And the bewitching hour of six is here.

We're going to ask uh Pastor Eric Espata of the First United Methodist Church to come and lead us in our invocation, please.

Good evening, sir, and welcome.

Good to see you again.

Yes.

Good evening to all.

Let us pray.

The Bible says in Jeremiah twenty-nine, seven, and work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I have sent you.

Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for the city of Richmond, the place you call us to be.

We lift up our leaders of our city.

And the other elected officers, members of the cedar uh city leadership.

Father, I pray for wisdom, justice, and integrity in all their decisions.

Bless the homes and the family of our city.

Lord, I pray for peace and welfare for all who live here.

Strengthen us to be your hands and feet, to love our neighbor, to care for the sick, and to welcome the stranger.

Guide us to work for peace, justice, and compassion in our community.

And may your love be made visible through our actions.

Help us to be the city where everyone is valued and has the opportunity to thrive.

Open our eyes to the need of those around us and give us the courage to act in act in ways that bring hopes and healing.

Would you mind just telling the folks who you are if you understand what I mean?

Just briefly, please.

And welcome again.

This is Cub Scout Troop 401.

Thank you, sir.

And to the Republican.

One nation.

Individual with liberty and justice.

Thank you.

Now, is there anything you want to say?

Thank you for coming.

Whenever we're able to welcome these young people, I always like to end their visit by simply saying there's hope.

There is hope, and uh these these children and young people.

Thank you, Jen, for what you do for them.

Let's see here.

Madam Clerk, please call or roll.

Commissioner Gobel here.

Commissioner Noby.

Here.

Commissioner Brewer.

President.

Commissioner Cole.

Here.

Mayor Blythe.

Here, thank you.

We have uh three presentations for tonight.

The first is a recognition of the Madison County Special Olympics teams.

People come to the podium there, please.

I'm here to share with you about the honor it is to be overseeing our wonderful group.

We have over a hundred athletes that participate in Tim Sports with Madison County Special Olympics.

Um it goes year-round, so they're always having a different sport.

But um every four years um there is the USA Special Olympics Games, and the next one will be next year in Minnesota, and Madison County had 10 athletes that were um qualified to be um then nominated, and um the state office then drew randomly who would be chosen to go.

So we actually have two athletes tonight that are here that were selected and will be going to Minnesota next June 20th to the 26th.

Very cool.

Um tonight is a night to um bring about bring up the ones that could make it tonight out of the 10 that did get um to be nominated.

So first we have Miss Ellie Rose Deprez.

Would you like to come on up?

Ellie Rose is nominated, she was nominated for swimming, and Ellie Rose participates in swimming, track and field, cheerleading, and bowling.

And so we are so happy to have you with us.

Addison was nominated for track and field, and currently he participates in track and field, softball, and bowling.

Next we have Dakota Glassen.

Dakota was nominated for bowling, and he currently participates in bowling singles and also bowling unified.

We have Leslie Rising is here.

And Leslie was nominated for track and field.

She currently participates in track and field, softball, bowling, basketball, swimming, and golf.

Amelia Millie Reichley, did she end up making it?

Okay.

Those that couldn't make it with us is Amelia Reikley.

She was nominated for track and field, and she currently participates in track and field softball, bowling, basketball, swimming, and golf.

And Chris Wilson, he's unable to make it.

He was nominated for track and field.

He currently participates in track and field softball, basketball, and flag football.

And also Dylan Hammond.

He was nominated for track and field.

He participates in track and field softball, basketball, bowling, and is a local artist that participates each year in the Special Olympics, Kentucky local art competition.

And then we have Alex Hester.

He is our only athlete who does every single sport that we have.

And he's unable to make it.

But he was nominated for golf.

And he participates in golf, track and field, softball, basketball, cheerleading, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, bowling, flag football, and is also a local artist that participates each year in the Soaky Special Olympics art competition.

He also skateboards and snowboards.

Holy cow.

So next we have Miss Megan Denin and her mother.

Megan's been with Madison County Special Olympics for many years.

Next we have Mr.

Shane Stool.

Shane was nominated for bowling.

He currently participates in bowling, flag football, track and field, basketball, and swimming.

He is an ambassador for Special Olympics of Kentucky and is currently a third season Adventure Falls employee with us here at the City of Richmond.

He and his EKU's unified partner took second place in the 2022 USA Special Olympics Games Esports invitational as the Kentucky team for the Rocket League and Unified Esports.

And Shane is also going to the USA Games next year in Minnesota.

Awesome.

So I don't know how the clicker works, but I did want to share with everyone that on November the 7th, right over here at First United Methodist Church, we'll be having our Chili Supper fundraiser.

It'll be from 5 to 8:30.

I'm sorry, 5:30 to 8.

And there is a chili cook-off between the fire department and the police department.

So there is a big rival going on there for the competition.

Last year, the police did win, so we'll see about this year.

We will have an online auction starting on.

I'm sorry, October 27 to November the 3rd.

And then we will have a silent auction the day of the event.

So we hope everybody will come out and support us.

We have two fundraisers a year, so this is one of our main fundraisers.

That's all that we are fundraising, is all that our funds come from.

And it goes to buy uniforms, equipment, any kind of travel expenses that we might have, and we do have to pay regional and state competition fees, and then also league fees for any team sports that we are with league games.

So yeah, thank you, everyone.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

You can see this proclamation.

I'm going to read it.

Whereas throughout the United States, communities are recognizing the month of October as Manufacturing Month.

This recognition is an effective way to highlight the importance of manufacturing in our community.

Draws attention to the many rewarding high-skilled jobs in the industry.

And whereas it supports and celebrates our local manufacturers and our school programs that prepare our future workforce.

Whereas Manufacturing Month provides communities with opportunities to further connect educators, students, and the population in general with the manufacturing industry and highlight the many quality products and associated activities that are local to the area.

Excuse me.

And whereas manufacturing is an important cornerstone of our local economy and provides jobs for thousands of citizens living in our city and for others commuting from surrounding areas.

Many different industries are located here representing various sectors of advanced manufacturing that involve automotive parts, paints and components, industrial machinery, parts, dryers, fans, cables, and power sources, medical supplies, food processing, and many others.

Whereas Manufacturing Month urges people throughout the community to join in recognizing the value of our manufacturers and the importance they serve in our city, county, state, and the nation.

Now therefore, I, Robert Blythe, mayor of the City of Richmond, Kentucky, do hereby proclaim and recognize the month of October 2025 as Manufacturing Month in the City of Richmond, Kentucky.

In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand, cause the seal of the city of Richmond, Kentucky, to be affixed this 14th day of October, 2025.

It is signed, and uh case you can't read this.

Well, thank you, Mayor, for uh reading this proclamation.

As the mayor mentioned, the manufacturing month and the month of October is just one month out of the year, but all throughout the year, we appreciate the work that are done in our factories not only across the United States and abroad.

They go to other other places to help support those operations.

With me today, just a couple of representatives from our local manufacturers.

I have Mike Laker here, plant manager at Interstys, so maybe I don't know what interesting plan is up in FDA.

And then I have Kevin Bonetta, who's the general manager at an electrodrive.

Both of these manufacturing plants have been members of the Richmond Community for a long time and generated a lot of appreciate the work that you all do in any more that you brought in the beginning.

Are there any other factory workers here in the crowd tonight that work at factory somewhere?

Raise your hand, you'll take on that one.

Well, yeah, if you've got family members or factory workers and friends, thank them for the work they do.

And also remember those uh students that are in our tech school that we have Cosby Knight Academy and our EKU and Maria College and all throughout our education workforce that are training and the skill trade and think about what they're going to do with their lives development as our economy changes and the contributions that they're going to make the volume of life about your.

We have one other presentation tonight.

The Kentucky League of Cities Safety Audit.

Richmond Police Department.

Fine, good to see you.

Hey folks, my name is Brian Dunn.

I work for the Kentucky League of Cities.

Retired from the Louisville Metro Police Department after 23 years of another few years of the smaller department.

