Watch where you park; city to retain fees off violators

 SHEPHERDSVILLE — Barry Baugh has complained for years about those who illegally park in handicapped spots in Shepherdsville.

Under a revised parking ordinance, not only will the city clearly spell out how it will enforce that violation but there are now provisions to make any parking violation a civil matter to be handled by the municipality.

Simply put...any parking ticket would be payable to the city of Shepherdsville not the state of Kentucky.

City attorney Joseph Wantland told councilmembers that a parking violation would carry a civil penalty of $25-$75.

Anyone receiving such a ticket could appeal the matter to the city council within seven days.

The council would have 45 days to hear the appeal. 

If the violator doesn’t appeal, they have 14 days to pay the fine.

Wantland said any violator who doesn’t pay the fine would then face criminal charges in Bullitt District Court. Criminal penalties could range from $100-$250.

In working with the police department, Wantland said there was an interest in having the fines come to the municipality. He said that under the parking ordinance, 100 percent of the fines would go to the city.

The council voted 4-0 to approve the parking ordinance. Councilmembers Larry Hatfield and Robert Flaherty were not in attendance.

The ordinance includes restrictions on parking in crosswalks, within 30 feet of a traffic signal, parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, parking in handicapped spots or fire lanes, blocking the flow of traffic or driveways.

In other business:

*The council approved a .5 percent occupational tax rebate for Speyside Cooperage.

The company, located in the old Monarch Hardware facility on Buckman Street, restores barrels for the bourbon industry.

Mayor Scott Ellis said the company receives a rebate for a five-year period, which goes to help in relocation costs.

Currently, the city would not be required to offer any rebate on the occupational tax.  However, this is to complete a deal which was started a couple of years ago.

Councilman Don Cundiff wanted to make sure the city would only give the rebate for a five-year period.

Councilman Faith Portman agreed that an exact date was needed on when the rebates were to begin.

The council voted 3-1 to approve the resolution allowing the rebates. Councilman Bernard Brown was in opposition.

*Councilman Garland “Corky” Miller urged fellow board members to make sure that developers have bonds put in place when subdivisions begin.

He feared that the developers will not complete the required work, such as paving streets, and the city would be required to complete the work.

He also urged the city to have its own engineer on staff to make sure developers complete the plans.

Besides that, Miller said an engineer could help residents know where easements are located and to help enforce ordinances passed by the council.

Currently, the city contracts with QK4 for engineering work. When development plans are submitted, those fees are covered by the developers.

Wantland said that the ordinance in place has specific requirements and no building permits should be given until the engineer approves the plans.

Portman agreed that inspections are needed.

The city is currently looking at spending over $100,000 to complete drainage work which wasn’t done properly in Shawnee Acres.

*A project that some councilmembers felt would be done within 3-4 months is still unfinished.

City clerk Tammy Richmond said HR Resources is still working on the city’s personnel policies. Company officials are meeting with department supervisors to complete the job descriptions.

Portman said she would like to see evaluations done on employees every three months. In the policies and procedures, she said the evaluations are required and she felt they should be done.

Such evaluations not only helps correct employee problems but also allows the workers to address any concerns they might have with their jobs or with the city.

Brown said his concern is if the process of completing the policies goes into January, the company will expect another payment.

Wantland said there is a cap on the cost of the project.

*Portman said the city needs to consider some type of ordinance dealing with foreclosures. In such an ordinance, Portman said there should be some requirement on the property owner to notify the city who will maintain the homes during the foreclosure process.

Ellis said residents are able to go to the police department website and file a complaint with the enforcement officer Mike Miller, who investigates who owns the property and then follows through with the process.

*Santa will be making a large presence in Shepherdsville over the next several weeks.

Santa will be at the city park gazebo on the next three Wednesdays — Dec. 5, 12 and 19. He will be there to meet with children from 7-9 each evening.

Then, on the week of Dec. 18-21, the Shepherdsville Fire Department will be taking Santa through neighborhoods each evening.

Santa will be at the Shepherdsville Government Center on Saturday, Dec. 15, for breakfast. Youngsters can eat breakfast from 9-11 a.m. on that morning.

The next meeting of the Shepherdsville City Council will be on Monday, Dec. 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the government center. The public is invited to attend.

New councilmembers will be sworn into office on Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 6:30 p.m. at the government center.