August 2008 Newsletter

 

Have you forgotten to pay your taxes?

            The City currently has 21 unpaid tax bills.  If one of these is yours, you have until September 30 to pay the base amount.  After that, penalty and interest will accrue.

from “Blockwatch.com”

The next Blockwatch meeting will be at Mayor Fore's house on Tuesday, August 19 at 7:30 pm.

Chris Redman

SKUNKS IN OUR CITY

This spring and summer our city has experienced a large number of skunks, as well as raccoons, possums, and groundhogs.  Initially, our city has tried to catch the skunks because they are a public nuisance, but both vendors have had limited success.

We must identify the skunks’ permanent homes for the vendors to be effective.  The fact that they pass through your yard, as they have mine, doesn't help our vendors.  Also, some residents are feeding their cats, dogs and birds outside and leaving feed out.

Please do not leave any food or bird seed out as this attracts skunks and other rodents and keeps them coming back.

We will continue to attempt to capture and relocate the skunks on a limited basis, but our vendors must have clear evidence of where they live.

Marty Dunn, Commissioner

499-9809

DunnGood@InsightBB.com

Governor’s Local Issues Conference

Commissioners Brent Hardin and Jim Lynch attended the above 2½-day conference at the Galt House.  Community Development, Websites, Dealing with the Media, Open Records Laws, Grants for Park Development, and many other topics were discussed.  Gov. Steve Beshear, Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, and Mayor Jerry Abramson were featured speakers.  The workshops were very informative and opened our eyes to improvements and availability of State programs.  I gave a written summary to Mayor Fore as well as hand-outs that were provided.

Jim Lynch, Commissioner

SANITATION

            Please cut and tie storm-damaged limbs into bundles 3-4 feet long for pick up.  PLEASE RECYCLE!  And if you need an orange bin or a large garbage can, give me a call.                              Jim Lynch, Commissioner

491-8446

Minutes                                                   July 10, 2008

The regular meeting of the City Commission was called to order at 7:30 PM on July 10, 2008 at the meeting room of the Hurstbourne Acres City Hall/Police Department, 1940 S Hurstbourne Parkway, Louisville, Kentucky, with the following persons present:

Sean Fore, Mayor

Marty Dunn, Commissioner

                Brent O. Hardin, Commissioner

                Jim Lynch, Commissioner

                Donna Nichols, Commissioner

John Price, Treasurer

Chris Redman, Police Chief

Steve Yocum, Police Officer

Beach Craigmyle, Attorney Representative

                Michael Bolten, City Clerk

                Jennifer Yocum

                Sally Price, Resident

                Teresa Renninger, Resident

                Leslie C Dunn, Resident

                Sandy Ashley, Resident

                Ora Lee Osborne, Resident

                Charles & Norma Pennington, Residents

                Jeri Heck, Resident

                Ella l Crump, Resident

                Margaret Carter, Resident

                Linda Schneider, Resident

                Paul Schneider, Resident

                Donnie Logsdon, Resident

Minutes for Meeting on June 12, 2008

            Commissioner Dunn made a motion to accept the minutes as read.  The motion was seconded my Commissioner Nichols, and passed without opposition.

Presentation by Bill Herring

            Bill Herring with the Department of Local Government, responsible for filing treasurer’s reports and budgets, and keeping track of names and addresses for local officials, discussed the upcoming Annual Governor’s Local Issues Conference.  The conference will be held August 3, 4, & 5.  There will be workshops for all local Mayors and elected city officials.  The cost to attend is $150 per person for the 3 day event.  Commissioner Lynch made a motion that the city sponsor up to 4 city officials or no more than $600 to attend the conference.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Nichols and passed unopposed.

Police Department Awards

            In recognition of outstanding achievement for the City of Hurstbourne Acres, 3 individuals were honored: Ella Crump, for her work with the city Block Watch program, Commissioner Hardin for his time and diligence to improve the Hurstbourne Acres Police Department, and Sergeant Steve Yocum, for the apprehension of a dangerous felon on the night of April 16^th, 2008, bringing great credit upon himself and the City of Hurstbourne Acres.  A representative with the Courier-Journal was there to record and photograph the honorees with Mayor Fore and Police Chief Redman.

Treasurer’s Report

            John Price read the treasurer’s report for June, 2008 and copies were made available for all people in attendance.  Commissioner Dunn then made a motion to approve as read, which was seconded by Commissioner Nichols.  The motion passed unanimously.

Warrants

            The warrants for June, 2008 were then read by John Price, and copies were made available for all people in attendance.  After discussion, Commissioner Dunn made a motion to approve payment of the warrants, which was seconded by Commissioner Lynch and passed unopposed. 

Police Report

            Police Chief Redman provided the following report:

            -276 police hours from 6/12/08 to 7/10/08,

            -197 police/public contacts,

            -3 citations, 1 arrest,

            -1 accident,

            -11 suspicious persons,

            -9 motorist assists,

            -2 assaults, 1 robbery and 1 burglary,

            -IPL case continues to August,

            -Mileage on the police car is at 14,853 miles,

            -To help prevent the loss or damage to property when away on vacation, Police Chief Redman provided tips, particularly suggesting that our police department be notified before you leave on trips.

