Elizabethtown City Council Regular Meeting - November 10, 2025
Elizabethtown City Council Regular Meeting - November 10, 2025
The Elizabethtown City Council held its regular meeting on November 10, 2025. The meeting featured a special guest, third-grader Elliot Hornbach, as "Mayor for the Day," along with a Christmas in the Park poster contest awards ceremony. Key agenda items included a finance department update from Director Jeff Hawkins and a presentation on the Oak Hills Planned Development District (PDD) master plan by Planning Director Joe Reverman. Public comments raised concerns about a nearby commercial development on Pawnee Drive.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Phil Dekoff, a 64-year resident of Pawnee Drive and former president of Etown for 50 years, expressed concerns about a 3.5-acre commercial property being cleared behind homes on Pawnee Drive. He noted trees had been removed to the property line without a buffer, raising issues of privacy, security, noise, traffic safety, and potential flooding and erosion. He asked the council to consider buffering requirements when a development plan is submitted. Director Joe Reverman confirmed no formal plan has been submitted yet, but a minimum 20-foot buffer with screening is typically required.
- Karen Macy, also a resident of Pawnee Drive, cited KRS regarding noise as a health hazard and described ongoing noise issues from a nearby business for almost four years. She referenced a prior response from the city indicating Elizabethtown lacks a strong nuisance or noise ordinance and that speaking directly with the company was the suggested remedy.
Discussion Items
- Finance Department Update: Director Jeff Hawkins presented:
- Cash balances as of September 30, 2025, were generally up; restricted funds and gas fund remained flat.
- Revenue growth over 10 years: occupational tax from $13.6M (2015) to $33.2M (2025); net profits from $2.3M to $6.9M; business licenses from under 4,000 to nearly 6,000.
- Staff efficiencies achieved through technology, with reduced headcount in utility office and meter reading while maintaining service.
- New banking services RFP sent to local banks (excluding Wood Forest), due by December 31, 2025; evaluation expected in Q1 2026.
- New website will allow online tax forms, business license payments, and employment applications.
- Medical insurance renewal expected with a minor increase (~3-4%); stop-loss claims appear favorable.
- Audit fieldwork complete; learning new auditor methods may require adjustments in grant revenue recognition.
- Paid tribute to former finance director Steve Park, who passed away November 5, 2025.
- Oak Hills Planned Development District (PDD) Master Plan: Director Joe Reverman explained the first reading of a zoning map amendment for the Oak Hills development on Nicholas Street. The PDD district, adopted in August 2025, allows site-specific regulations. The master plan proposes 594 total housing units (single-family, duplexes, townhomes, multi-family), a small commercial section, and 22 acres of open space along Valley Creek. The plan will be considered for adoption alongside the zoning map amendment at a future council meeting.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes were taken during this meeting.
- The city council will consider the Oak Hills zoning map amendment and master plan at a future meeting (next week as referenced).
- The banking services RFP evaluation will proceed in Q1 2026.
- Medical insurance renewal details will be finalized after a scheduled meeting with the broker.
- Public comments regarding the Pawnee Drive property will be taken into account when a formal development plan is submitted to the Planning Commission.
Meeting Transcript
Like a fraud questionnaire one day. Today, if I got it today, I don't know. Okay. Because I've been on the right. I think uh he said one of you and Marty and Mayor. I will, except for I can't get my iPad to come on. I'm assuming it's a pillow PDF. Okay. Oh thank you. Yeah, he said he probably said that's the way you didn't know. Okay. Well, sit right there. You're gonna sit up there beside the mayor. Well, this is Elliot. He is Mayor Elliott. This is Elliot. He's been a pit pal with Mayor Gregory for the past uh how many times? Couple a month, couple months. So they write back and forth. So Elliot is in the third grade, his mom home schools him, and he is mayor for the day here with Mayor Gregory. He's taking a tour of City Hall. And so you're gonna sit here at these guys indoor decisions. So you can go right there with Mr. Mayor Gregory. Oh look, Elliot, did you see your name is right here? Look here. There's your uh we gotta put this pen on you too, okay? It makes you official. That's fine. Elliot wrote me a letter. A month or so ago. Yeah, well. I've explained to him what my role is and what your all's role is and what other people's roles are. Yeah, smile now. So remember I told you that we have a legislative body that makes all the decisions, and it's my job to go out and admit it's what they tell us that they want to happen. This is the legislative body. Does that make sense? Alright. So you gotta see him like the rest of us. Can you read it? Recognition proclamation. So I'm gonna sign it, okay? And so what we'll do is I'll open the meeting and welcome everybody. I'll have you get together first and then I'll welcome everybody. And then we'll ask you. And then when he gets done with the prayer, I'm gonna ask everybody to join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. And when I do that, all you gotta do is you've got to talk a little louder. Start saying it. Everybody'll jump in. Okay.
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