Regular Month Meeting
Benton City Council
August 15, 2016
The regular monthly meeting of the Benton City Council was called to order on Monday, August 15, 2016 at 5:00 P.M. by Mayor Dotson with the Pledge of Allegiance and opening prayer by Dave Puckett.
Council Members Present: Rita Murray Charles Edmonds Sherra Riley Chris Freeland Butch Holland
Absent was Tim King. Other Staff Present: Zach Brien, City Attorney Michele Edwards, City Clerk Bethany Cooper, City Treasurer Tracy Watwood, Police Chief Kelly Collins, Gas Manager Harry Green, Fire Chief Dallas and Lisa Peck with Metal Mafia Car Club were present to discuss Benton Cruise In.
They said it has grown to be the most populated car cruise in Western Kentucky. They explained they have a lot of expenses related to the work they do for Benton Car Cruise and, although this was to be a volunteer event, they never imagined it would be as big as it has become.
They asked the City to consider paying them as coordinators.
Lisa mentioned that Mayfield gives their coordinator $10,000 and Cadiz gives their coordinator $8,000.
She told the Council that she drives all over the county and surrounding counties looking for sponsors and gifts. Holland suggested using some of the Special Events money if they are to be paid which will take away from summer concerts.
Murray asked them if $8000.00 would be enough if the City talked with the County to split the cost. They agreed.
Mayor Dotson told them she would talk with Judge Neal.
There was a first reading of the revenue and taxation ordinance setting the real property rate at 21.4 cents, the personal property rate at 24.14 cents and the vehicle rate at 24 cents.
Bethany Cooper also mentioned that there has been a change in the penalty rates and dates for the Council to consider before a second reading.
Butch Holland informed the Council that Benton Electric will have a 2.5% TVA mandated rate increase in October.
Three bids were received for the 12th Street emergency culvert replacement project.
The City received some funding from Municipal Road Aid Emergency Funds to help offset the cost.
Wilkins Construction submitted a bid for $202,407.00,
Knight Construction submitted a bid for $320,782.10 and Smith Contracting submitted a bid for $149,545.50.
A motion was made by Freeland, seconded by Edmonds to approve the bid from Smith Contracting.
All agreed. Motion carried.
Mayor Dotson also mentioned that during the bid opening it was suggested that the City order some of the materials to receive our tax exempt status and save money.
Mayor Dotson informed the Council that East Side Village does want to be annexed into the City limits.
Mayor Dotson made a recommendation, upon legal approval, that the property only be annexed and not the utilities or streets.
East Side Village wants annexed to help with their insurance premiums because of the ISO fire rating.
Dotson also mentioned that part of this park is in the flood zone and some of the trailers are in a floodway.
East Side Village agreed in a previous meeting with Mayor Dotson and Lois Cunningham that they would move the trailers out of the floodway at their expense.
City Attorney Zach Brien stated he would check into the legality of annexing only the properties without the utilities and streets.
City Attorney Brien read over the Utility Extension Agreement between the City and South Marshall Middle School to provide for a repayment to the City of $78,085.00 for the cost of the new lift station that had to be placed on this property.
This expense was a burden on the Benton Water & Sewer System, therefore, the School Board is reimbursing this expense and to be gradually credited on their monthly water/sewer bill for their 3” meter.
A motion was made by Holland, seconded by Murray to accept. All agreed. Motion carried.
City Attorney Brien explained a resolution that is rescinding previous resolutions to correct 5 tracts of land within the City limits.
Resolution 09-10-02 and 15-08-02 are being rescinded and was previously replaced by Ordinance No. 16-06-01.
At the time of the adoption of the updated ordinance, a rescinding resolution had not been done.
This resolution rescinds all the prior incorrect resolutions.
A motion was made by Riley, seconded by Murray to approve. All agreed. Motion carried.
Mayor Dotson read a resolution approving and authorizing an assistance agreement with the Kentucky Rural Water Finance Corporation for the purpose of financing a construction project for the City’s Sewer System.
This resolution allows the Mayor to enter into an agreement if she so chooses with Kentucky Rural Water for a loan to cover the sewer system upgrades.
A motion was made by Holland, seconded by Riley to approve. All agreed. Motion carried.
Police Chief Tracy Watwood gave the police report for July 2016.
There were 26 cases, 18 accidents, 98 citations of which 21 were for speeding and 647 calls to service.
A motion was made by Edmonds, seconded by Freeland to approve payroll and invoices. All agreed. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Holland, seconded by Riley to approve the regular minutes of July 18, 2016.
All agreed. Motion carried.
Mayor Dotson asked Harry Green to give a FEMA update over the flooding issue.
No threshold has been set yet by FEMA.
A motion was made by Edmonds, seconded by Murray to adjourn to executive session to discuss a legal issue over property.
Motion carried.
There being no further business to come before the Council, meeting adjourned at 6:46 P.M. after adjourning from executive session.