Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

We're ready to begin our meeting.

I want to welcome everyone to the uh chambers of the Board of Commissioners for the City of Richmond.

We have several uh several items on our agenda tonight, some presentations, and let me just say this after those um uh at least the initial presentation for those who desire to leave.

You may stay, certainly we hope you will, but if you choose, we'll pause for just a moment and allow uh that you'll be able to exit with the minimal uh interruption of our meeting.

I'm going to ask that uh Pastor Floyd Bellou of the Mount Nebo Missionary Braps Church would come and uh give our invocation.

Good evening, sir.

Good evening, good evening, greetings, Mayor Black, Commissioners, everyone assembled.

Let us pray.

Most holy and all-wise God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, Holy Spirit of the living God, we thank you for your amazing grace.

We are just so grateful to you for the gift of life.

Lord, we ask now, dear Heavenly Father, that you lead and guide this mayor and the commissioners, Lord, as they work towards justice in this city, as they work toward equity, Lord, as they work toward uh the best uh life that a citizen of Richmond Madison County will be able to live and enjoy.

Lord, we ask the Heavenly Father that you continue to protect this city.

As we grow, Lord, we pray that your presence grow in this city.

Lord, that we live comfortably, peacefully, and lovingly with each other.

Bless all organizations of this city, oh God, the law enforcement EMS.

Lord, those the Heavenly Father that work uh for the city and around the city.

Lord, continue just to keep them safe.

Bless our youth, oh God.

Every school district, every school that is assembled, Lord, in Richmond, Lord, we ask that you just continue to favor them with safety.

Lord, we pray this prayer.

Just believe we just do believe that you have something special for this commission and the mayor.

Lord, a vision that will include everyone and everyone will live in harmony and unity.

This we pray in the mighty name of Jesus.

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you, Pastor.

Philip Seifert will come and lead us in the pledge.

I always uh tell those who uh come to do that.

Uh we'll follow your instruction.

You notice I won't stand until you ask me to.

First off, Merry Christmas, everybody.

Now it's time for you all to stand.

And I just made a pleasure and allegiance.

One of the greatest gifts that we have.

Our country.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

And to the Republic for which you stand, under God, indivisible, with liberty, and justice for all.

Thank you, Philip.

For our present presentation, excuse me tonight.

I'm going to ask first at the coach.

Those who are representing Musa.

United Soccer Association would come, please.

We have certificates tonight and recognition.

Great achievement on the part of these young people.

So before we present these, I'm going to ask their coaches if you will.

Thank you all for having us.

We're you know we're very happy to be here.

You know, these are the 2010 girls.

These are all girls from your community.

We're very proud of them.

I'll let Coach Lunsford address the boys uh group here in just a minute.

But uh this past summer we uh we won the President's Cup, which is a statewide competition.

So some people would say this is the best 2010 girls group team in the state.

So we're really proud of them.

Thank you all.

Coach Lunzford addressing the boys too.

Hello, I was very fortunate this year to coach the 2010 boys.

Um thing that was very evident to me and Coach Sam when we uh stepped in to help with this team is uh how important this group uh was to each other and not just the boys, the girls, they've this entire 2010 group has played together for a long time, they've known each other, and one thing that really I could tell the special from the start is how important and connected these this group was to the community, and you could see that through the way that uh you know the the joy that they brought with each other and I think that was what was really nice about it.

It was really great to win, but it was a really good experience too, just to uh interact with such uh great representatives of our community uh among the young people.

You know, there's the saying about uh old dogs and new tricks.

Uh this old dog tonight learned a new lesson, a new trick.

Uh you heard the reference to the 2010 teams.

So what did we do a moment ago?

We asked tonight's clerk, who is the administrative assistant in the city manager's office, did you print these?

We've got 2010 on here.

I learned what that means.

That these young people were born in 2010.

So this old dog has learned a new trick.

How about we have the entire team to come already?

Yeah, first of all, if the girls team then will come.

Standing in front of the seal, if you will, please, and we're going to present the certificates here.

Just stand in front of the seal.

See you.

All right, let's try these.

Laney Alexander, if you'll come, please.

Raya Bailey.

Isn't here?

All right.

Jenny Lynn Barnett.

Welcome.

Leela Blankenship.

Emma Hess.

Tempy James.

All right.

Elena Carsner.

Welcome.

Sydney Keaton.

Kylie Law.

You're welcome.

Aidan Maynard.

All right.

Addison Neal.

Kendall Puckett.

Arden Sinclair.

Eliana Slimp.

Is that correct?

You're welcome.

Nadia Stefan.

Lily Strach.

Correct?

Lily.

All right.

Old school double L's.

Ruth Sunday.

Is this Sundis or Sundays?

You're welcome.

Nelou Stefan.

All right.

And Jason Karzner.