So had the privilege and honor of carrying a badge on the gather for 26 years.

I believe blue.

Love police, love everything they do.

Graduated from EKU back in 89, so I'm a big fan of the city of Richmond.

Like it a lot more before y'all recognized.

But my title with League Cities is I'm a law enforcement consultant.

They lobby for you guys down in Frankfurt.

If you got a pool, they inspect your pool.

I mean, they just if a city does it, the League of Cities is involved in it in some way, shape, form, or fashion.

Take nothing away from the fireman in the room.

Police departments are just different.

You know, the liability associated with the police department is the same.

You know, we unfortunately have to shoot people, as you guys know all too well.

Sometimes we have officers shot.

Um we take the property, we take your freedom.

Sometimes we have to be involved in taking your kids from you.

It's uh a lot of liability associated with being a police officer.

Um you gotta have insurance.

And I know nothing about insurance.

I'm very smart enough to pay my car insurance every six months, but you guys, I have a job because police departments need to be insured.

Um because of that, the league insures about 200 police departments throughout the state.

Now a lot of them are your bowling greens and your comedy 130, 140 man units all the way down to your Houstonville's and your uh junction cities that are one officer units.

It's still got to be insured.

You never know when that day is not going to be a good day.

Um so one of the things that we do, and we do a lot for you guys actually.

We inspect your firing range, we bring you guys your response to resistance simulator.

But the big thing we do is it's probably safety and liability review.

That's a very, very cute way of saying an audit.

Every three years I have to come and audit the police department.

Um that means I look at policy, I look at training records, I looked at the classes that they're commanding officers are taking.

It's about a 60 question air that we go over every year.

Richmond PD is by far one of my two or three best departments as far as preparation for that.

It speaks very highly of Chief Richardson and his command staff.

There's never any guessing or me digging through records.

If I need it, it's ready.

Um so one way that you can be considered an excellent police department is if you get above an 80 on this review.

Um that's considered excellent that helps you out on your insurance.

There's a lot of eighties, but then you start talking about the 100% like I need you to do these 60 things.

They do every one of them without question.

They do every one of them very well.

Um if you get 100 on this review, I think that we owe it to you guys to come and let you know how well your police department is doing.

Uh Richmond for the last three audits has been 100%.

Um sitting here, you probably know you've got a great police department.

Um Chief Richardson will tell you it's not him.

It's not him, and it's command staff, it's him, it's command his command staff.

It's the support of the community, it's a support of the commissioners and the mayor.

It's his officers, it's the civilians working in the police department.

Without that, they're not going to be under.

Um so that's how good of a department you got.

But if everybody answers to Mr.

Green at some point, everybody wants to know well, how does that help the city save money?

What's that do for us?

The only two ways that your police department can save money through the league and three year old liability insurance is to get above an 80 on this, which they do every year without question, and to be accredited by the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police, which they have been for the last probably eight, nine years.

So I'm gonna be very respectful of your time.

I can talk about these guys the rest of the night, but I did want to take a few minutes just to come and recognize Chief Richardson and his department.

Um we try to do the hungry, we try to do a little plaque for you.

Um other than that, I will present this and get out of your way.

Brian, thank you very much.

And we certainly appreciate our affiliation, and that's for many years with the Kentucky League of Cities.

This is one of the ways in which uh we certainly appreciate that affiliation again.

So thank you for coming over tonight.

Chief, congratulations to you and to the department, to your command staff, and to all of those who serve in that department.

That's not why they're all here, is it?

We'll move expeditiously.

First of all, we have the special call meeting minutes from the meeting September 16 at 6 p.m.

And may we have a motion, please, if you've had a chance, take a look at those to prove those as presented.

So moved.

All right.

Second.

Commissioner Cole, Commissioner Newby.

Are there any questions, comments, corrections?

That being none, Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer.

Yes.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Commissioner Goebb.

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Order 25-152.

Order of the City of Richmond promoting a police officer to sergeant.

Madam Clerk, please.

Whereas the City of Richmond has a policy for promoting police officers to the position of sergeant, and whereas this officer has successfully completed their promotional process, which is consistent of a written exam, self-evaluation, leadership assessment scored by an outside agency and an oral interview conducted by a selection panel.

And whereas the city manager has recommended the promotion for this employee.

Now therefore, be it ordered by the City of Richmond Board of Commissioners that the following officer is hereby promoted to sergeant effective October 31st with the fiscal year pay rate for 2526 police pay scale, pay grade five.

Daniel Toth, original hire date was in 2017.

As a safeguard against this promotion, these employees beyond their capability, all newly promoted employees will serve a one-year probationary period continuous service.

The probationary period may extend for a period of six months upon recommendation by the police chief and city manager.

And whereas the officer promoted to the rank of sergeant will not commence on their probationary period until they have successfully completed the academy for the police supervision training center course at the CODJT.

This order shall become effective immediately upon adoption by the Richmond City Board of Commissioners.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

We've had uh reading of Order 25-152.

May we have a motion, please bring to the floor for approval.

Discussion and approval.

So move.

Commissioner Brewer.

Second.

And Commissioner Gobel.

Any discussion?

Madam Clerk and Chief, would we like to take a look at him before we vote?

Oh, don't worry.

He's gonna have this opportunity here just a minute.

All right.

If there is no further discussion, Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Brewer.

Yes.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Commissioner Gobel.

Yes.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Order 25-155, an order of the City of Richmond promoting employees to Master Police Officer.

Madam Clerk again.

Whereas the City of Richmond has a policy of promoting officers to the position of master, and whereas these officers have successfully met the requirements for master police officer and have submitted their applications for consideration to the assignment.

And whereas the city manager has recommended the promotion of these employees.

Now therefore it be it ordered by the City of Richmond Board of Commissioners that the following employees in the police department are hereby promoted to Master Police Officer Effective Payroll November 14th.

These employees will be paid based on their fiscal year 2526 approved pay scale, pay grade four.

Officer Adkins, Officer McKnight, Officer Foster, and Officer Skees.

All were originally hired in 2020.

This order shall be effective immediately upon adoption by the Richmond City Board of Commissioners.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

That's Order 25-155.

May we have a motion, please, to bring to the floor for discussion and approval.

So moved.

Commissioner Goble and Commissioner Brewer.

Is there any discussion?

There being none.

Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Commissioner Goebbel.

Yes.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer.

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

This time.

Chief, if you'll come and lead us in our pinning ceremony.

Mayor and Mistress, thank you.

I appreciate y'all giving us his time and uh I can promise you if somebody calls 911, we're gonna get there pretty quickly.

There's plenty of people out there working.

So you all know that this is my favorite part uh of serving this agency is promoting future leaders because you know, like um Brian said earlier, uh it takes a whole team to do what we do.

I cannot do it alone.

My command staff can't do it alone.

It takes uh everybody working together with one mission in mind to complete this.

So if I call your name, you all come up with uh the family members that you brought to do your pinning.

Um Sergeant Daniel Toth.

His wife Chelsea, his daughter Violet, and son Harris.

Y'all could just stand up front if you want, and we'll uh Master Police Officer uh Rebecca Foster and Lieutenant Gary Schaeffer.

Master Police Officer Yandreska Skies and Jess and stepson Cameron, Master Police Officer Kate Knight and her boyfriend Zeke, and Master Police Officer Addison Atkin and his wife Caitlin and son Luke.

Mayor, I think we've talked about this before and you've said it.

I'm gonna steal some of your words, but uh it uh you can tell that these officers are uh not only supported by their community uh and the fire department.

Thank you all for being here too.

We appreciate that, but uh they have a great support group from their family.

Yeah, and that's what it takes in this job.

Uh we know that's important.

If I call your name with you and your family member or your significant other uh or friend that you have to uh do your pinning tonight, please take one step forward so they know who you are.

Sergeant Daniel Toth.

Sergeant Toth has served the Richmond Police Department for eight years.

He is a firearms instructor and the team leader for RPD's emergency response unit.

Uh most recently, he's worked as a detective in the criminal investigations office.

