Calvert City Council on Monday voted unanimously to adopt the city’s new zoning ordinance, which will allow the city to keep to its standards and vision for development throughout the city.
The 90-page ordinance outlines acceptable standards for residential and commercial properties throughout city limits, as well as those related strictly to well-head protection near areas of Lone Valley Road outside city limits. The ordinance was drafted over the course of several months and bearing in mind the city’s comprehensive plan, initially adopted in 2007 and updated in 2014.
“I will tell you, it feels very, very good that Calvert City has this zoning ordinance before it that Calvert City prepared,” City Attorney Greg Northcutt said. “Calvert City people, looking after Calvert City’s interests, preparing Calvert City’s ordinance. And they have put forth an enormous amount of effort to create what I think is an excellent piece of work.”
The city in May sought approval from the Marshall County Fiscal Court to seek additional zoning privileges in the wellhead protection district, however the court declined to extend those privileges beyond protection of the city’s aquifer. The new ordinance gives power to the city’s Planning Commission to consider development plans in the district and gives authority to prevent the introduction of petroleum products or various other potentially harmful substances – like those found on the Federal Hazardous Waste List – into the aquifer.
In addition, the ordinance regulates sexually-oriented businesses, such as “adult arcades” or “semi-nude lounges,” to operation only within a Light Industrial zone. Such businesses may not operate within 1,000 feet of each other, nor may they operate within 1,000 feet of a church, public or private school, nursery school or any structure containing a residential dwelling or rooming unit.
See the full zoning ordinance here.
The city is also considering slightly decreased tax rates on real estate and personal property for the year. The council held the first reading of the new tax ordinance, which would adopt the compensating rate for the year, should council adopt at its next meeting. City Clerk and Treasurer Ralph Howard said the compensating rate would generate revenues equivalent from that of the year before, though percentage assessed was actually down.
“It’s a very slight rate decrease producing somewhat more revenue because of increases in property,” Howard said. “… The computation the wary it works – going back to state law several years ago – you really don’t benefit too much from inflation but you do benefit from actual increases in property. The additional house or plants increasing their inventory, that kind of thing.”
The proposed tax ordinance would assess 24.4 cents per $100 of assessed value on real and personal properties, down from 24.8 cents last year. Assessed rates on motor vehicles and watercraft would be set at 25 cents per $100 of assessed property value, a rate that would remain unchanged from the prior year.
Howard said Calvert City’s total assessed property value was about $435 million. The city maintains a 99.2 percent collection rate.
The council will hear the second reading and consider adoption of the ordinance during its Sept. 11 meeting at Calvert City Hall.
In addition to zoning and tax assessment ordinances, the city will consider whether to add a marketing position to its list of personnel. Council members discussed the benefits of bringing a single person onto the city’s payroll versus contracting with a PR firm to promote Calvert City growth. Councilman Gene Colburn said he was open to either, though signing with a firm could bring a wider range of abilities and experience to the table to begin from scratch.
“When you hire somebody into a new position that’s not an established position, then somebody is going to have to bring a fair amount of experience to that,” Colburn said. “And you’ve got nothing. I mean there’s nothing. We’ve got to start this from square zero. … But you’ve got to have quite a bit experience there. So, if we started an effort up, somehow, contract (a) firm and we directed it and did it that way, then maybe … a better position for a person to move into, take over an existing program.”
Councilwoman Neeta Hale disagreed, saying bringing on local talent might be more suited for the role as someone with a vested interest and ties to the community.
“We need a champion for Calvert City,” Hale said. “And I think that’s what we need, and I don’t think you’ll get a champion for Calvert City at a firm. You know, I think we’re going to have to have somebody who has the heart for it.”
Northcutt advised council members to consider looking at up and coming talent looking to make a name for themselves in the industry.
“Not looking to please everybody and create a permanent spot for himself here,” Northcutt said. “But a person who might want to come in and make a name for himself by having turned the community around and created a billboard for himself here. … I’m just throwing that out for you to think about. If you could find somebody who would see this as a challenge and think, ‘You know, if I can make an enormous mark here, that’ll be great for my career.’”
The council ultimately determined to advertise the position to solicit proposals open to individuals or firms for consideration in an approach designed to gauge interest. Calvert City Mayor Lynn Jones said he hopes to advertise the position immediately and begin interviewing for the position next month.
In other business, the council:
- Approved a $26,352 purchase, plus 10 percent installation fee from American Ramp Company based in Joplin, Mo., for a new ramp and associated work at the Calvert City Skate Park;
- announced a grand opening ceremony for the new splash pad/lighted fountain in Memorial Park set for 1 p.m. Sept. 8;
- approved a change order to walking trail work to include larger piping for culverts to alleviate drainage and flooding issues near the old park, which could cost an estimated $35,000; and
- agreed to meet with the Riverport Authority and the fiscal court to hear a proposal on the MacFarland Road project at a date to be determined.