<![CDATA[KLC RSS Feed]]>http://www.klc.org/en-gb60<![CDATA[City Officials Academy II: Advanced Topics]]>http://www.klc.org/news_detail.asp?article=1690City Officials Academy II: Advanced Topics
April 26-27, 2012
Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel
830 Phillips Lane
Louisville, Kentucky 40209

Online Registration

Download Agenda

Conference Registration fee: $139 KLC Member; $199 Non-member
Special hetel room rates:  $99 single/$112 double


This information-packed conference is a follow-up to the popular City Officials Academy and is perfect for the seasoned city official as well as those who are new to city government.  No prerequisites are required. 

 

Sessions include:

Economic Development/Grants
Personnel Policies
Liability and Immunity
Alcohol and Beverage Control Laws
Budgets and Financial Documents
Annexation and Merger
The Legislative Process
City Regulation Potpourri

Contact Lynda Schwendeman at 1.800.876.4552 to register by phone.  This training opportunity is available in part through generous sponsorships from Collins & Company, Alexander Thompson Arnold CPA and Landrum & Shouse. For more information about COA II exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jeri McCullough.

 

Participants are eligible for a total of 10 credit hours through the City Officials Training Center/ House Bill 119. Up to seven hours of general continuing legal education and one hour of continuing legal ethics education is available, pending approval for CLE credit by the Kentucky Bar Association.   A total of 5 credit hours have been approved by the Kentucky Municipal Clerks Association. 

]]>3/21/2012<![CDATA[What kind of training would help your city? KLC needs to know!]]>http://www.klc.org/news_detail.asp?article=1713The Kentucky League of Cities exists to support city officials like you in your important job as a public servant. We recognize the value of timely, accessible training, and we want your feedback on how we can provide you with the right learning opportunities. Please participate in this short survey to let us know what training would benefit you the most. Take the survey here. It should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

Results will be used to determine training content for the 2012 KLC Conference & Expo, City Officials Academy, Host City trainings, webinars and more. The survey will be open until 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on March 29. The names of two lucky participants will be drawn to receive a $25 Visa gift cards.

If you would rather give feedback over the phone or have additional questions, please contact Sarah Razor at 1-800-876-4552 or srazor@klc.org. Thank you for your commitment to training.
]]>3/14/2012<![CDATA[Grant for Community Forests]]>http://www.klc.org/news_detail.asp?article=1714Grant for Community Forests

Application deadline May 15, 2012

Get more information

The USDA Forest Service Community Forest Program (CFP) protects forests that are important for people and the places they call home. Community forests provide many benefits such as places to recreate and enjoy nature; they protect habitat, water quality and other environmental benefits, and they can provide economic benefits through timber resources. Community forests have also long been sites for environmental and cultural education.

The Community Forest Program is a grant program that authorizes the Forest Service to provide financial assistance to local governments and qualified nonprofit entities to establish community forests that provide continuing and accessible community benefits.

Applications are due to the State Forester by May 15, 2012. Total CFP funding anticipated for awards is $3.15 million, and individual grant applications may not exceed $400,000.

State Foresters contact information
.

]]>3/14/2012<![CDATA[Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Grant]]>http://www.klc.org/news_detail.asp?article=1711New Grant for Community Health Outcomes

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Roadmaps to Health: Community Grants

Brief Proposals Deadline is May 2

The Roadmaps to Health: Community Grants program, an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, supports communities that seek to implement policy or system changes in order to address one of the social or economic factors that most strongly influence health outcomes in their community. These factors include education, employment and income, family and social support, and community safety. Up to 20 grants of up to $200,000 each will be provided to nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and/or tribal groups nationwide. Applying organizations should participate in established coalitions or networks that span multiple sectors and perspectives. The deadline for brief proposals is May 2, 2012; full proposals are due July 25, 2012. Visit the Foundation's website to review the Call for Proposals and submit an online proposal.

View grant information.

 

]]>3/8/2012<![CDATA[Cities facing two percent revenue decline from telecommunications tax ]]>http://www.klc.org/news_detail.asp?article=1681Beginning in January, most cities will receive approximately 2 percent less in telecommunications tax revenue each month after a recent denial from the Kentucky Supreme Court to review a ruling of the Kentucky Court of Appeals decision in the Department of Revenue v. Lexington Fayette Urban County Government (Case No. 2009-CA-2220).

Each city has a historical collection percentage used to calculate the hold harmless distribution amount it receives, and if there is a substantial change in the city’s base revenue, the historical collection percentage could be altered. This in turn changes the monthly hold harmless distribution amount.

