CITY OF WINDY HILLS

Minutes of Regular Council Meeting

March 9, 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 (Absent)	Sandy Moore
	Kate Greer	Jim Hodge
	Marcia Myers	Steve Teaford
	Marianne Rademaker
	Suzanne Spencer (Absent)
	Laura Trachtenberg

 

MINUTES:

Councilwoman Greer moved to approve the minutes of the February 10, 2020, Council meeting; seconded by Councilwoman Trachtenberg and approved unanimously.

FINANCIAL REPORTS, APPROVAL OF BILLS:

The financial reports for February 2020 were moved for approval by Councilwoman Trachtenberg, seconded by Councilwoman Rademaker, and approved unanimously.

Councilwoman Rademaker moved to approve the February bills, totaling $34,912.73 and was seconded by Councilwoman Myers.   The motion passed unanimously.

RESIDENTS’ COMMENTS/CONCERNS:  Rick Feldhoff resident at 301 Chelsea addressed his concerns that construction on the “Corn” property was proceeding as there was a crew putting in a culvert and driveway at the entrance into the property.  The Mayor assured them that she is staying on top of any developments as much as she can.

Martha Davis, a resident at 613 Rudy Lane addressed the Council with concern that Sojourn Church had added some turning lanes which were causing some muddy ruts on one side of their driveway at the sidewalk.  She also asked the Council to consider adding a trash can on Hubbards Lane along the sidewalk.  She also stated there are some remains of an old mailbox at 4326 Rudy Lane close to the sidewalk and she would like to see it removed.  She was told that this has been reported to Metro Louisville, as it is on their right-of-way.

MAYOR’S REPORT:  The Mayor read her report as follows:  “Marianne and I represented Windy Hills at the JCLC annual meeting where the featured speaker was the Mayor of Covington.  Marianne, Laura, and I also attended the KLC meeting in Frankfort on February 12, 2020.  While we were in Frankfort, we met with Kandie Adkinson, Office of the Secretary of State Land Office Section to discuss our boundary with St. Matthews.

Update on the “Corn” property – Mr. Marty Pohl sent me a copy of the proposed MSD work on his property.  Tom Davis reviewed the plan and made a couple of suggestions to improve Mr. Pohl’s safety when entering his property. I also shared the proposal with Marcia Myers and Jane Sonntag.  I sent Mr. Pohl a follow-up email that included Tom’s suggestions.

Police Report: There were a total of  101.3 hours.  Radar = 29.3  hours evenly divided between Ambridge and Rudy resulting in 8 warnings on Ambridge and 1 on Rudy, and on several days the fastest speed was only 1 – 3 miles over the posted limit.  Items were stolen out of an unlocked car on Deerfield. One Highfield resident was the victim of identity theft.  She was referred to Metro.

There were 4 houses on house watch with one homeowner using all of the allotted 30 days.

There were 3 parking violations. One fine was paid and I sent a letter to an Indian Ridge resident who had not paid their fine. There was one barking dog warning citation on Waterford.

Grady treated me to tea and we had a very nice 1 1/2 hour discussion.  He brought me up to date on the Metro policing situation.  Metro is short-staffed so the response times will be longer which hopefully will have a minimal impact on our residents since our crime rate is extremely low.  Graymoor-Devondale is planning to raise its hourly rates to $50/hour.

We still have outstanding 2019 taxes and follow up letters have been sent by our city attorney.

After conferring with St. Matthews officials, we have decided to NOT file any paperwork regarding the boundaries with St. Matthews.  The official Secretary of State map which uses Logic is essentially correct.”

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

 Code Enforcement:  Steve Teaford stated there are 55 rental – maybe more and 23 vacant homes.

City Maintenance/Windy Hills Green/Tree Board – Councilwoman Greer:  Councilwoman Greer reported on the following items:

Green:

• The insurance money left over from the trees replaced by the accident was used to purchase three trees that Mike Hayman suggested for the Green. Two have been planted and the dogwood will be planted soon.

Tree Board:

• Arbor Day is Sunday, April 19 from 2-4 and the Tree Board is meeting Tuesday, March 17th to plan it.
• Cheri is sending out letters to people who signed up for trees to inform them that they can get the trees now. These people can pick at a tree at Wallitsch, Ottes, or Plant Kingdom.
• Due to the budget, the resident tree subsidy program has been suspended until the new fiscal year.
• The two trees destroyed on Westport Road have been replaced.
• Linda Miller had to remove a dangerous tree in her yard and has been replaced with a Service Berry Tree at the City’s expense.
• Caroline Westfall examined a tree at 729 Wicklow and has been deemed dangerous. A letter will be sent to the owner telling them to remove it.  She also examined a tree at 719 Wicklow, which is not, but while there noticed that the tree next door needs serious pruning.  The homeowner will have this work done.
• Councilwoman Greer met with Adam Vogelsang asking him to give her an itemized estimate of his costs for the next fiscal year for budgeting purposes.

Newsletter – Councilwoman Myers:  Councilwoman Myers stated that the deadline for the next print newsletter is March 11 with a projected in-home date of March 20.  Included in the newsletter is a schedule for all future Ecotech pickups.  Also included in the newsletter are dates for upcoming Windy Hills events.

Community Caring/Welcome to Windy Hills – Councilwoman Spencer:   In Councilwoman Spencer’s absence, the Mayor reported that there are 3 new residents.  She also reported there will be an article in a future Breeze regarding scams.  Also reported was that the bench for the Green being donated by the orchid society has been ordered.

Finance – Councilwoman Rademaker:  Councilwoman Rademaker reported that even though the rates the City was receiving from First Financial have expired, the City will continue doing business with them.

Public Works – Councilman Blue:  Councilman Blue reported:

• Street light replaced across from Two Springs and Rudy; will have to reset sign.
• Anyone with road, signs, or paving issues to call or email him.
• Place in the Breeze and Newsletter to contact him with any Public Works Issues.
• He thanked Marcia Myers for taking care of Recycling while he was ill.
• He is waiting until warmer weather to begin checking all street, street signs, and poles.
• Will mark street areas that need repair and then bid, as we did last year.
• Unless it is an emergency, he will contact the Mayor before calling Adam with a repair request.
• The bench will be delivered to his warehouse for storage until placement.

Ordinances/Community Standards – Councilwoman Trachtenberg:  Councilwoman Trachtenberg reported that she would like the Vacant Property Ordinance addressed in the newsletter and on the website.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None.

NEW BUSINESS:

Upcoming Windy Hills Events:  The Glow on the Green will be moved to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the Ice Cream Social will be on October 4.  Councilwoman Greer will look into shredding at the Ice Cream Social this year.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT:  Attorney Hodge reported that the Westport Road Corridor report was available and there is no impact on Windy Hills.

Comments/Questions to the Council as a Whole:   Ralph Williams reported that the Fire Department, Police Department, and EMS were all at the “Lapp” house on Indian Ridge and Brownsboro Rd.

 

Councilwoman Greer moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 PM., seconded by Councilwoman Myers and the motion passed unanimously.

 

 

 

__­_____          __________________                                                ­­­­­_______________________

Helen M Davis, Mayor

Lisa Kraft, City Clerk