City of Fulton to provide Code Enforcement services to Hickman

The City of Fulton will share Code Enforcement Officer services with the City of Hickman, through a Memorandum of Understanding, following action approved Monday evening by Fulton Mayor David Pater, Commissioners Martha Vowell, Elaine Forrester, Darcy Linn and Jeff Vaughn.

Meeting in regular session at 6 p.m. April 13, via video teleconferencing, City Manager Mike Gunn explained to the commission that he and Fulton Code Enforcement Officer Nathan Lamb had spoken with Hickman City Manager David Gallagher regard Hickman’s need for the service.

Gunn reported Hickman’s needs involved certifications as to condemnable properties, to include inspections, photographs and other documentation on record, which in turn would be provided to the City of Hickman, for their enforcement, as to any actions to be taken.

As the agreement states, the city of Hickman would pay $20 per hour for these services, with Gunn estimating approximately 4-6 hours per case needed, equal to an amount that would pay for the services.

As to liability, both Gunn and City Attorney Allison Whitledge, also present for the video conference meeting, agreed through correspondence with KLC, Kentucky League of Cities, it had been determined the city of Fulton would still be able to provide liability insurance coverage for Lamb during the provision of these services.

In moving forward, Gunn offered two items for consideration by the commission, one of which was the determination of which streets required repairs, to be financed though the Municipal Aid Road Fund; and the other, to begin the process of determining the Alcohol Beverage Control, ABC fee, prior to the drafting of the 2020-2021 city budget.

Whitledge explained a public hearing would be required prior to the city’s determination of the fee to be established for the coming fiscal year, during which Fulton Police Chief Terry Powell would present data regarding the preceding year’s numbers for alcohol-related calls made by the FPD.

As to an update regarding Covid-19, Gunn reported no cases currently known in the city, and all staff healthy. He noted he communicated on a daily basis with Hickman City and Fulton County officials and to date, emergency protective equipment such as masks and sanitizer was readily in supply for local emergency healthcare providers and city staff.

He said he had continued to track expenses for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA records and at this point had understood there was no cap on expenses, with 100% reimbursement available.

Gunn referenced a previously forwarded memo, to each commissioner and the mayor, providing them with updates as to public and business compliance with social distancing; mowing season has begun within the city, with staffing stretched as a result of not being able to utilize inmate labor at this time. However, Gunn noted a seasonal worker had been hired to be assigned to Code Enforcement, to maintain all lots the city abates to mow.

Plans are moving ahead with the city budget, with the City Manager indicating the compilation of “a budget as if nothing has happened and a budget reflecting estimated revenue losses for the city, due to the business closures and limited capacity, which could cause a reduction in tax revenues.”

The commission adjourned from open public session into closed executive session for the purpose of discussion pursuant to Kentucky Revised Statute, for proposed litigation, according to City Attorney Allison Whitledge and returned to open session, to report no action taken.

Prior to adjournment from the commission meeting, Commissioner Forrester commended the Fulton Police Department officer who was instrumental in reporting a fire earlier in the day.

The commission, through Municipal Orders 2019-133 and 2019-139, approved minutes from the March 9 and March 23 commission meetings, respectively, with a notation for correction to the minutes made regarding Fulton Police Chief Terry Powell, Fulton Fire Chief Terry Rudolph and Chief Financial Officer Lisa Morgan having been erroneously recorded as being present for those meetings.