By Carolyn Reid
FALMOUTH — Falmouth City Council appointed Jared Brown as assistant fire chief of Falmouth Fire Department in its regular meeting last Tuesday.
Brown was sworn in by Ramona Williams, city clerk, in front of his family and fellow fire department members, including Chief John Lucas.
Mayor Luke Price praised Brown’s record of 21 qualifications and 20 years of service. Price clarified that Brown was already on the department. He also lives in Falmouth, making him readily available to the Falmouth community and surrounding areas, the mayor said.
Sabrina Hazen brought the setup of the joint recreation commission, a concern she has addressed in the past. Her concern, she states, is the commission is not set up by law.
She said she found the memorandum of understanding, a list of all entities involved, that was drawn up in 2002. That memo states that any “similar subsequent inter-local agreement would need to go through the same process and approval” as was set forth in the 2002 memo.
The memo lists the Pendleton County School Board, the City of Falmouth, and the PC Fiscal Court and entering the agreement to “develop and maintain recreational facilities for school and community purposes on school property.”
The memorandum references Kentucky Revised Statutes 97, and Hazen attests no board was properly set up to oversee the grounds and program as has been set up in recent years.
Hazen also points to the appearance the city was “thrown out” of having city representatives on the commission that was put in place several years ago to oversee the program. That happened in 2023 after parents and community leaders met in a forum to register and address complaints from parents regarding the program.
City Attorney Brandon Voelker observed the commission, that states it adopted the Special Purpose Governmental Entity site does not list the commission.
Hazen said the 2023 agreement is not approved by the Kentucky State Board of Education, and it does not have a true interlocal agreement because the agreement was not done properly.
Voelker encouraged the mayor to address the concern with the school board and explain to them the city would go to the Kentucky Department of Education if this concern is not resolved.
He said he is concerned that children in the community are being or could be disparaged against (referencing Title IX) if proper channels are not followed and the commission and its parties do not have the proper oversight and audits.
Before the discussion was abandoned, Voelker also questioned the school’s involvement with the commission that uses gambling as a fundraiser.
OTHER BUSINESS
• City Council unanimously accepted the compensating rate for ad valorum taxes at .555. Personal tax rates are set at .704, and motor vehicle will stay at .204. The motor vehicle rate cannot be changed by the council.
The Consumer Price Index, which allows the city to raise or leave utility rates, was introduced by the mayor, who said he did not believe the city needed higher rates. Council voted to maintain the current rates.
• Cardinal Ridge subdivision roads will be blacktopped during the month of October. Wilson Lane Sewer Project has been approved by the state, and bid sheets, Price said, would be ready by the following week. Reed’s Construction of the Louisville area has also been requested to analyze the sidewalks across the city, looking at leveling sections while replacing others.
Tami Vater, director of Pendleton County Economic Development and Tourism, came to council to introduce herself and to tell the council she is looking at small business development, tax credits and microgrants for businesses in the county.
Price told Vater the council had a small business line item set for $20,000, and suggested she could help guide the committee in awarding those grants.
During council comments at the end of the meeting, Councilman Brian Reid encouraged his fellow councilpersons to attend meetings of the PC Fiscal Court, where Vater appears and gives a more in-depth look at what she can offer the county and possibly the city. Price responded he would reach out to Judge/Executive David Fields to see if they could work with Vater, as well.
• The maintenance contract for Enterprise, the company that provides the police vehicles, is a “huge conflict in the budget,” Price told council.
He said they could save approximately $100,000 in the budget. That money could possibly put enough money back in the budget to have 24-hour police coverage in the city; also, the city could do its own maintenance at what is likely a more efficient process and price.
Council did not vote on the proposal at that time so Price could get an exact payoff for the council.
• Ramona Williams, City Clerk, announced closings on portions on the Klee Farm.
• Council voted in the new codification ordinance, and Voelker was directed to set an ordinance to allow Telecom to be in the right of way for 20 years in answer to the KY Wired Project.
• Falmouth City Council will hold a special meeting before its caucus Oct. 3. The special meeting will be the reading of the KY Wired Project ordinance.