CITY OF CARROLLTON
COUNCIL MEETING
CITY HALL
APRIL 13, 2009
7:00 P.M.
COUNCIL: KEVIN CRAIG
MIKE GORDON
TAMMY McBURNEY
DEAN MILLER JR
ADAM RAKER
ATTORNEY FOR CITY: NICHOLAS MARSH
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK: SUSIE MCGEE
POLICE CHIEF: MICHAEL WILLHOITE
FIRE CHIEF: RANDY THARP
PUBLIC WORKS SUPER: RONNIE KNIGHT
BUILDING INSPECTOR: JOHN WELCH
UTILITIES MANAGER: BILL OSBORNE
CCCDC: JOAN MOORE
MAIN STREET DIRECTOR: SAM BURGESS
TEEN COUNCILMEMBERS: ANGELA R. WOODS
WILLIAM C. YAGER
PRESS: NEWS DEMOCRAT/SHARON GRAVES
ABSENT:
COUNCIL: NANCY JO GROBMYER
CLERK/TREASURER: BECKY H. PYLES
CALL TO ORDER
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT THE HOUR OF 7:00 P.M. BY MAYOR LOUDEN. MAYOR LOUDEN OFFERED AN INVOCATION, FOLLOWED WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
RECOGNITION OF GUESTS
MATTHEW SIMONS, 712 EIGHTH STREET, REQUESTED THE CITY CONSIDER REFRESHING WELTY PARK. MR. SIMONS HAD TAKEN SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE PARK AND AREAS OF CONCERN.
MR. SIMONS SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MONKEY BARS AND THE MERRY-GO-ROUND REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH EQUIPMENT SIMILAR TO WHAT IS AT POINT PARK. HE MENTIONED THE SWINGS ARE PLACED TOO CLOSE TO THE HEDGE AND FENCING TO BE ABLE TO SWING.
THE MAYOR DIRECTED RONNIE KNIGHT, PUBLIC WORKS SUPERVISOR, TO GET PRICING OF NEW EQUIPMENT TOGETHER AND PRESENT TO COUNCIL FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: REGULAR MEETING: MARCH 23, 2009
THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN GORDON AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN McBURNEY AND DULY CARRIED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED.
AYES 5 NAYS 0
BID OPENING: 2008-2009 PHASE II SIDEWALK PROGRAM
THE CITY RECEIVED FOUR BIDS FOR THE 2008-2009 PHASE II SIDEWALK PROGRAM, HOWEVER, THE BID FROM EAST AND WESTBROOK WAS NOT CONSIDERED BECAUSE THEY FAILED TO ATTEND THE MANDATORY PRE- BID MEETING.
THE FIRST BID: BIMPS CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION: $49,108.00.
THE SECOND BID: SHAWCREEK CONTRACTING: $62,593.00
THE THIRD BID: BRASCH-BARRY: $48,923.20
AFTER DISCUSSION, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO GO WITH THE LOWEST BID.
THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN GORDON AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN McBURNEY AND DULY CARRIED TO AWARD THE 2008-2009 PHASE II SIDEWALK PROGRAM TO BRASCH-BARRY FOR $48,923.20.
AYES 5 NAYS 0
REQUEST: BUSINESS CELEBRATION DAY: SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
HEATHER YOCUM, JCTC STUDENT AFFAIRS SPECIALIST, TOLD THE COUNCIL THE BUSINESS CELEBRATION DAY COMMITTEE IS ASKING FOR A DONATION OF $400 FROM THE CITY FOR THE 2ND ANNUAL BUSINESS CELEBRATION DAY EVENT. THIS YEAR’S THEME WILL BE “ THINK LOCAL, BUY LOCAL” AND IS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 17TH FROM 5-7 P.M. ON THE COURTHOUSE SQUARE.
THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN CRAIG AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MILLER AND DULY CARRIED TO GIVE THE REQUESTED DONATION OF $400.
AYES 5 NAYS 0
APPOINTMENTS:
P.E.A.K. INC.: TERMS TO EXPIRE: MARCH 31, 2011
MAYOR LOUDEN ADVISED COUNCIL P.E.A.K. WAS NO LONGER “INC” BUT HAD CHANGED TO P.E.A.K., N.G.A.A. (NATURAL GAS ACQUISITION AUTHORITY).
THE MAYOR RECOMMENDED RE-APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING:
MAYOR DWIGHT LOUDEN
BILL OSBORNE
GREG GOFF
THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN GORDON AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN RAKER AND DULY CARRIED TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO P.E.A.K. N.G.A.A.
AYES 5 NAYS 0
UTILITIES COMMISSION : TERM TO EXPIRE: APRIL 30,2012
MAYOR LOUDEN RECOMMENDED RE-APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING:
RON MCMILLAN
THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN CRAIG AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MILLER AND DULY CARRIED TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION.
