CITY OF WINDY HILLS

Minutes of Regular Council Meeting

October 9, 2017

The Council and Officers of the City of Windy Hills met at the Sojourn Community Church, 2501 Rudy Lane, at 7:00 P.M.  Mayor Ising called the meeting to order.

ROLL CALL:  The following were present:

MAYOR	COUNCIL MEMBERS	OTHER CITY OFFICIALS
E. James Ising	Helen Davis	Sandy Moore
	Kate Greer	Jim Hodge
	Lou Phillips	Steve Teaford
	Marianne Rademaker (Absent)
	Mike Skelton
	Suzanne Spencer

 

MINUTES:

Councilwoman Greer moved to approve the minutes of the September 11, 2017 Council meeting; seconded by Councilman Phillips and approved unanimously.

FINANCIAL REPORTS, APPROVAL OF BILLS:

The financial reports for September, 2017 were moved for approval by Councilman Skelton, seconded by Councilwoman Rademaker and approved unanimously.

Councilwoman  Davis moved to approve the September bills, totaling $26,902.03 and was seconded by Councilwoman Spencer.  The motion passed unanimously.

RESIDENTS’ COMMENTS/CONCERNS:  None

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Finance/Ordinances:  Councilwoman Davis reported that she and Steve Teaford are wrapping up the rental registry and she visited the 9 remaining properties “in question” twice.  The  visits resulted in two confirmed rental properties, three properties either no longer rentals or owner occupied or for sale and the remaining three properties have been sent a third notice.  She suggested that if the owners of the two confirmed rentals don’t contact the office within 5 business days that the City turn them over to the City Attorney for further action.

Code Enforcement:  Steve Teaford thanked Councilwoman Davis for the help with the rental properties.  He also reported that the abandoned house on Rudy Lane is now up for sale and the City’s landscaper has been maintaining the property with Liens being put on the property as necessary.

Community Caring/Health & Fitness/Welcome to Windy Hills:   Councilwoman Spencer reported that there are 5 new residents.  She also stated that she is working on an article for the newsletter regarding identity theft.  She will have a Christmas decorating committee meeting at the end of October and the City’s Landscaper will hang the decorations the week of Thanksgiving.

Community Events/Newsletter/Tree Board:   Councilwoman Greer reported that the Glow on the Green will be November 26th, the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  She asked Councilwoman Rademaker to contact Graymoor/Devondale police to direct traffic during the event.  The next newsletter deadline is November 17.  She also reported that the Tree Board had the trees trimmed in the Two Springs and Regency area.  The next Tree Board meeting is November 2.

Public Works:  Councilman Phillips reported that he is working on the No Parking Signs for Ambridge.

Police Liaison/Real Estate Signs:  Councilwoman Rademaker reported that Graymoor-Devondale Police Department patrolled Windy Hills for 106 hours.  8.16 hours of radar time was spent on Ambridge resulting in no citations and 5 warnings.  Rudy lane received 7.8 hours of radar time, resulting in 4 citations and no warnings.  A parking violation on Regency was cited and a car on Bonfire received several warnings and two tickets.  Copperfield was checked twice for parking violations, but none were found.  Officers assisted with two accidents at Foeburn and Westport and helped a motorist who had run out of gas.  Five residents were on house watch and checked on numerous times.  A suspicious person on someone’s porch was reported  on Foeburn which turned out to be a friend.  A loose dog was caught and returned to the owner.  A report of a vicious dog on Kinglan was checked out and referred to Metro animal control.  Officers checked on a car on Bonfire whose door was left open, but found no problems.  They also checked on the ice cream social for traffic control needs.  There was also a report about a robbery on Rudy Lane, but was unfounded.  Overnight parking was reported to Councilwoman Rademaker and asked if she would have Graymoor/Devondale look into it.

Windy Hills Green/City Beautification:  Councilman Skelton thanked Adam Volgesang, our City Landscaper, for the decorations for the new bear, Rudy II.  He also thanked Wendy Skelton for painting the anchoring angle brackets and bolts on Rudy II to blend in with the stand.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Website Update:  Councilman Skelton stated Kathleen Sauer with Lumins Assoc. contacted him to find out what pictures of the City the Council would like on the website.  Clerk Moore stated she had also talked with her and asked if they could delay working on the Website until the end of October due to taxes coming in.  Ms. Sauer stated that would work better for her.