This is our girls' team.

Thank you so much.

Oh, yeah, we have to coach.

The boys blue team.

Complete with trophy.

Michael Ballou.

And is this Basham?

Henry Basham?

Is that correct?

You're welcome, sir.

Eli Buckley.

You're welcome.

Jansen Clark.

You're welcome, sir.

Lizandro Cornelio.

Is this Yoanny Cruz?

Is that correct?

Outstanding.

You're welcome, sir.

Xander da Silva.

Well.

Cullen Green.

You're welcome.

Cameron Gilbo, is that correct?

Not here.

Okay.

Charlie Jackson.

Ain't here.

Peyton Johnson.

Sorry.

Dylan Singleton.

Caleb Taylor.

You're welcome.

James, is this Dobabin?

That close enough?

Outstanding.

Congratulations, sir.

Silas Vanderhorst.

Jude Williams.

Coach Andrew Lunsford.

You're certainly welcome.

Thank you.

Coach Sammy Lee.

You're welcome, sir.

And Coach Matt Jackson is not here.

All right.

Coach, if you will, please see that the others get those.

Kelly.

Yes, sir.

Since I didn't do one with the team, let me get one of the two coaches, please.

Absolutely.

Are we centered?

Okay.

I'll add that to be it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So yes.

City manager just reminded me, reminded us that this time next year.

You'll have a beautifully new, wonderfully new facility to play in.

There it takes Creek and Goggins in our new part.

We're anxious, certainly.

Now again, two things.

One, those who choose to leave you if you desire to do so, you may do so now.

And for those who've come in, there are copies of the agenda of tonight's meeting there in the pocket at the front of the room.

Our next presentation is of new businesses.

Carrie Hensley.

Yes, sir.

See?

Everyone understand the same color jacket.

Black.

Maybe it's a continuous one.

Yeah, it's taking care of itself now.

Okay, I think we're ready to resume, Carrie, please.

Good evening.

Again, I'm Carrie Lee Hensley, the small business and economic development coordinator here at the city.

And we have two businesses to recognize this evening.

So the first, I'm going to call up Kevin and Harrison Mims.

Welcome, gentlemen.

I like how y'all lined up there.

Y'all she said you knew your job.

You can see our store there.

We're in the bottom of the AE electrical building store.

We're at 1700 North Gate Drive.

As you can see on the left, our range has has started.

So for those of you that have been in to see us and been asking about it, it is uh it is on its way.

Uh we're supposed to pour the floor the week of January the fifth.

So uh the uh what we do is I put she asked nature of our business, I put it's fun.

That's that's what we're in business for.

But uh some interesting things about us, we're really big on safety.

Uh as soon as we get the range built inside, there's gonna be a classroom uh as well.

Uh safety safety safety.

Uh we've also got a girl working for us uh who is a two-time uh NCAA champion.

Uh UK rifle team.

Uh and uh we're also an air gun range in this twenty-five guard air gun range for uh people that want to be in for people that clubs that are around.

we do is I put she asked nature of our business I put it's fun that's that's what we're business for but uh some interesting things about we're really big on safety uh as soon as we get the range built inside there's gonna be a classroom uh as well uh safety safety safety uh we've also got a girl working for us uh who is a two-time uh NCAA champion uh UK rifle team uh and uh we're also not only will we have a firearm range we'll also have an air gun range and we have a 25 guard air gun range for uh people that want to be in for people that clubs that are around uh has an RTT thing that is uh his air rifles and then uh a lot of people at UK I mean UK's national champion era if you ever get a chance to go watch UK shoot they shoot on the campus of the UK it's pretty cool uh but that's pretty much the interesting fact of us is that we any any kind of gun you want uh we can either we either have it or we can get it uh we're happy to be here uh and just anything you need if you have any questions anything just call us or answer them or come see us or do whatever you feel like you need to do but like I said well we're big on safety and uh we do have a girl on staff and it really helps the women as well because uh worst thing in the world get a uh man come in with his wife and he says oh no there's the gun you need like I can't even hope with it so uh very uh very customer oriented customer center centered so that's about us oh yeah we're supposed to go for y'all have to do your job we know they're well trained now yeah that's what I heard that's what you said she said they are well trained that did that matter oh right one two three thank you very much yeah can't wait to visit thank you we didn't have you congratulations uh congratulations okay next up we have um Eric Thomas is going to come up and he's gonna talk about velocity and as you guys know it's not a new business in town um but they have a new location so um I'm gonna turn it over to Eric all right thank you um my name's Aaron Thomas this is my 25th year in auto business here in Richmond Kentucky uh we're not new um to Richmond but this is our new location at 193 Automotive Drive some of you may remember it um before it was Kentucky boats in the past so we made a lot of um major investment into the property um we have a six bay full service center for automotive repairs now open to the public uh we have two acre lot with over a hundred vehicles in stock uh I opened this business in 2021 we were at I will James Boulevard with four automobiles me one other person and two lenders uh as of now we have over 25 lenders credit unions uh local banks and national lenders um 12 employees and a little over a hundred vehicles so we're proud to um get open officially we moved in in October um and that's I guess about everything I wanted to say we're just excited to see have everybody come up and see us all right all right thank you thank you it looks really good out there before we have our next presentation I think I may have dropped the ball there early in the game I'm gonna ask uh for the record clerk would call the role commissioner goeble commissioner newbie here commissioner brewer here commissioner cole here mayor blind here thank you next presentation is of our audit report Mr.

