Elizabethtown City Council Special Meeting and Work Session – October 12, 2026

The Elizabethtown City Council held a special business meeting followed by a work session on October 12, 2026. During the business meeting, the council adopted a city government month resolution, advanced a zoning map amendment, approved a $17 million general obligation bond ordinance, and approved three municipal orders. The work session included updates from the fire department, business development, and parks and recreation.

Routine Approvals and Resolutions

• Council approved the minutes of September 28, 2026, by unanimous voice vote.
• Resolution 4-2026 was adopted, designating October 2026 as City Government Month in Elizabethtown. The mayor noted that U.S. News & World Report ranked Elizabethtown the number one city in Kentucky and 127th nationally, crediting city employees, past councils, and residents.

Zoning and Bond Ordinances

• Ordinance 19-2026 (first reading by summary): would amend the official zoning map for 304 Bishop Lane from C-3 Regional Commercial to C-4 General Service Commercial to allow a mill use. Council discussion clarified the request was for a pepper milling operation's building addition and not a large retail store. No adoption occurred; first reading only.
• Ordinance 18-2026 (second reading): authorized issuance of not more than $17 million in general obligation bonds, Series 2026, for acquisition, renovation, and equipping of city offices at 2323 Ring Road. The ordinance includes a bond tax levy to be collected only if other revenues are insufficient, a 30-year maximum maturity, and a competitive sale requirement. Council discussion indicated the expected borrowing is about $16 million over a 15-year term with a projected annual payment of about $1 million. The council voted 5-0 to adopt (Springsteen, Fulkerson, Jones, Tyler, Bishop).

Municipal Orders

• Municipal Order 72-2026: accepted the bid of Bobby Lutterl and Sons, LLC for the McCullum Avenue and Sunrise Lane Sanitary Sewer Project, not to exceed $622,970, with change-order authority up to $93,445.50. The engineering recommendation was to not accept the lowest bid because the selected contractor has experience with pipe bursting; the low bidder's experience was mainly sidewalks and concrete. Adopted.
• Municipal Order 73-2026: approved an agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for $80,000 in Local Assistance Road Program (LARP) funds to resurface North Main Street from West Williams Street to North Mulberry Street on a reimbursement basis. Officials noted LARP funds cannot be used for new construction and the work will complement CDBG-funded sidewalk and intersection improvements in the area. Adopted.
• Municipal Order 74-2026: approved a contract with CMW for professional design services for the Nicholas Street Soccer Complex, not to exceed $56,500, covering conceptual and final design, construction plans, permits, cost opinion, bid documents, field regrading, parking, pedestrian access, landscaping, and site improvements. Council members expressed support, including for restrooms. Adopted.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Karen Macy, 1028 Pawnee Drive, raised continuing concerns about noise, five dumpsters, and a semitruck idling for eight or nine hours behind her property, associated with Matthews Aurora (casket company). She also asked about planting trees in a 30-foot easement. The mayor said the city cannot plant trees on private property, but will work through the planning commission to require buffering from any future developer, and will continue following up on dumpster, noise, and idling issues. A council member said he would inspect the easement and power-line constraints.

Work Session: Fire Department Update

• Chief Mark Malone reported more than 1,600 calls for service in 2026, mostly traffic accidents and medical calls. All stations operate with 66 suppression personnel and 7 administrative staff. Four firefighters were hired; promotions included captains, a lieutenant, and other roles. The department has logged 8,800 training hours, averaging about 133 hours per employee.
• Station One took delivery of a new pumper with foam capability; Station Two has a 2023 foam-equipped pumper; Station Three operates a 2025 pumper and UTV for trail rescues; Station Four opened after weather, supplier, and contractor delays, housing a 2025 tower truck (remount) and a 2018 rescue pumper. The new station improved response times in Mulberry, Main, Miles, and downtown areas and avoids train-delayed responses.
• The Safe Haven Baby Box is in test mode, with an alarm system issue and false calls; opening/blessing targeted for end of October.
• Communications improvements include a second radio transmit site, a transition to a city-based 911 system, new radios, and redundant dispatch. Inspection staff completed 80% of annual inspections (about 1,700), correcting 348 violations.
• Fire prevention month theme is "Charge into Fire Safety" (lithium-ion battery charging risks). The chief also highlighted men's breast cancer statistics and department charities. The Crusade for Children raised $18,511.55, including a council donation in Ryan Durant's name. Other events included restoration of the historic fire bell with donated labor and materials, a fallen-firefighter memorial wall at Station Four, and formation of an honor guard. The Kentucky Firefighters Conference will be hosted in Elizabethtown in 2027.

Work Session: Amplify Business and Innovation Workshop

• Business Development Officer Terry Ship announced an Amplify Elizabethtown Business and Innovation workshop on October 13, 2026, at the Historic State Theater. Free lunch begins at 11:30 a.m.; program at 1:00 p.m. Amplify is a Kentucky Innovation Hub supported by the Kentucky Economic Cabinet. Keynote speaker Chris Huber Reichs is described as a former Wall Street/Fortune 500 professional who has trained over 15,000 people on AI. Registration is available through city social media or Amplify/Lumon websites.

Work Session: Parks and Recreation Programs

• Parks programmer Adam Case reported the Sept 30 OSNAP glowing game night at Malibu Jacks with Malibu Jackson State Farm Insurance drew 451 attendees, a record, and was free to families with physical or cognitive disabilities. Community partners included Downs Association of the Heartland and Empowered Life. The fall break series served 619 families, up from just under 400 the prior fall, thanks to partnerships with schools, the fire department, SROs, and stormwater. Contact for partnerships is programs@elizabethtownky.gov.

Public Comments (Work Session)

• No public comments were made during the work session.

Key Outcomes and Next Steps

• Ordinance 18-2026 bond issuance adopted 5-0; ordinance 19-2026 zoning amendment introduced on first reading for future action.
• All three municipal orders adopted.
• The October 19, 2026 regular council meeting is canceled; next regular meeting is October 26, 2026.
• The city announced trick-or-treating will be observed Saturday, October 31, 2026, 5–8 p.m., as a recommendation, not an ordinance. Political and promotional signs are restricted in public rights-of-way and will be removed to public works.
• Council voted to enter closed session pursuant to "CARS 61.8" (as stated in transcript) to discuss possible acquisition/sale of real property and specific economic development proposals, with no action expected afterward.