Survey to settle debate over Perryville city limits

An ongoing debate over the boundary of the Perryville city limits may be settled within the next year, according to Lynne Coleman, city attorney, and Mayor Anne Sleet during a Perryville City Council meeting Thursday night.

Bluegrass Area Development District is working on surveying Kentucky towns, free of charge, and has agreed to make the boundary determination for the city, if the council was willing to allow them.

Some members expressed concern over the possible legal ramification if it were deemed that certain properties were not within the city limits as presently believed.

“There is a risk,” Coleman said. If the new boundary lines reflected that properties formerly recognized as being within the city limits were not, those owners could sue the city to be repaid taxes, possibly as far as five years prior,” she said.

However, the map that the Bluegrass ADD determined and submitted to the Secretary of State would be considered the legal map.

“It would put it to rest,” Coleman said.

Councilman Matthew Bottoms echoed that, stating that there are property owners who are unhappy with how it is now and there will be those who are unhappy with how it ends up.

“You can’t make everybody happy,” Sleet said.

The council approved the request, hoping that this will finally settle the dispute.

Coleman approximates that the issue began about two years ago. The city’s boundaries had been determined based on a map from the early 1980s.

When a map of the city line was laid over an aerial photo of the area, it showed there were houses within the boundaries that had never paid taxes to the city. After some dispute by the property owners, the Kentucky secretary of state determined that these properties were within the city limits and must pay the taxes.

If this were ultimately reversed, these properties would only be able to sue for the timeframe during which they’ve been paying.

City services also were initiated for these properties, enabling them to receive trash pickup and vote in city elections.

In other news:

The council had a second reading on the tax rate. The real property tax rate will remain at 30.1 cents per $100 of property valuation. Personal property, motor vehicle and watercraft tax rates will be 40.83 cents per $100.
The council voted to close Smith Street at 7:30 Thursday night and keep it closed until the commemoration of the Battle of Perryville ends on Sunday.
Perryville’s trick-or-treat will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
The Danville-Boyle County Planning and Zoning Commission presented the council its goals and objectives, which were approved. The item already had been approved by the Danville City Commission and the Boyle County Fiscal Court.
Community members approached the council about recent speed limit increases that occurred on Hardee Street. The limit was increased from 20 to 25 miles per hour, which the residents feel is too high. Some requested the placement of speed bumps; however, Sleet says the city simply doesn’t have the money. “We’re going to review it,” she said, promising she wouldn’t forget the issue.
Council members heard more about the property violation notices, which were sent out last month. Mayor Sleet assured the body that many of the issues were being taken care of by property owners.
Paul Webb approached the council requesting approval for he and business partner Jerry Houck, along with Fire Chief Anthony Young, to begin planning the yearly Christmas Bazaar. Webb said plans are to turn the park at the battlefield into a drive-through Christmas light show.