City Manager do you want to preface this if you would please absolutely mayor commissioners as you know we met at five o'clock for a review of our FY25 budget report we have with us tonight Ben Dennison uh from Cherry Burkhart uh to just give us a brief overview of that uh and for the public thank you thanks mayor thanks Rob I can't top gun soccer or auto uh sales but I'm an auditor with Sherry Beckard I'm a senior manager um based in Lexington Kentucky uh but on your guys' account the past handful of years um if I lived in Richmond I would want to know you know kind of how the financials were overall um we issue three reports the financials it's a clean unmodified opinion that's the highest level um of assurance I can give you guys um there's a yellow book report since you are governmental entity there's no noncompliance there um and you guys spend a a lot of federal money um we audit uh the major programs there's no findings there report to you guys as well um so finance lab copies of the audit if you really want to read that

Um we issue three reports.

The financials, it's a clean, unmodified opinion.

That's the highest level of assurance I can give you guys.

Um there's a yellow book report since you are a governmental entity.

There's no non-compliance there.

Um you guys spend a a lot of federal money.

Um we audit uh the major programs.

There's no findings there report to you guys as well.

Um finance life copies of the audit if you really want to read that uh when we're done.

Um I would expect that's done next week, um of this week, early next week, um, before Christmas.

Um, appreciate the opportunity to be here.

Thank you, guys.

Appreciate the city.

Um it's always a uh uh an easy audit for the most point.

I mean audits aren't easy, but Sharon and uh Rob and the finance team make it easy for us.

Thank you guys.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ben.

Order 25-199.

An order of the city of Richmond appointing a fire chief.

Madam Clerk, please.

Whereas, due to a recent retirement by the fire chief, the city posted the open position internally to candidates.

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

Now, therefore, be it ordered by the Richmond City Board of Commissioners that Patrick Tudor be appointed as fire chief for the City of Richmond, effective immediately at pay grade eight.

Work history for Patrick Tudor includes volunteer firefighter in 2003, hired as a firefighter one in 2004, promoted to firefighter two in two thousand five, promoted to lieutenant in 2012, promoted to captain in 2015, promoted to a battalion chief in 2022, and promoted to assistant chief in 2025.

The Board of Commissioners would like to thank Mr.

Tudor for his continued dedication to city leadership since 2003.

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

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

That's Order 25-199.

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

I move.

Commissioner Newby.

Second.

Commissioner Cole.

Is there any discussion?

Well, I guess I gotta say something.

I always do.

Um I've I've personally I I've witnessed witness to Patrick come up through the ranks and um watched him over the years ago from a firefighter to a leader.

And I don't think there's another man more capable nor more respected by all his men.

I agree with good luck.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Thank you.

Appreciate that.

Any further discussion?

It's good to see him in that white shirt.

No further discussion.

Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Brewer.

Yes.

Commissioner Cole, yes.

Commissioner Gobel?

Yes.

Commissioner Newby?

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

We're going to pause here.

Uh Chief, if you'll come, and those others who have been involved in the pinning, all right.

Beautifully done.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Chief Tudor.

Okay, what do we have?

See, look at the case.

We have in our packet our minutes from the November 25 meeting and 6 p.m.

regular meeting.

If you had a chance to look at those, may we have a motion, please that we'll accept them as presented.

What are we doing?

So moved.

Second.

All right, Commissioner Cole.

Commissioner Brewer, is there any discussion about those?

Corrections, comments, there being none, Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner, excuse me.

Commissioner Cole?

Yes.

Commissioner Goebbel?

Yes.

Commissioner Newby?

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer?

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Or ordinance, excuse me, 25-27 and ordinance of the City of Richmond, Kentucky changing the zoning classification for property located at 495 Duncan Lane within the city limits.

This is a second reading, so we will vote tonight.

Mr.

Attorney, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Whereas Richmond Industrial Development Corporation owner has filed with the Richmond Planning and Zoning Commission an application for a zoning map amendment at 495 Duncan Lane with 190 acres, Richmond, Kentucky.

