Wastewater project now complete at Clinton facility

The Clinton City Council met on Monday, August 6 at City Hall in Clinton, as Mayor Campbell reported that the project at the wastewater treatment facility was completed last week.

Campbell said following a citizen’s question concerning the remaining balance of the 2010 loan from Utilities, Inc. that she had those figures. The original loan was $1,000,312, $857,422.70 has been paid, and the current balance owed is $455,577.30.

The police report listed several citations for city ordinance violations. Campbell said that recently the court has been imposing more penalties and the city is seeing results.

In the street report, Campbell said that the lease on the backhoe the city maintenance workers use will soon be up and the council needs to begin considering if the city would like to purchase the backhoe. Campbell said the lease began in 2016 and cost the city $7,909.92 per year. The mayor said that the backhoe was used 210.25 hours in 2017 and to date has been used 114 hours in 2018. The lowest bid the city received to contract backhoe work prior to the lease was for $85 per hour, which would have cost the city $17,871.25 in 2017 and $9,690 in 2018. Campbell said that she will have the price to purchase the backhoe at the September meeting for the council to consider.

Campbell said that three properties on West Clay street have been torn down and most of the properties cleaned up. Campbell said that she plans to hold fundraisers to raise money to restore the tennis courts and create a splash park in that area.

Helen Greer said that the abandoned property across the street from her on Webb Lane has not had the grass cut and asked if the city could do something about it.

Campbell said that she would send the city maintenance workers to clean the property up.

Jerome Jenkins said that the backyards in a 200-foot section from 411 Blair Street continuing north are being flooded with rain water running from a corn field and asked that the city do something to redirect the water away from those houses.

Campbell said that she would have the city maintenance workers look at that area.

Ivan Potter said the Historical Society will be hosting a celebration on September 6 to recognize 200 years of the Jackson Purchase Area. Potter asked for the city to donate $200 to help sponsor the event.

A motion was passed by the council to donate $200 to the Historical Society.

The council passed a motion to accept Ordinance 2018-08-01 to establish the wastewater budget.

Ordinance 2017-08-03 amending the 2017-2018 budget was approved by the council. Campbell said the city had ended the fiscal year $20,000 under the budget amount.

A motion was passed by the council to allow Mary Potter to file a motion to intervene as city against the proposed water rate increase by Utilities, Inc.

Potter told the council that the Old Hymn Sing will be held on Friday, September 7 at the United Methodist Church in Clinton as part of the Heritage Week program and invited everyone to attend. Heritage Days will kick off with a luncheon at the Hickman County Memorial Library and Clinton Woman’s Club on Wednesday, September 5. The Historical Society will hold a lunch on Thursday, September 6. Clinton City Hall will hold an open house on Friday, September 7. The event will end with the Rumble on the River Car Show at Columbus-Belmont State Park on September 8.

A motion was passed by the council to not increase city property tax rates.

The council passed a motion to renew the current contract with Freedom Waste, Inc. at the same rates citizens are currently paying.

The council discussed the need to amend the current nuisance ordinance following an event that resulted in the deaths of 35 chickens.

Potter said that she has reviewed poultry laws that other Kentucky cities have passed that would help prevent another event like that from occurring.

Campbell said that she will prepare a list of potential nuisance ordinance revisions for the September meeting and requested that council members also prepare a list of suggestions for consideration.

Present at the meeting were City Attorney Mary Potter, Mayor Phyllis Campbell, Chief Ben Natividad, City Clerk Shannon Payne, council members John Kelly, Betty Morrow, Tommy Kimbro, Fred Cox, and Chad Frizzell.

With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned and the next meeting scheduled for Sept. 10 at 5 p.m.