Attorney’s Report

            Beach Craigmyle from the attorney’s office had nothing on which to report.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Police Commissioner

            In working out the schedule, Commissioner Dunn has requested that Chief Redman and Sergeant Yocum concentrate their patrols on the residential area of the city.     

Sanitation Commissioner

            Commissioner Lynch reported that there were 2 misses on Woodfield, and that has since been handled.  Also, a new resident of the city was instructed on how to bundle yard waste for pickup.  All residents were encouraged to continue or start the recycling efforts in the city.  The rental property situation on Cardwell Way has been resolved.  The front yard of the property in question was resoded thanks to discretionary funds provided by Julie Rocky Adams.  The trash cans in the park need to be emptied, and that will be handled shortly

Parks Commissioner

            Commissioner Hardin advised that there will be a cleanup of the building in the park.  Some of the shrubbery around the building will be replaced with new shrubs/bushes.  The building will also be repainted.  There will also be a new piece of playground equipment installed for young children, a rocking horse.  The rest of the equipment, including the swings, will be cleaned and touched up with paint as needed.  The Port-a Let is cleaned every Tuesday.  It was also mentioned that a lighted flag pole is planned for the park.  The mowing contract was discussed and a recommendation was made to approve as presented.  In other news, the city has received a request from Nunnlea to donate funds for the cleanout of the ditch.  After discussion, Commissioner Hardin made a motion to approve a donation to Nunnlea in the amount of $600 toward the cleanout of the ditch in front along Hurstbourne Parkway.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Nichols, and passed with 1 abstention, Commissioner Lynch.  In answer to a question from a resident about posting a sign to display park hours, Mayor Fore requested Police Chief Redman check into it.  Regarding the trees recently planted, Commissioner Hardin confirmed that they are not guaranteed.  Finally, Mayor Fore has received a bid from ‘Stump Busters’ to cleanout the ditch in front of the carwash on Taylorsville Rd..  Mayor Fore will contact ‘Stump Busters’ and discuss details. 

Roads Commissioner

             Commissioner Nichols clarified the issue of the ‘Do Not Block Intersection’ sign at the end of Hurstbourne Circle.  She specifically said in last month’s meeting that the street would not be striped because the State does not stripe highways.  Currently, the State is testing 2 types of paint, and may reconsider at a later time.  It was reported that LG&E has repainted the light poles previously identified, though 1 light pole at the end of Bristol was missed.  Some of the globes and fixtures have been replaced.  It was acknowledged that the light poles on Hurstbourne Circle and Cardwell Way were overlooked in the initial evaluation, but this will be corrected.  As a result of the suggestion made a few months ago to replace street signs, Commissioner Nichols presented possible designs for the replacement signs.  It was noted that the signs themselves can be replaced for less than $800.  Finally, it was reported that Mayor Fore & Commissioner Nichols met with a representative from MSD a couple of weeks ago.  They were seeking guidance regarding the city’s drainage problems.  The city will be provided maps of the city on which the specific locations of the problems can be identified.  All residents are encouraged to contact Commissioner Nichols by phone if they have any drainage issues.  Mayor Fore also recommended that residents take pictures of the problem areas to help emphasize and clarify the severity of the situation.

NEW BUSINESS

Investment Ordinance

            Mayor Fore has located the city’s investment ordinance and has secured the services of the Kentucky Financial Group.  The ordinance will be reviewed and a report provided at next month’s meeting.

Rental Property Ordinance

            The committee formed last month continues to investigate the feasibility of passing an ordinance related to rental properties.  This includes the review of ordinances used by other municipalities in Kentucky.   Attorney Emery has provided Mayor Fore with a copy of an ordinance currently being tested by the City of Orchard Grove.

Skunks

            After receiving a call from a resident about skunks in their yard during the Fourth of July weekend, Mayor Fore contacted ‘Animal Ridders’.  3 traps have been set.  Another trap will be set on Hurstbourne Circle which is having a similar problem.

Miscellaneous

            Other recent issues which need addressing include; the repair of the light which illuminates the city sign at Cardwell Way, the lack of maintenance of a residents pool  that has attracted some ducks, finalizing the format & wording to be used on the city’s ‘Welcome Letter’ to new residents, the enforcing of city’s requirements that dog owners clean up after their dogs and keep them leashed There appears to be more of a problem with dog owners from the apartments, a request to all residents to keep their grass cuttings out of the street, and a letter of thanks from a resident to whom we sent flowers.  Finally, it was noted that a resident of the city had donated $2.5 mil to Kosair Children’s Hospital.  Mayor Fore said that he would make a city proclamation in honor of this resident.

There being no further business or discussion, the meeting was adjourned. 

Respectfully submitted,

Michael Bolten, City Clerk