November 2008 Council Meeting Minutes

November 2008 Minutes

November 2008 Minutes
Of Woodlawn Park City Council

The Woodlawn Park City Council met on November 17, 2008, at Woodlawn Park City Hall. Present were Mayor Tim Robertson, Attorney Matt Carey, Chief Jim Carter, Council Members, Scott Horn, Sherry Hyde, George Langford, Greg Claypool, and Doug Watson, Treasurer Charlie Veeneman and City Clerk Chana Elswick. Council Member Becky Ritz was absent.

The meeting began at 7:30 pm.
Mayor Robertson announced there was a quorum, so the meeting was started.


The council reviewed the minutes for the October 19, 2008 Special Meeting and the October 20, 2008 regular meeting. Greg made a motion to accept both sets of minutes, and Doug seconded the motion. All voted aye and the minutes were accepted.

Charlie Veeneman gave the Treasurer’s report. Sherry asked about the $85.54 charge. Charlie stated the charge was bank charges for transaction fees, which are based on the number of deposits. He stated this is the highest due to the number of checks deposited for taxes. He stated he would look at the accounts. He would like to meet with National City Back before the next meeting. He would also like to look at other banks to check their fees and rates. Greg asked for a follow-up on the fees and interest paid on the account. Charlie stated he gets an analysis on a monthly basis. He will make spreadsheet for the next meeting. Greg asked if Delco, who does Westport Road mowing was charging for storm damage for a dump truck and 6 hours of work. Tim stated the City did use them for debris removal.
Charlie stated the City is 4 months into the year. He had collected almost all of the property taxes, which are at $101,000.00. Expenses have exceeded revenue by $4,000.00, but everything looks to be on target. The City has spent $37,000.00 of $48,000.00 of grant money. $9,000.00 of the contingency was spent on storm debris removal. Per Greg and Tim, the $975.00 charge by Delco was not for storm debris removal. They did the removal as a favor to the City and will not be reclassified as debris removal charges. Charlie stated there is 1 property tax due for 2006 for $407.00, 2 for 2007 for $769.00 and 9 for 2008 for $2,7000.00 still outstanding. 3 rentals still owe the license fee, Fernandez and 2 others. He sent letters regarding business licenses. Greg made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report, and Doug seconded the motion. All voted aye and the minutes were accepted
Matt stated they had provided a payoff amount for the lien on the Payne house. Bill Ritz asked when the rental fee collection would go to him. There is no definite time frame. Charlie stated that at the last meeting it was decided to send rental license bills to Eline for TLD and Perry. Charlie stated Eline had already paid 2 rental fees for the storage unit and does not owe anymore. One side of the building is for their storage and they rent to the other two businesses. He did not send a bill for this year. He stated next year he will bill 1 fee for TLD and 1 fee for Perry. Charlie stated he had sent letters for Business License to Perry and Perkins and he sent a bill for 2 years at $50.00 per year. Mr. Perry stated he was grandfathered in and does not owe the fee. Tim stated Carefree was grandfathered until TLD took over. Charlie asked Mr. Perry to come to the meeting to discuss the issue. He did not attend. Charlie asked what Mr. Perry’s status will be. Matt stated the ordinance was enacted in 1992. Mr. Perry says he has been there for 20 years. Charlie stated he sent a letter for 2 years of fees. Greg stated he should be grandfathered, if he can prove he has been there for 20 years. He stated Eline could give him an affidavit to prove he has been paying rent for 20 years. Charlie stated he had sent Perkins a bill and asked him to attend the meeting to show documentation he is not doing business in Woodlawn Park. Greg asked about the business name. It is D.T. Perkins, LLC, for property management. Greg stated he could not find it listed with the Better Business Bureau. They are listed in the phone book under contractors. He stated they were listed with the Secretary of State, but had been recently dissolved. Charlie stated he has sent a bill. Greg stated Perkins is not registered with the state as a business because he did not file an annual report. Charlie will wait for his response.
Charlie stated he had spoken with the auditor and 2007 is finished and 2008 will be finished next week. There will be an exception in the way he categorizes the grant money. The auditor feels the expense will have to be listed as a road expense. He discussed how to document these items. Greg asked if this was a rule or the auditor’s opinion. Tim stated a request for an extension of the District 7 grant had been given, until 10/09. Ken Fleming had suggested extending it until 10/10, due to road construction. Charlie stated that first Capital required a resolution be read into the minutes for the new CD. This gives Charlie the authority to represent the City for the CD. A resolution was made for the City of Woodlawn Park to allow Charlie Veeneman to oversee and purchase a CD for $95,000.00 at First Capital Bank and to accept the proceeds on the City’s behalf. Greg made a motion to accept the resolution, and Scott seconded the motion. Matt stated there were sufficient safeguards in place to allow Charlie to manage the CD, even though it only requires 1 signature. All voted aye and the motion to accept the resolution was approved.
Charlie stated he had submitted expense for the storm cleanup to FEMA for approximately $9,000.00. The City should receive 97% reimbursement of the charges. It may take a couple of months to receive the money.

