CITY OF WINDY HILLS

Minutes of Regular Council Meeting
July 13, 2020

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 Davis called the meeting to order.

ROLL CALL: The following were present:

MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS OTHER CITY OFFICIALS
Helen M. Davis Bruce Blue Lisa Kraft
Kate Greer Jim Hodge
Marcia Myers Steve Teaford
Marianne Rademaker
Suzanne Spencer
Laura Trachtenberg

MINUTES:

Councilwoman Myers moved to approve the minutes of the June 8, 2020 Council meeting; seconded by Councilwoman Greer and approved unanimously.

FINANCIAL REPORTS, APPROVAL OF BILLS:

The financial reports for June 2020 were moved for approval by Councilwoman Myers, seconded by Councilwoman Greer, and approved unanimously.

Councilwoman Rademaker moved to approve the June bills, totaling $46,824 and was seconded by Councilwoman Greer. The motion passed unanimously.

RESIDENTS’ COMMENTS/CONCERNS: None

MAYOR’S REPORT: attached in full.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Finance/Ordinances: Councilwoman Rademaker reported the Municipal Tax category is lower compared to prior years because the second quarter 2020 taxes have not been received. The Public Safety category is up, because an old bill from 2018/2019 Fiscal year was paid in this Fiscal year. Final net income should be $80 – $100,000 depending on the municipal tax income.

Code Enforcement: Steve Teaford reported:
• He has been inspecting homes. In July, 57 rental inspections and 14 in Coach Gate.
• Have a rental owner refusing to comply with our rental ordinance for inspection.
• After discussion it was decided that Attorney Hodge should send a letter to the rental property owner who has failed to comply.
• 7 Vacant homes, 4 should be considered vacant – resident says they are living there, watching 9.
• There are still Foeburn tree remnants on ROW

Community Caring/Health & Fitness/Welcome to Windy Hills: Councilwoman Spencer reported there were 5 new residents in June. Also, the cement piers are in production and should be ready for installation in approximately 3 weeks. Signage for the Orchid Society and the American Fringe Tree will be placed at the same time. There are still 23 trees available for dedication on the Green.

Windy Hills Green/City Maintenance/Newsletter/Tree Board – Councilwoman Greer:
Councilwoman Greer reported on the following items:
• Harley Daugherty sealed Rudy the Bear last week.
• She ordered three water bags for the three new trees on the Green.
• Laura was nice and retrieved some trash from the Green.
• She pulled some weeds at the Green on Sunday and have asked Adam to spray them again and mulch around the trees.
Tree Board:
• The Tree Board has not met because of Covid; however, the four sickly trees on Ambridge have been removed. Replanting will depend on the budget. There are still 12 residents who need to pick out a tree but will wait until November.
LG&E Project:
• She talked to the arborist about waiting until November to relocate the Westport/Foeburn trees. She also pled the case of a homeowner on Indian Ridge to keep his 40 year old Dogwood tree.
Miscellaneous:
• Adam will resume cutting the grass at the entrances every two weeks until the grass slows down.
• Adam is taking care of high weeds across from the bridge on Rudy and at the Indian Ridge entrance.
• When it is cooler, she will cut the suckers on the trees on Ambridge.

Public Works: Councilman Blue reported:
• Working on getting a garbage can for the Green and fixing a pole on the NW corner.
• Working on signs for the Green – 1.) Alcohol Prohibited and, 2.) Green Closed Dusk to Dawn.
• Appointed to JCLC yearly dinner committee.
• There are 3 street signs to re-hang and 1 to order.
• Tried to call Hall Contracting several times with no reply.
Discussion about Hall Contracting.

Ordinances/Community Standards – Councilwoman Trachtenberg: Councilwoman Trachtenberg reported that she had picked up trash on the Green and suggested that everyone going to the Green should bring a plastic bag to pick up garbage.
Will EcoTech empty the new garbage can at the Green?

Newsletter – Councilwoman Myers: Councilwoman Myers reported an 8-page quarterly newsletter was sent to Windy Hills residents the week of June 22nd.
All issues of the newsletter (print and digital) are available on the city website.
A digital edition of the Windy Hills Breeze is scheduled for July.

City Clerk – Lisa Kraft: Ms. Kraft reported the City Website had been updated. Working with the Mayor to collect delinquent property taxes. Have sent several citywide e-mails about up coming road paving and vandalism.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None

NEW BUSINESS:
The Mayor reported a resident had contacted her several times about yard work in the neighborhood after 5:00 p.m. The resident asked if the Council would create a yard work noise ordinance for Windy Hills even though there is a Metro Ordinance that addresses the permitted hours of operation. The Mayor asked the City Attorney about the Metro rule and he concurred that the same rule applies to both commercial and residential and that Windy Hills cannot be more restrictive than the Metro Ordinance – “Noise Ordinance 99.03(5) Noises relating to the use of lawn mowers or other machinery for landscaping purposes between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M.”

ATTORNEY’S REPORT: Attorney Hodge reported about the Purdue Litigation – Pharma. He discussed the terms and said the City may participate in the suit if it has a valid claim. An ad hoc committee will decide who gets the money based on proof of loss. Must join lawsuit by end of July.

Councilwoman Trachtenberg moved to join the lawsuit and was seconded by Councilwoman Spencer. The motion carried unanimously.

COMMENTS/QUESTIONS TO THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE: None

Councilwoman Greer moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:47 P.M., seconded by Councilwoman Trachtenberg and the motion passed unanimously.

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Helen M Davis, Mayor Lisa Kraft, City Clerk