5:37Welcome everyone to Elizabethtown City Council regular meeting for August 18th, 2025.
5:42And if you would bow your head with me for a prayer.
5:45Heavenly Father, we come before you today with great excitement.
5:50And when I say great excitement, all of the blessings that you've bestowed on not just this honorable body and city government, but this city in general and our community.
6:00You see dirt turning everywhere.
6:02You see opportunities arising for lots of our people.
6:05And it's just a great place to live and be and raise your family and live and work.
6:10And one of the main reasons for that, and you know this is because we have great people that work for our city.
6:16And they're represented here today in this in this room, and we're very proud of the promotions that we're about to do.
6:22We're very proud of the votes that we're about to make to continue to bless this city.
6:26And we're just so grateful for the opportunities that we have, and they're all provided by you.
6:31And please watch over our folks, keep them safe, watch over our citizens, and continue to bless this great city.
6:37And we'll we'll do the best that we can to represent you and do it in your honor.
6:41And it's in your son's name we pray.
6:51And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
7:06Okay, we're gonna start off with approval of minutes for August 4th, 2025.
7:10Got a motion and a second.
7:14Seeing none, motion carries.
7:16At this time, I would like to introduce the 2025 police chief of the year in the state of Kentucky voted on by the Kentucky Association Chief.
7:32He should have known that I was gonna get that in there.
7:35And he's got some important work to do.
7:37And Marty, you got a comment on that?
7:38Yep, Chief, just because you are now chief of the year, you get an extra 10 minutes without any hassle from Don Hill.
7:48Well, Micah actually approved the Corvette after that.
7:58Um what's great is we have an opportunity.
8:01I guess it was last week we talked in just the other side of this room about the bittersweet uh ceremony that we celebrated with Chris Denham and him retiring.
8:10Well, tonight there's nothing bitter about why we're here.
8:12We're here to celebrate the promotion of two great leaders.
8:16The the title supervisor gets thrown quite a bit, and that's acting.
8:20Uh you see a lot of supervisors in this room right now, but we don't take that as the primary responsibility of what we do and what that is is leaders.
8:29Leaders because we have uh a number of our personnel from EPD here today, and whether they were rank or whether they're just within the rank and file sworn civilian, we challenge all of our people to be leaders.
8:41But today's formal recognition of the first step into leadership for Dietrich.
8:46Um I don't know why you said DJ for Coop.
8:49We only have one coup.
8:50We have two Coopers over there.
8:51We only have one coup.
8:52And for Sean, his next step uh into leadership for the police department.
8:58And I can tell you that the time that I have been here, both of these individuals have excelled in everything that we've asked them to do.
9:05And I'm excited just to be a small part of them being able to be here tonight to welcome their families.
9:10And if you look around and you see the number of personnel you have from the department, I think that's a true reflection of the character of these two men and what they mean to this department because you can have a lot of ceremonies and some people can come and some can't, but at a time when we're starting to transition to do these recognitions at City Council.
9:29Most of the people you see now don't charge us over time, please for anybody there.
9:34Uh, but they're here after their normal work hours.
9:36And that's because they're gonna see not only two leaders, two supervisors, but two friends uh accept this this promotion that they've earned through hard work and dedication.
9:48So without any further ado, I know the mayor's gonna get them sworn in uh in their new position.
9:53So Sean, if you Dan will go ahead and get you all over first.
10:19And I want you all to know the only reason or the only way that Coop was able to get promoted is he had to beat me in arm wrestling.
