On the Job

James Roberts

Mayor Tony Young, right, talks with new Councilman Greg Rice following Tuesday night's meeting.

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New faces and old business were the order of the day at Tuesday night's regular City Council meeting.

It marked the first Council meeting for new Mayor Tony Young and new Council members Vicki Mullins and Greg Rice.

Young's first order of business was to re-appoint Cary Noe as City Clerk, a move the Council gave unanimous approval. Young then recommended John C. Miller as City Attorney, which the Council also unanimously approved. Previous City Attorney John Bertram began his duties as County Attorney on Monday.

With the formalities out of the way, the Council got down to business and, while the meeting's main issue came under the heading of "New Business," it was an item the Council had dealt with before.

Young said he attended the recent Renaissance Committee meeting, at which some businesses owners asked the City to consider removing the two-hour limit on parking along Main Street.

Young said business owners are hearing complaints from customers who say two hours isn't enough time to eat and then shop downtown.

"This has come up through the years and we've always rejected it," Councilman David Nunery said.

Nunery said without the limit, employees would park in the spaces along Main Street while working, therefore occupying the spots all day.

"That is not really customer-friendly," Nunery said.

Campbellsville Police Chief Dennis Benningfield said police haven't fielded any parking complaints. He said the two-hour limit isn't really something that officers actively enforce because of staffing. If someone calls to complain about a parked vehicle, he said, an officer will drive by and note the time, then check on the vehicle two hours later.

Councilman Stan McKinney made a motion to remove the signs while reserving the right to revisit the issue at a later date. Councilman Jimmy Ewing seconded the motion. The motion failed, with McKinney casting the lone "yes" vote. Mullins abstained, saying she'd rather hear the Downtown Business Association members' thoughts before casting a vote.

Young said he would attend the next DBA meeting, which was set for the following day, and discuss the issue with them.

Also at the meeting:

• The Council approved the financial report for November. Revenue for the month came in at $796,640, which was less than the $882,630 budgeted. November expenses were $848,849, well above the $692,886 budgeted. Year-to-date revenue and year-to-date expenses are both over budget.
• The Council approved second reading of a voluntary annexation of property owned by Jerry Osborne, which is located on KY 55.
• Young recognized Campbellsville Water and Sewer employee David Revis for his 26 years of service to the City.
• Benningfield commended Campbellsville/Taylor County E-911 Supervisor Anne Sanders, Assistant Supervisor Ronnie Dooley and Senior Telecommunicator Randy McFall for their dispatching work during a multi-county chase on Dec. 8.
• Following the hour-long chase through Taylor and Green counties, police arrested Donald G. Brockman, 42, of Lexington and Jacquelyn Renee Smith, 25, and Timothy Ray Curry, 31, both of Campbellsville, on charges of second-degree burglary. The pursuit began when police responded to a report of a burglary in progress.
• Benningfield said Sanders, Dooley and McFall fielded numerous calls and radio transmissions while giving officers expert directions and information.
• The three received a standing ovation from the Council and the audience.