BEREA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION MAY 5, 2015
The Berea City Council met in a regular session, Tuesday, May 5, 2015; Mayor Steven Connelly presiding. A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.
A council work session was held at 4:30 to discuss and review the 2015-2016 Budget. George Wyatt and Chuck Conleypresented a report and announced that the Madison County Airport’s name will soon change to the Central Kentucky Regional Airport.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Terrill, Hembree, Caudill, Wagers, Farmer, Little, Kerby, Powell
OFFICIALS:J. Gilbert, Stone, Chasteen, Fortner, Gregory, Curtis, VanWinkle
VISITORS: Tim Taylor, Bill Woods, Gregory Bordelon, Martina LaForce, Jim Scheff, John Steinmentz, Andy McDonald, Craig Williams, David Rowlette
Mayor Connelly announced additions needed to be added to the agenda; Victory Garden Blitz and PGW jobs; Little motioned, Farmer seconded to amend the agenda by the additional items; all ayes.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES; APRIL 21, 2015
Farmer moved, Caudill seconded to approve the minutes of April 21, 2015; all ayes.
OPEN BIDS – 69-13kV OAK STREET SUBSTATION CONSTRUCTION – UTILITY DEPT.
Four bids were received:
- Davis H. Elliott - $1,179, 210.00
- Gaylor, Inc. - $1,398,500.00
- Groves Construction – 1,076,369.00
- Service Electric - $697,540.00
Bids will be turned over to the Utility Department for review and referral.
PROCLAMATION: BEREA VICTORY GARDEN BLITZ
Mayor Connelly read a proclamation declaring May 17th, 2015 as Berea Victory Garden Blitz Day.
PGW – JOBS AVAILABLE
Representatives of PGW, formally PPG Manufactory Company announced they currently have approximately 45-50 positons available and are looking to fill them as soon as possible. A new Ford product line has been added and they have full time positions with benefits, starting pay from $9 to $12.50 depending on the position, all shifts are open. Some part-time week-end positions are also available. Applications can be filled out on-line.
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ORDINANCE 05-2015; AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF APPROXIMATELY $6,435,000 EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS (BEREA COLLEGE PROJECTS), SERIES 2015, OF THE CITY OF BEREA, KENTUCKY, THE PROCEEDS OF WHICH SHALL BE LOANED TO BEREA COLLEGE TO REFUND CERTAIN OUTSTANDING EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 2005A THAT WERE ISSUED BY THE CITY OF BEREA, KENTUCKY FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING ADDITIONS AND RENOVATIONS TO EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES OF BEREA COLLEGE, ALL FOR USE IN FURTHERANCE OF THE EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES OF BEREA COLLEGE; PROVIDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF REVENUES FOR THE PAYMENT OF SUCH BONDS; AUTHORIZING A LOAN AGREEMENT APPROPRIATE FOR THE PROTECTION AND DISPOSITION OF SUCH REVENUES AND THE FURTHER SECURE BONDS; AUTHORIZING A BOND PURCHASE AGREEMENT, TAX REGULATORY AGREEMENT AND ASSIGNMENTS; AND AUTHORIZING OTHER ACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH ISSUANCE OF SUCH BONDS. – 2ND READING
Corporate Counsel read the ordinance by title; Terrill motioned; Farmer second to approve Ordinance #05-2015. Roll call vote all ayes; ordinance adopted.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Audit & Finance – J. Little
The council reviewed the 2015-2016 Budget this evening; we presently have approximately five million dollars in unallocated money at this time which gives us a good rainy day fund.
Personnel – V. Farmer
Nothing to report.
Public Works – C. Powell
The committee met Monday to discuss several ongoing projects including Haiti Road drainage, and brush drop-off at the Transfer Station. Discussion was held on streets that will be scheduled for this year’s overlay project. We would like to get the word on Social Media prior to the street projects so that people will know to move their vehicles or plan according. Parking regulations will be looked at during the next meeting. Caudill added the streets will be paved according to priority.
Economic Development – C. Hembree
There is meeting scheduled for May 18th at 5:30; an agenda will be sent out next week.