Sergeant Toth was named Officer of the Year, Officer of the Year in 2019, and has since continued to demonstrate exceptional leadership and dedication to the department's mission.

He holds multiple certifications as a department's armorer, digital forensics investigator, and served on the 2025 police committee as the CIU representative.

He also played a vital role in the development and design of RPD's mobile command post, which now serves as a critical asset for the department and our community.

He will be pinned tonight by his wife Chelsea, his daughter Violet, and his son Harris.

Master Police Officer Addison Atkin.

Master Police Officer Addison Atkin has served the Richmond Police Department for five years.

He is a police training officer and was recognized as officer of the quarter in 2024.

MPO Atkin is an active member of the Code for Wellness Program and played a leading role in organizing the department's first financial wellness seminar series, connecting officers and staff to financial and retirement planning resources.

He has also pioneered RPD's police paramedic program, a collaboration with Madison County EMS that allows him to serve as a field-ready paramedic for both police officers and citizens in need of immediate medical care.

MPO Acton will be pinned by his wife Caitlin and his son Luke.

Master Police Officer Kate Knight.

MPO Kate Knight has served the department for five years.

She is a police training officer, a farms instructor, and is a member of our collision reconstruction unit.

MPO Knight has earned numerous awards, including the 2024 Award of Achievement, the 2023 Officer of the Year, and 2022 Community Service Award.

Her consistent professionalism, positive attitude, and strong work ethic has made her a respectful leader among her peers.

She's also serves as the define professional direction team leader for the Code 4 Wellness Program and is a member of RPD's honor guard.

MPO Kate Knight will be pinned by our boyfriend Zeke.

Master Police Officer Rebecca Foster.

MPO Foster has served the department for five years.

She is a dedicated police training officer and a valued member of the crisis negotiation team, where she applies her advanced crisis intervention training to assist during critical incidents.

MPO Foster has received multiple awards, including exceptional service, officer of the quarter, and perfect attendance.

Beyond her patrol duties, she is an active member of the Code 4 Wellness Program and frequently represents RPD in the community, organizing coffee with a cop and other events.

She also mentors young athletes at as a softball coach at a local middle school.

MPO Foster will be pinned tonight by Lieutenant Gary Shaker.

MPO Andreska skis.

MPO Skees has served in the department for the past five years.

She's a full-time member of the Richmond Police Bike Patrol Unit and serves as a certified bike mechanic for the agency.

MPO skis has earned several awards, including exceptional service and perfect attendance in 2024, as well as distinguished service and award of achievement in 2023.

Her peers and citizens alike commend her for a professionalism, respect, and constant willingness to help others.

She is the Cultivate Healthy Habits team leader for the Code 4 Wellness Program and a member of RPD's honor guard.

MPO skis will be pinned by her girlfriend Jess and her stepson Cameron.

As y'all notice, I I think I called out a lot of these officers with five years of experience.

The ones that are standing for MPO tonight were hired together.

They went to the academy together, and they're still here moving in the direction the first step of direction of actual leadership for our department.

So that says a lot for the agency itself.

You guys are doing just a wonderful job.

If you all would do us the honors, please, of pinning on the rank of their uh their promotional rank of MPO and sergeant, Chief, and while they're doing this, you recall several years ago when we even considered as you recommended this uh master police officer rank.

And I believe there were what six or seven immediately who uh applied and and met the requirements and the qualifications for that rank, and since uh since that time, there's been no stopping those officers who wanted that promotion and all that went with it.

Uh thank you, Chief.

Thank you all.

And to the command staff also again.

We appreciate the support that you all service as elected officials, our city manager, and everybody here.

I'm telling you, it takes a whole team.

When I say it takes a whole team, it uh it really does.

And you know, just uh these promotions, our 100% on our safety audit would not be possible if not for everybody, everybody that's helping us out.

So with that being said, uh congratulations to our new sergeants and our new master police officers.

Mayor, commissioners, thank you all.

Thank you, Chief.

Again, thanks and congratulations to each of you.

That was special.

Order 25-158, an order of the city of Richmond, Kentucky, appointing an assistant fire chief.

Madam Clerk, please.

Interviews were conducted by a selection panel.

And whereas the city manager would like to recommend the promotion of this qualified employee, and whereas the board has carefully considered that recommendation and is in accord with it.

Now, therefore, be it ordered by the City of Richmond Board of Commissioners that Patrick Tudor be appointed as assistant fire chief for the City of Richmond, effective payroll date, October 31st, pay grade seven.

His work history, he was originally uh volunteer firefighter in 2003, hired as firefighter one in 2004, promoted to firefighter two in 2005, promoted lieutenant in 2012, promoted to captain, 2015, and promoted battalion chief in 2022.

The Board of Commissioners would like to thank him for his continued dedication and leadership within the department.

This order shall be in full force and effect upon reading and adoption by the Richmond City Board of Commissioners.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, that's 25-158, order 25-158.

Maybe of a motion, please.

Bring to the floor for discussion and approval.

A move.

Commissioner Newby.

Second.

And Commissioner Cole.

Any discussion?

Yeah, I'll say something.

You know, always gonna say something.

Um I've known firefighter tutor for I guess a long time.

We worked together for a while.

And Chief Smith, I think you've I think he's an excellent choice.

I think you know, as well as doing the job, you know, any kind of leadership you position you're put in, you have to have the personality where people want to f want to follow you.

And you know, as far as a dedicated firefighter, even more so, I think he's he's a good man, and uh we appreciate your service, and I think you're gonna do fun.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Let's see, have we voted?

No.

Maybe have not okay.

Commissioner Goebb.

Yes.

Commissioner Newby?

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer?

Yes.

Commissioner Cole?

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

This time.

Chief, and the Chief Smith, this is the fire pinning ceremony.

That's hard to have to follow.

Yeah.

But first of all, I'm gonna thank the uh promotional board, uh City Manager HR of uh City of Richmond and the Commission for their support, their continued support.

Um next, I want to congratulate you.

Congratulate uh Chief Tudor.

Um he brings 21 plus years of service to the fire department.

Um assistant chiefly hurt his way.

Um pillar to the community, and honestly, I'm listening home.

So uh I'd like to ask his uh family to come up, uh his son's TJ Hustler, congratulations.

Hi, Dr.

Absolutely, Chief Tudor's got a nice ring to it, isn't it?

Order 25-154, an order of the city of Richmond hiring safety officers.

Madam Clerk, please where's the police department recent recently has reorganized the departmental structure and hiring an additional safety officers due to the increased workload, and whereas the positions were advertised and interviews conducted, and whereas the interview committee has recommended a hire for the positions.

Now, therefore, be it ordered by the City of Richmond Board of Commissioners that the following individuals are hired, contingent upon their successful completion of the city's pre-employment requirements as safety officers for the police department, effective October 27th, pay grade four, Dennis Schrader, Taylor Edwards, Todd Gavin, John Sebastian, and part-time Miranda Thacker.

These are at will employees and will serve a one-year probationary period.

This order shall be in full force in effect upon reading and adoption by the Richmond City Board of Commissioners.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

That's order 25-154.

May we have a motion, please, to bring the floor for discussion and approval.

So moved.

Commissioner Cole.

Second.

Commissioner Newby.

Is there any discussion?

There being none.

Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer.

Yes.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Commissioner Goebbel.

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Either Chief or Mr.

City Manager.

Would one of you please kind of bring us up now to what this means, for example, with respect to park uh parks officers and uh park security in the reference to park security until December 1st, is that right, Chief?

We'll have it covered with existing officers.

And once these folks are in place, they will be dedicated to the parks, but it also gives them the ability to go out and manage a traffic accident if need be.

Um, if everybody else is busy, and there's some other responsibilities as well.

So I think it's a good fit for our our parks department moving forward.

And uh I want to I wanna emphasize that they are dedicated to our parks system, but it also allows them to be a called away from the park system uh for some other duties that the the park security didn't have the authority to handle.

Thank you, sir.

Is it classified sworn or non-sworn?

Not sworn, yeah.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

The mayor also know that I'm sorry.