The Court of Appeals held that payments received from a 2005 increase in a local franchise fee rate did constitute a substantial change in base revenue for Lexington, which means the city’s historical collection percentage has changed. Because the total monthly hold harmless distribution amount for all political subdivisions is set by statute, the adjustment to Lexington’s percentage means the percentage received by all other cities must be adjusted as well.

Your city should have received a letter from the Kentucky Department of Revenue this matter. The Department of Revenue will send city governments another letter on January 25 that confirms the revised monthly payment.

For more information about the two percent decrease, please contact the KLC Legal Department at 1-800-876-4552.

Telecommunication Tax Updates

In September 2011, the cities of Greensburg, Mayfield, Winchester and Florence and the Kentucky League of Cities filed a lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment that the state telecommunications tax is unconstitutional. The 2005 state telecommunications tax law purports to take away the constitutional rights of cities to impose local franchise fees on telecommunications companies and replace them with a portion of the revenues generated from the state taxes. Read more here. In December 2011, an organization that represents 18 cable companies in Kentucky was granted permission to intervene as a defendant in this lawsuit. KLC will keep you informed of any changes in the lawsuit.

Long recognizing the strain the telecommunication tax takes on city budgets, KLC has worked for seven years to correct the shortfall through the legislature. House Bill 33, sponsored by Representative Ron Crimm (R-Louisville) was recently filed in the General Assembly to add approximately $7.5 million to the annual hold harmless fund to accurately account for the total revenues local governments were receiving prior to the passage of the telecommunications excise tax law in 2005. Unfortunately, the state's own budget problems have prevented successful passage of such legislation, despite bipartisan support. Please watch the KLC Bill Tracker for updates.

]]>3/8/2012<![CDATA[KLCIS Disaster Recovery Services]]>http://www.klc.org/news_detail.asp?article=1708Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and communities that have been impacted by the storms that blanketed the state in recent days. At times like these, your insurance program is prepared and ready to stand with you.

Years ago, KLCIS made the commitment to make available disaster recovery services to our insured property members. In times of need, KLCIS can provide mobile offices including sewer and water, generators, computers, satellite phone and internet.

If you need immediate assistance please contact Doug Goforth, Chief Insurance Services Officer at 1-800-876-4552 or (859) 576-8080, Ned Wertz, Director of Claims and Underwriting at (859) 333-6589 or Joe O’Nan Director of Agency Operations at (859) 351-8643.

Normal non-emergency claims can still be submitted by contacting Collins & Company at 1-800-884-1535.


]]>3/7/2012<![CDATA[KLCIS Disaster Recovery Services]]>http://www.klc.org/news_detail.asp?article=1708Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and communities that have been impacted by the storms that blanketed the state in recent days. At times like these, your insurance program is prepared and ready to stand with you.

Years ago, KLCIS made the commitment to make available disaster recovery services to our insured property members. In times of need, KLCIS can provide mobile offices including sewer and water, generators, computers, satellite phone and internet.

If you need immediate assistance please contact Doug Goforth, Chief Insurance Services Officer at 1-800-876-4552 or (859) 576-8080, Ned Wertz, Director of Claims and Underwriting at (859) 333-6589 or Joe O’Nan Director of Agency Operations at (859) 351-8643.

Normal non-emergency claims can still be submitted by contacting Collins & Company at 1-800-884-1535.


]]>3/7/2012<![CDATA[March 21- Mayors for Meals/Leaders for Lunches ]]>http://www.klc.org/news_detail.asp?article=1538Local Elected Officials Encouraged to Participate in
Mayors for Meals/Leaders for Lunches Senior Meals Delivery Program on March 21
Sign up here and be recognized nationally by Meals on Wheels ®

Kentucky’s elected officials, including many mayors, councilmembers and commissioners are encouraged to participate in the annual Mayors for Meals/Leaders for Lunches events in March.

The national March 21 event invites elected officials to provide assistance to their local senior food service program such as Meals on Wheels ® or senior citizen center meal programs. Typically, mayors, councilmembers and commissions go along on meal deliveries or serve meals for the day. 

Logan Goulett of Meals on Wheels ® of America Association (MOWAA) said the national event scheduled for March 23 brings focus to the issue of senior hunger. MOWAA estimates that there are more than 7.5 million seniors in America regularly facing hunger. Approximately 300,000 seniors are served through food assistance programs in Kentucky alone. 

If you’d like to participate, contact your local program and ask them if they are participating in the Mayors for Meals/Leaders for Lunches event. If you do participate, encourage your local media to help bring attention to the cause of local hunger issues.

The Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) has created resources to help local elected officials participate and bring awareness to the need for local assistance programs and volunteers.