RECOGNITIONS OF VISITORS:
Jim Scheff, 140 E. Haiti Road expressed his concerns with the numerous speeders who regularly ignore the posted speed limit. They create a danger to the residents, children, and pets who live there; there are no sidewalks.He feels like much of the traffic is due to drug deals. Some people tried signs in their yards asking people to slow down, and today he witnessed a JADE Company vehicle driving at an excess speed, he yelled for the driver to slow down. He called the police department but was told that since they
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did not witness it, he was advised to call the company. He then called and spoke to the business owner of JADE and was told he would be sued for his accusations? A petition was signed by many residents of East Haiti requesting additional speed limit and stop signs, speed bumps and/or speed humps be installed.
Craig Williams who has resided at E. Haiti for 28 years has also has been threatened numerous times by speeders when has asked drivers to slow down. Lexington has installed speed humps on some side streets; a speed hump is broader, reflective at night, and better for snow plows due to gradual incline compared to a speed bump.He suggested the city to consider installing a speed hump as an experiment on Haiti; he has lost many pets and is very worried of the children that ride their bikes and play in the neighborhood; would like to see the city be pro-active and accomplish the mission and save someone’s life and protect the kids. Mr. Scheff added that the maximum speed for speed hump is 20MPH, they do not cause people to have to stop.
Discussion was held among the council; a sidewalk could be a consideration.
Martina LaForce representing residents of Morgan Street, the Berea Housing Authority reported that many residents who live would like to recycle but was told by the director that Legacy may be moving to a larger type recycling container and there would an additional fee to use the service. Trash service is including as part of their rent and they cannot request the additional service and at this time; currently they are not allowed to use the recycling service.26 residents out of 40 are interested in recycling at this time. The director is concerned about the sanitation issue with recycling, and what direction the city will take on recycling. Caudill stated at this point we have not confirmed with Legacy if we will be going with the bigger style recycling bin, we have to consider the cost and request from the citizens.
Mayor Connelly suggested for the Public Works Committee to research the Haiti Road request and consider the best solution.
Tina M. Johnson added that she has seen what possibly might be some old sidewalk and an easement already on Haiti Road. Hembree motioned, Little seconded the issue be directed to the Public Works Committee for further consideration; all ayes.
DEPARTMENT HEADS:
D. Gregory, Police Chief; this coming Sunday the Berea Police Departments Honor Guard will be traveling to Washington, DC to participate in the National Police Week. In 2014,117 police officers died in the line of duty; 38 have lost their lives already this year. Our honor guard will be assigned different duties while attending this event; Louisville is the only other KY team attending. On May 21st in Richmond, our Honor Guard will also be participating a memorial being held at the Department of Criminal Justice. The newest police vehicle and the new police departments motorcycle is in the parking lot
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for everyone to see. The motorcycle is the first in KY and will be used on our trails and in our parks.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR – R. STONE
- Council and staff reviewed the 2015-2016 budget this evening; we will review the Tourism and the Utility Department’s budgets tomorrow evening at 4:30. A public meeting will be held on May 21st for questions of the upcoming budget.
- The Street, Codes, Parks, and Utility Departments are nearing the completion of refurbishing the sidewalks, the parking lot, and the lighting at the Folk Center; please go by and have a look, they have done a wonderful job. New handicap entrances have been installed at the front entrance.
- Due to the hail storm we had a couple of weeks ago, there are a number of car, and roof repair agency’s in town; please ask if they have a business license.
- Hydrant testing will continue throughout this coming week.
- Congressman Andy Barr will be here tomorrow in the council chambers to talk about the Age Friendly Community initiate.
MAYORS COMMENTS
- Reminded the elected officials that their annual financial statements are due in; the committee will be reviewing them soon.
COUNCIL COMMENTS:
Powell - thanked the staffing management of PGW for making us aware of the job opportunities here in town; also appreciated the reminder of “drug awareness”. It is a serious thing when people can’t pass a drug test and they are the ones who are at least trying to work; he deals with this issue daily.
Kerby – thanked the city administrator and the staff for the budget presentation of next year’s budget; encouraged citizens to attend the public meeting and learn about what is in the budget and express their concerns or questions of how their tax dollars are being used.
Little – echo what Diane said; let the people come and understand what the budget is about.
Farmer – echo what has been said.
Caudill – also echoed for everyone to come out and dig into the budget, it is important if people have issues or concerns we can address. The next Public Works meeting will be June 1st at 5pm.
Terrill –encouraged everybody to show up for the public hearing on the budget; we have an eleven million dollar remodeling of city hall and we need to know their feelings on it, whether we are going to support it or not. If we have to finance it for 40 years, I don’t know if we can do that.
Meeting adjourned: 7:34 p.m.
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Mayor Steven Connelly
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City Clerk