10:25And it was that close okay if you would raise your right hand and when I get done reading if you agree you say I do I do solemnly swear that I'll support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this commonwealth and be faithful and true to the Commonwealth of Kentucky so long as I continue a citizen thereof and that I will faithfully execute to the best of my ability the office I foresaid according to law and I do further solemnly swear that since the adoption of the present constitution I being a citizen of this state have not fought a duel with deadly weapons within this state nor out of it nor have I sent or accepted a challenge to fight a duel with deadly weapons nor have I acted as second in carrying a challenge nor aided or assisted any person thus offending so help me God okay call them up whoever was going to put the pins on here he robbed you didn't hear I think our council members know uh we used to do these private more privately than this open recognition that we have tonight and I thought the mayor had a great idea to start celebrating this with not only our council members but community members to come to this because it shouldn't be something that's just exclusive to the PD because of what it takes to get to the point for these two and for all the the supervisors and that we have from the PD so let's do this I bet you all jump over here and let's stand in front of the council and get a picture come on Theresa in the middle they can slide over a little bit or y'all can come up here if you want to come up front come on up here Marty just fine can you get everybody in here Johnny get everybody in here just we'll say family y'all want family pictures real quick get them back over in front of the flags if you like I'm tired now yeah yeah and you all don't have to hang around if you don't want to we got a lot of business that you probably don't want to have to hear about so you won't hurt our feelings if you walk out than him that's a low bar to meet you all don't have to stay if you don't want to that'd be pretty boring hey I'm proud of you perfect hey Sean do you mind Jessica's got a paper she needs you to sign y'all are good thank you all for letting me go I think it's good to do it here.
15:35We just have to find out.
15:45I don't know about the guy.
15:51It was, it was with me.
16:01Right them all off, isn't it?
16:26I bet that's working in the decision.
16:30Alright, Judge Howard, are you ready?
16:36We're gonna start with second reading by motion of ordinance number 182025, amending code of ordinances, title 15, land usage sign amendments.
16:45If I can get a motion on a second to read, please.
16:54This is a second reading by summary.
16:56This is ordinance eighteen of twenty twenty-five.
17:00This ordinance amends the code of ordinances, title 15 as it relates to land usage and in particular general signs standards.
17:08Uh the full text of this ordinance can be found by contacting the city clerk's office.
17:14This is a second reading by summary, and therefore is available for your consideration.
17:27Councilmember Bishop.
17:28Councilmember Fulkerson.
17:30Council Member Islands.
17:31Council Member Jones.
17:33Council Member Springsteen.
17:34And Council Member Tyler.
17:38Ordinance number 20 2025, amending the official zoning map for 202 North Main Street.
17:43If I can get a second motion and second to read, please.
17:51This is also a second reading by summary.
17:54This ordinance amends the official zoning classification for the property located at 202 North Main Street from Urban Residential General, which is R 4 to Downtown Mixed Use C5 to allow for uses such as an office.
18:11This change was approved by the Wistertown City Council as it was found to be in agreement with the city's comprehensive plan.
18:18And again, the full text for the ordinance can be found by contacting the city clerk's office.
18:31Roll call vote, Councilmember Tyler.
18:34Councilmember Springs team.
18:36Councilmember Jones.
18:37Councilmember Isaacs.
18:39Councilmember Fulkerson.
18:40Councilmember Bishop.
18:43You're paying attention.
18:49Ordinance 212025 amending the official zoning map for 201 North Main Street.
18:54If I can get a motion in the second to read, please.
19:03This is also a second reading by summary.
19:06This ordinance amends the official zone classification for the property located at 201 North Main Street from neighborhood office, which is C1 to downtown mixed use for C5.
19:19To allow for uses such as an office, the change is approved by the West County City Council as it was found to be in agreement with the city's comprehensive plan.
19:29And again, the full text of the ordinance can be found by contacting the city clerk's office.
19:47Council Member Jones.
19:48Councilmember Springsteen.
19:50Councilmember Tyler.
19:54Ordinance 22 2025 annexation for 1331 Hayden School Road.
20:00If I can get a motion on a second to read, please.
20:09This is a second reading by summary.
20:11This ordinance annexes property at 1331, Hayden School Road.
20:16As requested by Diane Matherly Trust, Jackie Addington, Terry and Sharon Bacon, Kevin and Lisa adding to it.
20:25Glenn and Sondra Turner, Larry and Linda Phillips, L Farms LLC, and Harden County Government.
20:34The property will be zoned suburban residential or R2 upon annexation based on the planning commission recommendation.
20:43The owners gave written consent to this annexation.