No, gentlemen, please.

They have to complete uh mandated uh KLEC training to actually become a safety officer, statutorily required.

Yes.

Uh we have been blessed to uh have a certified KLEC instructor on the department that's Lieutenant Schaefer, and we applied with KLEC to do our own safety officer academy, and we've been training our own safety officers outstanding RPD.

So uh when these when the new uh safety officers come on board, we'll send them to the our academy class and then put them straight out into the field.

Outstanding.

Thank you, Chief.

So Gary Schaeffer is finally earning his keep.

Where is he?

That's why he left, because he's always there.

It only took 38 years.

38 years, yes indeed.

He's been here a long time.

I think he arrested me when I was in college.

Oh my God.

Oh you ain't kidding, are you?

No.

All righty.

Let's see here.

Order 25-146, an order of the city of Richmond promoting employees in the fire department to firefighter two.

Madam Clerk, please.

Whereas the Board of Commissioners, is their intention to have highly qualified personnel within the city's departments, and whereas firefighters one, two, and three classifications provide firefighter personnel with an opportunity for personal growth and education while improving the workforce.

And whereas a notice of an opportunity was given to all eligible and interested personnel within the fire department to test and qualify for firefighter two.

Now, therefore, be it ordered by the City of Richmond Board of Commissioners that the following promotions, effective payroll October 17th payroll date as a part of the approved fiscal year, fire pay scale 2526 budget.

Firefighter two, pay grade three, Michael Kendrick, Richard Barnes.

This order shall be in full force and effect upon reading and adoption by the Richmond City Board of Commissioners.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

That's order 25-146.

May we have a motion, please bring the floor for discussion and approval.

So moved.

Commissioner Goebbel.

Second.

And Commissioner Brewer.

Any discussion?

That being none, Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Brewer.

Yes.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Commissioner Goebbel.

Yes.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Ordinance 2025-25.

That's ordinance 25-25.

An ordinance of the City of Richmond, Kentucky.

Amending Section 117.17.

License is required.

Applications regulations.

This is a second reading tonight.

We will vote.

Mr.

Attorney, please.

Yes.

I really like my job.

I want to keep my job.

So with leave of the commission, I would ask to summarize this ordinance if that's okay.

I mean ages was that.

Yes.

This this will go much quicker.

I just want to hit the highlights as far as what had been amended.

The ordinance was outdated, so there's just some things with statutory changes need to be changed.

As far as general updates and clarifications, the language has been simplified throughout the ordinance to make it more accessible to the public.

We've removed outdated license categories and replaced them with a general requirement to obtain a license for any alcohol-related activity based upon what that activity is.

We've also clarified penalties.

First offense is going to be a class B misdemeanor with the possibility of increasing penalties for subsequent violations per KRS 243.990.

Uh the next area we're in application process changes.

Uh state license applications must now be submitted through the Kentucky ABC portal, which is online.

And likewise, local license applications must be submitted concurrently via the City of Richmond ABC license application page.

And publication requirements have been changed based upon uh some license applications no longer require publication, and we noted those where it's uh relevant within the ordinance.

Eligibility restrictions have been updated uh to include misdemeanor convictions related to cannabis infused beverage violations and revocations or convictions under KRS 241-244, and clarify that these restrictions apply to both individuals and business entities if they violate.

Uh license expiration and renewal was clarified that city licenses expire on April 30th with uh fees due for a new license by May 1st.

Batch licenses, which are state multiple license holders, uh such as Meyer, Walmart, uh those types of companies.

Those expire statewide on August 31st with fees due to the city by September 1 for renewal.

And last but not least, just wanted to clarify the areas where we have revised license rates.

Special temporary retail drink license uh is now 166.66 cents per statute, where it was 108.33 cents.

Special temporary alcoholic beverage auction license is now 100 dollars, where previously it was 200.

Uh quota retail package license is now $752.45 cents, where it was $716.62.

Quota retail drink license is now $752.45 cents, where it was $700.16 and $62 cents.

$716.62, I should say.

Uh we've newly added a rectifiers license class B, which is a craft rectifier that's available to people in the community for $960.

Uh non-quota retail malt beverage package and non-quota type four retail malt beverage drink license.

Those have been clarified and standardized at $200 apiece for both of those.

And supplemental bar licenses have been clarified to where you're going to pay the same license fee for the supplemental bar license as you did for your primary bar license.

So if you have an NQ2 license, you need a supplemental license, you'll pay the same amount for that.

And that is my summary of the ordinance.

I think we about 29 minutes faster than last time.

That was a good summary.

Yes, thank you.

Yes, indeed.

Thank you, Mr.

Attorney.

That's ordinance 25-25.

And again, this is our second reading.

So tonight we will vote.

May we have a motion, please bring to the floor for discussion and approval.

So moved.

Commissioner Cole.

Second.

And Commissioner Newby.

Is there any discussion?

Anything further, Mr.

Attorney, Mr.

City Manager?

All right.

There being none.

Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Commissioner Goebb.

Yes.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer.

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Ordinance 25-26 and ordinance of the City of Richmond, Kentucky, amending development ordinance, Section 157.077.

Schedule of fees, charges, and expenses pertaining to lasting permits.

This is a first reading.

We will not vote.

Mr.

Attorney, please.

Thank you, Mayor.

Whereas the City of Richmond seeks uniformity across its entire ordinance code to promote clarity to all who are subject to the code.

And whereas it has come to the city's attention that there is a discrepancy between the blasting permit cost in Section 111.04 as passed in 1990, and in Section 157.077, the schedule of fees, charges, and expenses within the city's more recent development ordinance.

Now, therefore, be it ordained by the Board of Commissioners of the City of Richmond as follows.

Section 157.077 of the City of Richmond Code of Ordinances.

Entitled blasting permit is amended as follows.

Then under Section 1, the change has been made for blasting permit.

It previously was $500, and to get it in line with not just our other ordinance but the other localities around us as far as what they're charging, that is now going to be $50 for the blasting permit.

All right.

Heard the reading of 25-26, ordinance 25-26.

May we have a motion, please bring to the floor for discussion.

A move.

Commissioner Brewer.

Second.

And Commissioner Cole.

Is there any discussion?

Questions, comments?

I just had a quick question, just in terms of what you were saying.

So basically, we're just trying to be consistent with our language in terms of our city ordinances, orders.

And then we're also going to change the fees to make sure that it's more in compliance.

Yes, Commissioner Cole.

There were there was the two blasting ordinances that had the fee.

One had $500, one had $50.

Okay.

I don't know whether that was a scrivener's error at some point or what the issue was.

But in looking at Berea, I think Madison County, they all there's so many costs associated with blasting that they all assess a $50 fee.

That's right.

And so we want to be obviously competitive with those around us and not be a detriment to anybody that needs to be blasting in our community.

Assuming they follow all the other regulations they have to get through.

Thank you.

Yes.

Any other discussion, questions, comment?

There being none, this is again a first reading.

We will vote in our next regular meeting.

Ordinance 25-26.

Order 25-145, an order of the City of Richmond awarding a bid for the purchase of soccer goals at the Richmond Regional Sports Complex.

Mr.

City Manager, please.

Yes, sir.

Whereas the City of Richmond has advertised and accepted bids for soccer goals and accessories on the 200-acre site for sports complex located at the corner of Tate's Creek Road in Goggins Lane, Richmond, Kentucky.

And whereas eight bids were received in one proposal, which met all specifications by Musa organization organization standards has been determined to be the best.

Now therefore be ordered by the City of Richmond Board of Commissioners.

The Richmond Regional Sports Complex Project Contract Soccer Goals high-end package is awarded is awarded to Challenger Teamware for the total for a total of 120,291.45 cents, which includes goals, nets, wheels, flags, accessories, and shipping.

Funding for the project will be allocated from the Richmond Regional Sports Complex Project Fund.

City's general obligation bond three series approved by ordinances 23-47 and 24-30.

The submitted bid is hereby attached to the order.

