City of Chenoa City Council met Oct. 11.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The Chenoa City Council met in regular session at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Mayor Wilder, Commissioners Buchanan, Price, Moreland, Daiker, Attorney Mann, Treasurer Rowold and City Clerk Rhoades were in attendance.
#5441 Commissioners Moreland and Daiker moved and seconded the Motion that the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 27, 2022 be approved. That the bills and payrolls be allowed, and orders on the Treasurer be drawn in payment of same. The roll call vote was affirmative with Commissioner Daiker abstaining.
#5442 Commissioners Moreland and Daiker moved and seconded the Motion to Approve an Ordinance Amending Section 3-1-8(B) (Hours of Sale) of the City of Chenoa Liquor Control Ordinance. Ordinance #842. The roll call vote was affirmative.
#5443 Commissioners Price and Buchanan moved and seconded the Motion to Approve an Ordinance Amending Title 5 Chapter 1 Section 10 of the City Code Regulating the Poultry Allowed within the City of Chenoa. Ordinance #843. The roll call vote was affirmative with Mayor Wilder abstaining.
#5444 Commissioners Price and Buchanan moved and seconded the Motion to Approve to Enter into Executive Session to Discuss the Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance or Dismissal of Specific Employees of the City of Chenoa - Section 2(c)(1). The roll call vote was affirmative.
#5445 Commissioners Buchanan and Price moved and seconded the Motion to Approve to Return to Open Session The roll call vote was affirmative.
#5446 Commissioners Daiker and Moreland moved and seconded the Motion that the council do now adjourn. The roll call vote was affirmative.
IN OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE COUNCIL:
Comments from the Floor
Troy Aldrich asked the council for a liquor license for the annual Fireman’s Cash Bash on November 5. The council had no concerns or questions and gave him the approval.
Dalton Campbell said Lexington is voting to raise sales tax to combat inflation prices. He thinks Chenoa’s sales tax is currently higher but heard Lexington is looking to be a half percent higher than Chenoa. He asked the council if they have thought about increasing sales tax as well. Mayor Wilder said they increased sales tax by one percent back in 2017. Commissioner Daiker felt it seemed backwards to raise taxes to combat inflation. Mayor Wilder said he understands the principle behind it and it is something they can look at.
Ordinance Amending Section 3-1-8(B) (Hours of Sale) of the City of Chenoa Liquor Control
Mayor Wilder said the only change they are looking at is the hours of sale for Sunday. Currently the hours are Monday through Saturday 7:00 am until 1:00 am and Sunday 12:00 pm until 10:00 pm. A bar owner has asked them to change Sunday’s hours to 12:00pm until 12:00 am. Chief Cornwall said there have been no issues with liquor sales on Sunday. The council had no concerns and agreed with making this change.
Ordinance Amending Title 5 Chapter 1 Section 10 of the City Code Regulating the Poultry Allowed within the City of Chenoa
Mayor Wilder said the council was asked to change the numbers of chickens allowed from 6 to 8. They did not make any changes to what is not allowed like rosters or loud species of chickens. It was added that in the event of consistent noise complaints from neighboring properties the City reserves the right to reduce the poultry requirements for any property. The council had no questions or concerns and agreed with making this change.
Water Deposits
Mayor Wilder said the code currently states new customer deposit shall be $100.00 and any interest shall be credited to utility customers in good standing having had twelve consecutive months of on-time payments. Recently a customer has contacted City Hall wanting her money back. By how the code is currently she gets her money back with interest even though she had a last payment in the first year but has since made twelve consecutive months of on-time payments. It was originally wanted to cover the cost when a tenant leaves town without paying their bills. In the code it does state that the tenant and homeowner are jointly responsible for the money therefore the City can collect the money from the landlord. Mayor Wilder said the deposit works well and has curved a lot of the problems. Commissioner Moreland asked if they could change it if you are late one time you do not get it back and do away with the twelve months. He feels the whole point in it is to lose it after you are late. He said someone can be late every month for 9 years then pay on time for twelve months and get their money back. He feels it should be the first year of having it. Commissioner Daiker said he thought when it was set up the $100 was to cover the balance if a person left prior to the shut off day. Commissioner Moreland said if that is the case then the City should hold their money until they move out of town. Zack Lopeman said if the bill is late one month then the person would not have $100 of the deposit left after twelve months as $10 of it would go to that late fee. Commissioner Morland said it is not used to cover late fees. The council decided they need to take time to think about what they want the intentions of the deposit to be.
