MOUNT WASHINGTON — A new mayor and some new council members were heard for the first time, loud and clear, at the first Mount Washington City Council meeting of 2023.
New mayor Stuart Owen, along with new council members Layne Abell, Bruce Gooden and Curt Hudson, joined returning members Troy Barr, Greg Gentry and Sandra Hockenbury for the meeting.
One of the first things the council heard was praise from resident Paul Holliger, who wanted to compliment the council following a December meeting and conversation addressing ADA compliance issues.
A regular meeting attendee, Holliger was pleased that the city acquired new ADA listening devices to assist him and other meeting guests with hearing the council’s conversation.
“I suggested the listening devices,” he said. “I know it takes a while to review things, but this council did, so thanks.”
Dan Sowder, who addressed the ADA issues in December and at other previous meetings, said he had stated his concerns with the city for three years.
“All i want is for these things to be fixed,” he said. “Most of them are parking issues.”
According to Sowder, the city was not in compliance with ADA standards that dated back to 1990. He said many standards had been updated in 2010.
Hockenbury agreed that the city should be in compliance. She mentioned the city’s new Risk and Safety manager, Nora McCoy, who was designated to oversee and evaluate all issues and gather resources.
According to Hockenbury, the city would establish a framework, a start date, and then move forward once McCoy provided updates.
“We’re aware that times change,” she said. “Some things we can’t do. The city has a feeling of urgency around this matter, but will need a little time.”
Sowder said he could share a copy of his personal report with Owen, and would begin working on an updated report for McCoy. He said he would need about six weeks to supply the report.
In other business:
- Owen announced that the city’s attorney, Hayden Sweat, stepped down from the position after being sworn in as the new Bullitt County Master Commissioner.
The mayor said the city hoped to fill the vacancy prior to its next business meeting.
Following the meeting, Owen mentioned attorney Thomas Hamilton, based in Bardstown, as a front runner to fill the vacancy.
He also mentioned that Community Planning & Development Director Lori Puchino was no longer employed by the city. Owen said the termination was “a mayor’s decision.”
A replacement for Puchino had not yet been named. City clerk Dawn Hardin mentioned that Community Planning & Development would remain in place, along with other current employees.
- The city is looking to bolster an ordinance relating to grease traps used by restaurants.
Public Works director Paul Brannon mentioned a plan was being put into place requiring restaurants to have their grease traps inspected and fall under compliance with city standards.
Brannon said there were some locations where grease traps were affecting the city’s public utilities system. He added that companies not in compliance would be required to make improvements, along with providing related paperwork to the city.
Hardin said the update was primarily to alert restaurants of the upcoming requirement updates.
- Abell, who previously served as the county’s property valuation administrator, said the city could apply for additional Homestead Exemption funding.
According to Abell, the city received over $46,350 for each exemption in federal tax dollars. He said the additional exemptions through the city could add an additional $25,000.
Abell said the city was scheduled to be reassessed this year, with valuations likely to increase. He added that the city’s fire tax had doubled since the establishment of the fire department’s own EMS service. He also mentioned that the city continued to be “vastly increasing” in revenue.
Hudson noted that only one of two spouses in a household needed to be age 65 or older to qualify for the Homestead Exemption. Abell added that anyone who was 100 percent disabled was also eligible to qualify.
- The next Mount Washington City Council meeting takes place Monday, Jan. 23, 6:30 pm, at Fick Hall. The public is invited to attend.