City Clerk

STANFORD - City Clerk Denise Pike is planning to step down from her position due to differences with Stanford's two newest city council members. On March 7, Pike announced her intention to resign, blaming newly-elected council members Tom Moser and Amy Hazlett for making her job unenjoyable. “I've been mistreated since the election with the two new council members,” she said. “They picked and gouged and Tom Moser's told me that he thought that I wasn't doing things right.

STANFORD - A judge has ruled for the city of Stanford and Mayor Bill Miracle in a lawsuit filed by the city's former clerk. Judge David A. Tapp granted a summary judgment in favor of the city July 25, finding that "no genuine issues of material fact exist" in Sandy Gooch's case claiming wrongful termination and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Gooch filed suit against Miracle and Stanford in November 2011, alleging the mayor repeatedly asked her to violate city policies and procedures, and then “concocted complete fabrications” in an effort to justify Gooch's termination on Nov. 12, 2010.

Stanford Mayor Bill Miracle said that a new City Clerk was hired at a Monday evening special-called meeting of the city council in advance of the second reading of an ordinance to annex a 296-acre piece of land into the city of Stanford. Miracle said that City Attorney Carol Hill advised that it would be better to have a clerk in place before the reading of the ordinance. Typically, the city would have advertised the position and reviewed applications for the position, but with the annexation ordinance vote pending before the end of the calendar year and a strong candidate for the job in place, the council skipped the process and hired Denise Pike to fill the position of Sandy Gooch who was terminated a month ago. Miracle said that Pike had been doing a good job filling in for Gooch for a little over four weeks and had already established a good working relationship with the council.

In a joint city/county proclamation, May 3-9 is proclaimed as Municipal Clerks Week by Clark County Judge-Executive Henry Branham, left, Mayor Ed Burtner, and Winchester City Commissioner Kenny Book. Municipal clerks who work for the City of Winchester attending the reading are, from left, Joy Curtis, administrative assistant and deputy city clerk; Marilyn Rowe, city clerk; and Sharon Harrison, human resources and deputy city clerk. The Office of Municipal Clerks provides the professional link between citizens, local governing bodies and the different agencies of government.

STANFORD - A former longtime city clerk claims she was fired from her post by Mayor Bill Miracle so he could hire his girlfriend. In a lawsuit filed Friday in Lincoln Circuit Court that names Miracle and the city as defendants, Sandy Gooch alleges the mayor repeatedly asked her to violate city policies and procedures, and then “concocted complete fabrications” in an effort to justify Gooch's termination on Nov. 12, 2010. Gooch was fired because Miracle was concerned she would go public with accusations of the mayor's improper activities and, ultimately, to create a job opening for his girlfriend, the complaint contends.

Dear Editor, How fortunate the citizens of Danville are to have residents such as Clay and Peggy Moore to provide citizen oversight of the local government. Open records laws help citizens hold their government accountable for the decisions that are rendered. If the city is being managed properly, then there shouldn't be any concern about answering one question a week from the Moores. Residents are having to pry information out of the city. An example of this is the Moores requesting copies of meeting minutes.

Dear Editor, Reading your article about Crab Orchard struggling to pay off its debt of almost $2 million for a factory that failed to fulfill its promise, and Joetta Young saying she can't pay any money back (she would have to file bankruptcy) just made me mad. She should step up to the plate and take her share. Good grief. Just think: She would allow a city to go bankrupt after all that they did to help her. I'm sorry, but that really makes me angry. She's getting off scot-free in this.

April 30, 1987 George Rogers Clark forward Steve Schureman traded in his Cardinal red for the orange and maroon of the Virginia Tech Hokies Wednesday morning, signing a national letter-of-intent to play basketball. Schureman, who also visited Marshall and canceled a visit to East Carolina, made the commitment Tuesday morning after looking over the Tech campus Monday. Mary G. Gainey, city clerk, attended the spring conference of the Kentucky Municipal Clerks Association April 23-24 at the Capital Plaza Hotel, Frankfort.

Dear Editor, There was a time when I seldom agreed with Annabel Girard due to her incredible ability to make everything she wrote lean in favor of the Democratic Party. However, as we both enter into those wonderful years where we can speak the truth regardless of a lot of things, we come closer and closer together in our opinion that government - national, state or local - is responsible for what happens to us in many areas of our lives, and therefore we must be more watchful of what is happening before our very eyes.