Resources


Contact Terri Johnson at 800.876.4552 if you plan to participate in your community’s Mayors for Meals/ Leaders for Lunch events and share photos with us which we will use in our upcoming issue of Kentucky City magazine.  We also invite you to post photos on the KLC Facebook page.

Contact your local senior meals delivery program and offer to help out on March 21, then register with Meals on Wheels ® (link above) to be recognized nationally for your participation.

 

Download a sample news release to use with your local media. 

Find a program near you go to MOWAA website.

Fast facts about senior citizens and hunger
• Kentucky ranks 20th among all states for food insecurity among senior Americans.
• Nearly 300,000 Kentucky seniors receive food assistance through delivery or congregate services.
• There are more than 7.5 seniors regularly facing hunger in America.
• Hunger affects seniors in all parts of Kentucky, from urban neighborhoods to rural communities.
• Every seven seconds another person turns 60 (the age when people qualify for Meals on Wheels).
• Food programs allow people to get a nutritious meal as well as remain in their homes.
• Of clients receiving food assistance, 43 percent are widowed, 45 percent are disabled and 31 percent live alone.
• There are some more than 5,000 local senior nutrition programs in the United States.
• An estimated 1.5 million volunteers work with senior food service programs, the single largest volunteer group in the nation.

Source: MOWAA

]]>3/6/2012<![CDATA[Planning & Zoning to Meet 55 Requirements]]>http://www.klc.org/news_detail.asp?article=1698The Kentucky League of Cities is offering  one of our most requested and highest rated community planning seminars two times this spring. “Planning & Zoning to Meet HB 55 Requirements” educates zoning administrators, planning commissioners, board of appeals members and legislative bodies on the intricacies of the proper way to conduct zoning procedures in your community. This course qualifies for 8 hours of HB 55 credit. You only need to attend in one location.

Registration Form

 

Hosted by the City of Maysville
Location:  Maysville Conference Center
Date:  Tuesday May 8, 2012
Time: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Registration Fee:  $49.00 KLC Member; $89.00 Nonmember
Presenter :  David Pike, Attorney and Managing Owner, Pike Legal Group, PLLC
Credit: 8 hours of HB 55 credit, City Officials Training credit, and/or HB 119 credit

Hosted by the City of Richmond
Location: City Hall, 239 West Main St., Richmond, KY 40475
Date: Wednesday, May 16
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Fee: $49 KLC Members; $89 Nonmember
Presenter: David Pike, Attorney and Managing Owner, Pike Legal Group, PLLC
Credit: 8 hours of HB 55 credit, City Officials Training Center credit, and/or  HB 119 credit

 

Full refunds will be issued on cancellations made three days prior to the event. To keep training costs affordable to all of our members, no refunds can be given after this deadline because of meal and material considerations. Credit card payments will be refunded to the card that made the charge for cancellations made within the time frame. Attendees may also chose to send another representative from his or her city to use the registration.

]]>2/23/2012<![CDATA[KLC serves as a "Friend of the Court"]]>http://www.klc.org/news_detail.asp?article=1671KLC recently filed an amicus curiae brief with the Kentucky Court of Appeals in the case of City of Taylorsville v. Spencer County Fiscal Court, et al. Serving as amicus curiae (which means “Friend of the Court”) allowed KLC to address the constitutionality of the charter county government statutes from the perspective of cities. After a charter government task force in Spencer County submitted a petition to the county clerk to start the merger process, the City of Taylorsville filed a lawsuit in Spencer County Circuit Court challenging the validity of the petition and the constitutionality of the charter county government statutes. After the Circuit Court ruled that the petition was valid and the statutes were constitutional, Taylorsville appealed the decision to the Kentucky Court of Appeals.

KLC argued that the statutes are unconstitutionally vague, because they do not establish clear standards for filing a petition to initiate merger, or a workable method for appointing members to the charter county study commission that is required to submit a merger plan to the voters. This lack of clear procedures makes it impossible to form a valid charter county government, as demonstrated in Spencer County.

This is a very important issue for cities, because the charter county government process weighs heavily in favor of counties and could possibly result in merger even if city residents and officials oppose the decision. KLC filed the brief to urge the Court to consider the dangerous implications of allowing an unconstitutional statutory scheme to govern a process that already represses a city’s ability to determine the future of its government and the best interests of its citizens.

 
In the 2009 and 2010 legislative sessions, KLC initiatives were filed that advocated for the need to change the charter county government statutes. The bills would have put cities on an equal playing field with counties if charter county government was under consideration. Neither measure passed, but KLC will continue to pursue reform.