20:46The City of Elizabeth Town gave the required 45-day notice to Harvard County Governor.
20:52Again, the full text of this ordinance can be found by contacting the city clerk's office.
21:00Any motion and second to adopt, please.
21:08Councilmember Tyler.
21:10Council Member Springs can.
21:11Councilmember Johnson.
21:14Councilmember Fulperson.
21:16Councilmember Bishop.
21:20Municipal order number 492025 purchase property at 11 Parchard Road Northwest.
21:26If I get a motion to second to read, please.
21:34And a regular meeting of the city council held on the date set out below.
21:38After first meeting read the motion to adopt the following this order was duly made seconded and approved.
21:44Whereas the city identified the need to upgrade the Parrot Orchard Road, Fair Orchard Road Northwest Quarter many years ago and has planned for phased improvements of the quarter, beginning with the ring road and pear orchard road intersection.
22:00And whereas the city has developed engineering plans for the next phase of the street improvement along this corridor and has identified properties for purchase to assure the new street and sidewalk improvements are designed and constructed in a safe manner.
22:15And whereas the city has offered to purchase property at 111 Pearl Orchard Road Northwest based on an appraisal of the property, and the owners of said property are willing to sell.
22:26Now be an order by the city council that the city purchase the property located at 111 Terror Orchard Road Northwest from R and L Reynolds LLC in the amount of 125,000.
22:41Be it for the order, the mayor or his designee is authorized to sign all agreements, contracts, deeds, closing documents, informed to perfect this order, including have a title report in phase one environmental review of the property to be purchased completed.
22:57Red adopted and approved the 18th day of August.
23:00Discussion motion and a second to adopt, please.
23:10See none motion carries.
23:12Municipal order number 50 2025 accepting bid for the American Legion Park Improvements Project.
23:26At a regular meeting of the city council held on the date set out below.
23:30After first being read, a motion to adopt the following municipal order was duly made seconded and approved.
23:36Whereas the city prepared bid documents and publicly advertised the project and received four bids that were publicly opened on August the 5th from the American Legion Park Improvements Project.
23:49Now be it ordered by the City Council to accept the bid from BCD Incorporated for the American Legion Park Improvement Project in an amount not to exceed 1,149,898.
24:05For the order that the mayor and his designates hereby authorizing a directive to take all steps necessary to perfect this order, included but not limited to signing all contracts, documents, obtaining the necessary permits, and approving change orders with the aggregate amount not to exceed 172,485.
24:28Read adopted and approved this 18th day of this.
24:33I had a question, quick question.
24:35Um as far as the I guess about I know the time was kind of the essence as far as getting this done.
24:42So I guess how do you balance the and I get it?
24:46We want the lower bid, but then there's the 140 days.
24:50So that's that's exactly one of the things that we looked at.
25:00And Bray Boaz of CMW went back and spoke to the low bid to see if he could get their timeline a little bit more a little tighter for for our purposes because we'd like to have this done by February, March the latest.
25:07And uh so they came back and thought that they could get this done within 170 to 180 days.
25:12So once they tightened it up that much and they were the low bid, then we were we're comfortable recommending it.
25:17And they and they've done CMW's done extensive work with BCD and the pay good results with uh uh acts here out of the way and all the bidders were getting the pavilion bid construction package from the same supplier.
25:36So that was as you point out, that was the real issue.
25:40Uh mayor explained we had RAG file on that time for the delivery of those determiners.
25:47We tighten them up a little bit, but to just to quickly answer it.
25:50Yeah, that makes sense.
25:53Any other discussion?
25:56Need a motion and a second to adopt this.
26:04None motion carries.
26:05Municipal order 52 2025 appointment to the planning commission.
26:09If I get a motion at the second to read.
26:17So at a regular meeting of the city council held on the date set out below.
26:22A motion to read and adopt the following municipal order was duly made, seconded and approved.
26:28Whereas the mayor, per KRS 100.141 wishes to appoint Alicia Jenkins to the planning commission for a term to expire on June 20th of 2028.
