CITY OF PROSPECT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
January 12, 2009.

(A complete transcript of this meeting is available at City Hall and on the City's Web Site, http://www.prospectky.com)

PRESENT:

Mayor Todd Eberle; Council Members Loretta Ertel, Sandra Leonard, Stuart Miles, Mike Scott, Alan Simon and Sandra Tucci; Acting City Attorney Frank Chuppe; City Administrator Ann Simms; Police Chief Marvin Wilson; Recording Secretary Ann Melton; Court Reporter Bruce Handy.

Mayor Eberle called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Council Member Alan Simon moved approval of the minutes of the regular City Council Meeting of December 8, 2008; Council Member Sandra Leonard seconded; passed unanimously.

SPECIAL ORDER:

City Administrator Ann Simms noted that she had the honor of announcing the winner of Prospect's 2009 Craigmyle Public Service Award.   The award has been presented annually for twenty years and this year's winner is Mayor Todd B. Eberle.   She expressed deep appreciation for his service to the city in so many ways over the years.   Eberle, now beginning his third year as mayor, was a former member of the Prospect City Council and prior to that time served on the Prospect Ordinance Review Committee.   She observed that he has shown the ability and patience necessary to build the foundations which will make Prospect's visions as well as his own visions for the City come true.   He works as energetically on ideas which others have presented as he does on his own ideas for the City.   She cited the Putney Pond and Woodlands acquisition as well as the award of the recent grant to achieve a comprehensive alternative transportation plan and an update to the Prospect Small Area Plan.   His vision to see Prospect achieve status as a Tree City U.S.A. is also about to become a reality.   Each week he dedicates himself to his role as an active full-time mayor with as much concern for the efficient, even-handed daily operations of the City as for the long-range vision needed for its continued progress.   In presenting the award, Ms. Simms affirmed that Prospect is most fortunate to have Todd Eberle as its Mayor.

INDEPENDENT AUDIT:

Mayor Eberle introduced William A. Talley, CPA, of Richardson, Pennington & Skinner PSC, the firm which conducted the City's 2007-2008 annual independent audit.   Mr. Talley advised the Council that the city is in a very sound financial position and has no notable problems in its financial management or current fiscal operations.   He noted total net assets of $3,785,922 and an excellent position with regard to reserve funds.   He complimented the financial operations of the city and its staff as he delivered the audit of the 2007-2008 fiscal year to the members of the City Council.   The Council expressed their pleasure with the report and thanked Mr. Talley for his efforts.

MAYORS REPORT:

Mayor Eberle reported that end-of-November 2008 accounting reports have been received.   Through five months (42%) of the fiscal year, the city had received 77% of budgeted revenues and disbursed 38% of budgeted expenditures.   Property tax collections are nearly complete and the city will be filing liens for unpaid taxes later this month.   It is hoped that miscellaneous revenues can offset anticipated shortfalls in the areas of property tax income and interest income.  

The city's new salt storage structure has been completed and initial deliveries of salt have been made for use through the winter snow season.  

The city held a meeting with Kentucky Public Employees' Deferred Compensation Authority this past week and several city employees took advantage of the new benefit recently provided by the City and approved by the City Council at the December 8 th Council Meeting.  

The Mayor finalized Prospect's application package for certification as a "Tree City U.S.A."   It was submitted prior to the December 15 th deadline.   The application will be forwarded by the Kentucky Division of Forestry to the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters.   It is hoped that the city will receive a response in March of this year.  

A six person U.S. Forestry Service team conducted a special visit to the city on January 7 th at the recommendation of the Kentucky Division of Forestry.   The team met with city officials and members of the Prospect Forestation Board to learn of the efforts of the City over the past two years.   Prospect was honored to be selected as one of only three Kentucky cities chosen to demonstrate recent progress in the area of urban forestry.  

Prospect made the news earlier this month when it was confirmed by the Kentucky Division of Forestry as the location of the State Champion Kentucky Coffeetree.   The tree is located in the Putney Pond and Woodlands area purchased by the City as a preserved natural area in July of this year.    Of added interest is the fact that the Kentucky Coffeetree species has been designated by the state legislature as The Kentucky State Heritage Tree, and Prospect is now home to the state champion.   A framed certificate acknowledging the location of the tree in Prospect will be received by the city and placed on display in the City Hall lobby.  

COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS:

There were no comments from citizens or members of the public.

POLICE REPORT:

Police Chief Marvin Wilson presented the Council with the monthly police report.   Chief Wilson noted he was pleased to report that there were no thefts or acts of vandalism during the holiday break, a period when schools are not in session and which is often marked by such activity.  

He noted that Police Officers Pat Timmons and Mike Thomas had recently received specialty certificates through the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council Career Development Program.   The certificates are based on an individual officer's education, training and experience and demonstrate their personal and professional commitment as a law enforcement officer.

NEW BUSINESS:

Council Member Loretta Ertel gave second reading to ORDINANCE 493, SERIES 2008:   AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND OF THE CITY OF PROSPECT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2007 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2008, SO AS TO REFLECT THE RESULTS OF THE CITY'S ANNUAL INDEPENDENT AUDIT.   Council Member Alan Simon seconded; passed unanimously.

Council Member Alan Simon moved for adoption of CITY OF PROSPECT MUNICIPAL ORDER NO. 1, SERIES 2009:   AN ORDER CONSENTING TO THE NOMINATIONS OF THE MAYOR FOR CITIZENS OF THE CITY TO SERVE ON THE CITY OF PROSPECT CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD AND AFFIXING TERMS OF OFFICE THERETO.   Council Member Sandra Leonard seconded; passed unanimously.

Council Member Alan Simon moved for adoption of CITY OF PROSPECT MUNICIPAL ORDER NO. 2, SERIES 2009:   AN ORDER CONSENTING TO THE NOMINATIONS OF THE MAYOR FOR CITIZENS OF THE CITY TO SERVE ON THE CITY OF PROSPECT FORESTATION BOARD AND AFFIXING TERMS OF OFFICE THERETO.   Council Member Loretta Ertel seconded; passed unanimously.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Mayor Eberle noted that he had appointed City Administrator Ann Simms to chair the Ad Hoc Committee on Commercial Entrance Lighting.   Police Chief Marvin Wilson, Council Member Sandra Leonard and Council Member Stuart Miles will also serve on this committee.   City resident and professional electrician Barry Jenkins will serve as a consultant to the Committee.

Mayor Eberle noted that he had appointed Council Member Loretta Ertel to chair the Ad Hoc Committee to Review Fencing Regulations and Enforcements.   Council Member Mike Scott, City Administrator Ann Simms, Police Chief Marvin Wilson and City Maintenance Director Ron Cundiff will also serve on this committee.

ADJOURNMENT:

Council Member Alan Simon moved to adjourn; Council Member Stuart Miles seconded; passed unanimously.  

Mayor Eberle declared the meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.  

Respectfully submitted,
Ann Melton
Recording Secretary

Approved:
Todd B. Eberle
Mayor

ATTEST:
Ann R. Simms
City   Clerk