Zoning Board Recommendations
Mayor Wilder said they have not changed the ordinance of lot coverage yet. He said what they need to decide on is what will be defined as coverage. It has been discussed that coverage is concrete, gravel, decks, sidewalks and pools along with any structures. Mayor Wilder feels any building either permanent or portable should be considered coverage as it is covering ground. He has the council if they want to include the pools that come down every year. He feels they should include concrete but not gravel as gravel does allow water to soak into the ground. Attorney Mann asked what the Zoning Board wants and why they want to increase lot coverage. Larry Legget spoke on behalf of the Board, saying they discussed concrete, structures, and permanent pools. They started looking at coverage as it was not stated in code what actually if considered coverage. They could not find where it stated why the coverage was set at 35% percent. It was said to be about diverting water onto a neighbor and green space. Mayor Wilder said he is okay with increasing the coverage to 50% but they need to define what coverage is. The council agreed to include permanent pools but not the pools that go up and down each year. Zack Lopeman asked if pavers would count as coverage as they do make permeable pavers now and the person could bring up the paperwork showing they have the permeable ones. He feels it should not be counted as it allows water to go through and does not cause run off. Mayor Wilder said he is okay with changing it to slab concrete. They agreed to define it as slab concrete, asphalt, structures, and permanent pools. Mayor Wilder said they also recommend looking at fees and making fence permits $10.00. They will pull the fees and look at that next meeting. Mayor Wilder said they submitted a contractor compliance form for the City to approve to be used. It has the project name, date, where it’s being done, who owns it, completion date, and a spot for each contractor to sign off once complete. It was asked if this means residents will have to get a contractor now instead of doing the work yourself. Mayor Wilder said if you do it yourself you sign off certifying that you are doing the work and following all codes. The council agreed that they liked it and would like it on the next agenda to be approved.
Attorney's Comments
None
Treasurer’s Comments
Treasurer Rowold explained the summary packet that he gives the council every meeting. The first page is the total cash in each fund that is in the bank. The next page is the revenue and expenses of each month. The General Fund is broken down a little more into the departments that are all in the General Fund. It shows how much has been spent and left to spend of the budget by percent. It also shows the same concept for revenue. It shows how many weeks are left of the year and shows how much you can spend each week to make it on budget at the end of the year. The next page shows the net summary of each account. This has nothing to do with the budget, it is just the money coming in and out of each account. The last page is another summary showing the budget. There is a page that is missing that shows the total restricted money in each account.
Commissioner’s Comments
Commissioner Daiker
None
Commissioner Moreland said he has been looking at setting up solar on the 20 acres next to the sewer plant. He has two companies coming to the next meeting to present. Mayor Wilder said they need to check into the farm property to be sure there isn’t some type of lease. Commissioner Moreland said one deal would knock what the City pays in electricity down by 20% and pay the City for the panels being there. He also reminded the residents that they are still flushing hydrants and not to do laundry during the week while they are flushing. He has some engineers coming next week and the 28th to give some clarification on the water plant, clear well, and future jobs. He hopes to find one that will help more than the one in the past. He has a new due date of shutting the HMO down in the water plant January 1. He has a check valve at the bottom of the clear well and he is open to any suggestions on how to actually fix the problem.
Commissioner Price said they have been preparing for the winter with getting the trucks ready and salt. They have been working on brush as he feels it is an everyday thing. They have it out there to hire a third street employee and he has interviewed one with hopes to get that moving along.
Commissioner Buchanan said he will be focusing on meeting with Commissioner Moreland and the engineers. He hopes to get the infrastructure plans nailed down in the upcoming weeks.
Mayor Wilder
None
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
https://www.chenoail.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif6431/f/minutes/10_11_22.pdf
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