CITY OF ST. MATTHEWS
Council Meeting Minutes
June 27, 2023
A meeting of the St. Matthews City Council was held in-person on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Tonini. The following people were present:
MAYOR
Richard J. Tonini
CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Bernie Bowling – absent Councilmember Tim Holland – absent
Councilmember Cathi Clark Councilmember Sarah Landes
Councilmember Frank Flynn – absent Councilmember Mary Jo Nay
Councilmember Nathan Hernandez Councilmember Amy Olson
OTHER OFFICIALS
John Singler – St. Matthews City Attorney
Barry Wilkerson – Chief, St. Matthews Police Department
Susan Clark – St. Matthews City Clerk
OTHER ATTENDEES
Gary Major – Resident
Glen Essex – Resident
Kate Leitner – Eline/St. Matthews Library Branch
Elizabeth Cleary – Director of Operations, Chamber of St. Matthews
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was accomplished followed by the roll call vote of attendance.
MINUTES
A motion was made by Councilmember Nay to approve the minutes from the June 13, 2023 council meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmembers Clark and Landes.
Upon Voice Vote: (4-0) the motion carried. Councilmember Olson abstained from voting due to not being in attendance of the meeting.
PUBLIC MEETING COMMENTS
Ms. Kate Leitner, Manager of the St. Matthews/Eline Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library, reviewed a list of upcoming programs and events.
· Panpipe Flute Choir will be performing July 1 at 2:00 p.m.
· Kentucky Opera will perform on July 8th at 2:00 p.m.
· Friends of the Library will meet on July 18 at 10:00 a.m.
· Class on Google and Gmail will be held on Thursday, July 20 at 2:00 p.m.
· Tea Tasting class will be held July 22 at 10:30 a.m.
Mayor Tonini thanked Ms. Leitner for all the library staff does for the community. A date will be set in late September or early October inviting community members to meet with members of the St. Matthews City Council.
Glen Essex, resident of Hycliffe Avenue, addressed the council on a matter that is greatly concerning him. A few days ago, he and his daughter were crossing Shelbyville Road at Browns Lane using the crosswalk. A vehicle on Browns Lane had to swerve to miss hitting them as the driver was turning left intending to go west bound on Shelbyville Road. Mr. Essex distributed documentation of research he completed with suggestions on improving the intersection to increase safety. It was noted Shelbyville Road is a state road and Browns Lane is a Louisville Metro Road, neither are under the control of St. Matthews. However, Mayor Tonini relayed he will have St. Matthews City Engineer Jim Birch who is also a traffic specialist, and Public Works Director Kenan Stratman, contact the Kentucky Department of Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to discuss possible safety improvements. City Attorney John Singler suggested Mr. Essex contact his state legislator since Shelbyville Road is a state road. Councilmember Hernandez recommended Mr. Essex contact State Senator Karen Berg who serves on the Transportation Committee. Mr. Essex mentioned he will return in a month to learn of progress.
PENDING BUSINESS
There was no pending business on the agenda to discuss.
NEW BUSINESS
MUNICIPAL ORDER 23-15 APPROVING USE OF ARPA JOHN SINGLER, ATTORNEY
FUNDS
Mr. Singler summarized Municipal Order 23-15 which would approve the reimbursement of funds to the general operating account from the American Relief Plan Act (ARPA) account. The funds were used to cover payroll costs of the Police Department and the Public Works Departments. This is an allowable transaction per the ARPA guidelines. Councilmember Nay made a motion to approve MO 23-15. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Olson.
Upon Voice Vote: (5-0) the motion carried.
ORDINANCE 23-03 REGULATIONS FOR STREET RACING JOHN SINGLER, ATTORNEY
– 1st Reading
Mr. Singler summarized Ordinance 23-03 which would place regulations and penalties for street racing in St. Matthews. The ordinance is similar to the street racing ordinance for Louisville Metro. The St. Matthews review board would be comprised of members of the command staff of the St. Matthews Police Department. Louisville Metro utilizes the services of their Code Enforcement Board which St. Matthews does not have. Councilmember Nay made a motion to accept this as 1st reading Ordinance 23-03. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Clark.
Upon Voice Vote: (5-0) the motion carried and the ordinance will move forward for 2nd vote at the July 11, 2023 meeting.
EXPENDITURES
Councilmember Nay made a motion to approve the expenditures listed and have checks drawn on the city’s treasury in the total of $181,282.72. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Olson.
Upon Roll Call Vote: (5-0) the motion carried. Yes Votes: Councilmembers Hernandez, Clark, Olson, Nay, and Landes. No Vote: None.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
· Councilmember Hernandez stated he is working with Tad Long, Community and Economic Development Manager at the Kentucky League of Cities, on the development of a Comprehensive Plan for the City of St. Matthews.
· Councilmember Olson is creating an application form to be completed for residents who want to submit a person for a “Good Neighbor Award”. The kick-off will be in August of 2023. Each person nominated/awarded will have a yard sign indicating they are being recognized for being a great neighbor.
