members present were: City Attorney, Thomas R. Nienaber; Fire/EMS Chief, Rodney Wren; Chief of Police, Jeff Mallery; Director of Administration/City Administrator, Joshua J. Hunt; City Clerk, Melissa Kramer; Finance Director, Jason Lewis; Videographer, Perry Weber; and Police Corporal Ben Kolkmeimer. The following were also present in the audience: Superintendent of Boone County Schools, Dr. Jeff Hauswald; Executive Director/Community Services of Boone County Schools, Kathy Reutman; Former Florence Mayor, Diane E. Whalen; Resident of Florence, Thomas Judd; Resident of Florence, Nancy Corman; and Members of the Florence Elementary Girl Scout Troop. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to approve the minutes of the October 15, 2024, special meeting. Councilmember Winn motioned to approve the minutes with a second from Councilmember Wingo. All councilmembers present voted aye. Florence City Council Minutes: Tuesday, October 22, 2024 PRESENTATION – SUPERINTENDENT OF BOONE COUNTY SCHOOLS: DR. JEFF HAUSWALD: Mayor Aubuchon welcomed and introduced Superintendent of Boone County Schools, Dr. Jeff Hauswald. Dr. Hauswald thanked everyone and shared his enthusiasm for the opportunity to work with the city. Originally from Southern Indiana, he shared his background including his eleven years as a superintendent in Kokomo and three in Bloomington. Since taking the role of Boone County’s Superintendent, he has focused on community engagement, school efficiency, fiscal responsibility, addressing achievement and wage gaps. Currently, the Boone County School District is the state’s third largest district with over 20,000 students across twenty-seven sites. Dr. Hauswald highlighted that Boone County ranks among the most efficient districts in the state. He also outlined an exciting vision for early childhood education, including plans to open a new facility by 2027 to support students’ lifelong success. With a focus on ensuring children are “Ready to Learn” at the start of Kindergarten. Dr. Hauswald expressed pride in Boone County’s commitment to Kentucky’s public school system and shared his excitement about advancing education in Florence. He expressed his pride as being a new resident of the city. He was looking forward to strengthening his working relationships and further contributing to the community. Councilmember Chambers asked Dr. Hauswald to share insights on school competition in Indiana and the potential impact of Amendment 2, currently on the ballot in Kentucky. Dr. Hauswald explained that Indiana introduced school choice policies, including charters and vouchers, which increased segregation as wealthier students utilized vouchers, leaving marginalized students in public schools. This led to higher poverty concentration and raised educational costs. Additionally, the voucher system affected per-pupil funding and stagnated educational costs. He noted that Kentucky’s amendment lacked specifics, making it challenging to predict similar outcomes without knowing potential legislative details, emphasizing that Indiana’s system was “school choice” rather than “student choice.” SECOND READING ORDINANCE O-18-2024: Mayor Aubuchon read Ordinance O-18-2024. An Ordinance Relating to Personnel: Amending Ordinance O-13-2024, O-9-2024 and O-4-2024 Relating to Personnel Policies, Job Descriptions, Authorized Positions and the Pay Plan. The purpose of Ordinance O-18-2024 makes revisions to the Job Descriptions, Pay Plan and the list of Authorized Position Sections of the Personnel Policies and Procedures. The full text of Ordinance O-18-2024, including its exhibits, is available for examination in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Florence, Kentucky, in the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd., Florence, Kentucky, during regular office hours. 2|Page Florence City Council Minutes: Tuesday, October 22, 2024 Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to approve the second reading of Ordinance O-18-2024. Councilmember Carroll motioned to approve, with a second from Councilmember Wingo. Mayor Aubuchon requested a Roll Call Vote. Councilmember Carroll, yes; Councilmember Chambers, yes; Councilmember Winn, yes; Councilmember Kemper, yes; Councilmember Wingo, yes. Roll call recognized five yes votes approving the second reading of Ordinance O-18-2024 by unanimous vote. MAYOR’S REPORT: • Mayor Aubuchon reminded everyone Florence residents could pay their annual city property taxes at the Finance Department, where the Boone County Sheriff’s Office was also stationed to collect county property taxes. • Mayor Aubuchon reminded everyone the Halloween Art Contest will end Friday, October 25. • Mayor Aubuchon reminded everyone the 2024 Leaf Collection program runs through December 19. • Mayor Aubuchon reminded everyone the Florence Police Department was participating in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday, October 26, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. • Mayor Aubuchon reminded everyone the Annual Halloween Night Out would be held on Tuesday, October 29 at Thomas More Stadium, Home of the Florence Y’alls from 6:00- 8:00 p.m. • Mayor Aubuchon reminded everyone Trick or Treat Hours were set for Halloween, Thursday, October 31, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. • Mayor Aubuchon announced the City of Florence was collecting non-perishable food items including peanut butter, canned fruit, fruit cups, apple sauce cups/pouches, canned tuna and chicken, dried beans, tomato sauce, fruit bars and granola bars to benefit the Collins Elementary Family Resource Centers beginning November 1 through November 15. • Mayor Aubuchon reminded everyone that in partnership with Florence Christian Church, as part of the Veterans Day Program, the city would host “The Witness Tree” Event. The event would be held beginning November 1 and run through November 11 daily at 8:00 a.m. • Mayor Aubuchon reminded everyone the City of Florence would hold the Annual Veterans Day Program on Saturday, November 9 at 2:00 p.m. at the Florence Government Center, Community Rooms. • Mayor Aubuchon reminded everyone the Honor Run Half Marathon would be held the morning of Sunday, November 10 beginning at the Florence Y’all Water Tower. • Mayor Aubuchon announced the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event at Thomas More Stadium, Home of the Florence Y’alls was scheduled for Saturday, November 2 from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. • Mayor Aubuchon announced the Florence Police Department was participating in their 7th Annual No-Shave-November Benefit. All proceeds from funds collected would benefit the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Cancer Unit. 3|Page Florence City Council Minutes: Tuesday, October 22, 2024 • Mayor Aubuchon reminded everyone that next week was a 5th Tuesday and no meeting was scheduled. • Mayor Aubuchon announced that there would be no meeting on November 5 due to the election. However, a Special Meeting was scheduled for November 6 at 6:00 p.m. • Mayor Aubuchon encouraged everyone to visit the Boone County Clerk’s website at boonecountyclerk.us or call the voter registration department at 859-334-2130 for information on election details, including absentee voting from October 23-30, early voting from October 31-November 2, and Election Day voting on November 5. She also reminded everyone that having a Florence or Union mailing address did not always mean you were eligible to vote in Florence city races, and that city elections were nonpartisan, to avoid voting a straight-party ticket to ensure all races and issues are considered informed every one of the upcoming voting sites and times. CLOSED SESSION: Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to go into Closed Session pursuant to KRS 61.810(1)(c) litigation – proposed or pending against or on behalf of the city. Councilmember Winn so moved with a second from Councilmember Carroll. All councilmembers present voted aye, the time being 6:29 p.m. Mayor Aubuchon advised they would return to the room to adjourn and did not anticipate any further business taking place following Closed Session. Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to come back into session after the Closed Session. Councilmember Carroll so moved, with a second from Councilmember Winn. All councilmembers present voted aye, the time being 7:02 p.m. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Wingo so moved, with a second from Councilmember Carroll. Councilmembers present voted aye, the time being 7:03 p.m. APPROVED: /s/ Julie M. Aubuchon Julie M. Aubuchon, Mayor ATTEST: /s/ Melissa Kramer Melissa Kramer, City Clerk 4|Page