Much of the law affecting municipal government in Kentucky is shaped and made in the courts. This lawsuit is supported through the KLC Legal Advocacy Program, which represents the collective legal interests of KLC's member cities in courts throughout the Commonwealth. KLC will intervene as amicus curiae or otherwise assist municipal counsel with the preparation of a city's case-in-chief where KLC's participation is likely to positively advance cities' collective legal interests by establishing legal precedent that will help cities more effectively serve their citizens.

KLC will keep you updated regarding the outcome of this case. For more information about KLC’s Legal Advocacy Program or charter county government, please contact the Legal Department at 1-800-876-4552.

]]>2/15/2012<![CDATA[Proposed GASB Rules to Affect Pension Reporting]]>http://www.klc.org/news_detail.asp?article=1696
These two exposure drafts – generally the last public documents issued before the final rules are implemented – would amend GASB Statements 25 and 27. Statement 25 deals with financial statements of pension plans, while Statement 27 deals with financial statements of covered employers. Although these changes have not been made final yet, they are expected to be adopted soon.

The Kentucky League of Cities has prepared a detailed research brief to explain how the GASB change could affect your city. View the Proposed GASB Rules to Affect Pension Reporting brief here. Also, watch for more information in the May edition of Kentucky Cities. For additional questions, please contact Joseph Coleman at 1-800-876-4552.
]]>2/9/2012<![CDATA[KLC Bill Tracker]]>http://www.klc.org/news_detail.asp?article=1496 Check out the KLC Bill Tracker to find bills that could impact your city.  Whether you are interested in just a general overview or the specific language and history of a bill, searching is simple.

You can use the Bill Tracker to find out what legislation has been introduced, where it is in the legislative process and what KLC's position is on it.

  • Search for bills KLC is tracking by topic, date filed, monitoring level or bill number.
  • See staff comments and position on bills.
  • Send staff an e-mail with your feedback about legislation. 

You can bookmark the tracking page directly at www.ciclt.net/klc.   The bills are also recapped in the KLC Legislative Bulletin, a weekly eblast sent to members every Friday.  

 

Contact Sarah Razor at 1-800-876-4552 or srazor@klc.org for more information.  

]]>1/14/2012<![CDATA[2012 Legislative Agenda]]>http://www.klc.org/news_detail.asp?article=1632 The 2012 Legislative Agenda serves the Kentucky League of Cities basis for advocacy in Frankfort.

Immediately after each session, KLC staff travels the state to educate city officials on recently enacted legislation and solict ideas for new legislative initiatives.  These ideas are paired with staff analysis and presented to the Board of Directors.  The KLC Board of Directors is made up of more than 50 city officials who represent each region of the state and cities of all sizes, and includes representatives from various affiliate organizations related to city interests.  The Board meets extensively to discuss and evaluate the suggestions from member citeis and prepares a legislative agenda.  Additionally, priorities are ranked so that staff can better focus time and resources.  The top four issues for cities for the 2012 session include:

1. Retirement reform
2. Drug abuse
3. Revenue issues and city classification
4. 911 funding shortfall

In addition, cities will pursue legislative changes regarding procurement, firefighter overtime back pay issues related to retirement, code enforcement, charter county government and more. It will take action from all KLC members to be successful.

]]>1/12/2012<![CDATA[KLCIS Online University]]>http://www.klc.org/news_detail.asp?article=1000 We’ve just recently added nineteen (19) new courses. That means you now have 243 courses to select from. There’s no doubt that the Online University can be a good fit for your training budget!

Click here to print our current Course Catalog

The KLC/KLCIS Online University is a web-based online training venue with both health/safety and human capital management courses that can meet a wide variety of your employee training needs.

Because you can train more employees for less cost, you will be taking a giant step in the right direction to reduce liability exposure as well as on-the-job injuries and workers compensation claims. And, you will have an excellent employee training program that is flexible and available 24/7, plus it fully documents every course taken by every participating employee.

If you like, please take a few minutes and watch one or more of these course demonstrations:

Bloodborne Pathogens

General Ergonomics

Preventing Discrimination

Workplace Stress

All “Health and Safety” and “Driver Safety” courses qualify employees for credit in the KMESHA Community Safety and Health Certificate program.

In addition, all “Human Capital Management”, “Business Skills”, and “PC Desktop” courses qualify employees for credit in the (COTC) City Officials Training Center Awards program.

Best of all, the Online University includes 65 courses that qualify for credit if any employees are enrolled in the University of Phoenix Degree program.