And whereas the property is currently vacant land with zone classification AG agriculture and requesting change to I-2 heavy industry, whereas the Planning and Zoning Commission conducted a public hearing on the requested zone change on November 19, 2025, in the course of which it received evidence and testimony from persons in favor of and opposed to the requested zone change.

And whereas at the conclusion of the public hearings, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend that the zone change be granted, and whereas the Planning and Zoning Commission, at its meeting, adopted written findings of fact as to the zone change, and the issue is now before the Board of Commissioners for final determination.

And whereas the Board of Commissioners believes it to be in the public interest that it adopts the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission in accordance with the findings of fact adopted by that body.

Now, therefore, be it ordained that Section 1, the Board of Commissioners does hereby adopt the recommendation of the Richmond Planning and Zoning Commission as to the requested zone change.

Property in question located in Richmond, Madison County, Kentucky, as to which the zone change shall apply, are 495 Duncan Lane, 190 acres, Richmond, Kentucky, Deed Book 873, page 457.

The Board of Commissioners does hereby adopt the written findings of fact adopted by the Planning and Zoning Commission as its findings of fact.

In accordance with those findings, the zoning of said properties shall be and hereby are changed.

Property to is currently vacant land with zone classification, AG agriculture, and requesting change to I2 Heavy Industry.

Section 2.

The director of planning and zoning shall make the appropriate changes to the official map of the City of Richmond, Kentucky.

Section 3, this ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its enactment following second reading and publication in accordance with the requirements of applicable Kentucky law.

Thank you, sir.

That's the reading of ordinance 25-22nd, the second 27, excuse me, the second reading of this ordinance.

So moved.

Commissioner Cole.

Second.

And Commissioner Brewer.

Is there any discussion?

Anything, Mr.

City Manager, that we need to.

And you all were kind enough to match that with $2,744,000 to purchase this property.

This is a strategy for new industry.

That corridor between Brea Road and the Interstate is set up with utilities for industry.

And I I want to I want to point out in today's age, when you think of industry, it's not smokestack industry.

Most of the industry today is robotics and clean.

Thank you, sir.

Any further discussion.

There being none, Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Newby?

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer?

Yes.

Commissioner Cole?

Yes.

Commissioner Goebbels.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Order 25-189.

Order of the City of Richmond promoting an employee to firefighter three.

Madam Clerk, please.

Whereas it is the intention of the mayor and city commission to have highly qualified personnel within all city departments, whereas the firefighters 1, 2, and 3 classifications provide firefighter personnel an opportunity for personal growth and education while improving the workforce itself.

And whereas notice and opportunity was given to all eligible interested personnel within the fire department to test or qualify for firefighter 3.

Now therefore be it ordered by the Richmond City Board of Commissioners that the following promotion effective for the 12 26 25 payroll as part of the approved physical year fire pay scale 2526 budget.

Firefighter 3 paid grade 4, Jared Rodis, hired as Firefighter 1 in 2022, promoted to Firefighter 2 in 2024.

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

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

That's Order 25 189.

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

So moved.

Commissioner Goebbel.

Second.

Commissioner Brewer, is there any 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 25 190.

An order of the City of Richmond hiring a police records manager.

Madam Clerk, please.

Whereas the police department needs a records manager due to a recent promotion.

And whereas the position was advertised and interviews conducted, whereas the city manager has recommended a hire for this position.

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

The following individual is hired contingent upon their successful completion of the city's pre-employment requirements as police records manager for the police department at pay grade 5, effective December 15th, 2025.

Wendy Lynch.

Wendy is an At Wheel employee and will serve a one year of probationary period.

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

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

That's Order 25 190.

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

So moved.

Commissioner Cole.

Second.

Commissioner Newby.

Chief, would you like to present Wendy?

I believe she's here tonight.

Please, sir.

Thanks, Mayor.

I'm not really sure how to introduce her.

I mean, she has a legacy of her own, but on up Wendy.

Wendy started many, many years ago.

Not I'm not going to give up your years of experience.

I know.

She started many years ago with the city as a police dispatcher, and there was an opportunity that came up that uh all emergency services in the county would combine and they would be uh dispatched out of one center.

And Wendy took on the challenge not to only uh lead that dispatch center, but uh to many uh first responders and awards later, probably one of the best 911 sitters in the nation.

So she has a leader, uh a legacy and great leadership, and we're very blessed uh to have her uh as our police records manager.

So welcome aboard, Wendy.

We we really uh we're really glad to have you.

Thank you.

Thank you all uh for letting me come up and speak, and uh I'm very excited uh to move forward and be part of something a little different and see it from a different side and a different view than just behind the headset all the time and what we do.

Very excited.

Thank you, thank you.

Yes, thank you, Chief.

Any further discussion?

There being none, Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Newby, yes, Commissioner Brewer, yes, Commissioner Cole, yes, Commissioner Goebel, yes, Mayor Blind.

