Richmond City Board of Commissioners Special Call Meeting - September 16, 2025
Richmond City Board of Commissioners Special Call Meeting - September 16, 2025
The Richmond City Board of Commissioners held a special call meeting on September 16, 2025, as a replacement for the regular meeting originally scheduled for the following Tuesday. The meeting included an invocation by Jamie Jordan, a member of the Section 8 Housing Board and Housing Authority Board, and the Pledge of Allegiance led by retired Staff Sergeant Paul Mazurik, a member of the Madison County Veterans Committee and Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame. The board approved multiple ordinances and orders, including tax levies, zoning changes, personnel actions, and contracts.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: The board unanimously approved the minutes from the workshop meeting on August 21 (noon), the regular meeting on August 26 (6 p.m.), and the regular meeting on September 9 (6 p.m.).
Proclamations & Presentations
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October 2025): A representative from Hope Swings (the local domestic violence shelter) reported that 57 people in Kentucky lost their lives to domestic violence last year. She noted that a $16,000 grant from Kentucky Housing Corporation was cut due to state funding reductions, and urged the community to support a fundraiser at Mad Mushroom (100% of sales on September 17) to help offset the loss. The proclamation was signed by the City of Richmond, City of Berea, and Madison County Fiscal Court.
- Paint the Town Pink (Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October 2025): Carrie Martin (Director of the Foundation at Baptist Health Richmond) announced that Kentucky now leads the nation in cancer rates. The campaign has raised over $150,000, funding a new cancer center and quilts for patients on their first day of treatment. Events include a kickoff on September 26 at the courthouse lawn and a 5K neon night run on October 3. The proclamation was signed by all three local governments.
Public Comments & Testimony
- George Childs: Raised several concerns: (1) a deep drain rut at the corner of North Collins and Main Street (near CBS) that previously had an orange cone but is now a hazard; (2) requested that Planning and Zoning Commission meetings be televised like commission meetings; (3) expressed concern that the door district policy may not allow carrying cups between businesses, potentially increasing trash; (4) suggested that fees on vacant properties should be higher to discourage holding; (5) noted that the recycling bin deposit is $10 but refundable, making it almost free; (6) asked how the city will fund the 911 system after the first year, noting that the county had discussed water meter fees and the city had split from the county's approach.
Discussion Items
- Ordinance 25-22 (Ad Valorem Tax for 2025) – Second Reading & Vote: The ordinance set the personal property tax rate at 13.7 cents per $100 (down from 15.3 in 2024) and the real property rate at 11.1 cents per $100 (down from 12.1 in 2024). The City Manager noted that the city took the compensating rate and that the total taxable footprint increased to approximately $396 million. The ordinance passed unanimously.
- Ordinance 25-23 (Zoning Change at Heath Street and Estel Avenue) – Second Reading & Vote: The property (0.289 acres, vacant) was rezoned from B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to I-1 (Light Industry) based on a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission after a public hearing. The board adopted the commission’s findings of fact. Passed unanimously.
- Ordinance 25-24 (Amendments to Zoning and Development Ordinance) – Second Reading & Vote: The amendments added “Social Assembly” as a conditional use in zones R1A, R1B, R1C, R2, R3, RE, PSP, B1, B2, B3, and B4, and “Shooting Range” as a conditional use in zones AG, B3, I1, and I2. Commissioner Cole expressed concern about monitoring wedding venues in residential neighborhoods, citing parking issues in his older neighborhood. He also questioned the term “outside the core” for shooting ranges; the City Attorney clarified that it means not downtown and that indoor shooting ranges are intended. The City Manager noted that both uses require approval by the Board of Adjustments, providing additional oversight. The mayor added that the board could revisit the policy if problems arise. Passed unanimously (Commissioner Cole voted yes but with comments).
- Ordinance 25-25 (Alcohol License Application Regulations) – First Reading: The City Attorney read the full text of the amended ordinance, which updates the city’s alcohol licensing process to align with current Kentucky law, including references to cannabis-infused beverages (from hemp), online state applications, and new fee schedules. The City Manager stated this was part of a review of ordinances by the Kentucky League of Cities. Commissioner Cole confirmed the changes bring the city into compliance. No vote was taken; the second reading will occur at the next regular meeting.
- Order 25-140 (Resignation in Recycle Department): Accepted the resignation of Gary Lockhart, effective September 26, 2025, with thanks for his service since 2017. Passed unanimously.
- Order 25-141 (Hiring in Recycle Department): Hired Jason Lewis as a Labor 1 in the recycle department at $15.75 per hour, effective October 3, 2025, contingent on pre-employment requirements. Commissioner Newby requested a social media campaign to promote free curbside recycling (only plastic, paper, and cans; no glass; cardboard can be dropped off). The City Manager agreed and invited the recycling director to give a report at the next work session. Passed unanimously.
