Board of Commissioners Meetings

A Regular September 9, 2014 A regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the City of Henderson, Kentucky, was held on Tuesday, September 9, 2014, at 5:30 p.m., prevailing time, in the third floor Assembly Room located in the Municipal Center Building at 222 First Street, Henderson, Kentucky. INVOCATION was given by Reverend Doctor James Wofford, Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church. Ms. Ashley Hite led the assemblage in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to our American Flag. There were present Mayor Steve Austin presiding: PRESENT: Commissioner Jan Hite Commissioner Robert N. Pruitt Commissioner Tom Davis Commissioner Robert M. (Robby) Mills __________________________ ALSO IN ATTENDANCE INCLUDED: Mr. Russell R. Sights, City Manager Mr. William L. Newman, Jr., Assistant City Manager Mr. Randall Redding, Acting City Attorney Ms. Carolyn Williams, City Clerk Mr. Robert Gunter, Finance Director Mr. Trace Stevens, Parks & Recreation Director Mr. Leason Neel, HWU Chief Financial Officer Mr. Charles H. (Chip) Stauffer, Police Chief Mr. Jerry Vanden-Brook, Assistant Fire Chief Mrs. Essie Day, Librarian Mr. Anthony Anquish, Minister Mrs. Patsy Thomas, Constitution Week Mrs. Shirley Wathen, Constitution Week Mr. Chris Foster, J. H. Rudolph Mr. Grant Johnson, J. H. Rudolph Mr. Nibby Priest Ms. Ashley Hite Mr. Aiden Hite Mr. Mike Richardson, Police Reserve Officer Mr. Frank Boyett, The Gleaner _____________________________ PROCLAMATION: “CONSTITUTION WEEK” MRS. PATSY THOMAS AND MRS. SHIRLEY WATHEN, were in attendance to receive the Proclamation marking the two hundred twenty-seventh anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America. The proclamation declared the week of September 17-23, 2014, as “CONSTITUTION WEEK.” The citizens of Henderson are asked to reaffirm the ideals that the Framers of the Constitution had in 1787 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties, remembering that lost rights may never be regained.  A Regular September 9, 2014 CONSENT AGENDA: MAYOR AUSTIN asked the City Clerk to read the items on the Consent Agenda. Minutes: August 26, 2014, Regular Meeting MOTION by Commissioner Mills, seconded by Commissioner Pruitt, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The vote was called. On roll call, the vote stood: Commissioner Davis ----------------- Aye: Commissioner Mills ----------------- Aye: Commissioner Hite ----------------- Aye: Commissioner Pruitt ----------------- Aye: Mayor Austin ------------------------- Aye: ______________________________ ORDINANCE NO. 31-14: SECOND READING ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF AD VALOREM TAXES ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HENDERSON, KENTUCKY, PROVIDING FOR THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF AD VALOREM TAXES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2014, AND PROVIDING FOR THE TIME OF PAYMENT FOR SUCH TAXES, PENALTY, INTEREST AND DISCOUNT MOTION by Commissioner Mills, seconded by Commissioner Hite, that the Ordinance be adopted. COMMISSIONER PRUITT said that he wanted to make another passionate plea to this Commission that we take the real property and personal property owners, which comes up to 11,367 people and give them a $25 tax break which would equal to $285,000 and this year has been rough on the taxpayer this and other commissions have made them loose their tax dollars. This is not a threat, it is a passionate plea to this Commission to do the right thing for the taxpayers of Henderson. The vote was called. On roll call, the vote stood: Commissioner Davis ----------------- Aye: Commissioner Mills ----------------- Aye: Commissioner Hite ----------------- Aye: Commissioner Pruitt ----------------- Nay: Mayor Austin ------------------------- Aye: WHEREUPON Mayor Austin declared the Ordinance adopted, affixed his signature and the date thereto and ordered that the same be recorded. /s/ Steve Austin Steve Austin, Mayor September 9, 2014 ATTEST: Carolyn Williams, City Clerk  A Regular September 9, 2014 RESOLUTION NO. 79-14 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,189,752 FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HENDERSON CITY-COUNTY AIRPORT; AND AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF THE CITY’S ONE-HALF PORTION OF THE LOCAL MATCH IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,980.55 MOTION by Commissioner Pruitt, seconded by Commissioner Hite, to adopt the resolution authorizing acceptance of $1,189,752 in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration for improvements at the Henderson City-County Airport; and authorizing payment of the City’s portion of the local match. MR. RUSSELL R. SIGHTS, CITY MANAGER, explained that, even though this was not in our budget, he felt that this was a small amount of money to invest on our part to get over a million dollar grant from the FAA and certainly will make an improvement to our Airport and he strongly recommended that it be approved. MR. WILLIAM L. NEWMAN, JR., ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, stated that the Airport has produced a master plan over the next five to eight years that involves expansion of the runway and includes a mid-field ramp addition which is what this grant is earmarked for. The grant was awarded to the Airport Board this year and was not expected to come forward this quickly and so that is why we are walking this resolution on at this time but it is in support of the overall Airport Master Plan. MAYOR AUSTIN remarked that the City and County owns that airport and this was a small investment to get that kind of return and he was happy to support it. The vote was called. On roll call, the vote stood: Commissioner Davis ----------------- Aye: Commissioner Mills ----------------- Aye: Commissioner Hite ----------------- Aye: Commissioner Pruitt ----------------- Aye: Mayor Austin ------------------------- Aye: WHEREUPON Mayor Austin declared the Resolution adopted, affixed his signature and the date thereto, and ordered that the same be recorded. /s/ Steve Austin Steve Austin, Mayor ATTEST: September 9, 2014 Carolyn Williams, City Clerk _________________________ REPORT: Mayor Austin explained that this report was the Planning Commission’s rezoning recommendation for Barret Boulevard, PIDN # 65-13, rezoning case #1035, for Clark A. Merrill, et. al., Christopher Hopgood, Agent. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on September 2, 2014. The Planning Commission voted to rezone the property, containing 3.17 acres from Agricultural to Highway Commercial, and the rezoning will become final on Wednesday, September 24, 2014. No formal action is necessary unless a written request is received by an aggrieved person or the Board of Commissioners on or before September 23, 2014. ____________________________ CITY MANAGER’S REPORT: MR. TRACE STEVENS, PARK AND RECREATION DIRECTOR – REPORT ON BICYCLE SHARING PROGRAM  A Regular September 9, 2014 MR. STEVENS stated that there are two programs to provide bicycles to citizens for temporary use, either bike rental or bike sharing. Bike rental is the more traditional way where customers pay an attendant to use a bike for a limited period of time then return the bike to the rental location. The second type is called bike sharing. This is the more recent development in which customers interact with an automated rack that takes credit/debit cards and when finished, they return the bike to that rack or any other rack. The bike rental would require the city to purchase and own all bikes and helmets as well as including ongoing staff, equipment repair and replacement costs. Staff would be needed to check bikes in and out and repair and manage bikes/helmets and serve customers. Bike Sharing would include stations that hold the bikes as well as the solar powered kiosks that take the credit/debit cards for payment and deposits. These are unstaffed but a specialized company operates the system for a portion of the profits based on contracts. This method is popular in larger cities like Louisville, Nashville, Cincinnati and Chattanooga. MAYOR AUSTIN suggested that the Board take this under advisement and bring it back if needed. __________________________ COMMISSIONER’S REPORTS: COMMISSIONER DAVIS said that the City has lost one of the Air Board’s committed members with the death of Chuck Stagg. His contribution to numerous boards in our community and he will be missed. Also, the Downtown Henderson Partnership had a Loft Tour where over 250 people visited our loft apartments and businesses. The Community Yard Sale will be held September 20th in Central Park. On September 27th the White of Main Dinner will take place. ______________________________ COMMISSIONER HITE said that she had been working with the manager at Lowes. Every year, they invest in the community with what they call the “Lowes’ Heroes Project.” This year we submitted a project and were approved for the grant for $1,200 as well as the labor. The City has been supporting the East End area with various projects. To add on the that, this project is somewhat of a beautification project and hopefully designed to establish a gateway into the area located at the corner of Washington and Atkinson Streets in the form of a sign. We hope that this will instill pride and hope to the residents. Discussion was held regarding what to put on the sign: Welcome to East End or Welcome to Audubon District. She was asking for feedback from the community as well as the Board. COMMISSIONER PRUITT questioned the style of the sign proposed by Lowes. He said that he envisioned a real, real nice sign maybe like the one in Providence that came over the street like an arch. He wanted a sign more elaborate. He asked who signed off on the design for the sign? He envisioned grand entryway, a gateway to the East End. COMMISSIONER HITE explained that we needed to work within the budget constraints of the grant. The stone in the sign will cost approximately $300 and the sign and posting will be $700 and the landscaping will cost roughly $200 so the total would be $1,200. She added that she had asked for feedback from all of the commissioners and did not get any. Commissioner Pruitt asked Mr. Newman if that funding could be switched over to a grander sign? Mr. Newman said that he would have to contact Lowes for that. Commissioner Pruitt said that a sign should be something special. This sign is not doing  A Regular September 9, 2014 justice to the East End. Mr. Newman agreed to contact Lowes corporate office and get back to the Board. COMMISSIONER MILLS thanked Commissioner Hite for her work on this project and thought the sign should say East End name with Henderson, KY, somewhere smaller. Commissioner Davis said that it was a start and other things could be added later and thanked Jan for her hard work. Mr. Sights said that we have a company who has offered to do this and doubted that we could get an increase from Lowes. He believed that, he was told, that this amount came from the corporate level and he did not see anything wrong with proceeding with putting this sign at that location. Commissioner Hite stated that Lowes was not giving the money to the City of Henderson and their guidelines were very strict. Commissioner Pruitt said that it was a good start but this is not what he envisioned when we started the East End changes. The East End people deserve a “Wow” sign and the City has the money to give them a wow. He added that he was making another passionate plea that this government should give the taxpayers the $285,000 break. DISCUSSION WAS HELD. VERBATIM DISCUSSION IS ON TAPE OF THIS MEETING, __________________________ REAPPOINTMENT: PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION REAPPOINTMENT FOR DR. MELANIE LEE MOTION by Commissioner Davis, seconded by Commissioner Hite, to reappoint Dr. Melanie Lee to the Parks and Recreation Commission for a four year term, expiring on September 14, 2018. The vote was called. On roll call, the vote stood: Commissioner Davis ----------------- Aye: Commissioner Mills ----------------- Aye: Commissioner Hite ----------------- Aye: Commissioner Pruitt ----------------- Aye: Mayor Austin ------------------------- Aye: _______________________________ MEETING ADJOURN: MOTION by Commissioner Hite, seconded by Commissioner Mills, to adjourn the meeting. The vote was called. On roll call, the vote stood: Commissioner Davis ----------------- Aye: Commissioner Mills ----------------- Aye: Commissioner Hite ----------------- Aye: Commissioner Pruitt ----------------- Aye: Mayor Austin ------------------------- Aye: WHEREUPON: Mayor Austin declared the meeting adjourned at approximately 6:07 p.m. ___________________________ Steve Austin, Mayor September 23, 2014 ATTEST: Carolyn Williams, City Clerk