Yes, thank you.

Order 25 191 and order of the city of Richmond adopting various job descriptions.

Mr.

Attorney, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Whereas the City of Richmond has adopted job descriptions for city employees, and whereas, after review, it has been determined these positions need to be added and or amended to provide more professional growth within develop departments.

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

The following job description and pay grade for the City of Richmond is hereby adopted.

Uh these are within the administration department.

They are edits to both the industrial development director, pay grade seven and the EID grants and marketing director, pay grade seven.

The attached job description shall be made part of the city's job descriptions and incorporated into the departmental structure.

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 25 191.

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

So moved.

Commissioner Cole.

Second.

Commissioner Goebbel.

Is there any discussion?

Mayor, if I may, please do.

I did provide you all with an updated copy of the job description for the industrial development director with one edit, which is the first sentence under characteristics of the class.

So that's the job description we'd be uh adopting.

And I will say the difference between the two job descriptions, the check the major changes made were who these individuals report to.

So the industrial development director will report directly to the uh RIDC board chair and the board, and then to the mayor, commissioners, and myself.

The marketing and grants director will report directly to the mayor, the commissioners, and myself.

So we kind of separated through the directly report.

All right.

Any discussion?

Any questions, comments further?

There being none, Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Brewer.

Yes.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Commissioner Goebbel?

Yes.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Order 25 192.

An order of the City of Richmond accepting resignation by an employee in the Section 8 Housing Department.

Madam Clerk, please.

Whereas Chase Ramage in the Section 8 Housing Department as administrative assistant one has submitted a resignation notice to the City.

Now, therefore, be it ordered that the Richmond City Board of Commissioners accepts the resignation of Chase Ramage from the Section 8 Housing Department effective December 12th, 2025.

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

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

That's Order 25 192.

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

So moved.

I'm sorry.

Commissioner Goble and Commissioner Brewer.

Is there any discussion?

I do want to mention as a part of that board that when Chase came in as the administrative assistant, uh he certainly did a tremendous job in that Section 8 housing department.

And the executive director, uh, Susan Lillis asked that I would be sure if she would not here tonight.

I'd be sure to talk about how much of a loss this is going to be.

He came right in and quite efficient, quite knowledgeable, and was able to help with some things uh even with their technology over there and getting some things done on the computers uh that they needed done.

So uh certainly we'll miss him, and uh she'll be announcing soon the opening to be uh uh to receive applications.

Any further discussion?

There being none, Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Cole, yes, Commissioner Goebbel, yes, Commissioner Newby.

Yes, Commissioner Brewer, yes, Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Order 25-193.

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

Madam Clerk, please.

Well, let's just not do it.

I I think I'm gonna pinch in on this one.

Um Mr.

Mayor.

Yeah.

Whereas John David Stipes, executive director of the Richmond Industrial Development Corporation has submitted his retirement notice to the city on December 3rd, 2025.

Now, therefore, be it ordered that the Richmond City Board of Commissioners accepts the retirement of John David Stipes from the Administration Department, effective on January 16, 2026.

The city would like love, it says like, but we would love to thank Mr.

Stipes for his service and dedication to the department since 2016.

The Board of Commissioners wishes him the best in the future in his future endeavors.

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

That's thank you, Mr.

Attorney.

That's order 25-193.

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

So moved.

Commissioner Cole.

Second.

Commissioner Newby.

He's usually sitting with you there.

He's back here tonight.

Yeah, he was here.

He's right over there.

Back here in the corner.

Come on up here.

You're not getting off that easy.

He's hiding over there with police protection.

Yeah, I saw you in the came in.

I appreciate it.

I want to tell everybody here.

I appreciate the opportunity to work for the city of Richmond.

I appreciate the opportunity that I was given to serve in the role that I've served in here for nine and a half years.

Thanks for the leadership that the city committee has provided and leadership.

My supervisor Rob Miners.

But I also want to give a shout out, thanks to all my co-workers.

And I've had to call on all of them from time to time.

We'll get an industry that needs something.

I can always pick up the phone and call one of them that they're there to help.

Or if we have visitors town that are looking for new property or whatever, it takes a little bit of all of us to get the job done.

So again, it's not just me, but it's all of us here in the city that work to support economic development.

And again, uh my heartfelt thanks to for the opportunity that you've given me.

And uh I'm native of Richmond, I'm gonna be here after retirement.

So if I can help out anyway, please call it.

Thank you.

David, thank you so much.

I I asked him what he's gonna do in his retirement.

He said he's gonna just relax and drive the country roads.

I told him I'd write it with him, but he's gonna have to do the driving.

David, I just wanted to say congratulations and thank you for always making me feel so welcome at your RIDC meetings and when I had questions, and it's evident how much you care about the people that work for the city of Richmond and how much you love the community of Richmond.