26:40Now be an ordered by the city council that Alicia Jenkins is approved for appointment to the planning commission for a term to expire on June 20th of 2028.
26:51Be it further ordered.
26:52The mayor and or is designated is here by authorized and directed to take all steps necessary to perfect this order, read adopted and approved the 18th day of August.
27:15Ah, you still roll call.
27:21Councilmember Bishop.
27:23Councilmember Fulkerson.
27:24Councilmember Isaac.
27:26Councilmember Jones.
27:28Councilmember Springsteen.
27:30Councilmember Tyler.
27:32Motion carries forward too.
27:35Municipal Order 53 2025.
27:38Approving an interlocal agreement with Elizabeth Town Tourism Convention Bureau for an outdoor music venue.
27:43Thank you a motion and a second to read.
27:53At a regular meeting of the city council held on the date set out below.
27:56After first being read a motion to adopt the following municipal order was duly made seconded and approved.
28:03Whereas the city desire desires to work with community partners on projects that benefit the citizen.
28:09And whereas the city wishes to partner with the Elizabeth Town Tourism and Convention Bureau to provide an outdoor music venue located along Commerce Drive.
28:19Whereas the city and tourism entered into a memorandum of understanding in September of 2023 that initiated the planning for an outdoor music venue.
28:30And now the plans have been advanced.
28:32The financing measures have been determined and a construction costs established.
28:37Now the ordered by the city council that the mayor is authorized to enter into an interlocal agreement with tourism for the establishment of financial responsibilities of the parties for bond payments of an outdoor music venue per the attachment A.
28:54For the order that the mayor and his designee is hereby authorized and directed to take all steps necessary to perfect this order, including signing the agreement and submitting said agreement to the department for local government for approval, read adopted and approved the 18th day of August.
29:12And you discuss in the motion and a second to adopt the owner.
29:34Our next meeting will be August 25th, 2025.
29:37And a reminder that the Harvard Parade is this Saturday, August 23rd.
29:41And if you all do not see me there, it is not because I don't want to be there, it's because my daughters are moving into college at the exact same time with Lindsay Wilson.
29:49So I will have to miss the parade, so I'm gonna have to ask you all to make sure you wait for more.
30:13We've had a couple where we didn't know if we were gonna make it to downtown.
30:18And Tony will tell you about having to have when the breaks went out, so don't worry.
30:22You'll get all the all the history.
30:24Are you gonna be there?
30:26Are you gonna are you in the middle of the day?
30:27I don't know if Emily.
30:28I think I got kicked out.
30:32I was gonna get worried if it were only newbies on that.
30:38I'd like to think uh Seth came and spoke to the Harden County and Rovery Club Friday morning, did a great job.
30:44And I think uh everybody there was surprised.
30:48And some of the numbers he presented, some of those were uh part of his presentation he did for us, but uh we continue to lead the Commonwealth in a parks and recreation partner under the leadership of Seth, so we appreciate that.
31:01I'd like to also jump in, and I know I mentioned it earlier, and he's tired of hearing about it, but I am very proud of Thompson.
31:06For his recognition, we went up there to Florence to see him receive the 2025 Kentucky Chief of Police of the Year for the Chiefs Association, and it's a well-deserved honor personally for him, but it is a great reflection on not only our department but the city of Elizabeth Town.
31:22And so I think uh attitude reflects leadership, and he's a perfect example of it, and we're blessed to have him.
31:29But it's uh we got a whole lot of people right right there with me that are that are just as great when it comes to character integrity, and uh we're glad to have what we have, and so congratulations to him.
31:40Just want to do it formally without making fun of me.
31:44It was hard when it is and I won't I won't say any more about it for our day.
31:58Okay, with that we will go close meeting pursuant to carry at 61.8106 wanted to conduct deliberation on future acquisition or sales real property by the city and to discuss personnel which might lead to the appointment district of the individual employee member or student if you all will give me a motion in a second.
32:16All in favor, opposed, the motion carries.
32:19And we will not have anything coming out, Gene.
32:21That was also voted to get the