Muldraugh City Council appears to be back to “business as usual” By KAREN KENNEDY Muldraugh City Council appears to be officially back in business, with a quorum of council members at its last two meetings. Present at the Feb. 13 meeting were Mayor Danny Tate and Councilmen Donnie Basham, Irvin Davis, Ron Heschke, and Curtis Kelley. Councilmembers Dean Dresel and Linda Toler were absent. In his monthly report, Chief of Police Bill Wood noted the police are adhering to the new, mandatory policy of wearing bulletproof vests. The vests help reduce the city’s insurance premiums, noted Wood. In his activity report for the month of January, Wood noted 19 criminal cases, 13 arrests, and 14 warrants served and a total of 59 charges made. Fire Chief Dan Dresel said three new members have been added to the fire department, with two of them already certified. 15 fire runs have been made so far this year. Public works director Anthony Lee said while the annual EPA inspection went well, EPA would like Muldraugh to perform an annual test on the two master meters. Lee expressed concerns the 1985 master matter at Watts Street might not pass inspection this time. Mayor Tate said the pavilion in the north park needs to be painted and a new roof installed. “It’s too nice a pavilion not to get it in good repair and cleaned up,” said Tate. Anthony Lee said the park’s playground equipment doesn’t meet insurance guidelines and will need to be removed. Curtis Kelley made a motion to hold a second reading for Ordinance No. 255 – the 2005/06 fiscal year budget. The motion was seconded by Ron Heschke and carried 3-1 with Irvin Davis voting against. A motion was then made by Curtis Kelley and seconded by Donnie Basham to approve the second reading of the ordinance. The motion passed 3-1, with Davis once again voting in opposition. Council approved the business license application for Tattooz and Piercings by Gypsy to be located at 200 North Dixie Highway. The application was approved with the stipulation the business meets all health department requirements and utilizes parking in the rear of the building since there is a parking issue at that location. All council members voted in favor of adopting “A resolution of the city of Muldraugh supporting the Millions in a Month campaign to fight hunger in Kentucky.” Muldraugh joins Kentucky Harvest and Kentucky League of Cities in this endeavor. Collection boxes and baskets will be located in various locations in the city, and the city hopes to do its part in helping to eradicate hunger. Next on the agenda was the codification update of ordinances which is estimated to cost between $2,100 and $2,800. Codification is a periodic procedure which consists of a legal review of city ordinances to ensure they are properly recorded and work hand in hand with Kentucky Revised Statutes. Curtis Kelley made a motion, seconded by Irvin Davis, to initiate the codification procedure. All voted in favor. Muldraugh is eligible to pursue the Kentucky Safe Routes to School Grant, which would provide sidewalks and crosswalks for children. The idea is these sidewalks would run on Main Street throughout most of if not the entire city. The initial idea was for council to apply for this grant next year since the deadline for this year’s grant application is March 31. However, council unanimously agreed they will try to put the grant application together by March 31 and if that is not possible, they’ll apply for the grant next year. A committee was formed to get the ball rolling. An update to the city’s Comprehensive Plan was discussed, and it was noted there’s been no update to Muldraugh’s plan since 1999. Lincoln Trail Area District Development has advised Mayor Tate the cost to do so would not exceed $2,800, with the process to begin March 31 and be completed by Dec. 31. Council tabled further discussion until the next monthly meeting. Planning and zoning chairman Henry Bailey submitted revised definitions of “modular” and “manufactured” homes as well as a definition of “mobile home.” Irvin Davis made a motion to send these definitions to the city attorney for his review. Curtis Kelley seconded the motion, with all voting in favor. Curtis Kelley made a motion, seconded by Donnie Basham, to install two more stop signs at Walnut and Wilson streets in order to make it a three-way stop. Mayor Tate told council he thinks the city should consider buying the land across the street from city hall and eventually locate a new city hall, police department, and community center there. Curtis Kelley made a motion, seconded by Donnie Basham, to pursue the purchase of this land. The motion passed with all in favor. Donnie Basham made a motion to declare the city-owned lot behind Dollar General a surplus lot, to sell the timber off this lot, and prepare the lot for sale. Curtis Kelley seconded the motion, with all voting in favor. Council discussed the city’s former landfill and the fact people are still using it. All agreed the old landfill needs to be secured so people cannot continue to use it. Mayor Tate distributed to council packets on Citizen Core Councils provided by Lincoln Trail as well as the financial audit for 2005. Both will be discussed at the March council meeting.
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