Munfordville City Council

Katrina England

Reporter

Hart Co. News Herald

 

The Munfordville City Council met in regular session on Monday, April 8, 2024.  In attendance were City Council Members Tara Wilson, Ricky Line, Martha Taylor, Jeremy Atwell, and Marcia Lenz, as well as Mayor Annie Swift.

 

Chamber of Commerce

Caralyne Pennington and Whitney Choate were present to address the Council and answer inquiries.

Hart County Chamber of Commerce had previously requested a temporary increase in financial contribution. The Council requested more information and feedback on their plans with the contribution.

The additional contributions of the City of Horse Cave and Fiscal Court are contingent upon the City of Munfordville also increasing their contribution.

Council member Atwell asked about community development plans, and Choate announced that Holly Crain had recently been named as the new President/CEO of the Chamber.

“She’s very energetic. She is excited to get started. We’ve talked about some things she can go out and do…(delivering placards) and her focus is getting our finances lined out, but also working on our social media…delving into analytics, and things like that,” Choate said.

Crain was previously Director of Operations at a salon and was in charge of the strategic growth and social media, as she oversaw a large expansion.

Council member Taylor asked why the services discussed within the future plans had not previously been given.

“I’ve talked to several businesses and none of them knew what the Chamber did for them,” said Taylor. “When you go in a business and see ‘Chamber of Commerce 2022’ that kind of makes you think, ‘What’s the Chamber done?’ That’s just not business as it should be.”

“And we’re trying to change that,” said Choate. “We’ve heard the same thing through different avenues.”

Mayor Swift inquired as to how many applicants there were and why they chose Crain.  Pennington explained that Crain was chosen out of the 6 total applicants based on her application and interview.

“I’m struggling because we sat here as a Council two months ago and said we’re going to buy two automobiles for our police, and we had no extra money,” said Ricky Line. “I would have liked to have had this last July where we could have looked at it, studied it, (and) thought about it. I’m struggling because we don’t have the money. We went out on a limb to get the two cars, way beyond where we thought we could go…That’s where I’m struggling. Not for what they can do or will do, but what we have for our resources. We did not plan for this, and our resources are not where we want them.”

“I’m like Ricky, I don’t think we have the money to do it,” said Taylor.

Line asked how much the Council gave last year, and Swift replied that the City gave $2,500.

Line made a motion to continue to support as they have in the past and table the extra additional money until the budget can be planned for next year.

Jeremy Atwell extended the invitation to Crain to come speak to the Council once she gets settled into the position.

 

Limb Pickup

Regarding limb pickup, the Council discussed options. Anyone who has previously requested limb cleanup will have their limbs removed. From April 8 and beyond, the City of Munfordville decided to no longer provide limb cleanup. Further details will be provided by the city.

 

Green River Valley Water District

Andrew Tucker, General Manager of Green River Valley Water District, returned to follow up and answer additional questions after the March City Council Meeting.

Atwell reported that currently the City bills for 687 meters, though 776 had been active at one time. He also asked, in terms of leak detection, if there is a way to determine the size of each leak during exploration, due to the cost of (approximately) $2,000.

Tucker explained the machine works off sound decibels of leaks, and he planned to provide a week of exploration because the area is unknown.

Atwell also asked about the approximate $11,000 a month of water loss. In January, the city was billed for 9.9 million gallons of water, and the city only billed 2 million gallons out to consumers. Last year, 3,700,000 gallons of water was lost.

Tucker explained none of that was what he calls passthrough, which is purchased back for Bonnieville.

The two top priorities are finding leaks and finding out what sort of piping customers have.

Tucker reported that to keep two guys on hydro-excavation, it will cost $35 per hour for the dump truck and excavator will be $75 per hour.

Line asked how much the city is losing each month, and Tucker estimated $10,000.

“Our plant runs a whole day to feed Munfordville,” said Tucker. “From a business aspect, I’d be loving it, but ethically, no, I don’t.”

Atwell made a motion to contract with GRVWD to find leaks.

Additionally, by October 24, all cities must submit an inventory of lead and copper inventories.

This is in response to the The Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR).

The LCRR details a series of requirements that all 60,000+ public water systems in the U.S. must meet to prevent drinking water contamination, and inventories must be provided to the EPA.

Because an unknown water line is considered a lead line, GRVWD and the City of Munfordville need to know from what type of line each customer is receiving water.

City Attorney Matthew Roberts will draft an agreement between the City of Munfordville and GRVWD.

 

Agreement with Hart County Youth Soccer Association

The Council discussed and voted on entering an agreement with the Youth Soccer Association regarding Thelma Stovall Park. There have been issues with key codes being entered after the building has been winterized and other instances where toilets have been found dirty and facilities are in disarray.

Key codes can be changed, have time limits, and even specific months of the year for which they can be used.

“It’s abundantly clear that it’s a mutual agreement, and we need that so that it establishes a standard so we can protect our property,” said Swift. “We want the program to continue, but we want our property to be taken care of.”

Atwell asked who within the city will be policing the usage of the soccer events, who will be checking fields and facilities, and at what level. Marcia Lenz recommended facilities be checked weekly.

“(The concession stand and bathrooms) should be cleaned, and I think it will be,” said Line. “I have enough faith in the people that are doing it, that I really hope it will be.”

Atwell reiterated that those with the key codes will be responsible.

“If you’re sharing that code with coaches and everyone else, then that’s all on you,” said Atwell.

Additionally, inside the park, individuals have been using the park for horseback riding, which has caused a health problem with feces on the premises, as well as divots on the soccer fields and the pavement being damaged.

City Attorney Matthew Roberts drafted an ordinance which says, with the exception of Amish horses with a buggy in the parking areas, no horses are to be in the park.

The Council also approved the paving of Harlan Street.

 

Department Reports

Assistant Chief Riggs reported no new business in the Police Report.

In the maintenance Report, Patrick Stinson reported that they are pursuing a mini excavator.

In the Fire Report, Childress reported 23 total runs, which included 8 EMS assists, 1 lift assist, 3 fire alarms, 1 structure fire, 2 vehicle fires, 3 injury accidents, 1 non-injury accident, 1 landing zone set-up, and 3 misc calls.

There was no news to report from Zoning or Code Enforcement.

Aaron Jaggers was introduced as Interim Director for Munfordville Tourism.

One of his first orders of business was to paint the graffiti at the city park. He also reported a new website is being created, and new lighting is going in near the tourism building. He is also continuing plans with the Cherry Blossom Festival and is focusing on selling products in the office which are Kentucky, and more specifically, Hart County made.