Chana Elswick gave the Clerk’s report. She stated there 975 hits to the home page and 3374 to the discussion area. She had mailed thank you cards to everyone that had attended the open house. She is working on the City Binder to handout at the next meeting.

Chief Jim Carter gave the police report for October. He had 1 citation, 10 warnings 2 assists, 151 miscellaneous. He spent $133.00 on gas. He requested residents call about solicitors. 12 solicitors had been rounded up in the area and 2 had been arrested. The Justice department had inspected the Police Department. The Department passed the inspection, but cannot hold persons for more than 4 hour. There will be an inspection every 2 years. He stated there will be a Block Watch meeting 12/09/08 at 7:00pm. There will be a guest speaker with the topic of Meth Labs.
Tim stated Christian Seidt was present. He had placed a discussion on the website regarding kids on the train tracks. Tim asked about the jurisdiction for the area. There was a discussion regarding what areas are covered and by whom. It was stated the police can not enter the train tack, but can warn anyone on them. Christian stated he thinks they are accessing the tracks at 6706 Green Meadow Court. Matt stated CSX is very protective of their property and to stay off the area. Greg stated the police can go into the detention basin if there is criminal activity. George stated there are homeless people living by the detention basin and the underpass.
Tim introduced Christian as the incoming Council Member.

Council Focus

Fences and Building Permits Doug Watson stated he had 1 request for an addition for 6815 Green Meadow Circle, which was approved. He issued the approval letter on 10/24/08.

Emergency Preparedness George Langford stated he spoke with TLD and they picked up debris on Ambridge Circle. He went to a Meth Lab class. He sent a letter to LG&E about the power outages. He set up a meeting with Ken Fleming. There were trucks on Green Meadow Circle, which were contracted by MSD to put a liner in the sewer lines. He will get a name tag for Christian.

Communications Sherry Hyde stated she had nothing to report.

Public Relations Tim stated holiday decorations will be put up. A resident asked about temporary lighting along Westport Road. Tim stated he does not think it will occur. Tim has asked that the City not be billed by LG&E for the lights that have been removed.

Streets and Signs Scott Horn stated that no activity on City Hall due to road widening. The street lights are billed at $12.23 per month. There will be a savings of $100.00 per month for the lights that have been taken down. There will be no temporary lights. He replaced the lights at City Hall. He stated the street sign at Green Meadow Court and Circle had been repaired. He will make a spreadsheet of all signs that need updating. Greg stated he would like a reduced speed limit sign on the other side of the overpass. Bill Ritz asked about the street sign for Ahland at Westport Road. Scott was not aware it was missing. Mr. Bates stated he had received a letter from Seismic for a survey. Chief Carter stated this was for the blasting to be done for the road. He stated it is a legitimate company. Scott told Mr. Bates his driveway apron was planned in conjunction with the parking lot, but will be repaired soon.

Grants Greg Claypool stated he had nothing to report.

Welcome Becky Ritz was absent, so there was no report.


New Business Tim stated the street lights will be out for a while, during construction.

Old Business Westport Road Church of Christ: There are no updates. Sherry stated the grass was being cut on the rental properties. A resident stated the backyards are not being cleaned and 1 house has containers holding water. Tim stated to keep an eye on the houses, due to the cold weather. Matt stated there was no letter yet from Glenn Price from the Church.

Greg stated there was trash on Eline’s property.
Scott stated 2 weeks ago Mr. Bill Heller approached him with a complaint about a neighbor’s “swamp grass” in the yard that is causing him to not be able to see when he backs his truck into the street. Scott stated the grass is 4-5 feet from the street and not in the easement. Bill Ritz stated it is illegal to back into a thoroughfare. Chief Carter stated that this not enforced. Scott stated there was nothing Council could do as the grass is 20 feet from the road.

Doug made a motion to adjourn the meeting. George seconded the motion. All voted aye and the meeting was adjourned at 8:35 pm.



Respectfully submitted,

Chana R. Elswick
City Clerk