Beech Tree News Network

Morgantown City Council met in a Special Called Meeting September 4, at 6:00pm in the Eva J. Hawes Ag. and Expo Center.
After the meeting was called to order, the invocation was given by Gary Southerland, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Phelps. Quorum was determined on the absence of Council Member Sharon Johnson.
The minutes for the August 13 meeting were approved. As no changes were permitted to the agenda for the called meeting underway, and there was no Unfinished Business to discuss, the meeting went straight on to New Business to discuss the 2015 Property Tax Rate change, 2nd Reading Chief of Police Salary (Ordinance 2015-14), and 2nd Reading City Administrator Title Change (Ordinance 2015-12).
The 2015 Property Tax Rate change for the 2016 year under Ordinance 2015-13 was, as of the September 4 meeting, proposed at .116% property tax, a 4% increase, with a higher abandoned urban property rate of $1.50 per $100. Penalty structures were changed from 6% to 25% every 6 months.
All present were in favor of the first reading, and the motion carried.

2nd Reading Chief of Police Salary (Ordinance 2015-14):
Due to the KRS prohibiting police officers under salary from being active in patrol duty, a decision was made to change the MPD Chief from an annual salary to an hourly rate. The hourly rate, set at $19.08 per hour, is consistent with his usual salary, coming to the same annual amount. “This is the same salary he already makes, we’re just moving him from a salary to an hourly rate, which, by the way, we have to do by law because we lost an officer and he will be covering shifts.” Mayor Phelps stated. The motion was made and carried with a majority vote, though opposed a second time by Councilwoman Dionne Merritt.
When asked about her opposition, Councilwoman Merritt stated the following: “We have lowered our Council salary; we have lowered the Mayor’s salary. A few months ago we were worried about overtime salary. That’s my reason. It’s absolutely nothing against him.... It’s already done, it is what it is.”
2nd Reading City Administrator Title Change (Ordinance 2015-12):
The City Clerk’s title change from City Clerk/Treasurer to City Administrative Officer/Clerk was approved unanimously, with commentary from Mayor Phelps: “[The title change is] for this particular individual. That does not necessarily carry to the future.
Motion to adjourn was made and approved; meeting of the City Council was adjourned at 6:07pm.

***Morgantown Industrial Holding Corporation Called Meeting***

The Morgantown Industrial Holding Corporation held a special called meeting Friday, September 4, at the Eva J. Hawes Community Center. The meeting was called to order promptly at 5:45 and lasted just 13 minutes, beginning with the determination of quorum in the absence of a member, Sharon Johnson, followed by unanimous approval of minutes for the July 16, 2015, meeting.
Next a motion was made to go into a closed session under Kentucky Revised Statute 61.810 (b): “Deliberations on the future acquisition or sale of real property by a public agency, but only when publicity would be likely to affect the value of a specific piece of property to be acquired for public use or sold by a public agency.” The motion was seconded, and closed session commenced.

Open session continued with a motion for adjournment, and the meeting concluded at 5:58pm.

No final action was taken at the called meeting concerning the matter discussed under KRS 61.810. Should action be required, IHC would reconvene at a later date to further discuss the matter in an open meeting.

Story and photos by J. Harris, Beech Tree News