This order shall be in full force and effect upon reading and adoption by the City of Richmond Board of Commissioners.

Thank you, sir.

That's order 25-145.

May we have a motion.

Please bring the floor for discussion and approval.

A move.

Commissioner Newby.

Second.

And Commissioner Cole.

All right.

Is there any discussion?

I think I understood correctly.

I just want to make sure I did.

So the funding for this, we have encumbered within our current bonds, so we're good to make this purchase within what we already have.

That is correct.

Encumbered, ready to go.

Yep.

And MUSA did uh partner with us, and I think they're providing some of the younger age goals.

But we wanted to make sure we, with all the other goals, we wanted to make sure the city did own those in case we had regional tournaments and would have access to them.

And then also they do meet the specifications that MUSA currently has with their goals.

And I think there's a lifetime warranty on these as well.

So thank you.

And I'm not a soccer guy, but so I'm getting close to my line in the sand there.

Any further discussion?

Questions, comments?

Being none, Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer.

Yes.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Commissioner Goble.

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Ceremonial order 25-147 in order of the City of Richmond accepting resignation by a member of the Richmond Housing Authority Board.

Madam Clerk, please.

There is a member on the Richmond Housing Authority Board has verbally resigned from their position.

Now, therefore, be it ordered by the City of Richmond Board of Commissioners that Sylvia Powell has resigned early from the Richmond Housing Authority Board effective immediately.

The City would like to thank Ms.

Powell for her dedicated service and commitment since 1997.

This order shall be in full force and effect upon reading and adoption by the Richmond City Board of Commissioners.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

That's order 25-147.

May we have a motion, please, bring to the floor for discussion and approval.

Commissioner Brewer.

Second.

Commissioner Newby.

Let me just make one quick comment.

One of the things I've learned in attending some of the HUD meetings is that folks that uh either volunteer or employees of any of the uh housing efforts through housing and urban urban development.

We get to those meetings, and we've got uh executive directors of section eight or public housing authority who've been around 30 years.

And um certainly in this case, uh that's that's almost the number.

Uh Sylvia Powell has uh served as a chair, uh very faithfully so, and it was uh somewhat saddening when uh when she announced in our last meeting that she thought she had been there long enough.

But uh certainly she has not just been there, she served and served well.

Retired school teacher, I believe, and she has uh she mentioned to us in that board meeting that it was from her students that she learned the condition of housing for many of the families, and uh that she wanted to do something if she could to help with their living, and we we're grateful.

The city of Richmond is great.

I'm grateful for the service that she has given.

Shoes to fill.

Any any further comment, question or there being none, Madam Clerk, please?

Commissioner Brewer.

Yes, Commissioner Cole?

Yes, Commissioner Goble?

Yes, Commissioner Newby?

Yes, Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Order 25-148.

Order of the City of Richmond reappointing a member to the Richmond Tourism Commission.

Madam Clerk, please.

Whereas the term of Cassidy Johnson on the Richmond Tourism Commission has expired, and whereas this member is active and attends all meeting and wishes to continue serving.

Now, therefore, be it ordered by the City of Richmond Board of Commissioners that the following be reappointed to the to the Richmond Tourism Commission for a term of three years.

Cassidy Johnson, Hotel Representative, expiring 2028.

This order shall be in full force and effect upon reading and adoption by the Richmond City Board of Commissioners.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

That's order 25-148.

May we have a motion, please bring to the floor for discussion and approval.

So moved.

Commissioner Goble.

Second.

Commissioner Newby.

Is there any discussion?

There being none, Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Commissioner Goble.

Yes.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer?

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Order 25-149.

Order of the City of Richmond reappointing a member to the Richmond Human Rights Commission.

Madam Clerk, please.

Whereas Dejan Graves expired recently on the Richmond Human Rights Commission, and whereas this following citizen would like to continue serving and has made a commitment to attend all meetings.

Now therefore be it ordered by the City of Richmond Board of Commissioners that Dejan Grave be reappointed to the Human Rights Commission for a term of three years expiring 2029.

This order shall be in full force and effect upon reading and adoption by the Richmond City Board of Commissioners.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

I was just looking at those dates there.

Oh you've heard the reading.

Yes.

Yeah, okay.

You've heard the reading of Order 25-149.

May we have a motion, please bring to the floor for discussion and approval.

So moved.

Commissioner Cole.

Second.

Commissioner Newby, is there any discussion?

Deja served well.

I think she actually serves as a secretary still of that commission.

So we appreciate her service.

Any further discussion?

There being none, Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Goebbel.

Yes.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer.

Yes.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Order 25-150.

An order of the City of Richmond awarding a carpentry bid for fire training center project.

Mr.

City Manager, please.

Whereas the city constructed a new fire training center facility last physical year and now wishes to finalize construction on the interior.

And whereas the City of Richmond has advertised, received, and reviewed all submitted proposals, and has determined the best economical and lead time for the project.

Now therefore it be ordered by the City of Richmond Board of Commissioners.

The fire training center Carpentry Project contract is awarded to Serve PRO of Richmond, Kentucky for a total of 84,673 and 24 cents.

Funding for the project is allocated from Fire Department Capital Outlay 001-2200-5620, which was physical year 26.

The submitted bid is hereby attached to the order.

This order shall take effect upon reading and passage by the City of Richmond Board of Commissioners.

Thank you, sir.

That's the reading of Order 25-150.

May we have a motion, please bring to the floor for discussion and approval.

I move.

Second.

Commissioner Newby, Commissioner Brewer.

Any discussion?

Is this money just carried over from last year's budget?

No, we rebudgeted it for the physical year 26, but the project got started in FY25.

Yeah, so we just rebudgeted to finish it.

I will point out that this bid, this award to SERVPRO isn't the lowest bid.

We had a lower bid, but they did not include all the specifications of the bid document, so we excluded it.

This is uh is this a new arrow in the quiver of SERVPRO?

Yeah.

Yeah.

This is something they've done some other projects for us as well and and none of this nature.

Yes.

Yep.

Um we've actually called on them most recently to help us with a building we own on Duncan with some environmental mediation, I would call it, which I'll make you all aware of here in the next couple weeks when we complete it.

Thank you, sir.

Any further discussion, question, comment?

I just want to say pertaining to the fire department of the center there.

I've took a tour out there, checked it out.

It's looking good.

It's coming along just fine.

Show good show.

Any further?

No.

There being none, Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer?

Yes.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Commissioner Goebel.

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

This is ceremonial order 25-151.

Order of the City of Richmond accepting a retirement by an employee in the recycled department.

Madam Clerk, please.

Whereas Serena Wilson in the recycle department as warehouse supervisor has submitted her retirement notice to the city.

Now therefore it be at order by the City of Richmond Board of Commissioners accepts the following retirement from the recycle department.

Serena Wilson, effective October 31st, 2025.

The city would like to thank Ms.

Wilson for her service and dedication to the department since 2000.

The Board of Commissioners wishes her on the best of her future endeavors.

This order shall become effective immediately upon adoption by the Richmond City Board of Commissioners.

Wow.

Supreme, that's been a long time.

She has been there.

And she's served well.

Absolutely.

She has uh the kind of uh uh personality that uh lends itself uh well to that, so it's uh sad to see her go.

Uh, you've heard the reading of order 25-151.

May we have a motion, please bring to the floor for discussion and approval.

I move.

Commissioner Newby.

Second, Commissioner Brewer.

My myor, I just want to thank Serena for her service.

25 years, and she's been solid.

You know, she's been here the eight years I've been here, and I've heard nothing but good things prior to that.

So we we congratulate her on her retirement.

Yeah.

And well deserved.

I've been by just to say hi.

She was in high school.

I remember when she was in high school.

My husband said, don't tell my age.

But 2025 years.

That's wonderful.

That's wonderful.

Uh any further discussion?

Comment there being none, Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Brewer.

Commissioner Cole.

Yawned at the same time.

Didn't come out.

Commissioner Goebbel.

Yes.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Order 25-153 in order of the City of Richmond hiring an employee for the Codes Enforcement Department.