So I thank you for your service and thank you for being who you are.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Mayor, if I may, yes, sir.

I David's a friend of mine.

I'm gonna try not to get choked up here.

Uh, but he's been responsible for managing multi-million dollar projects.

Uh two build-ready sites, uh, the new property we purchased, the new 190 acres, and he always has done that to a T.

Where when it comes time to look at the numbers, there's no problems from the state with the grant money, the matching money, the development, the payment of the contractors, everything involved with it.

And if you really think about it, the just doing the numbers off the top of my head, he's been responsible for eight to ten million dollars in projects and probably four to five hundred new jobs.

If you think about a sawhee forge's third plant, um Bucky's, he came in my office one day and said we're getting a buckies.

I didn't know what that was.

And I'm glad we got it, but he was he was the point person on that.

Dark horse cannabis, maverick pipe, and and the retention of our industry, a big part of that is a person like David that networks with the people that are already here.

So he's a pillar of our community.

Um, and we certainly are gonna miss him.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Yes, if you don't mind, Mayor.

Please, please do, Commissioner.

I guess we sort of like grew up in the same neighborhood, didn't we, David?

Or families didn't.

That one barred or you know, when I found out this day was coming, uh, it was tough to swallow because uh you've been a mainstay in the growth and I guess more than the development of a small community into what we have now.

And uh it's sort of hard to let go of that.

I don't know.

I might go with you in Jim Country Rodin, maybe.

Um I certainly appreciate the work you've done and the friendship that you've had over the years and our family's friendship.

Um I hope to keep running into you after you walk off the slash door here.

So I know what retirement is, and I know you'll enjoy it, and I appreciate everything you've done for us.

Mayor, I I told David that when we land industry out there at these build ready sites, he'll be one of those out there with a hard hat shovel because exactly he he he has set us up for success.

Yes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'll just say uh it's not gonna be near as fun doing leadership Madison County without you every year.

So he's always uh scheduled our day for economic development and done a great job.

So thank you for that.

Um David now that I'm and I will be brief, which is unusual, but I I really don't know what I'm gonna do.

You've you've been such a wonderful comrade at arms as we've been able not only in your your diligence to recruit new industry, new uh businesses for our community, but you are wonderful at nurturing those we already have.

And that's important because when you and I are together presenting to one of these groups, we always uh remind folks that it isn't just the new jobs that are important, but it's the growth, the expansion of our existing businesses and industries that probably brings in more jobs.

So thank you for the kindness you've extended to those who are already here that makes them want to stay here that makes them even say as they do out in Industrial Park 3 South, then they say uh we we are bringing another plant.

That's good news because it means they've come to Richmond.

They like what Richmond has to offer.

They like the way they're treated and received here, and that, Mr.

is greatly, greatly because of you.

Thank you for your service to the citizens of Richmond.

We will miss you sorely.

I'll just have to go by and peep in the window to see if maybe you sneak back in or something.

But thank you, thank you, and God bless you in your days ahead.

Do we need to vote, Madam Clerk?

No.

We don't have we have we voted yet.

She's not gonna let you.

She's not gonna let you okay.

We're not that tissue box.

There quit.

Uh yeah, yeah, yeah.

Commissioner Goebbels.

Yeah.

Yes.

Commissioner Newby?

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer.

Yes.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you.

Order 25-194, in order of the City of Richmond hiring an employee in the public works department, Madam Clerk, please.

Whereas the public works department needs additional full-time equipment operator one, whereas the position was advertised and interviews conducted, whereas the interview committee has recommended hiring for the position.

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

The following individual is hired contingent upon their successful completion of the city's pre-employment requirements as equipment operator one for the public works department at paid grade two, effective December 15th, 2025.

Billy Brown is an at-wheel employee and will serve a one-year probationary period.

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

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

It's order 25-194.

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

I move.

Second.

Commissioner Newby, Commissioner Brewer, is there any discussion?

Is that full staff?

I think it does.

Josh, does that police staff you?

Yes, sir.

For the discussion there being none, Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer?

Yes.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Commissioner Gobel?

Yes.

Mayor Bly.

Yes, thank you.

Order 25-195, an order of the City of Richmond entering into a baseball facilities agreement with Richmond Little League.

Mr.

Turney, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Whereas the Richmond Little League Baseball Incorporated organization in the City of Richmond would like to enter into an agreement for the use of the baseball facilities at Lake Reba Park.

And whereas the park department and nonprofit organization have discussed the agreement and voiced no objections.

Now therefore, be it ordered by the Richmond City Board of Commissioners that the baseball facilities agreement between the City of Richmond and Richmond Little League is hereby approved.

The agreement outlines the following areas.

