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From left, Lancaster City Council members Chris Davis, Jesse Wagoner and Bret Baierlein during Monday's meeting. (Stephanie Mojica/smojica@amnews.com / October 2, 2012) |
LANCASTER — It is now illegal for people in recreational vehicles to park in Lancaster for more than 14 days in a six-month period.
On Monday, Lancaster City Council unanimously voted to pass second reading of an amendment to the existing nuisance ordinance. The amendment was in response to a growing problem with people living in recreational vehicles to park indefinitely in the city and was a point of discussion during at least three meetings this year.
Once the person occupying the recreational vehicle, motor home or camper has parked within the city limits for 14 days he must move or risk being fined or jailed, according to the revised nuisance ordinance. The vehicle and its occupant(s) must wait at least six months before being able to legally return to Lancaster’s city limits for another period that cannot exceed 14 days.
In past meetings, Police Chief Rodney Kidd and Mayor Brenda Powers expressed concern about criminal activity possibly being conducted out of such vehicles.
In other business, City Council unanimously voted to file a “friendly lawsuit” against Garrard County regarding the Fiscal Court’s recently approved change in 911 taxation. Previously, Garrard and Lincoln county residents have paid for 911 services via their landline telephone bills. However, the use of landlines has dramatically decreased in recent years. Thus, the Fiscal Court of both counties voted to change 911 taxation from landline telephone bills to water bills.
The lawsuit should be filed sometime this week and will challenge the constitutionality of the tax change before Garrard actually implements it. Because 911 service has never been funded in Kentucky by a utility fee before, there is no formal legal opinion on the record regarding whether counties have the right to impose taxes in this manner, said Garrard Judge-Executive John Wilson outside the meeting. If a judge rules in favor of the ordinance, then both Garrard and Lincoln counties can move forward with the taxation change without concern about losing the funds later on down the road.
City Council also unanimously voted to change the date of its November and December meetings. The next regular meeting will be 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at city hall. December’s regular meeting will be 7 p.m. Dec. 11.