Madam Clerk, please.

Whereas the Codes Enforcement Department needs to hire an additional enforcement officer due to the increased workload and where is the position was advertised and interviews conducted, and whereas the interview committee has recommended a hire for the position.

Now, therefore, it be it ordered by the City of Richmond Board of Commissioners that the following individuals hired contingent upon their successful completion of the city's pre-employment requirements as codes enforcement officer for the codes enforcement department effective October 27th.

Pay grade three, Esther Harris.

She's an at will employee and will be a one-year probationary period.

This order shall be effective immediately upon passage by the Richmond City Board of Commissioners.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

That's order 25-153.

May we have a motion, please bring to the floor for discussion and approval.

Move.

Commissioner Newby.

Second.

Commissioner Gobel.

Any discussion?

You know her?

Damien's mother.

Yeah, I know.

Yeah.

You know, Damien Harris, the football is his mother.

Oh, okay.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Any further discussion that being done, Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Commissioner Goble.

Yes.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer.

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes.

Thank you.

Order 25-156 in order of the City of Richmond approving the CDBG Administration Service Contract with Fahy Consulting for the Community Development Block Grant Program for the 2025 Richmond Recovery Project.

Madam Clerk, please.

Whereas the Department for Local Government given grant approval for the City of Richmond, and whereas it has been determined that the services of professional consultant are re are required for the implementation of the CDBG program.

Now therefore it be it resolved by the City of Richmond Board of Commissioners that the contract between the City of Richmond and FAE Consulting for the Project Implation and Management Servicel to the CDBG program have been approved in the amounts.

Application services, $1,500.

Administration, $10,000.

All fees will be paid out of the grant obligated on behalf of the grantee.

The obligation of the parties are totally contingent upon obtaining the release of funds by the department for local government, and no program activities other than environmental exempt activities may occur until the release is achieved.

This order shall be in full force and effect upon reading and adoption by the Richmond City Board of Commissioners.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

That's order 25-156.

May we have a motion, please, to bring to the floor for discussion and approval.

So moved.

Commissioner Cole.

Take it.

Commissioner Brewer, is there any discussion?

I just had a quick question to make sure I understand.

So this is the federal grant that we're receiving, and we're basically just subcontracting that for some administration duties to FAHI, correct?

That is correct.

And so are there any other fees that the city has to pay to support that, or is it direct and indirect can be covered under that?

No, we're just a conduit for the runs through it.

Just flow through.

And then my other question just I know you've told us, but in terms of our what we anticipate as an opening date, do you have a ballpark on that?

For the recovery center.

The men's recovery center.

Um yeah, we do.

It's uh hang on here.

It's uh just ballpark, I would say.

Okay.

Yeah.

Thank you.

And you know this isn't for the men's, right?

This is for Liberty South.

This is for Liberty Place.

Yeah.

Okay, gotcha.

So is it federal flow-through money and that goes through the state, and we're just the conduit to make that happen?

For Liberty Place, that's correct.

Okay, yeah.

Thank you.

And FAHI will manage the grant.

Okay.

We do that every year.

Yeah.

I didn't remember FAHI being the administrative arm to help.

Since I've been here, it's always been a good idea.

I think so, yeah.

Okay.

And I'm not mistaken.

Is it Kentucky River Footh Hills?

Kentucky.

Yeah, that's right.

Okay.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

Question, comment.

There being none.

Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Goebbel.

Yes.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer.

Yes.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes.

Thank you.

Order 25-157.

Order of the City of Richmond, Kentucky, approving the appropriated funds by charitable grant applications and to be distributed by the end of the calendar year.

Mr.

Attorney, please.

Whereas the city in recent years distributed ARPA funds to be utilized for public purposes by nonprofit organizations serving the City of Richmond.

However, now that ARPA funds are no longer available, the city is mindful that many of the organizations that serve our community are facing budgetary constraints.

And whereas applicable Kentucky law permits the city at the discretion of its Board of Commissioners to make charitable grants to organizations, provided, however, that such grant monies be used in the furtherance of a public purpose and that the grant recipient manage grant monies in such a way as to ensure that they are in fact expended in the furtherance of such public purpose and whereas the city has received and evaluated all fiscal year 26 applications, and now therefore be it ordered that the charitable donation applications for fiscal year 26 budget funds have been evaluated by the Board of Commissioners and are hereby approved as follows.

CASA of the Wilderness Trail, $5,000.

God's Outreach Madison County Food Bank, $5,000.

Hope's Wings Domestic Violence Program, $2,500.

Hospice Care Plus Incorporated $2,000.

Humane Society Animal League for Life, $5,000.

Madison County Haven of Hope, $5,000.

Redeeming Hope Incorporated, $5,000.

New Liberty Family Shelter, $5,000.

Richmond Area Arts Council, $5,000.

Special Olympics of Kentucky, $5,000.

The Salvation Army of Richmond, $2,500.

YMCA Black Achievers Program, $2,000.

And Richmond County NAACP, $1,000 for a total of $50,000.

This order shall be in full force and effect upon reading and adoption by the City of Richmond Board of Commissioners.

Thank you, sir.

Did they get the updated list?

No, no.

No.

I was like sorry.

So I so we updated the list to match the $50,000.

We had left about one increment of $2,500.

And I, if I'm not mistaken, let me special.

Special Olympics, that's right.

Yeah.

So it does all add up to the $50,000 allocated for charitable contributions.

So the the copy that we have in front of us has Special Olympics at $2,500, but should that be five?

That's correct.

Okay.

Sorry about that.

We caught that right before the meeting.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We've heard the reading of order 25-157.

Maybe we have a motion, please bring to the floor for discussion and approval.

So moved.

Commissioner Goebbel.

Commissioner Cole.

Any discussion?

I think it's a good list.

That's a good list.

Any discussion?

That being none, Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer?

Yes.

Commissioner Cole?

Yes.

Commissioner Goebbel?

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Order 25-159 in order of the City of Richmond, Kentucky, authorizing the mayor to execute a lease agreement with Toshiba products for copy machines.

Madam Clerk, please.

Whereas the copy machines presently used by Richmond City Hall, Public Works, Vehicle Maintenance, and Recycle Department is in constant state of repair and produces very core poor quality copies.

And whereas the city has advertised and accepted bids for these departments and found a solution that was comparable to the current devices with a better level of service.

Now therefore, be it ordered by the City Richmond Board of Commissioners that the mayor is hereby authorized to execute a lease agreement with Toshiba products for the copying machines as per for a black and white color facts and print management specifications and conditions.

The total for a 48-month lease is $1,568.

This order shall become effective immediately upon passage by the Richmond City Board of Commissioners.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, that's uh Order 25-159.

Maybe of a motion, please, to bring to the floor for discussion and approval.

So moved.

Commissioner Cole.

Second.

Commissioner Newby, is there any discussion?

Mayor, I would just point out again, this wasn't the lowest bid, but with our IT department's due diligence on it.

These are better quality machines, and also the service department is closer to us here in Richmond.

They've got uh office in Lexington and then in London, and they also service the Madison County School Board.

One problem we have right now is when we have a machine down, they have to come out of Louisville.

So when we're down and can't get stuff copied, it's it's really hinders us.

I'd like to think we would get eventually completely away from paper, but probably not going to happen in my lifetime.

Stack up in the all paper.

That's right.

That's all I had meaning any further discussion.

There being none, Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Brewer.

Yes.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Commissioner Goebbel.

Yes.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

City Manor, excuse me.

I'm sorry.

Is anyone here in the public who wishes to make any comments tonight?

All right.

Hey, ready to go home, are you?

We're actually pretty done pretty well.

So I am Monica Barnes of Pathson County Haven of Hope.

Since I'm the only group here, I think that is representative.

Um a donation that you all have given.

I just want you to know that Madison Haven Hope truly appreciates for donation because I'm very aware that we're the new cat on the block.

We don't have an established large shelter yet, so I appreciate the support that you all are showing the Haven of Hope because we are sheltering to the best of our ability at this point, and we are working hard to come up with a very good solution to Madison County.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mike.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Here comes trouble.

