Clinton City officials ask Campbell for expenditure explanation

The Clinton City Council met Nov. 5 at City Hall in Clinton, with City Attorney Mary Potter, Mayor Phyllis Campbell, Chief Ben Natividad, City Clerk Shannon Payne, council members John Kelly, Betty Morrow, Howard Dillard, Tommy Kimbro, Fred Cox, and Chad Frizzell present.

In discussion the of amended the 2018-19 budget, Morrow said, “Street equipment has $18,000 to lease a backhoe that I don’t think we need.”

Campbell said that she had signed a lease for a new backhoe in October, because the cost of the lease would have increased by four percent at the beginning of November. Campbell added that she could back out of the lease.

Kimbro said, “The biggest thing is that any major expenditure should be brought before the council.”

Campbell presented the council with cost to rent a backhoe.

Morrow said that the rental cost are too high and that rental from a local business would be less expensive.

Kimbro added, “If we are wanting the convenience of having a backhoe on hand, we can get a good used one for $60,000.”

Campbell asked, “What would be the cost of a major repair?”

Cox stated that it would not be any different from the cost of purchasing used police cars.

A motion was passed by the council to explore options to purchase a used backhoe.

The 2018-19 budget amendment was not approved by the council.

Council member Morrow questioned if the sewer line on Josh Roberts’ property belongs to the city or if the line is Roberts’ responsibility to repair.

Mayor Campbell said that the line is Roberts’ responsibility, however an adjoining property owner has offered to allow Roberts to tie into the sewer line on their property to minimize Roberts’ expense.

In the police report, Natividad reported that the buyers who had offered $4,000 for the 2006 Dodge Charger had both backed out. Natividad said that the next highest offer is $3,000. Natividad said that the value of the vehicle is near $7,000.

After discussing the options for selling the 2006 Dodge Charger, the council advised Natividad to hold out for a minimum offer of $4,000.

Laurie McMillan told the council that she had pled guilty in district court and made payment arrangements for her past due trash bill. McMillan said that she had paid her trash bill for the current quarter, however due to a recent heart attack was not able to make a past due payment. McMillan said that she had contacted city hall and that payment had been waived, however her trash was not being picked up. McMillan asked the council what she needed to do to have her trash removal service restored.

Mayor Campbell advised McMillan to come to city hall and the city would work with her so McMillan will have trash removal service. Campbell said, “This is why it is important for people to come to City Hall, because we try to work with everyone.”

Campbell presented a revised nuisance ordinance to the council.

“What I am hearing is that we are putting too much on people,” Morrow said, “I’m not in favor of making any changes.”

After the council discussed amending the nuisance ordinance, no changes were made.

Jason Batts and Bruce Kimbell requested that the city close an abandoned alleyway that runs parallel to Highway 58. Batts told council members that there is no modern record of the alleyway and that most of it is under existing buildings, such as Kentucky Farm Bureau. Batts explained that closing the alleyway was a formality to clear up the title.

Kimbell told council members that First Community Bank of the Heartland would like to construct an office building, however wants to ensure road access.

The council voted to pass an amendment closing the abandoned alleyway running parallel to Highway 58.