LEITCHFIELD -- Mayor William H. Thomason responded to a letter to the editor published in The Record last week. The letter made several accusations of misuse of funds and property by the City.

"In response to the letter, recently published, The Leitchfield City Council and Mayor believe it is necessary to set matters straight. Contrary to the statements in the letter, there was no 4% increase in the city property tax rate! Rather, the city tax rate remained the same, exactly the same as last year. This was precisely the tax rate originally proposed by the Mayor and unanimously approved by all the members of the council," This is just an excerpt from the letter. Mayor Thomason passed the letter to the council members and it was approved with a unanimous vote to send it to media outlets in the county for publication.

The next business conducted were the proposed zone changes approved last week by the Leitchfield Planning Commission. The changes dealt with property owned by Kenny Cornwell and Charlie Elmore. The first change discussed was Cornwell's property at 1107 Floyd Street. It is located in between light industrial facilities; Campbell Hausfeld and Fleming Foods. Cornwell had requested his lot's zone be changed from B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to C-1 (Highway Business). "The present use of the building on the lot is a motorcycle repair shop and it is not zoned correctly for that purpose," stated Zoning Administrator Keith Jones. Jones said that property owners near the property had asked a few questions concerning drainage, but no one spoke in opposition to the change. A set back variance was also included in the request. This request was approved by a unanimous vote of the council.

Elmore's request was to be changed from a R-2( Single Family dwelling) designation to B-1 (Neighborhood Business). This would allow the property to be used for business purposes and not limit it to residential use only. The property is located at 2115 Brandenburg Road and is the old Jodie Hall residence. "The change would be suitable because it fronts a major highway. There is no new construction planned, just a new use for the existing building," added Jones. This request was also approved with a unanimous vote by the council.

The council then tackled the Halloween holiday by declaring it would be officially recognized on Thursday, October 31st from the hours of 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Councilman Kelly Stevenson asked if the council could change the hours. He was informed that an ordinance set the times and it would require an amendment to the ordinance to change the times of the celebration. "We just don't have time to change it. The amendment would have to be advertised and run twice in the paper before it could be changed," said City Attorney Ken Smart. He also added that the times could be changed by this time next year if the council decided to do so. "I had been approached by parents wanting to start it around 4:00 p.m. so they could get their children back home before dark," said Stevenson. The council then approved the 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. times and said it would look into changing them before next year.

The council then entered into an executive session to discuss land acquisition. On its return to regular session, the council informed it would authorize Mayor Thomason to negotiate the sale of an as yet unidentified piece of city property.

The discussion then turned to the decoration of the Public Square. The council had previously paid for the planting of pansies in planters at the north and south ends of the Square. The county has declined to participate in the project in previous years. Councilwoman Dorothy McCallsaid she had contacted Kevin Collard, of Pine View Nursery in Leitchfield. "He suggested we do away with the Bradford pear trees at the north and south ends of the Public Square," said McCall. She went on the explain this would help better display the old county courthouse. "It is a beautiful old building," she added. 'And the pear trees aren't the best trees we could have there. Collard said they would break and spilt badly." She also said the roots of the trees are interfering with the growth of the flowers and the trees are also shading out and keeping rainfall from the flowers the city spends so much money on.

Collard recommended that the city continue to use annuals at the sites because of the bright colors of the plants. "The city could cut the offending trees down and remove the roots with a backhoe. Collard had estimated the cost to plant the flowers at the sites for a total of $600.

McCall said the Leitchfield Woman's Club would donate $100 towards the plantings. Councilman Stevenson moved to accept Collard's recommendation with the exception of the tree removal proposal. "We've gone through this before with the trees. Some want them cut down and others don't. We'll leave the trees.

Councilman Jim Blain asked how the building project at DeWitt Park was going. The city is constructing rest rooms at the site. The building is to be heated so it can be open during the winter months, stated Mayor Thomason. "If it gets too cold we will have to shut the facilities down until the weather warrants opening them back up." "I have also received a request to leave two of the rest rooms open at James D. Beville Park. Some of the people who walk at the track have asked if we could have the facilities opened." A few of the council's members asked if this facility was heated so it would not freeze during cold weather. The mayor said there was heat available. Someone also asked if there had been an estimate received on the lighting around the walking track. The only estimate received was for approximately $35,000 said Mayor Thomason. No one asked any more of the lighting proposal.

In new business the council talked about an old subject, the Sheridan Clark residence on South Broadway in Leitchfield. The residence had been brought up at several previous meetings. It is covered with decrepit equipment and other items viewed as refuse by complainants.

"Pat Davis brought me some pictures of the place," said McCall. "There's a mess surrounding that place. The mayor said he would have city workers take a letter to the resident and ask him to get the place in order. McCall also asked if the Utilities Commission had locked in gas prices for this winter. Her answer to that was no. "They have stated the prices haven't gone down, so they haven't locked in a price yet," said the mayor.

Councilman Stevenson then asked about the possibility of a Christmas display at City Park. "Other towns do it why can't we," he asked. City Attorney Ken Smart said the city had to be careful when it comes to religious figures being on city property. The possibility of having a display at Rough River Sate Park's Christmas display was also discussed.

The next regular scheduled meeting of the Leitchfield City Council is set for Monday, November 4th, 2002. It takes place at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall on West White Oak Street.