You're okay with that.

So we'll do the integration and then play out.

And then we're going to do that to you come up and say whatever you should say and get that.

Oh, you can get a review.

Congratulations by the way.

So don't worry about the five years.

I don't know.

Yeah.

You ready?

Welcome everyone's list of town city council regular meeting for October 20th, 2025.

And I invite to ask Councilwoman Micah Tyler to lead us in the invitation, please.

Heavenly Father, as we gather today, we ask for the light of your Holy Spirit to guide our discussions and decisions.

May our words be special in charity and our hearts be evidence in the needs of others.

Become safe in our service.

For those who are suffering from illness, loss of their hardship that's around with three million life.

Grant us wisdom and discernment as we work together for the common day.

We place this meeting in your loving hands and ask that all we do here be done in the greater glory.

Yes.

Okay.

Happy Monday.

Good afternoon.

We are going to start with approval of minutes from October 13th, 2025.

I have a motion and a second.

All in favor?

Opposed.

Seeing none, motion carries.

Very excited today to introduce Chief Thompson, who is going to introduce our most recent promoted lieutenant.

Well, good evening.

And in the last couple months, we had a few retirements, which was unique because our department is so young.

But with those retirements create opportunities.

I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth and be faithful and through the Commonwealth of Kentucky so long as I continue as citizen thereof, and that I will faithfully execute to the best of my ability the office that I first said according to law.

And I do purpose all on the square that since the adoption of the present constitution, I being a citizen of this state and not file a dual deadly weapons within this state nor out of it, nor have I said where it said to the towns to file a bill with deadly weapons, nor have I acted as second in hearing of challenge nor any or assisted any person thus offending so helping God regolation.

So just on speaking.

Okay, I'm proud to introduce our attorney for our planning commission.

Matt Hessen's done it for several years.

He also acts as Ken Howard's substitute when Mr.

Howard can't be here tonight, and so he's gonna read our he's gonna read some ordinances and municipal orders as we get through them.

So we're gonna start with the second reading by motion of ordinance number 26, 2025, amending ordinance number 18, 2025, section one five four point two one two scenic parkway signage.

If I can get a motion in a secondary, please.

All in favor?

Opposed, Mr.

Hicks Amending ordinance number 18 2025, section 154.212, see parkway signage, ordinance number 26 2025 summary.

This ordinance amend ordinance number 18 2025, section 154.212, City Parkway signage, in particular, a clerical correction to strike Miles Street and insert St.

John Road relative to the prohibition of off-premise signs along city parkways in the city.

And then please find the full ordinance on the city's website or by contacting the city clerk.

Any discussion?

Motion did not roll call vote.

Council member Bissett.

Yes.

Councilmember Folkerson.

Yes.

Councilmember Isaacs.

Yes.

Councilmember Jones.

Yes.

Councilmember Springsteen.

Yes.

And Councilmember Tyler.

Yes.

Motion carries.

Thank you all.

That moves us to the second reading by motion of ordinance 27 2025 amending code of ordinances.

Chapter 50 and 51 gas gas.

If I can get a motion in secondary, please.

Motion.

Second.

All in favor?

Opposed.

Mr.

Hitts.

Amending full ordinances title five, public works, chapter 15, disconnection policy and 51, gas.

Ordinance number 27-2025 summary.

This ordinance amends the code of ordinances, title five, public works, chapters 50 and 51 for the following section.

Section 15.01, disconnection policy, section 50.02, disconnection for non-payment.

Restrictions and charges on reconnection.

Section 51.03, connection permit required.

Tap on fee, section section 51.04, reconnection after voluntary turnoff fee.

Reconnection of meter fee.

Section 51.20 general rate.

Number one, facility charge, 10 change from $6 to $10.

Section 2, base rate from $1.60 to $3.44 per MCF.

Section 51.21 heat rate.

Number one, facility charge from $6 to $10.

Number two, base rate from $2 to $4.47 per MCF.

Section 51.22, high load rate.