AYES 5 NAYS 0
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
TEEN COUNCIL
ANGELA WOODS, TEEN COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE, GAVE THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AN UPDATE ON SPRING EVENTS AT THE CARROLL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.
PUBLIC WORKS
PUBLIC WORKS SUPERVISOR, RONALD KNIGHT, ADVISED COUNCIL HIS CREW HAVE BEEN WORKING AT CLEANING POINT PARK FOR THE SUMMER EVENTS.
MR. KNIGHT SAID THEY HAVE OPENED THE RESTROOMS AT POINT PARK AND ARE PAINTING THEM, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.
MAYOR LOUDEN ADVISED THE NKADD WILL HAVE STIMULUS MONEY TO PROVIDE WORKERS, WITH THE AGE LIMIT OF 23 AND NOT YOUNGER THAN 16, FOR THE MONTHS OF JUNE AND JULY. THE CITY AND UTILITIES HAVE ASKED FOR 6 WORKERS TO DIVIDE BETWEEN THEM.
COUNCILMAN RAKER ASKED ABOUT THE COMPLETION DATE OF THE DICK’S GUT PROJECT. THERE ARE SOME REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE DONE AND THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY DATE SHOULD BE NEAR.
MAYOR LOUDEN SAID HE AND BILL OSBORNE WOULD LOOK AT THE CONTRACT.
UTILITIES
BILL OSBORNE, UTILITIES MANAGER, GAVE THE FOLLOWING UPDATES:
* AIR GAS HAS ANNOUNCED THEIR RIBBON CUTTING ON THE
NEW PLANT WILL BE IN JUNE. THEY ARE A BIG WATER CUSTOMER.
*APPLIED FOR THE EDA GRANT WHICH IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
SEWER EXPANSION TO INCLUDE GALLATIN STEEL AND UPGRADES.
* WON’T KNOW ANYTHING ON THE BP DEAL CONCERNING P.E.A.K.
UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH.
CCCDC
JOAN MOORE, CCCDC DIRECTOR, GAVE THE FOLLOWING UPDATES :
* THE CITY RECEIVED A FEMA GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF
$101,289 TO BE USED ON FIREFIGHTER EQUIPMENT WITH A 5% MATCH.
* WORKING ON THE CMRS (COMMERCIAL MOBILE RADIO SERVICE)
GRANT WITH RANDY THARP TO UPGRADE 911 EQUIPMENT. THEY
ATTENDED A WORKSHOP IN FRANKFORT TODAY TO HELP WITH
THIS GRANT.
* THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PARTNERSHIP WILL BE MEETING ON
4-23-09 FROM 8:00 – 12:00 NOON AT THE EXTENSION OFFICE WITH
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH BEING SERVED.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
POLICE CHIEF, MICHAEL WILLHOITE, GAVE THE FOLLOWING UPDATES:
* APPLIED FOR CONTINUATION OF THE T.A.P. GRANT AND
APPLIED FOR THE JAG GRANT.
* NEW POLICE OFFICERS HAVE MADE THE HALFWAY POINT OF
THE ACADEMY. THEY WILL GRADUATE ON JUNE 12TH.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE CHIEF RANDY THARP SAID HE HAS ORDERED THE EQUIPMENT TO BE COVERED BY THE FEMA GRANT.
BUILDING INSPECTOR
JOHN WELCH, BUILDING INSPECTOR, GAVE THE FOLLOWING UPDATES:
* WORKING ON UPDATING THE ZONING MAP WITH THE
P& Z COMMISSION.
* CALLED ATTENTION TO THE PROPOSED MIXED USE ORDINANCE
HANDED OUT TO ALL THE COUNCIL. HE ASKED COUNCIL TO GO
OVER THE ORDINANCE AND CALL IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.
COUNCILMAN MILLER ASKED WHERE JOHN AND MR. ZOOK GET THE PROPERTY OWNER INFORMATION USED FOR SECOND NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS?
MR. WELCH SAID EITHER THE PROPERTY VALUATION ADMINISTRATOR OR THE CITY TAX RECORDS.
COUNCILMAN MILLER VOICED CONCERN ON SENDING WARNING OF VIOLATIONS WITHOUT KNOWING FOR SURE THERE IS A VIOLATION. FOR INSTANCE, SEVERAL IN MR. ZOOK’S REPORT SAID “SUSPECTED VIOLATION.” HE ASKED SHOULDN’T WE BE SURE BEFORE UPSETTING THE PROPERTY OWNER?
MR. WELCH SAID SEVERAL OF THE VEHICLES IN QUESTION ARE PARKED WHERE THE PLATES ARE NOT VISIBLE OR HAVE NOT BE MOVED IN A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. MR. ZOOK CAN’T GO ON THE PROPERTY, SO BY SENDING THIS NOTICE IT HELPS MAKE THE PROPERTY OWNER AWARE OF THE ORDINANCE. IF THEY HAVE EVERYTHING IN ORDER, IT IS JUST A MATTER OF SHOWING PROOF TO MR. ZOOK.