Improvements in equipment, additional improvements, scheduling, use of the facilities by third parties, revenues generated through facility use, concessions, rules and regulations of city parks and recreation department, respective rights and obligations of the parties, when facilities may become unusable, insurance coverage, nonprofit status and background checks, inspection and the term of the agreement.

Determine the agreement shall have a term of three years, commencing on the date of the first year above written.

If at any time a nonprofit status is lost or revoked, the City of Richmond reserves the right to cancel the contract.

The mayor is authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the city.

This order shall become effective immediately upon reading and passage by the Richmond City Commission.

Thank you, sir.

That's order 25-195.

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

So move.

Commissioner Cole.

Second.

And Commissioner Goebbel.

Is there any discussion?

I do have one edit to request that I caught and under number eight.

The uh requirements of uh of little league actually assume sole liability for payment of the facilities electric bills should be up underneath the city's responsibilities.

I'm sorry, say that again.

I'm looking at the the basically paying for the electric for the lighting systems is currently underneath little league.

We're gonna move that up underneath the city's responsibilities.

All right, thank you.

And I'm open to answer any questions about this agreement.

As you know, it's been going on for some time to get it done.

Um Commissioner Cole, we did get the concession piece of it worked out where third party travel ball tournaments uh do have first right to concessions without using the actual concession stand.

Um if they decide not to do concessions, the contracted uh concessionaire for little league will do them, and I've talked to them as well.

So I think we're in good shape.

All right, further discussion.

Order 25-195.

Madam Clerk, please call the role.

Commissioner Brewer.

Yes, Commissioner Cole.

Yes, Commissioner Goebel?

Yes, Commissioner Newby, yes, Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Order 25-196.

Order of the city of Richmond hiring an employee in the recycle department.

Madam Clerk, please.

Whereas the recycle department needs a full-time labor one due to a recent resignation, whereas the position was advertised and interviews conducted, whereas the city manager has recommended a hire for the position.

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

The following individual is hired contingent upon their successful completion of the city's pre-employment requirements as labor one for the recycle department at pay grade one, effective payroll January 5th, 2026.

Martin Folio, he is an at-wheel employee and will serve a one-year probationary period.

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

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

That's order 25-196.

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

So moved.

Commissioner Goebbel.

Second.

Commissioner Newby, is there any discussion?

Is that full staffing there?

Yes.

With the retirement tonight, I think this does get into full staff.

No further discussion.

Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Commissioner Goebbel?

Yes.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer?

Yes.

Mayor Blythe.

Yes, thank you.

Order 25-197.

An order of the City of Richmond hiring a police records clerk.

Madam Clerk, please.

Whereas the police department needs a records clerk due to a recent resignation, whereas the position was advertised and interviews conducted, and whereas the city manager has recommended a hire for the position.

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

The following individual is hired contingent upon their successful completion of the city's pre-employment requirements as rec police records clerk for the police department at a pay grade of four effective December 15th, 2025.

Aaron Burris, she is an at wheel employee and will serve a one-year probationary period.

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

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

That's order 25-197.

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

Tell me.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

Anything, Chief?

Aaron Peter, Eric, if you want to stand up, so you know.

Thank you.

Aaron will be part of our records section.

Uh Mayor.

I've got the opportunity to uh get to know Aaron for the past year, but uh the interview board was uh very impressed with her.

She's uh persistently sought a career at the Richmond Police Department, which is really good.

She has a uh a BA in uh homeland security from EKU.

So her co-workers say she's a team teammate, a good team worker, uh, part of the uh important team.

She's uh showed some leadership qualities.

Um I really look forward to her being part of our team.

I think outstanding.

She'll be a great addition.

She'll be welcoming people when they come in, she'll be answering the phone and many, many other things.

Um what goes at the bottom of those job descriptions, Chief?

What goes at the bottom of those job descriptions, Chief?

Other duties.

Other duties as may be a sign.

Welcome aboard, yes indeed.

Thank you all.

Thank you, Aaron.

Yes, indeed.

Thank you, Chief.

Further discussion.

Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Bobble.

Yes.

Commissioner Newby.

Yes.

Commissioner Brewer.

Yes.

Commissioner Cole.

Yes.

Mayor Blind.

Yes, thank you.

Order 25-198.

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

Madam Clerk, please.

Mr.

Mayor, I've been asked to pinch hit on this one as well.

Yes, indeed.

Tough one.

Thank you.

Whereas Ray Irish Rawlings, environmental technician of the Richmond Industrial Development Corporation has submitted his retirement notice to the city on December 1st, 2025.

Now therefore, be it ordered that the Richmond City Board of Commissioners accepts the retirement of Ray Irish Rawlings from the recycle department effective on December 31st, 2025.

The city would like to thank Mr.

Rawlings for his service and dedication to the department since 2002.

The Board of Commissioners wishes him the best in the future endeavors, in his future endeavors.