KEY ELEMENTS OF THE KLC/KLCIS ONLINE UNIVERSITY program:

Benefits
• Online training can lower direct training cost
• Reduces employee downtime for required training
• Simplifies student tracking and records management
• Click here to see our Brochure

24/7 Access (even from home)
• Online University is completely web-based
• Employees have complete flexibility as to when and where to take training
• Only an Internet connection and a browser is required

Self Paced
• Employees can take courses at their own pace
• If an employee is interrupted and has to stop, the Online University benchmarks where they left off

Easy to Comprehend
• No experience is required
• Courses include audio, video and text
• Courses include case studies, quizzes and a final exam

To learn more about the Online University, or to schedule an onsite presentation for your organization, email Kirby Ramsey or call him at 1-800-876-4552.

]]>11/29/2011<![CDATA[KLCIS Online University Classes Now Board Certified ]]>http://www.klc.org/news_detail.asp?article=1622
Good News for Drinking Water/Wastewater System Operators Continuing Education

Certified operators of drinking water, wastewater and collection systems in Kentucky are required to earn continuing education credits in order to periodically renew their certifications. Training that is used for renewal of certifications must be approved by the respective boards (Kentucky Board of Certification of Water Treatment and Distribution System Operators and/or the Kentucky Board of Certification of Wastewater System Operators).

The Kentucky League of Cities Insurance Services (KLCIS) submitted an application to the Department of Environmental Protection/Division of Compliance Assistance to be a sponsor of board-approved courses for seven (7) online courses in the KLC/KLCIS Online University program . Written approval from the state has been received by the League and the following Online University courses can be utilized by both Wastewater and Drinking Water Operators to achieve their continuing education credits:


Course Title                   Course         No. Hours Approved             DCA Event ID No.

Bloodborne Pathogens     BP15            1.0  WW & DW                       9836

Confined Space Entry      CS15            1.0 WW & DW                        9837

Electrical Safety              ES15            1.0 WW & DW                        9838

Lockout/Tagout                LT15             1.0 WW & DW                        9839

Personal Protective
Equipment                      PE15             1.0 WW & DW                       9840 

Trenching &
Excavation Safety            TE15             1.0 WW & DW                       9841 

Hazard Communications  HC15             1.0 WW & DW                       9842 

"This will be a huge cost savings for cities," said Doug Goforth, KLCIS Chief Insurance Officer. "It will dramatically save on time and travel costs."

Having the opportunity to take one or more of these seven (7) Online University courses can help Wastewater and Drinking Water Operators achieve their continuing education credits while at the same time reducing the amount of travel and classroom time away from their important jobs.

The Online University is an added feature of the Kentucky League of Cities Insurance Services program. It offers over 240 online training courses for all municipal employees in subjects such as health and safety as well as human capital management. Members and utilities can contact Kirby Ramsey, Member Services Field Agent, at 270.779.5205 to schedule a presentation and receive more information on how to purchase course credits and set up their Online University account.

]]>11/29/2011<![CDATA[Gun Regulations]]>http://www.klc.org/news_detail.asp?article=1655 Local gun regulation can be a controversial and challenging topic in your city. Due to the federal and state constitutional right to bear arms, Kentucky cities can only regulate firearms in very limited circumstances specifically authorized by state statutes or case law. Below are some must-know facts about gun laws in Kentucky that affect a city’s ability to regulate when and where citizens carry weapons.

Here’s what you CAN do:

  • A city can enact regulations or ordinances prohibiting or limiting the carrying of concealed deadly weapons in buildings or portions of buildings owned, leased, or controlled by that city, such as city hall or council chambers. The ordinance must contain an exception for any building used for public housing, highway rest areas, firing ranges, and private dwellings, even though the city owns, leases or controls the building.
     
  •  A city can impose penalties that deny access to the building or require the person to leave the building, and city employees who violate the concealed weapon ordinance can be subjected to disciplinary measures.
     
  •  If a city enacts a concealed weapon ordinance, the city must post clearly identified signs at the entrance to the restricted area.
     
  •  A city can regulate discharge of firearms within the city limits.

 

The law is clear about what your city CANNOT do. Stay away from the following approaches.

  • A city cannot use zoning ordinances to prohibit certain federally licensed firearms businesses from locating within the city.
     
  • A city cannot prohibit or limit concealed deadly weapons on grounds outside of the actual building, such as park grounds.
     
  • A city cannot prohibit citizens from openly carrying deadly weapons anywhere on city property.
     
  • A city cannot impose criminal penalties for violating a concealed weapon ordinance.
     
  • A city cannot seize or revoke the right to carry a deadly weapon if that weapon is legally possessed, even in times of an emergency or disaster.


Cities should review their ordinances to ensure they are in compliance with these laws. Contact the KLC Legal Department at 800-876-4552 for sample ordinances and more information.

]]>11/22/2011