Council hears concerns from guest speakers

Two residents addressed the Park Hills City Council during their meeting Tuesday.

The council first heard from speaker James LaPlant. He addressed some of the issues with his back alleyway and the concern he had with Ward 3 Councilwoman Charlotte House.

“I live close to the alleyway,” said LaPlant. “We had some four-wheelers that was always throwing dust through the alley. My house is always dirty on account of the dust and so forth. I would like to have millings in the alley.”

City Administrator Matt Whitwell jumped into the conversation.

“We place millings in alleyways all the time if we have available millings,” said Whitwell. “All you have to do is contact the city. Now that doesn’t mean you would be able to get them immediately, it depends on the season and things like that.”

“I’m pretty familiar of Flat River and I’m about to turn 77 years old,” said LaPlant. “In a certain area I would like to have the same privilege of other people.”

Mayor David Easter quickly responded back stating LaPlant does have equal privileges as everyone else in the city. LaPlant replied with a no. City attorney Ed Pultz then stepped into the conversation to clarify with Whitwell about the issue.

“I think you said this, but maybe we need to say this clearer,” said Pultz. “You (Matt Whitwell) are 100 percent convinced that the city just doesn’t put the millings on properties close to Councilwoman’s House property or rental properties.”

Whitwell answered, “I’m 100 percent sure.”

“It’s a question of you got a truckload of this material and where can we go quickly and where do we think it’s going to be of some use,” said Pultz. “It can be any place in the city.”

LaPlant eventually came to terms that the city wasn’t giving Councilwoman House special treatment over anyone else in the city.

“I will accept this if I can get on the list and get millings within the alleyway.”

LaPlant then stepped down and the podium was then opened to speaker Joyce Temares. She had some concerns with the city’s fireworks ordinance and burning regulations.

“We had times that the fireworks were supposed to be shutoff, but Wednesday the fireworks didn’t stop until 11 p.m.,” said Temares. “July 3 it was 12:30 at night and July 4 it was 2 in the morning. July 5 it was at 12 at night before the fireworks stopped.

“The bombs that are sounding of the fireworks shake my whole house. Eight years ago I had two of my roof shingles burnt from bottle rockets. Now I have a new roof and I don’t want any of my shingles burnt.

“One of the fireworks has a parachute with a big flame underneath,” she continued. “People shoot it up in the air and it lands on other houses. How about if it lands on a tree? This thing looks like a big fireball. Are we going to continue to have fireworks like that?”

Mayor Easter noted that fireworks were legal to shoot in the city and he mentioned that the council could take a look into the issue and determine what approach they would like to use in time for next year.

Temares had one more concern with her neighbor’s fire pit.

“I have neighbors that have bonfires and their fires are at least five feet tall,” said Temares. “Their fire pit is only 25 feet away from my shed. They just leave the fire unattended. One night after everyone left, the people just go back into the house and leave the fire burning. It’s windy outside, the flames are everywhere. They could burn the tree, burn the shed and burn my house. The fire finally smoldered out the next day.”

Mayor Easter referred the lady to the police if this situation does occur.

“I called the police before in the past,” Temares said. “I wish I got the officer’s name because he told me I should just let my shed burn down so I can collect the insurance. That is what the officer said to me. I wish I got his name because I was really upset after that.

“I can not even leave my house,” she said. “I’m afraid everything is going to burn up. They don’t have a hose, they don’t have a rake, they don’t have anything. The neighbors could care less, they just walk away from the fire and go into the house.”

The mayor thanked Temares for sharing her concerns and promised the council will look into the issue.

Ward 4 Councilman Larry Kelly also thanked both of the speakers for coming in and voicing their concerns to the city council.

The council then moved on to approve a bill that allowed the mayor to execute a lease-purchase agreement with FS Leasing LLC. Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Cunningham and Ward 3 Councilman Tom Reed were not in attendance for the vote.

The council also approved a bill allowing a one-quarter-cent sales tax increase to be put on the November Ballot for voters to choose whether they want the increase or not. If the increase passes it will aid in the operation and maintenance of the city’s fire department. The one-quarter-cent sales tax if approved is only a 10-year tax increase. The exact time of the increase will start on April 1, 2015 and end on March 31, 2025 if passed.

Among the bills approved by the council members is Bill 1105. The new bill now restricts parking spaces adjacent to the library building to only faculty and patron use.

The council also appointed Robert Gerig to the IDA Board of Directors. Gerig will be taking the place of Ken Douglas who just recently retired.

Council members also approved a bill that would allow sidewalk sales during business hours of Aug. 9 to coincide with the city-wide yard sale. Ward 4 Councilman Larry Kelly refused participation in the vote.

Members of the council approved a new bill that would allow two additional accessible parking spaces to be placed on the east side of Coffman Street adjacent to Subway in town.

The council also heard reports from the city administrator and Economic Developer Norm Lucas.

Korey Johnson is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-518-3616 or Kjohnson@dailyjournalonline.com