CLERK-TREASURER
POINT PARK REQUEST: SENIOR EVENT: 9/30/09 – 10/01/09
THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN GORDON AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MILLER AND DULY CARRIED TO GRANT THE REQUEST FOR USE OF POINT PARK.
AYES 5 NAYS 0
MAIN STREET
MAIN STREET DIRECTOR, SAM BURGESS, GAVE THE FOLLOWING UPDATES:
* EASTER ON THE SQUARE WAS DEEMED A SUCCESS WITH AROUND
200 CHILDREN TAKING PART IN THE EASTER EGG HUNT. THERE
WERE WORKERS FROM JCTC, FAMILY WORSHIP AND THE TOBACCO
FESTIVAL COMMITTEE.
* THE FIRST FRIDAY EVENT WILL KICK OFF ON JUNE 5TH WITH
ENTERTAINMENT AND THE FARMER’S MARKET.
* RIVER SWEEP IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 20TH . MEET AT POINT PARK AT 9:00 AM AND FINISH BY 1:30 PM. T-SHIRTS AND PRIZES WILL BE A PART OF THE EVENT AGAIN THIS YEAR.
MAYOR’S REPORTS
REQUEST TO CHANGE CELL PHONE POLICY
MAYOR LOUDEN ADVISED COUNCIL HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A CHANGE IN THE CELL PHONE POLICY.
UNDER THE CURRENT POLICY THE CITY FURNISHES THE CELL PHONE. ANY PERSONAL CALLS MADE BY THE INDIVIDUAL ARE MARKED MONTHLY AND IN DECEMBER ADDED TO THE PAYROLL AS A FRINGE BENEFIT FOR TAXES TO BE PAID. ANY SERVICE USED THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PLAN IS ALSO PAID MONTHLY BY THE INDIVIDUAL.
THE CELL PHONES ARE CONSIDERED A FRINGE BENEFIT AND THEREFORE SUBJECT TO TAXES.
IF THE POLICY IS CHANGED WHERE THE CITY GIVES A MONTHLY STIPEND TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A CELL PHONE AND WHO FURNISH THE NUMBER TO THE CITY FOR BUSINESS USE, THEN THE TAXES WILL BE TAKEN MONTHLY FROM THE STIPEND. NO MONTHLY RECORD OF PERSONAL CALLS ARE NECESSARY.
AFTER DISCUSSION, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO HAVE ATTORNEY NICHOLAS MARSH REVISE THE ORDINANCE AND HAVE IT READY TO READ AT THE APRIL 27TH MEETING. THE COUNCIL WILL DECIDE AT THAT TIME THE AMOUNT OF THE STIPEND.
MAYOR ON VACATION
MAYOR LOUDEN ANNOUNCED HE WOULD BE ON VACATION FROM APRIL 15TH THRU APRIL 21ST.
BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE REVISION
MAYOR LOUDEN SAID IT HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO HIS ATTENTION THAT ANYONE WITH DELINQUENT TAXES CAN STILL PURCHASE A BUSINESS LICENSE, INCLUDING THE RENTAL LICENSE.
AFTER DISCUSSION, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO HAVE ATTORNEY NICHOLAS MARSH REVISE THE BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE TO REFLECT TAXES OWED TO THE CITY MUST BE CURRENT IN ORDER TO GET A BUSINESS LICENSE. THE FIRST READING WILL BE AT THE APRIL 27TH MEETING.
APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS PAID/PAYABLE THRU 4/14/09
THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN GORDON AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN CRAIG AND DULY CARRIED TO APPROVE THE ACCOUNTS PAID/PAYABLE THRU 4/14/09.
AYES 5 NAYS 0
APPROVAL OF FINANCIAL REPORT
THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN MILLER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN McBURNEY AND DULY CARRIED TO APPROVE THE FINANCIAL REPORT.
AYES 5 NAYS 0
COMMENTS
COUNCILMAN MILLER ASKED ABOUT THE GRANT AVAILABLE FOR UP TO THREE POLICE OFFICERS. IT WAS HIS UNDERSTANDING THEY WOULD REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR WAGES FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
MAYOR LOUDEN SAID THAT IS TRUE, HOWEVER, THE CITY MUST GUARANTEE THE FOURTH YEAR FOR THE OFFICER AND THEN MAKE THE DECISION TO KEEP THEM OR LET THEM GO.
THE MAYOR WENT ON TO SAY, THE CITY DID ONE GRANT LIKE THIS IN THE PAST AND AFTER THE GRANT WAS FINISHED NO ONE WAS WILLING TO TERMINATE THE OFFICER.
ADJOURNMENT
THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN GORDON AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN RAKER AND DULY CARRIED TO STAND IN ADJOURNMENT AT THE HOUR OF 8:22 P.M.
AYES 5 NAYS 0
ATTEST:
____________________________________ ______________________________________
DWIGHT D. LOUDEN, MAYOR SUSIE MCGEE, ASST CITY CLERK