- Order 25-142 (Golf Cart Lease for Gibson Bay Golf Course): Awarded a four-year lease to Lads of Memphis, Tennessee for 64 2026 Club Car Tempo gasoline golf carts. The City Manager noted this was the cheapest gasoline proposal and that the city should plan for electric carts and a new building next time. Passed unanimously.
- Order 25-143 (Updated Interlocal Agreement for Madison County 911 Communications Center): Approved an updated agreement with Madison County Fiscal Court and the City of Berea. The City Attorney corrected language in the order: cost sharing is based on total calls of service (previous calendar year), not population. Current shares: Richmond 56%, County 24%, Berea 20%. The order does not affect the prior board’s decision on first-year funding. Passed unanimously.
- Order 25-144 (Change Order No. 1 for Phase 1A of Richmond Regional Sports Complex): Approved a change order for $396,396 with Allen Company for regrading and drainage improvements. The City Manager explained the changes: grading for safety at Goggins Lane exit (line-of-sight), regrading around roundabouts at Goggins Lane and Tates Creek entrances, installing drainage under a berm, and creating accessible paths between tiered soccer fields. The city has sufficient contingency funds from the original bond. Passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- All ordinances and orders passed unanimously except Ordinance 25-25 (first reading, no vote) and Ordinance 25-24 (passed with Commissioner Cole’s comments).
- The board approved the 2025 ad valorem tax rates (personal: 13.7 cents/$100, real: 11.1 cents/$100), a decrease from 2024.
- The zoning change at Heath and Estel (B-1 to I-1) was approved.
- The zoning ordinance was amended to define social assembly and shooting ranges as conditional uses in specific zones.
- The alcohol license ordinance was read for the first time; second reading and vote scheduled for the next regular meeting.
- Personnel actions: acceptance of resignation (Gary Lockhart) and hiring (Jason Lewis) in the recycle department.
- A four-year golf cart lease for Gibson Bay was awarded to Lads of Memphis.
- The updated 911 interlocal agreement was approved, with cost shares based on call volume.
- A change order for the sports complex ($396,396) was approved, funded from contingency.
- The next regular meeting was noted to be on the second Tuesday (date not specified) and the Millstone Festival is scheduled for October 4, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It's time for us to begin our meeting and want to welcome everyone who is here in the chambers tonight. This is um a special call meeting. It's a replacement meeting for next Tuesday, which would be our regular meeting. So anytime there is any time there's a meeting other than our announced meetings, which are the second and fourth Tuesdays, 6 p.m. And our workshop third Thursday at noon. The meeting has to be declared as a special call. We'll conduct the meeting tonight as uh with the same uh agenda that we would have used uh next uh Tuesday, but uh this is special call because it isn't one of those three times for our invocation tonight. Jamie Jordan is here, and Jamie, if you'll come please and lead us. Almighty Father, uh, we give you thanks for this day, and uh we give you thanks for all the things that uh maybe that have blessed us this day that we've just taken uh for granted. We give you thanks for a great city, uh great city leadership, Lord, that you have blessed us with for good people who will gather in meetings such as this to make a great city even better. So Lord, uh you love us, your people, more than we could ever know. I pray that uh those who are voting and making decisions, Lord, will just um realize that love that you have for uh for your people, Lord, and uh that they would operate out of that same kind of love. Lord, I pray for all tonight that you would just pour out your wisdom, let us lean on you and not ourselves. Lord, uh my heart um is heavy for uh and and and just feels tugged towards our uh first responders as just always, Lord. I'm gonna pray a special protection over them, some of whom are represented in this meeting here. Lord, would you look after them, those who uh are called uh to look after the rest of us? And I pray that you would uh just protect them and Lord that you would use them uh in mighty ways to save the people that you love, Lord. So continue to equip them and equip the rest of us to do what you have called us to do. We pray this all in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Everybody say, Jamie. Serves on our housing uh section eight housing board and uh newly on our housing authority board. Thank you for your service, sir. Honored to have a local U.S. Armed Forces veteran with us to lead the pledge of allegiance. We're pleased to welcome Mr. Paul Mazurik, Staff Sergeant retired. Mr. Missouri is the chairman of the Madison County Veterans Committee. He served 21 years in the Kentucky National Guard and is a desert storm veteran. He was a member of the 2123rd Heavy Equipment Transportation Unit here in Richmond and is also a member of the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame. Congratulations, sir. Mr. Mazurick, thank you for your service to our country and for leading our pledge this evening. Please, sir, proceed. And to say one individual with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, sir. We'll call the meeting to order. Madam Clerk, please call the role. Commissioner Cole. Yes. Commissioner Gobel. Yes. Commissioner Newby. Here. Commissioner Brewer. President. Mayor Blythe. Thank you. Our first presentation for the evening.
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