Now you can get somebody to take your picture while you have to podium.

Oh no, I got my hammer right here.

Oh my God.

No, I just want to say thank you guys for everything y'all have done.

Uh Bill Stumbling Great.

Everything that's going on downtown, you're all really doing a wonderful job.

Um we think that's stood out to me, which I know this isn't something that like could just be done down third street, especially where the new soccer field comes in situations right there.

A lot more foot traffic again.

Um they play in high a lot.

A lot of people are stopping to have their brakes going through there.

People are on both sides of the road and walking up through there.

It's kind of dangerous.

I almost hit somebody the last few nights.

Last night there was a game, and somebody hit their brakes and stopping trying to watch the end of the game, and there were two people walking, and I had to slam on my brace, and they went to go across the street.

It's just you know I know that's nothing you all can just take care of like that, but if there are future plans, possibly, you know, a sidewalk, even off one side, it would just be a lot safer because there is a lot of foot traffic out there.

I know that used to be country, you know, so that's not something that was really ever thought of.

But if there are future plans, if it could be just something to make it a little safer through there, especially just with the new soccer field out there, walk more foot traffic people from those houses and stuff, and not to urban they're walking over because they can walk up the fence and watch the game.

But I mean that's a great thing too because more people are getting out actually showing up to the game, so that's wonderful, but that's just possible.

Appreciate that.

Thank you for that.

Yeah, thank you for that observation.

And you're you're on target as from the school in general, yeah.

The walking traffic there.

Um because I would I would rock through the stop sign right there at 3rd street.

I live on Woodland, so you know I go out, yeah.

I go that way to work, I go that way, going everywhere now.

It just a lot, a lot heavier foot traffic here recently.

Just another one of those uh places, Bryson, where we see that Richmond is growing.

Yeah.

To accommodate the bad thing.

It's wonderful that it's growing.

It really really is.

We just want it to be a safe thing, right?

Exactly.

It has slowed down though since they put up the toward the uh like speed sensors going through there.

Yeah, people have slowed up a lot though.

That is that's a big first step right there.

Thank you.

Appreciate you all though.

Hope you guys know seriously.

Thank you.

Anybody else?

Public comment.

Uh Mr.

City Manager, please.

Mayor, Commissioners, just two items, and then I'd like uh David Stipes to come up and give a department report right quick.

Uh the first item is tomorrow at 3 30.

There'll be a picture with the new recycling building out of the recycling.

So if you can make it out there, that'd be wonderful.

Uh second thing is uh late night with the colonels is Thursday night at Dillingham Park, starts at five o'clock.

That's with the uh colonel basketball team.

Uh so we always look forward to that.

And uh with that, I'll ask David to come up and give us a quick update.

Been sitting there a while.

Thank you all very much.

I appreciate the time you gave me at the front of the meeting.

Just want to let you know real quick that the uh acquisition of the new industrial park property out on Duncan has been completed.

Uh that land now is in the ownership of the Richmond Industrial Development Corporation and has been added to the industrial park property inventory.

But we're working now, uh, several team members on the city staff, myself, Stephanie, and Gary and others are all working on trying to get some grant money together and some funds to do site development work, which would be street road development, uh utility extensions, so forth, site building.

That piece of property is already annexed into the city limits of Richmond.

Uh it joins the back part of Industrial Park 3, and it has a significant utility grid already in place, so we're excited about that.

One of the first things we've done is applied for a grant funds through the Kentucky Product Development Initiative or KPDI.

Those grant funds that we've applied for in this round be used for an entrance development into the park off of Duncan.

We found out last week that that grant application has survived the first round of selection, and now we're into the second round of competition, and the grant selectors are gonna be visiting that property later on this month.

The other thing I want to let you know, as many of you know, in in the industrial park three in the former sub zero building, we've got a new business opened up under the name of the natural state green grass and a company, which will be operating a medical cannabis production and cultivation facility.

Uh this is an exciting opportunity here, uh, and we'll provide uh initial startup of about 25 employees and then we'll grow in different phases throughout their development.

The products that are produced from that facility will be marketed through dispensaries across uh other at other locations.

Well, again, thank you all very much for your efforts, and I appreciate uh time today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Wow.

See here.

Commissioner Brewer.

Um just the um Millstone Festival was a great success.

I think we have a premier car show now, I think in uh our city.

Um we did a great job and the our police department, fire department, our personnel are just on top of this, and it makes it a great success.

So uh I don't think you could say enough about them and the job that they do, but they're so handy at it now after five years, it just seems so easy for them to just move right in.

Is that right, Chief?

A lot better, right?

Well, I just you know, personally both of you, you know, you guys did a tremendous job along with the other.

Yeah, it's gotten it's gotten routine for all our department, and it's really a family affair for us because we get to spend sixteen, eighteen hours with each other and eat three meals and clean up.

And what about the twins all of the twins contest, 21 pairs of twins?

I mean that was creepy.

Yeah.

It was like double takes.

Yeah, yeah.

Every age.

I gotta tell you this year, the past four years, there's been this afternoon kind of lull where people quit coming.

But this year, we estimated about 15,000 people.

We had over 150 vendors, we had 40 on a waiting list.

Car show was a big success, the music was good, and the vendors were just so happy with their sales, and so it was it was an awesome festival.

You know, I think you know, every year it's growing every year, and I've noticed from being there the interaction with the employees and stuff, because we're everybody's already talking about next year, and we see things, even though it's getting more successful, you still see situations where hey, this can be added.

Hey, you could be better next year in it.

I think that's just gonna keep it.

And there are plans for additional things for next year already, you know, they're talked about, so it's just a good time.

Tons of people just told me how much they enjoyed it, like people that had never even been before.

So there's a ton of people that are really, you know, starting to come that haven't been before.

There was a really good band out at the uh cannabis deal Friday, and I reached out to them, so we might have them on the next year.

They were really good.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's all I got.

And the Cloggers were excellent.

They involved the crowd really well.

I saw your feet moving.

Move it right along.

I didn't think I like it, Jim.

Yeah.

But they did they involve the crowd line and children who were standing around, they involved the children and they just had a bar.

Commissioner Cole.

I just had one thing, and I'm I know I'm not the only one that received this information, but I just wanted to make sure we kind of got it on the radar screen.

But it's no secret that Madison County, we've had our fact share of traffic woes lately, and I won't go there.

But one of the places that several of our community members have been concerned about, and I'm not sure why.

I have absolutely no reason why, but when you're on the bypass and Walmart's on the right, and Bogs Lane is on the left, soft shoes on the left, there's been a number of pretty significant injuries there in the past coup even in the past couple weeks.

And so a couple pieces people reached out and sent us some emails and so forth, and we're just asking us to take a look at it.

So I thought maybe, you know, Rob, I thought maybe you and the police chief could just kind of take a look and see.

No, no, most of the automobile.

Yeah.

That we had received, and I I have no idea, but was that perhaps something wasn't in sync with the lights in terms of the left and the flashing yellow, but that's the way I read the email.

I saw that today and went to it real quick, but we've tried to do some work there for that shopping center where show soft shoe is.

We put a stop line there and have people stop there so people can get in there and they don't get backed up.

But it's just a really dangerous situation.

Well, and I think what's happening is people go on and start to turn, and if somebody's turning into soft shoe, then it gets backed up.

And they're hung out in the middle of the city.

Yeah, there's lines that are actually your supposed to be in space, but nobody does.

That's like it's backed up.

Chief Richardson and I'll look at it, and we'll also reach out to the transportation cabinet, because that is our it that is their traffic signal.

I understand.

I know it's not us, but I thought maybe we could just ask them to take a look at it.

It is a situation where people are going pretty fast sometimes when you're trying to make that left turn and it's on flash instead of a dedicated turn signal.

Um I've seen some near misses myself that have been.

I'll tell you what else would help at that intersection.

If you're coming out of Lowe's from a Lowe's and Aldi's, if you had a right turn lane there, which we don't have now because you get backed up way back there.

