Morganfield City Council discussed and approved the first reading of a curfew program ordinance that would make it against the law for any person under the age of 18 to be out in public within the city limits from 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Sunday through Friday.
Councilman Paul Monsour asked if they should change the 6:00 a.m. time to 5:00 or 5:30 a.m., but Morganfield’s Interim Police Chief, Assistant Chief Chris Toman, said he doesn’t feel the 6:00 a.m. time is a problem.
Councilman Dr. Darryl French then asked Toman if he was okay with the 11:00 p.m. time during weekdays.
To which Dr. French replied…
City Attorney Mike Williamson informed council they could move forward with the first reading and the ordinance could be amended to the 12:00 a.m. time during the summer prior to the second reading at the next council meeting.
Pursuant to the ordinance, one of the exceptions to the curfew would be if the minor is accompanied by an adult, with some additional exceptions listed. Councilmen unanimously approved the curfew ordinance and will have second reading at the next meeting. (I will post the entire curfew ordinance with this story on our website for the public to review on Monday.)
In other action, Councilman Gary Lovell stated he wants Williamson and City Administrator Gary Vetter to contact the League of Cities and find out if they can legally adopt an ordinance for the City to place some type of tax on unused buildings in the industrial park, and undeveloped properties.
Lovell added that they were strong-armed and it was extortion by Sykes out of Tampa, Florida.
And in other business, councilmen unanimously approved an asphalt bid submitted by Dunkerson Paving of over 37-thousand dollars for the walking trail extension; a resolution authorizing an assistance agreement between the City and the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority to provide over 3-million dollars of loan funds for wastewater system improvements; and a “Junk and Secondhand Dealers” Ordinance.
A motion was made to go into closed session to discuss personnel, but no action was taken.
The next regularly scheduled city council meeting will be Thursday, August 25, at 5:00 p.m.