· Councilmember Nay relayed newsletters will be in homes on or around August 1st. An article on the Good Neighbor Program is included in this edition. The newsletter will have a QR code included.
· Councilmember Landes commented that a banner will be hung at the Potato Festival, Halloween in Brown Park and Police Night Out notifying people to like the St. Matthews Facebook page.
CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT
Mr. Singler stated St. Matthews has been notified of a handwritten lawsuit filed a person who was questioned by the police but not arrested.
MAYOR’S REPORT
· The mayor, following up to Councilmember Flynn’s previous request to the cost of outsourcing the placement of new residential street signs, gave the following report: To date the St. Matthews Public Works Department have installed 392 residential street signs. The number remaining to be installed is 160. The cost to have a company install the signs is approximately between $600 and $675 each. Councilmember Nay relayed she would prefer to save money and have the Public Works Department install the signs. Councilmember Hernandez was in agreement. Councilmember Nay asked for an estimated time frame for completion, and a map showing the area that has been completed.
· Mayor Tonini then asked the council members for their opinion regarding street parking on both Staebler and Kennison. In 1978, a beauty school on Chenoweth Lane asked their employees to leave the parking lot for guests and employees started parking on Stabler and Kennison and walking to work. St. Matthew Parking Ordinance 78.37 and 78.38 restricted parking to no parking on Staebler and parking only on one-side of the street on Kennison Avenue. Over the years, the No Parking signs have disappeared, and the restriction is not properly noted. The question to the council members: Do you want the restrictions to remain and if so, new signs would need to be erected. Another option is to remove the restrictions. After some discussion, council members wanted to review the area before making a decision. The question was tabled.
· Work moves ahead on the stream restoration project at Draut Park.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Nay made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Hernandez.
Upon Voice Vote: (5-0) the motion carried, and the meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Clark, City Clerk
Mayor Richard Tonini
| JUNE 27, 2023 | |||
| BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR DRAW WARRANTS on the City Treasury, | |||
| counter-signed by the City Clerk authorizing payment of the below listed invoices: | |||
| Action Target | Police – Equipment | $4,471.70 | |
| AT&T | All – Telephone Service | $3,975.42 | |
| Baptist Health Occupational Medicine | All – Drug Testing/Police Physicals | $2,152.00 | |
| Bill Collins Ford | Works – Part | $89.29 | |
| Bluegrass Print | Admin. – Window Envelopes | $924.00 | |
| BMS, LLC | All – Health Ins. Admin. Fee | $131.25 | |
| CDW-G | IT – Computer Maintenance | $2,015.88 | |
| Chamber of St. Matthews | Admin. – Program Support | $18,500.00 | |
| Charles Guleda & Sons Plumbing | Works – Rental Repairs | $325.00 | |
| Cross Chrysler Jeep | Police – Vehicle Mechanical Repair | $3,775.52 | |
| Delta Dental | All – Dental Insurance | $5,656.05 | |
| Elect Rx | Admin. – Prescriptions | $5,594.00 | |
| Enterprise Fleet Management | Police – Vehicle Leasing | $9,968.20 | |
| Frontline Public and Safety Solutions | Police – Records Management Program | $3,000.00 | |
| Goodyear | Police – Vehicle Repairs | $774.75 | |
| HDR Engineering | Works – Girard Drive Repairs/Misc. | $10,575.11 | |
| Integrity Auto Repairs, LLC | Works – Vehicle Repair | $380.00 | |
| Jim’s Body Shop | Police – Deductible | $1,000.00 | |
| Ken-Mulch | Works – Mulch | $1,679.46 | |
| KY League of Cities | Admin. – Insurance Expense | $6,812.05 | |
| Louisville Dive Center | Police – Supplies | $90.00 | |
| Louisville Gas & Electric | Works – Lights | $1,589.86 | |
| Louisville Water Company | Works – Water | $2,484.50 | |
| Miller Company | Admin/Police – Copy Machine Charge | $47.88 | |
| Motorola Solutions | Poice – Software | $14,850.00 | |
| Nelson & Company | Police – Equipment | $50,156.49 | |
| Norse Tactical | Police – Tactical Training Course | $400.00 | |
| Print Tex | Police – Uniform Components | $78.00 | |
| RCS Communications | Police – Equipment | $256.42 | |
| Rogers Group | Works – Rip Rap | $202.50 | |
| Security Pro’s | Works – Monitoring | $1,215.56 | |
| St. Matthews Area Ministries | Admin. – Program Support | $4,375.00 | |
| Staples | Admin. – Office Supplies | $155.97 | |
| Total Office Products | Admin/Police – Office Supplies | $534.74 | |
| Wex Bank | All – Fuel for Vehicles | $19,874.14 | |
| Community Center Renovation | |||
| Air Mechanical Sales | Arterburn – Remodeling Expense | $2,500.00 | |
| Reimbursements and Payments | |||
| Coty, Michael | Police – Training/Cid Reimbursement | $621.98 | |
| Jones, Eddie | Police – Reimbursement for Job Post | $50.00 | |
| TOTAL | $181,282.72 | ||