Number one, facility charge from $25 to $40.

Number two, base rate from $1.35 to $2.70 per MCF.

Section 51.23, Interruptible Industrial Service.

Number one facility charge from $125 to $200.

Number two, base rate $0.5 to $1.33 per MCF.

Section 51.24, interruptible industrial service with standby.

Number one, facility charge from $125 to $200.

Number two, base rate from $55 to $1.11.

I'm sorry, $1.13 cents per MCF.

Section 51.25, firm industrial service.

Number one facility charge from $125 to $200.

Number two, base rate from 95 cents to $1.53 per MCF.

Section 51.26 interruptible fixed price service.

Number one, facility charge $125 to $200.

And number two, base rate from $95 cents to $1.53 per MCF.

Section 51.28 adjustable adjustment for increases in rates.

These charges may be adjusted maximum of 5% each year by the mayor's executive order based on a review of operational costs by the finance department and gas department based on the charges and rates established in December 2025 and the regional costs associated with providing gas service.

Such annual adjustment, if any, shall be subject to recall or repeal by the city council for a period of 30 days prior to implementation.

Please find the full ordinance on the city's website or by contacting the city clerk.

And Mr.

Hess, I'll never make you do that again.

Some bullet points just so people understand exactly what all that means.

We did have a study done that researched our gas rates as compared to other cities of comparable size.

We have it hard if you'll recall, we had Mr.

Heath come a month or so ago to a work session to explain all that.

He's the one that did the study.

So the quick bullet points are we have not raised our gas rates since 2012.

And we have now looked at his study and taking taken a route that puts our rates comparable with other cities our size or other utilities, if you will, that are our size.

And we're still lower than most of those.

But we had to make an adjustment of it because of the email inflation and costs of equipment and cost of providing the service goes up.

And we hadn't addressed it since 2012.

So we're trying to get back in line with what the market demands, but we've also saw that never happens again when we have to take a jump like we have.

Did I say that correctly?

So I do want you to take away though, just like when we talked about sewer, we're still lower than just about every other utility around.

And that's not raising it for several years.

So we're proud of that fact, but we also have to be able to keep up with the times and the cost.

So we don't go in the hole trying to provide that utility and that service.

Very good.

So I need a motion to adopt.

Motion.

Roll call vote.

Councilmember Business.

Yes.

Councilmember Fulkerson.

Yes.

Councilmember Isaac.

Yes.

Councilmember Jones.

Yes.

Councilmember Springsteen.

Yes.

Councilmember Tyler.

Yes.

Motion carries.

Thank you, folks.

So that takes us to municipal order 64 2025, authorizing land transfer to Harden County Habitat for humanity for lots on Mills Court.

If I can get a motion on the second to read, please.

Motion.

Second.

All in favor.

Opposed?

Mr.

Hess.

Municipal order number 64-2025.

Municipal order of the city of Elizabeth Town, Kentucky, authorizing transfer of property to habitat for humanity.

At a regular meeting of the City Council of Elizabeth Town, Kentucky, held on the dates set out below.

A motion to read and adopt the following municipal order was duly made, seconded, and approved.

Whereas the city of Elizabeth Town desires to provide affordable housing opportunities for the citizens of its community, and whereas the city of Elizabeth Town has adopted policies to promote fair housing in the community.

And whereas the city of Elizabeth Town believes that partnerships are the best means to address issues facing the community.

has provided affordable housing opportunities in the community for many years in conjunction with the City of Elizabeth.

Now be it ordered by the Elizabeth Town City Council that the City of Elizabeth Town transfer to Harden County Habitat for Humanity Inc.

properties at 103 Mills Court, known as PDA number 2212005039, and 105 Mills Court, known as PDA number 221205038 at no cost so that Harden County Habitat for Humanity Inc.

may construct affordable housing.

