CITY COUNCIL MEETING
January 10, 2005
(A complete transcript of this meeting is available at City Hall and on the
City’s Web Site, HTTP://www.PROSPECTKY.COM)
PRESENT:
Mayor Lonnie Falk; Council Members Nan Milliman, Harold Smith, Alan Simon,
Todd Eberle, Sandy Tucci; Lee Zimmerman; City Attorney Grover Potts, City
Administrator Ann Simms; Police Chief Marvin Wilson; Recording Secretary Ann
Melton; Court Reporter Bruce Handy.
Mayor Falk called the meeting to order at 7:28 p.m.
SPECIAL ORDER:
Mayor Falk swore in Council Member Sandra Tucci who was absent from the January
1, 2005, swearing in ceremony held at Prospect City Hall with Judge Kevin
Delahanty, Jefferson District Court. Council Member Tucci was then officially
seated on the Council.
Mayor Falk presented the 2005 Beach Craigmyle Award to Council Member Harold
Smith. Mayor Falk praised Council Member Smith for his dedication to the City,
saying that much of the work he has done has been behind the scenes but his
contributions have been invaluable in many areas. As a professional engineer,
he has “climbed into more ditches, walked up more hills and scoped out
more water drains” than anyone in the City. The Council gave Smith a
standing ovation upon the presentation of the Award.
Mayor Falk thanked Mrs. Sandra Leonard on behalf of the City of Prospect and
presented her with a Recognition Award honoring her service to Prospect. She
served on the City Council in the term which ended on December 31, 2004; was
an active member of the Ordinance Review Committee and is now a member of
the Mayor’s Advisory Committee. The Mayor announced that Mrs. Leonard
has volunteered to serve as a special liaison representing the City in a number
of areas involving the construction of the East End Bridge.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Council Member Zimmerman moved approval of the minutes of the regular City
Council Meeting of December 15, 2004; Council Member Milliman seconded; passed
unanimously.
COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS:
None.
POLICE REPORT:
Chief Marvin Wilson presented the Police report. There were no questions.
Chief Wilson advised the Council that officers identified and issued citations
to two girls caught on video stealing bulbs from the Holiday tree at the Cowley
Open Space. A photograph of the girls appeared in the City Newsletter. Both
girls were visiting a Prospect resident at the time. Councilman Simon commended
officers for their efforts during and after the snowfall. Officers assisted
several residents that were stuck in the snow and off-duty officers responded
quickly when they were directed to report for duty.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mr. Carl Baker revised the plan that he had submitted last month for a home
in Sutherland. He changed the design of the attached garage to fit with the
design on the rest of the house. Council Member Zimmerman motioned to approve
the revised plans; Council Member Milliman seconded; passed unanimously.
STATEMENT BY COUNCILMAN LEE ZIMMERMAN:
I have been on the City Council since 1995, which makes it almost 10 years
now. I’ve never felt compelled to say anything quite like this before.
It may be unprecedented, but this is really an unprecedented situation.
.
The Mayor has written all of our residents a letter indicating how Prospect’s
employees rose to the occasion, cancelled their own Christmas plans and worked
long hours to help get through this crisis. I’m sure I speak for the
City Council when I say how much we appreciate everything everyone did. They
really went above and beyond the call of duty. And let me add, that includes
the Mayor and City Administrator, Ann Simms.
I also wish to address another falsehood at this time. This is one which was
spread by a couple of our own residents. I am referring to the accusation
that members of the City Council, the Mayor and the City Administrator got
“preferential treatment” with snow removal. This is simply not so.
In fact, some of the worst streets in the City were those that some of our
Council Members live on. The Mayor’s car was stuck in a snowdrift until
Tuesday. The City Administrator used a neighbor’s four-wheel drive vehicle
until Friday. Although I feel that the city needs to do what it can so that
both the Mayor and the City Administrator can get to City Hall to properly
coordinate the snow removal efforts that did not happen. There was no “special
treatment” for anyone. I am rather astounded that a couple of our residents
were so fast to spread unfounded accusations that were hopefully born out
of misinformation.
Prospect was grossly misrepresented by the management at ValleyCrest. I’m
sorry that happened, but given that they chose to submit a bid proposal that
embraced such misrepresentations, it is understandable. Their bid was investigated
thoroughly and meticulously. In re-hiring Edwards Landscaping, the City again
has a contractor for both snow removal and lawn care that is hard working,
honest, dependable and knows what they are doing. Sadly, none of those attributes
apply to ValleyCrest.
I would appreciate it if someone would make a motion that my statement be
spread upon the Minutes of the City and that it be included in total as a
part of our Official Minutes and sent to every resident. Everyone is entitled
to know the truth.
Council Member Milliman moved Council Member Zimmerman’s statement be
printed in full in the Minutes; Council Member Simon seconded; passed unanimously.
Mayor Falk told the Council the first Code Enforcement Board meeting is scheduled
for the fourth Wednesday of each month. Steve Pennington was elected Chairman
and Loretta Ertel Co-Chairman.
ADJOURNMENT:
Council Member Simon moved adjournment; Council Member Milliman seconded;
passed unanimously.
Mayor Falk declared the meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Respectively submitted,
Ann Melton
Recording Secretary
Approved:
Lawrence C. Falk
Mayor
ATTEST:
Ann R. Simms
City Clerk