June/July 2011

What’s up...

• Website Info ............. 2

• Ordinance................. 3

• Tax Revenues &City Officials .............. 4

Coming soon....After much hard work,

the Seneca Gardens City Directory of 2011is near completion. Each resident will bereceiving a copy in the mail soon.

Thanks to all for your help on this!

Property CommitteeVolunteers Needed

The vast majority of residents show pride of ownership in

their Seneca Gardens’ home. There are beautiful and inspiring

home settings throughout. Even during this economically

trying time Seneca Gardens has been fortunate in not having a

high number of bank foreclosures. Unfortunately, numerous

cities throughout the Commonwealth could not make the same

statement. Homes subject to foreclosure, under foreclosure,

and foreclosed on were or were becoming public eyesores;

which, as a result, brought the surrounding homes’ values

downs. Throughout KY cities and affected homeowners

wanted interim repairs, remediation, and regular maintenance

performed on these eyesores. The problem was before July 1st,

2011 money spent by a city on such eyesores was most likely

not recoverable.

Currently, mortgage holder(s) hold ‘priority” lien rights.

This means a city that pays for eyesore improvements and files

a lien to recoup spent money when property was sold or fore-

closed on would not be reimbursed until 1st, 2nd, and 3rd

mortgage were paid. Continued on page 2

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Do you want to stay on top of the latestevents and news in and around yourneighborhood?

Visit:www.cityofsenecagardens.comSign up for listserv by emailing:info@cityofsenecagardens.comWrite “subscribe” in thesubject line.

Mortgage companies had

record number of foreclo-

sures. One could assume

these mortgage companies

did not allocate money for up

keep of the acquired proper-

ties. One could also assume

mortgage companies were

not too concerned when

“eyesore” complaints started

because mortgage carriers

had priority lien rights.

Senate Bill 135, which

becomes effective July 1st,

2011, reverses the order of

priority. In the situation cited

above, the city would have

“first lien” rights and will,

after July 1st, most likely be

reimbursed. Senate Bill 135

also provides reaffirmation

and clarification that 5th and

6th class cities do have the

right to enforce their ordi-

nances.

What does this mean to

Seneca Gardens’ residents?

Currently Seneca Gardens

can boast about having few

foreclosures; however, diffi-

cult economic times still

prevail, so that could change

at anytime. We also have

several pieces of property

needing repairs, remediation

and/or continued mainte-

nance in order to maintain

surrounding homes’ values.

There are also several issues

with residences not comply-

ing with Seneca Gardens’

ordinances that pertain to

structure or building and

health or safety (See –

cityofsenecagardens.com for

copy of ordinances).

As a result of SB135 there

will be a new Seneca Gardens

ordinance amending Chapter

150 and establishing proce-

dures for the abatement of

nuisances. First reading of

the ordinance was given on

June 20, 2011. The ordinance

calls for the creation of “Sen-

eca Gardens Property Com-

mittee”. The purpose and

function of this committee is

to hear and determine all

appeals taken with reference

to ordinance violations. The

Property Committee must

have a minimum of three but

not more than five individual

residents of Seneca Gardens.

Seneca Gardens is looking

for volunteers to serve on this

committee. This will be your

way of helping our city re-

main as one of the “Top Ten

Places” to live in Greater

Louisville. Please don’t hesi-

tate to call me for answers to

your questions or want to

discuss your concerns.

David L. BrownMayorC- 502-664-7275H- 502-452-2069

Continued from page 1

IN ACCORDANCE WITH KENTUCKY LAW, THE CITY OF SENECA GARDENS, KENTUCKYHEREBY PUBLISHES IT’S BUDGET ORDINANCE AND BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012.

ORDINANCE N0. 2011-01CITY OF SENECA GARDENS

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SENECA GARDENS, KENTUCKYRELATING TO AD VALORUM PROPERTY TAXES FOR CALENDAR YEAR

2011 FOR THE GENERAL OPERATION PURPOSE OF THE CITY

WHEREAS, in order to provide fiscal responsibility for its financial affairs, the City of Seneca Gardens,Kentucky (the “City”) strives to maintain a proposed plan for raising and spending money for specifiedprograms, functions, activities and objectives during each fiscal year (the “Budget”);

WHEREAS, the City has reviewed its current Budget for the fiscal year ending 2010 and finds that theCity is operating within its Budget and additionally finds the City’s current expenditures will not requireraising the property tax rate for the calendar year 2011 and thus, the City desires to maintain the cur-rent property tax rate;