And be it further ordered by the Elizabeth Town City Council that all city utility connection fees, sanitary sewer, and natural gas, building plan review fees, construction fees, and electrical fees associated with the construction activity by Harden County Habitat for Humanity for said properties be weight, be it further ordered that the mayor of the city of Elizabeth Town andor his designee is authorized and directed to take all steps necessary to perfect this order, including signing all agreements, contracts, deeds, settlement statements, and documents.

Red adopted and approved this 20th day of October 2025.

Any discussion.

I don't know how many lots that city done that a lot and it's it's great to the property access to 25.

Yeah, maybe one cost.

You know, when I first got elected, I jumped on PBA one day and I started looking at all the property that the city owns.

It's a lot.

Holy smoke.

There's lots all over the place, especially in older neighborhoods.

And a lot of that was because when they were putting roads through or they were cutting utility easings through or whatever, the city had to buy them at one time or another, and things changed or lots moved or whatever, there's a lot of good lots that there wasn't at the time that were opportunities for habitat for humanity.

And I will always say that all the councils that I've worked with have always been really really good about making sure that we continue to provide them lots to be able to help families, and so I love it every time we do it.

So with that, I need a motion and a second to adopt please.

Thank you.

All in favor?

Aye opposed, seeing none motion carries.

Municipal order number 65 2025 approving amendment to wastewater treatment agreement with Harden County District No.

If I can get a motion on the second to read.

Opposed, Mr.

Hess.

Municipal order number 65-2025.

Municipal order of the city of Elizabeth Town, Kentucky approving an agreement, amendment with Harden County Water District No.

A regular meeting of the City Council of Elizabeth Town, Kentucky held on the date set out below.

A motion to read and adopt the following municipal order was duly made, seconded, and approved.

Whereas the City of Elizabeth Town City and the Harden County Water District No.

2 district have worked cooperatively for many years to provide wastewater collection and treatment services in southern Harden County due to the city ownership and operation of a wastewater treatment plant known as the Valley Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is ideally located and has reserved capacity to treat the wastewater generated in the Glendale area of Southern Harden County.

And whereas the city and the district entered into an agreement in 2018 to formalize their efforts and understandings of providing cost efficient and environmentally sound wastewater treatment in this area of Harden County known as the Glendale Service Area.

And whereas since the initial agreement development activity has occurred in the Glendale service area, requiring the city to plan for the expansion of its treatment facilities and evaluate the cost of operations.

And whereas the city and district desire to continue to work cooperatively in providing wastewater services in this area of the county, but find it necessary to amend sections of the original agreement to address current operational needs.

Be it ordered that the city of Elizabeth Town approves the amendments to wastewater treatment agreement with the Harden County Water District No.

2 for the water treatment of the Glendale area at the Ballet Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant as detailed on exhibit A.

Be it further ordered that the mayor of the City of Elizabeth Town and or his designee is authorized and directed to take all steps necessary to perfect this order.

Red adopted and approved this 20th day of October 2025.

Any discussion?

So we're going to set the initial limit at 1.2 million gallons per day.

Where are they currently in the I think less than half of that?

Okay.

So one of the deals when we originally did this.

Obviously, this was set up to take care of whatever happened down the property.

And when the blue ST was announced, we knew the capacity was gonna, we were gonna have to take some more capacity.

So therefore it wasn't all on the backs of the users here in the city of E town.

My concern is what does this do to our overall capacity and shove us more into a quicker need to expand that because we haven't seen very many funds to come from Frankfurt to help cover the cost of that expansion of the wastewater treatment?

Um we think it actually helps us, Marty, because it sets that limit and allows us to plan for the expansion that we we need.

Current rated capacity of the plant now is a little over 13 million gallons a day.

We're treating about seven six or seven.

So we we have capacity now by setting a limit on the district of what we can take from them.

Um we think that allows us to plan and get the expansion done.

Corey and his team have been uh working with the consulting firm of uh JKL Prime for the last six months updating facilities plan and making sure that's in line.

Uh we'll begin probably design work after the first of the year or so.

Um we do have um funds, and and I will agree with you, it's still limited, but we've got some funds that the umic development cabinet helped get set aside in the state budget for us.

