The Leitchfield City Council approved stipends for members of the Code Enforcement Board and Board of Adjustments at Monday night’s meeting.
She said she researched the board’s activities and noted that the last three meetings lasted less than eight minutes total.
“The last three meetings that they had … in April their meeting lasted 4:51; in December it lasted 1:16; and in September it lasted 1:16,” Haycraft noted while saying she could not support the board receiving $100 per month and the chair receiving $150 per month.
Councilman Billy Dallas, who said at the time, “I know it looks bad,” further stated that he would like members of the board to meet with the council to further discuss their activities and “get their side of the story.”
On Monday, Tyler Harrell, Director of Leitchfield Code Enforcement, told the council that the Board of Adjustments meets quarterly and is required by state statute to undergo continuing education.
The Board of Adjustments handles requests for exceptions to zoning regulations. The board reviews and makes final decisions on requests for variances, special exceptions and appeals. The board acts as a quasi-judicial body, meaning their decisions are similar to court rulings, requiring them to consider evidence and follow due process.
“They’re decisions are a final order on any decisions they make,” Harrell stressed, before adding: “I feel like we need to compensate them at the higher rate. It will be a lot more difficult for me to go to somebody and say, ‘We’re asking you to have more training,’ and not give them more compensation for it.”
The ordinance calling for Board of Adjustment members to receive a stipend of $100 per month and the board chair to receive $150 per month passed by a 5-1 vote, as Haycraft voted nay.
Code Enforcement Board
A discussion pertaining to compensation for Code Enforcement Board members also took place, as Harrell told the council that the board meets quarterly.
The board is notified of impending action scheduled to be taken against a property. If the property owner challenges the finding, the board decides to allow the property owner more time to alleviate the issue, or if immediate action should be taken.
Board members also inspect properties that are experiencing issues to assist the board in determining how to best move forward in dealing with a property, Harrell noted.
Dallas asked Harrell, since he works closely with the board, his opinion on bringing the board’s compensation to $100 per month with the chair receiving $150 per month:
“I think a board like that, it’s extremely difficult to get people willing to serve, and to have people in those positions to make the decisions they’re making, says a whole lot about those people,” Harrell said. “That they’re willing to go on their own time and verify the situation at hand before making those decisions.
“And going forward, if and when we need to replace them, we need to have people that are interested in doing the position and doing it for the right reasons, and I feel like in order to have good people in positions they need to be compensated.”
The council unanimously approved paying Code Enforcement board members $100 per month and the board chair $150 per month.
Paving work
Mayor Harold Miller said citizens may have noticed that paving work has begun on North Main Street and around the Town Square. He said that North Main Street from the railroad tracks (at Shelby St.) to the South Main Street intersection with the William Thomason Byway will be repaved in the coming weeks.
There will also be paving work completed this summer on city-maintained streets, Public Works Director Wesley Shull said.
Other city business
Councilman George Hack, after hearing from a constituent, brought up the idea of extending the hours at the Leitchfield Transfer Station which are currently Monday – Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Hack recommended extending the hours to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Shull agreed with the plan and said he may be able to have the new hours implemented by early July.
Councilwoman Terri Haycraft asked when the city will begin spraying for mosquitoes, as the pests are out in full force. She was told by Shull that spraying begins on Thursday.
Haycraft also requested the city utilize the Lincoln Trail Area Development District engineer, who’s helped the city deal with drainage issues over the last several months, determine how to best alleviate standing water/muddy ground at Firefighter’s Memorial Park on Brandenburg Road.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