STANFORD - City Clerk Denise Pike is planning to step down from her position due to differences with Stanford's two newest city council members. On March 7, Pike announced her intention to resign, blaming newly-elected council members Tom Moser and Amy Hazlett for making her job unenjoyable. “I've been mistreated since the election with the two new council members,” she said. “They picked and gouged and Tom Moser's told me that he thought that I wasn't doing things right.

STANFORD - A judge has ruled for the city of Stanford and Mayor Bill Miracle in a lawsuit filed by the city's former clerk. Judge David A. Tapp granted a summary judgment in favor of the city July 25, finding that "no genuine issues of material fact exist" in Sandy Gooch's case claiming wrongful termination and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Gooch filed suit against Miracle and Stanford in November 2011, alleging the mayor repeatedly asked her to violate city policies and procedures, and then “concocted complete fabrications” in an effort to justify Gooch's termination on Nov. 12, 2010.

The Nicholasville City Commission held a public hearing Monday afternoon for the purpose of proposed use hearing regarding Local Government Economic Assistance program and the municipal road aid. No one from the public showed up to speak at the hearing. City clerk Roberta Warren said the city would receieve an estimated $9,000 from LGEA funds. That sum would be added to the $1,000 already in that fund for a total of $10,000. Warren said $9,000 would be earmarked for parks-and-recreation projects.

April 30, 1987 George Rogers Clark forward Steve Schureman traded in his Cardinal red for the orange and maroon of the Virginia Tech Hokies Wednesday morning, signing a national letter-of-intent to play basketball. Schureman, who also visited Marshall and canceled a visit to East Carolina, made the commitment Tuesday morning after looking over the Tech campus Monday. Mary G. Gainey, city clerk, attended the spring conference of the Kentucky Municipal Clerks Association April 23-24 at the Capital Plaza Hotel, Frankfort.

STANFORD - A former longtime city clerk claims she was fired from her post by Mayor Bill Miracle so he could hire his girlfriend. In a lawsuit filed Friday in Lincoln Circuit Court that names Miracle and the city as defendants, Sandy Gooch alleges the mayor repeatedly asked her to violate city policies and procedures, and then “concocted complete fabrications” in an effort to justify Gooch's termination on Nov. 12, 2010. Gooch was fired because Miracle was concerned she would go public with accusations of the mayor's improper activities and, ultimately, to create a job opening for his girlfriend, the complaint contends.

Colleen Brandenburg can tell you just about anything you want to know about the inner workings of Wilmore. She knows the budgets, the calendars, the buildings, the people, and, of course, she knows the town's history. That's because for the past 33 years Brandenburg has been in the heart of it all, keeping an eye on things from her post of city clerk-treasurer in city hall. She first applied for the job because she's always had an interest in government, even just from sitting in civics classes in school.

Stanford Mayor Bill Miracle said that a new City Clerk was hired at a Monday evening special-called meeting of the city council in advance of the second reading of an ordinance to annex a 296-acre piece of land into the city of Stanford. Miracle said that City Attorney Carol Hill advised that it would be better to have a clerk in place before the reading of the ordinance. Typically, the city would have advertised the position and reviewed applications for the position, but with the annexation ordinance vote pending before the end of the calendar year and a strong candidate for the job in place, the council skipped the process and hired Denise Pike to fill the position of Sandy Gooch who was terminated a month ago. Miracle said that Pike had been doing a good job filling in for Gooch for a little over four weeks and had already established a good working relationship with the council.

Dear Editor, First of all, I would like to apologize for the confusion regarding the water rates and bills during the last few months. I understand large rate increases are a burden for our customers, but this increase is something that we were not planning to apply to our citizens. However, the city of Harrodsburg is planning an expansion on the water treatment plant; thus, our purchase price was increased by 40 percent, and we had to pass the adjustment on to our customers.

The lawsuit of Spencer Rodgers vs. the city of Danville won’t make it to a jury after all. The City Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to approve terms of an out-of-court settlement that will pay the city’s former chief financial officer $125,000. Following an executive session, the commission agreed to pay Rodgers in two lump sums: $75,000 from the city and $50,000 from the city’s insurer, the Kentucky League of Cities Insurance Services Inc. Other terms of the settlement include Rodgers maintaining his current position as IT technician for six weeks, as well as the city agreeing to provide letters of reference verifying his dates of employment and respond to inquiries about his employment in the same way it would for any other employee.