Um as we develop the final cost and level of service that we need, it'll give us a better understanding of truly how much money this potentially will cost for the expansion.

The initial discussions, if you all recall a couple years ago, um we thought we were gonna probably double the size of the plant.

I think again, uh based on the flows that we're seeing to date and the the growth patterns that we're seeing.

Um again, with the design engineers, Corey and uh his team are looking at some maybe some different processes that we don't think we'll have to expand the plant that much.

I mean, I think we'll still end up probably at 20 million gallons a day from 13, so instead of at 26, like we thought in the discussions with you all 18 months, two years ago.

Um, which brings our costs down, but I mean we still haven't finalized some of that.

We hope uh to do that uh so again we can try as the state goes into their budget um this spring to talk with them again on our needs.

Uh the nice thing about that a little bit from what we found in the last state legislative session.

We do have a it's not just us going up there, we do have an ally in bowling green because they've kind of experienced the same um exponential growth that we have.

So um both communities working together have had a little more success in getting I guess the support of the legislature instead of it's just eTown showing up asking for stuff.

Um I will tell you all the mayor mentioned earlier when we were talking about the gas rates, the fact that um we did the study on sewer rates, and you all um took the step to uh raise those rates to get in line with some other things, that helped us tremendously in working with the economic development cabinet in the state legislators in funding and future funding for us because it was assigned to them that uh you all were stepping up to and making efforts at the local level, not just going up there saying Frankfurt, you need to just give us everything.

So that that was tremendous help that that you all did that.

I mean, I've heard that comment back from some legislators, I've heard it back from the economic development cabinet more than once that that uh had a tremendous impact in Frankfurt that knowing that Etown was was, if you will, doing our part to so you're right, Marty.

I mean we still need more money and we'll still work uh towards that end, but I think um having the limits in this agreement for the next couple years does help us tremendously to plan for that expansion and know that instead of the agreement before was open-ended.

If it was in that service area, we kind of agreed we're gonna accept whatever.

So this this helps push those limits, and we think we still have the capacity to do that over the next five years and plan for for more.

So Corey, we're we're running half capacity most of the time down there in the plan.

What kind of flow are we getting from the whole window?

From the whole window area, it's about eight million a month, so that's for the entire month.

So, like I said, less than a half million a day on average.

And that's figured into what we're saying we're getting right now when we say between six and seven million, that's figured into that.

Yes.

I'm just trying to, I will be cautious that this is our plan, and this is for the citizens that live within each, and that's what we're liking to do to watch out for it.

I think it's great that we can help out uh in this situation, but at the same time, we didn't bring blue oil here.

The state did and the county did.

The county's got the occupational tax down there, but we have already expended revenues to accommodate the growth that happened there.

And this one is huge because I'm still guessing it would be even with a reduction, it'll be around 90 million.

So we've got about 30 million public.

Right.

So I think this also puts us in a good spot, like putting that limit on the Glinda area because that also takes into account what Blue Overla said they're already going to, so it doesn't allow for other things to go in without coming to us first to discuss it so we can then decide.

Can we have that?

I like that.

Thank you.

Anybody else?

Need a motion and a second to adopt, please.

Second.

All in favor.

Aye.

Opposed?

See none motion carries.

Now we'll go through public comments.

Anyone have public comment they'd like to make.

Then we will go to city council information items.

Next city council meeting will be October 27th, 2025.

And I will quickly announce that Halloween is always on Friday or on October 31st, which is Friday this year, and we suggest from 5 to 8 p.m.

But we will always have Halloween on Halloween.

It's a unique concept.

I've experienced not using that concept before time or two.

And we do have one thing we need to go close session to meet on.

Closed meeting for some care at 61.810 section one to conduct deliberation on future acquisition or sale of real property by the city to discuss the general nature of existing and possible litigation by the city.

If I can get a motion and a second, please.

Motion.

Second.

All in favor?

Opposed?

No.

See none motion carries, and we will not have any action coming up.

Thank you all.