Residents in the area of Sunbeam road turned out in force on Monday night to voice their concerns that a sidewalk will be constructed there as promised.

Aubrey Stevenson spoke for the group, saying, "We just want to make sure it (the sidewalk project) doesn't end up on the back burner.

Leitchfield Mayor Bill Thomason assured the group that the project is on track and that a representative of the P&L Railroad had been contacted about the engineer's plans to apply a rubber facing on the railroad tracks with black top in between the rails.

Thomason went on to say that before construction begins, easements with area residents must be settled.

The mayor expects phase one of the project to be completed by spring.

Stevenson congratulated the council on its achievements in the city, most notably the walking trail in the park.

The council had the first reading of the ad valorem tax ordinance. As read, the tax will entail 12 cents per $100 on motor vehicles; 11.4 cents per $100 on other property; and 11.0 cents per $100 for real estate property.

The ordinance carries a six percent penalty if paid late and a two percent discount if paid before the 30 day payment period is finished.

Additionally, the ordinance states that in April of each year a list of unpaid taxes will be published in the newspaper with the largest circulation.

Ann Huff visited the council again. City attorney Ken Smart addressed Huff's concerns from a previous council meeting in which she voiced opposition to one of the city's ordinances that provides the placement of a lien against property when the owner does not comply with the city's standards for mowing and trimming yards and lots.

It was Huff's concern that the city could take property if ordinances were not obeyed by property owners.

Smart assured Huff that there has never been a case involving the dispossession of a property owner due to a mowing infraction. The lien, he explained, was designed to reimburse the city for mowing when properties are eventually sold.

"We have never and do not plan to foreclose on anyone's property," Smart said. "The ordinance will remain as it is."

Huff disagreed by saying, "But you all won't be here forever."

A change in statewide statutes concerning new car lots and where they can have temporary sales resulted in another ordinance being passed by the council.

Smart informed the group that according to the statute passed in June, new car dealers must confine their sales to the site where the license states the business is. Temporary, off-site events, such as tent sales, must apply for a license for such in areas with the applicable ordinance in force. Additionally, a fair percentage of their inventory must be sampled for such an off-site sale.

In new business, councilor Dot McCall expressed concerns relayed to her about roadway patching needed on Commerce Drive.

Thomason said it would take approximately $42,000 to blacktop the area and with construction trucks frequently crossing the roadways there to the hospital, the better course of action could be the patching for this year. The council members agreed.

Kevin Mudd told the group that Kevin Collard recently trimmed shrubbery around the courthouse free of charge. According to Mudd, Collard has offered gardening care for the north and south islands of the courthouse free of charge, provided that four trees presumed to be Bradford pears, would be removed.

The matter will be decided at the next council meeting, which will be held Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 6 p.m. The regular meeting date falls on Monday, Sept. 1, which is Labor Day.

Thomason informed the council and visitors that WBKO had visited city hall that afternoon to investigate the intersection at Levette and U.S. 62. The intersection was the site of an accident during the past weekend. However, Thomason explained that the intersection was not the cause of the accident.

The mayor requested permission from the council to write a letter to the state requesting a turning lane for the intersection.