CITY OF ST. MATTHEWS
Council Meeting Minutes
February 25, 2025
A meeting of the St. Matthews City Council was held in-person on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Richard Tonini. The following people were present:
MAYOR
Richard J. Tonini
CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Bernie Bowling (absent) Councilmember Tim Holland
Councilmember Sarah Landes Councilmember Mary Jo Nay
Councilmember Frank Flynn (absent) Councilmember Amy Olson
Councilmember Nathan Hernandez Councilmember Jackie Vanetti
OTHER OFFICIALS
John Singler, St. Matthews City Attorney
Judi Kassebaum – St. Matthews City Clerk
Major Anthony Cobaugh – St. Matthews Police Department
OTHER ATTENDEES
Kate Leitner – Manager of the Eline/St. Matthews Branch of the Library
Josh Suiter, CEO The Chamber St. Matthews
Cathi Clark, Resident
Jamie Dumstorf, Athletic Director, Waggener High School
Scott Gilmour, Tennis Coach, Waggener High School
Sandy WatkinsJason Miller, US Tennis Association
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was accomplished followed by the roll call vote of attendance. Councilmembers Bowling and Flynn were absent.
PUBLIC MEETING COMMENTS
Kate Leitner, Manager of the Eline/St. Matthews Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library gave the following report:
· Author Visit: Dana Walker Lindley: Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST
· 2025 Home Cleaning & Organizing: Monday, March 3, 2025, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm EST
· Adult Crafty Night Out: Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm EST
· Adult Board Game Night: Thursday, March 6, 2025 ,5:30 pm – 7:30 pm EST
· Music Performance – Keltricity: Saturday, March 8, 2025, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST
· Adult Book Discussion Group: Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT
· English Conversation Club: Every Week on Mondays, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm· Family Movie: The Little Mermaid: Thursday, February 27, 2025, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
· Pint Size Playdate: Saturday, March 1, 2025, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm EST
· Storytimes: Wednesdays 10:15 Baby & 11:15 Toddler; Thursdays 10:15 Preschool & 11:15 Family
Josh Suiter, CEO The Chamber St. Matthews, thanked councilmembers for coming the Annual dinner and said photos from the night are on their website. Louisville Business First ran an online article featuring the rebranding, and The Chamber has received positive feedback. The Chamber St. Matthews will hold a ribbon cutting celebrating the rebranding on Monday, March 3 at 1:00 p.m. at their office on the 3rd floor. Everyone is invited. St. Matthews Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation or the “SMACC” Foundation is new and will raise funds for local businesses and scholarships for small businesses.
Jamie Dumstorf, Athletic Director, Waggener High School proposed another partnership opportunity with the City. Currently the school has four tennis courts and are available to the public to use outside school hours. Waggener High School would like to have those courts resurfaced, add an additional court, and add four new pickleball courts. The additional courts would allow the school to host tournaments and allow students to have a pickleball team, as it is likely to become a sanctioned sport within a few years.
The school would like to have the project completed by the Spring 2026 season. Scott Gilmour and Jason Miller spoke to the council about the impact this project could have on the school and the community, siting economic and health factors. The school has commitments for 25% of the $570,000 expected cost. They would like half of the costs from the City. Depending on final costs, the project could be lower than the initial proposal. The Mayor explained the City now has a grant program to distribute funds. The deadline is May 1 for applications for the 2025-2026 budget. Mr. Dumstorf indicated he would complete the application and thanked the council.
Ordinance 25-04 Reckless Driving and Speed Contest Exhibitions 1st Reading
The Mayor referred to Louisville Metro confiscating cars involved in street racing and St. Matthews previously passed a similar ordinance. Ordinance 25-04 will amend Ordinance 23-03 allowing appeals of car owners to now be heard by St. Matthew’s Code Enforcement Board instead of the St. Matthews Police Department Executive Command Staff.
A motion was made by Councilmember Nay to approve the 1st reading of Ordinance 25-04 and the motion was seconded by Councilmember Olson.
Upon Roll Call Vote: (6-0) the motion carried.
EXPENDITURES
Councilmember Nay made a motion to approve the expenditures listed and have checks drawn on the city’s treasury in the amount of $64,500.03. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Olson.
