HEBRON ESTATES — A month after the Hebron Estates City Council passed a new ordinance outlawing front yard residential parking, officials set out to clarify some of the language within the ordinance.
Mayor Jerry Clark said the city needed to clarify an issue regarding Section 6 of the ordinance.
City attorney Mark Edison said that according to the section, any individual had the ability to file a complaint with the city clerk regarding an ordinance violation. He said the stipulation was added because police officers cannot always see a violation themselves.
Edison said the city council would deal with any complaints received, then refer the issues onto the court system if necessary.
The new ordinance prohibits parking in front yards unless the vehicles are on a concrete or gravel surface serving as a portion of the driveway. Side yard parking was also prohibited.
Clark also addressed a change that would take place regarding city council meeting procedure.
According to Clark, the council would now vote via roll call. In prior meetings, council members would announce ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ all at once to vote.
Clark said the change was being implemented following an error in the recording of a vote at a previous meeting. The error did not affect the outcome of the vote, but led to the change in procedure.
From now on, when the council votes, the mayor will read the name of each individual council member, who will then state their individual vote.
Regarding official complaints to the city, Clark reminded that any residential complaint letter needed to include a name and address of the offender.
“We need that to know where to check or to send the police,” Clark said. “I don’t have the right to go into anybody’s back yard.”
Clark added that any information provided would never go further than the mayor’s office, in case a resident was nervous about leaving personal information with a complaint.
In other business:
- Council member Kathy Merrifield inquired about the length of time allotted for a rental sign to remain in place.
Audience members also wanted to know why house rentals were allowed within the city, fearing a decrease in their own property values.
Edison said real estate or management were allowed to place signs. He added that house rentals were a subdivision restriction, but not a city one. He said residents could check with the Bullitt County Clerk’s Office for subdivision restrictions.
Clark mentioned that the city could deal with nuisance issues at rental properties, such as unkempt appearances or tall grass, but not the signs.
- A resident raised concerns about hearing gunshots near her home on more than one occasion in the Garden Court area.
Pioneer Village Police chief D.J. Reynolds warned anyone that hears gunfire to call 9-1-1 immediately, and then police will investigate.
Reynolds reported that the department responded to 126 service calls during the month of February.
The chief also reminded residents to keep vehicle doors locked as warm weather returned to deter juveniles from getting into them.
- Clark said he previously thought that the city’s community center could only be rented out by city residents.
Since he recently learned otherwise, he decided to officially announce that information during the business meeting.
Leading into hall rental discussion, Edison mentioned that the city would need an insurance rider, including insurance company information and an established estimate of people attending an event.
Clark said the city had been lucky over 20 years in facing very few issues regarding the hall. He said the biggest issue was people using tape on the walls, which sometimes messed up the paint.
- City clerk Michelle McCauley said eight delinquent tax bills for the year 2023 remained unpaid, totaling $1047.31.
She said that a second certified letter was sent to each property owner. Unpaid bills would be subject to liens after 30 days.
- The next Hebron Estates City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 2, 7 pm, at the city’s community center. The public is invited to attend.