If you had a right turn lane right there, that would alleviate some traffic as well.

But there's probably a lot that could be improved at that intersection.

We'll get into the problem because there's so much traffic that and with the umhorn.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, moving right along in progress.

Uh you know, be busy, aren't you?

Yeah.

Anything else?

Commissioner Cole.

I'm good, thank you.

Alrighty.

Commissioner Goble.

Uh, just one thing.

We had leadership Madison County, Monica and I have been together all day today.

And it was education day, and I just always like to mention we are so blessed to have our school system in this community.

I mean, the partnerships when we went and toured Ignite South and Ignite North, the partnerships between, you know, city, county, and I mean everything, like both cities.

It's just amazing how many things and how many programs that they're doing now with the fire department and police, just so many things.

So I just I don't know if people realize what a great school system we have, but we are very blessed with new schools almost everywhere.

So anyway, just a plug for Madison County Schools.

Thank you.

Commissioner Newby.

Uh no, sir, everything's been touched on.

I'm good.

Uh thank you.

Let me mention a couple of things quickly.

Uh he's gone, isn't he?

I was gonna acknowledge the presence of Scott Althouser, who's usually here at our meetings, uh, Representative Richmond utilities, and uh conversation even this week and last week about uh the uh vision of the utilities board and the work of uh manager uh Althauser as we continue to grow.

There has to be the preparation in the infrastructure for us to be able to do it.

And and uh so we appreciate all the work they do uh that the board does and um the department does or that uh uh agency.

But um Mayor, I want to remind you the tour we took Friday.

Uh do you remember the comments from the folks inside about the water?

Yes, we might talk about it.

Thank you.

That's that's one of the reasons I think that came to my mind the fact that when that new business came uh to the industrial park, the infrastructure was there.

No, it was available, and they continue to sing the praises of the city of Richmond in general.

Yep.

How uh with codes and building inspection, all of those things, how the city had helped them move to the place where they are, and certainly with the involvement of our uh director for Richmond and Industrial Development Corporation.

Um that's that's just one of those things that's uh Mayor.

I got to give a shout out to building inspections, our director Daniel Abrams, and then our fire marshal Brent Wilson, because this was a unique business with all the ventilation, the lighting, the water, the chemicals, a whole deal, and and you all heard it firsthand out there.

They were very happy with how all that went.

So and I know Daniel had to dig into the take a deep dive into the building codes books to make sure everything was right, but they were they were user-friendly.

Yes, indeedy, they sang the praises of the city of Richmond.

They did.

And all of those people that were directly involved in getting them ready to do business.

So it was a good uh it was a good uh time.

Uh and uh happy to see what they're proposing for the months to come.

David, you mentioned about employees.

Um they said I believe ultimately they they anticipate a hundred.

Uh so which that was a good sign.

But we'll that place is run by a bunch of youngsters.

I think there was nobody over 30.

Really?

Until we got there.

Yeah, got that timing.

But yes, indeed, uh, wow.

That's the the age we're in.

Uh no, we're not.

You know what, Jim, I realize what I said.

Jim.

No, no pun intended, right?

Uh yeah, that's uh, but wish them success.

And one thing that I ask, of course, uh, not of course, but was about controls on the kind of business they have, and and I'm I'm pleased that uh there are all kinds of controls.

Move right along quickly.

Uh is there is no Tuesday.

No tasty's over.

It's over.

It's over.

Let me mention this.

Uh I say it again because I think it should be said.

The festival was just a tremendous success again.

Uh Mr.

City Manager, I know what you're gonna say that it takes the team.

Yeah, it does, but there has to be a team leader, and thank you for the uh uh sleepless nights, I'm sure.

It's fun, it's gotten fun getting here well.

The police get here before me.

I got here at six, and when they close down Main Street and you walk down Main Street, it's kind of eerie.

Yes, but there's nothing there.

Waiting for zombies to come out or see.

Yes, indeed.

And then by noon it's just packed with people.

It's pretty awesome to see it come together.

But it is a team effort.

And the very next morning.

We all lean on each other.

There's no doubt about it.

Right back alive.

Streets are clean.

Yeah.

Exactly.

After the Christmas parade and after the other things we do.

So I stay sometimes, and I did this time with public works, as they're finishing the cleanup and removing the barriers.

Yeah.

I stay to tell them jokes.

And say, thank you.

Right.

I appreciate it.

T.

I had to leave at eight, I was done.

I was tapped out.

I was uh good at go on.

But uh but about the festival, uh, two quick things.

I missed there was the five o'clock presentation.

Did that go on at five?

I was there.

And when you w I'm sorry, I'm I stepped, I'm gonna mention in a second, but I stepped away for a minute to go out to that accident to take a look.

What was the presentation, please?

Mobile gave 46 or 48,000 eight.

I think yeah um yeah, to enrich wow.

Yeah.

So basically that's for the restrooms so they can get the restaurant open.

They need another probably 75 to 80,000 to do it all, you know, the way it needs to be done.

But they're working on it.

Well, if some if some others maybe take note of that uh generosity on their part, uh a couple of good uh community-minded agencies or businesses, that that'll come right off.

Thank you.

Uh yeah, I stepped out and I got back about 20 after five, and I'm sorry about that, but uh so I missed that presentation.

Uh uh again about the festival.

Uh I and Jim, you said some things maybe we we see that we could do better next time or add next time.

One of the things was, and it struck me while down there, the contest with the twins.

Um it might be good because there were, and Speedy was just running around with handful of money and just anxious to give it away.

He really was, if you saw him.

But one of the things I thought would really be good, because I know that all of those twins were excited about being in the contest.

If we could give all of them something, such as a little uh little meta.

Well damn for participating for the city.

You know, uh huh.

Maybe a little uh what is it, the rotary gives out now, little uh millstones, little millstones about that big.

Yeah, but something to give all of them because I I felt a little bad, you know.

Uh especially little kids.

Especially the little ones.

They were excited about being yeah, just a thought.

We also talked about the the conversation came up about moving that up to the stage instead of right there at the park because it got really crowded there, and you couldn't see it.

I couldn't get you there.

Yeah, that's right.

But yeah, yeah, speedy putting that together.

Yeah, but maybe that's a good thing.

That's just a sign that that festival is growing like mad.

Yeah, and uh it was really wonderful.

Those things that are continuing to happen out there uh Robert R.

Martin by uh what is coming as Popeyes and Domino's uh just around the corner in front of Coles between those is uh the new Vista Clinic.

We broke ground for that.

I represent Madison County on that board, and we broke ground for that, and of course that's exciting and uh anxious to see that thing come to be.

Um Vista currently operating off Gibson Lane out off Boggs Lane, and uh been there for years, uh, but they're excited.

Now I think this is if I'm not mistaken, the the first from the ground up.

Yeah, we went over to Danville several months ago.

I did, and uh there's a building in Danville that was repurposed.

This one is coming from the ground up, and uh and Mayor, as you know, New Vista we're partnered with them to operate our new men's recovery center, yeah.

So that's yes, so their presence is growing.

Absolutely, uh certainly, and and uh uh I want to mention this uh Chief Robbie.

Um when I did go over there to where the accident had occurred on Robert R.

Martin, one of the first things that I was told was that there were four ambulances that reported to that accident, and that firefighters were used to drive the ambulances to the hospital in Lexington.

I just want to commend you and your department on being able being able to do that.

Yes, indeed.

That's cool.

Um, which I'm sure was I think Robin drove me before uh let's see here.

I think that's enough.

That's that's what I had, yeah.

Yeah, and and there is no tasty.

We'll get out of your mind too.

Um heart mind, whatever is it clear, right?

All hearts and minds are clear, we'll entertain emotion.

Go to sleep, though.

To adjourn.

So moved everybody.

Goble and newbie.

Madam Clerk, please.

Yeah.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes, Commissioner Goebel.

Yes, Commissioner Newby.

Yes, Commissioner Brewer, and Mayor Bull.

Yes, indeed.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, folks.

Thanks to all.