Upon Roll Call Vote: (6-0) the motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
· Councilmember Hernandez went to the Derby Festival Robo Rumble but had to leave early. He asked John Singler about legislation in Frankfort that might affect the City. John mentioned centralizing occupational taxes; religious institutions putting housing on their property without rezoning; and cities with populations over 5,000 allowed to have their own school system as pieces of legislation with possible impact on the City.
· Councilmember Olson also went to the Robo Rumble and was happy the City supported the kick-off event for the Derby Festival.
· Councilmember Nay drove past Warwick park and saw the pickleball and basketball courts full of people.
· Councilmember Landes wanted to know if a caucus meeting had to be held to discuss Ordinance 25-02. It was decided that the discussion would be held at the March 11 meeting and no caucus meeting was needed.
CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT
There was no City Attorney’s report.
MAYOR’S REPORT
There was no Mayor’s report.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Holland made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting.
The motion was seconded by Councilmember Nay.
Upon Voice Vote: (6-0) the motion carried, and the meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Richard Tonini, Mayor
Judi Kassebaum, City Clerk
| February 25, 2025 | |||
| BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR DRAW WARRANTS on the City Treasury, | |||
| counter-signed by the City Clerk or Assistant City Clerk authorizing payment of the below listed invoices: | |||
| AT&T | All – Telephone Service | $3,038.76 | |
| BMS, LLC | All – Insurance Addendum | $168.00 | |
| CDW-Government | IT – Repairs/Main. – Computer Replacements | $5,944.60 | |
| Charles Guelda & Sons Plumbing, Inc. | Works – Repairs & Maintenance | $570.00 | |
| Cintas | Works – Supplies & Materials | $1,020.60 | |
| Coca Cola Bottlling Co. Consolidated | Admin. – Supplies & Materials | $396.60 | |
| Cross Chrysler Jeep | Police – Vehicle Repairs – Mechanical | $2,647.50 | |
| Earth First of Kentuckiana | Works – Mulch | $215.70 | |
| First Financial Bank | All – Multiple | $6,881.69 | |
| Gannett Indiana-Kentucky LocalIQ | Admin. – Advertising Audit | $217.80 | |
| Great America Financial Services | Admin. – Service Contract – Copies | $140.91 | |
| Guardian Insurance Company | All – Long/Short/Life Insurance | $11,065.27 | |
| IdentoGo | Police – Fingerprinting | $20.00 | |
| Interstate All Battery Center | Police – Supplies & Materials | $351.80 | |
| Leonard Brush & Chemical Co. | Works – Supplies & Materials | $1,149.45 | |
| LG&E | Works – Electric/Gas | $159.49 | |
| Louisville Gas & Electric Company | Police – Contract Services/Investigative | $170.03 | |
| Louisville Water Company | Works – Water Services | $946.92 | |
| Miller Company | Police/Admin. – Service Contract – Copies | $338.62 | |
| Norse Tactical | Police – Training/Range | $5,825.00 | |
| Print TEX USA | Police – Uniforms | $56.95 | |
| RCS Communications | Police – Capital Improvements-Vehicle Equip. | $1,169.20 | |
| Security Pros, LLC | Works – Monitoring | $1,215.46 | |
| Sherwin Williams Company | Works – Supplies & Materials | $109.44 | |
| Site One Landscape Supply | Works – Supplies & Materials | $432.22 | |
| St. Matthews Exterminating Co. | Parks – Pest Control | $95.00 | |
| Studio Kremer Architects | Works – Capital Improvements Community Ctr. | $2,362.50 | |
| Total Office Products & Service | Police – Office Supplies | $521.90 | |
| Valvoline | Police – Vehicle Main.-Preventative | $277.28 | |
| We Embroider | Police – Uniforms/Equipment | $60.00 | |
| WEX Bank | All – Gasoline | $15,969.81 | |
| MAPS | |||
| Flynn Brothers | Works – Cold Patch Mix | $566.95 | |
| Reimbursements and Payments | |||
| Newby, Kylie | Admin. – Training Mileage Reimbursement | $91.00 | |
| Raymer, Chad | Police – Vehicle Main. – Body Work | $240.00 | |
| Weatherholt, Shawn | IT -Reimbursement for POE Injectors | $63.58 | |
| TOTAL | $64,500.03 | ||