WHEREAS, the Commission has reviewed and found that maintaining the same tax rate for the calen-dar year ending 2011 is necessary and proper and in the best interests of the City and its citizens; and

WHEREAS, the City further desires to comply with Chapter 91A of the Kentucky Revised Statutes(“KRS”) by enacting an Ordinance for the calendar year 2011 in compliance with the KRS.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SENECA GARDENS, KENTUCKY, that:

SECTION 1: January 1, 2011 is hereby set as the assessment date for all real property subject to citytaxation within the boundaries of the City of Seneca Gardens, Kentucky.

SECTION 2: The tax rate for the calendar year 2011 shall be at $0.2131 per $100.00 of the assessedvalue of the property (as determined by the Jefferson County Property Valuation Authority). Said taxshall be due and payable as follows:

Discount Date: 2% if paid by January 15, 2012Face Due Date: March 15, 2012Penalty and Interest: 10% of face amount if not paid by Face Due Date plus 1.5% per month

SECTION 3: The City Clerk or designee is directed to obtain a true copy of the Jefferson Countyassessment of property within the corporate limits of the City of Seneca Gardens and make out tax billstherefrom and mail same no later than January 15, 2012.

SECTION 4: The City Treasurer shall receive all remittances and account to the City. Collection of alldelinquent taxes shall be made in the manner described by law.

SECTION 5: The proceeds of such taxes are to be used for the general operating expenses of the City.

SECTION 6: This ordinance shall take effect after its passage and approval of the Commission of theCity and upon publication.

FIRST READING the 21st day of March, 2011SECOND READING the 16th day of May, 2011ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY AND EFFECTIVE the 16th day of May, 2011

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City of Seneca GarCity of Seneca GarCity of Seneca GarCity of Seneca GarCity of Seneca GardensdensdensdensdensPPPPP.O. Box 5217.O. Box 5217.O. Box 5217.O. Box 5217.O. Box 5217LLLLLouisville, Kouisville, Kouisville, Kouisville, Kouisville, KY 40255Y 40255Y 40255Y 40255Y 40255Seneca Gardens City Officials

MayorDavid Brown2547 Dell Rd. ....................452-2069

CommissionersCasey Clements2404 Seneca Valley Rd. ......456-4252

John Morris2501 Valletta Rd.. ..............458-3460

Greg Singlust2405 Valletta Rd. ...............454-7472

Joe Steffen2545 Dell Rd. ....................458-1119

ArboristMike Hayman2548 Seneca Dr. ................459-1130

TreasurerAndrea Brown2515 Meadow Rd.. ............456-4023

AttorneySchuyler Olt...........................................262-2802

ArchitectTim Winters...........................................893-2665

EngineerBill Mosier2611 Meadow Rd. .............485-1660

City ClerkBarbara Wieting2524 Broadmeade Rd. .......458-9869

BookkeeperRose Buckman

Life Threatening Emergency ...... 911

Louisville PoliceDouglas Blvd. ....................574-7636

FIRST CLASS MAIL

US POSTAGE PAID

LOUISVILLE, KY

PERMIT NO. 1498

Good Neighbors...

Cars maynot beparked onthe street, in the same spot,for more than 24 hours.Cars must be parked withthe flow of traffic and allfour wheels must be parkedon the paved road. Please,do not block sidewalks.

ORDINANCE NO. 2011-02CITY OF SENECA GARDENS

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SENECA GARDENS,KENTUCKY RELATING TO THE USE OF SOURCES OF REVENUEFOR THE GENERAL OPERATION PURPOSE OF THE CITY FOR

THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2011 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2012

Sources of RevenueProperty Tax Receipts $ 161,000Interest Income $ 500Municipal Aid Road Fund Receipts $ 12,000Tax Insurance Premiums $ 33,000Cable Franchise Fees $ 4,000Building Permit Fees $ 2,500Greenspace Foundation $ 0Miscellaneous $ 0

Total Income $213,000

ExpendituresUtilities and Waste Management $ 76,750Public Safety $ 83,000Communication $ 14,000Environment $ 12,000Administration $ 25,500Building Permit Refunds $ 1,750

Total Expenditures $213,000

First Reading March 21, 2011Second Reading and Passage May 16, 2011