Playground Equipment at Sojourn:  Attorney Hodge presented to the Council an agreement between the City and Sojourn Community Church regarding the Playground equipment located at Sojourn and purchased by the City.  The agreement states that the City will accede the equipment to Sojourn and will retain perpetual use for the residents of the City.  It also states that the Church will maintain the equipment and provide liability insurance.  Attorney Hodge will also add to the agreement that the equipment is to remain at the Sojourn Community Church on Rudy Lane.  Councilwoman Davis made a motion to approve the Agreement as corrected and seconded by Councilwoman Greer.  The motion was approved unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

Brightside Cleanup 10/21/17:  The Mayor reminded everyone of the upcoming Brightside Cleanup on Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 9:00 am at Stock Yards Bank.

Paving Kitty Hawk Way:  Councilwoman Rademaker made a motion to have Kitty Hawk Way paved and was seconded by Councilwoman Greer.  Discussion continued:  Councilman Phillips reported that to have the street paved it would cost $21,000.  Councilman Skelton reported to have the street sealed coated it would cost $3,500.  Councilwoman Rademaker stated that she is in favor of Paving the street instead of Coating since the street will eventually need to be repaved and the Seal Coating is a temporary fix.  Councilman Phillips read a prepared statement and asked that it be included in the minutes:  “I’m voting “no” on this project to Coat or Repave Kitty Hawk because it isn’t necessary based on the condition of the road.  This is strictly a motion based on appearance and it is emotionally driven because some believe the road surface is unattractive and reflects poorly on the City.  My question is how many outsiders see the road and care about the appearance.  “Whatever we do is a waste of taxpayer dollars to satisfy the aesthetic sensibilities of some on the City Council.  This is not the way to run a City.”

The initial motion to have Kitty Hawk Way paved failed with a vote of 2 Ayes (Councilwomen Greer and Rademaker) and 4 Nays (Councilmen Phillips and Skelton and Councilwomen Davis and Spencer).  Councilwoman Greer then made a motion to have Kitty Hawk Seal Coated and was seconded by Councilwoman Davis.  The motion passed with a vote of 5 Ayes (Councilwomen Davis, Greer, Rademaker and Spencer and Councilman Skelton) and 1 Nay (Councilman Phillips).  Councilman Skelton will make the arrangements with the Seal Coating Company to have Kitty Hawk Seal Coated as soon as possible with the work covering two days and notices being sent to the residents on Kitty Hawk and Indian Ridge of the street closure for two days.

Tree Healthcare Proposal from Greenhaven:  Councilwoman Greer made a motion to accept the proposal from Greenhaven for the treatment of Trees on the Green in the amount of $1,425.  Councilwoman Davis seconded the motion and was approved unanimously.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT:  Attorney Hodge stated he is working on the Charter Franchise Renewal and will have more information at the November Council Meeting.

MAYOR’S REPORT:  Mayor Ising reported he received a letter from a resident regarding trees on Brownsboro Road  stating that the City would not be able to consider her request unless the City did the same for the whole City – no further action taken.  He also stated that he received information regarding the 2020 Census and stated the City would be providing information to them as requested.  He also stated he received a letter from the Tree Board regarding a dead tree on Ambridge and he stated that there will be no action taken as it is on private property.  He also reported the he received notice from the St. Matthews Fire Department informing us that there will be an increase of five cents on taxes for the new ambulance service.  Mayor Ising also stated that the City would continue to use Graymoor/Devondale’s radar signs instead of the City purchasing our own.

Comments/Questions to the Council as a Whole:  Resident, Martha Davis, asked that the site on Rudy Lane that was worked on to be cleaned up.  The Tree Board will follow up.

Councilman Phillips moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:47 P.M., seconded by Councilman Skelton and the motion passed unanimously.

 

__­_____          __________________                                                ­­­­­_______________________

E. James Ising, Mayor

Sandy Moore, City Clerk