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

Thank you, sir.

That's uh Order 25-198.

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

Okay.

Uh move.

Second.

Commissioner Newby.

Commissioner Brewer.

Is there any discussion?

Irish, come talk to us.

There has to be some.

Come on up, buddy.

Irish is a community icon in every sense of the word.

And uh excuse me.

I'm not sure I can get through this.

You're doing fine.

I've been fortunate enough to work for the city in one way or another, part-time, full-time fifty-one years.

I've been an umpire out there at Lake Rebel for that long as Jersey.

Seems like I worked with several mayors, many commissioners, many department heads.

A lot of people out here are called you out or safe or whatever.

And believe it or not, I've truly enjoyed a time with the city.

You all have been awfully good to me.

There are some people I'd like to thank real quick.

Rob standing by me.

My sister Candy.

She's back in the back, probably hiding.

Yeah.

She's been my rock.

I lost my mom and my dad.

It was a tough time.

And I'd like to thank my church family who's in the first two rows right here for coming down.

My church means the world to me.

Somebody wants to ask me, they said, you know, there's like the second inning after I started back in a long time ago.

You'll get one call, right?

He's got a 50% chance.

You can guess one way or the other.

But I think I survived pretty well.

And I want to, like I said, I want to thank each and everyone that I'll call safer out or traveling in basketball or whatever it might be.

And like David said, I'll be around.

I'll sure I'll drop my hints around the if there's one person that I've ever been around that was always smiling and happy to see you.

Yeah, it's Irish.

Yeah.

He's a wonderful person.

He he would do anything for anybody in the city.

And he was inspirational in uh building the cardboard program, which is a huge success today.

The reason we built that extra building out there was because of that.

And he was the start of that.

And he's a friend.

I've known him 50 years.

And I want him to keep coming around.

I want him to pop in and see me.

Because he makes my day when he does.

Mr.

City Manager, let me make a bold move here.

I don't know if it's even in order.

And you said that's the reason he's the reason we built that building.

Does it have a name on it?

It does not, sir.

Let's put his name on it.

Just let us know when we can get when we get it done when we want to get out there with him.

Consider done.

Dedicate that building in his honor.

And you did call me out at third when I was 12 years old.

You were out right.

We can put a little dad reminded me of that.

Yes.

Can write it on there.

There's no chalkboard big enough.

No, thank you, Irish.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Just one more thing.

Yes, sir.

I know I've said it before, but thank you.

Josh.

Thank you for job you did for me.

My church family, I know I've said that before, but I thank the good Lord for giving me good health, except for this past year.

Rob was kind enough to let me stay to see Susan Parkinson's and diabetes and things like that, but I'm getting slow to the good Lord help.

I'll be around a while.

Yes.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

We use the word so often in so many ways, but Irish really gives real meaning to the word icon.

He is that that program and just when you're present uh means so much to this community.

Thank you, and God bless you.

We don't need an order for that, do we, Mr.

City Manager?

All in favor say all in favor say aye.

Ah.

Okay.

There you go.

Order 25-200.

Order of the City of Richmond entering into a memorandum of understanding with the Kentucky State Police Electronic Crime Unit.

Mr.

Attorney, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Whereas the City of Richmond has the necessary office space and equipment necessary to fulfill the operational investigative duties by the Kentucky State Police with the Electronic Crimes Unit, and whereas a request has been made to enter into a memorandum of understanding for utilizing the property at 2249 Enterprise Road, Richmond, Kentucky, by and between the City of Richmond and the Kentucky State Police.

And whereas the City of Richmond desires to enter into an MOU memorandum of understanding agreement.

Now therefore, be it ordered by the City Commission of the City of Richmond that Section 1.

The City of Richmond does hereby enter into an MOU with the Kentucky State Police for electronic crime unit.

The terms of the agreement are outlined in the MOU document attached to this order, which shall become a permanent part of this order.

And Mayor Blythe is hereby authorized to sign related documents pertaining to this agreement.

This order shall become effective upon reading and passage by the Richmond City Commission.

Thank you, sir.

That's Order 25-200.

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

So moved.

Commissioner Cole.

Second.

And Commissioner Goebbel.

Is there any discussion?

Glad we can do that, G.

Yeah, thank you all.

That's been a benefit of the police department.

Very beneficial for us.

And all other wallers take the station cut.

Outstanding.

Thank you.

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.

This is the public comments period.

And if there are those who have come who wish to make comments, uh just an observation, please come to the podium, state your name so that the clerk can record it for the record.

And uh please note that there is a uh five-minute limit.

Madam Clerk, has anyone come to the office to sign up tonight?

No, sir.

Okay.

All righty.

All righty.

Is there anyone who's here?

Yep, she didn't sign up.

She's gonna even.

I am Monica Barnes with Madison County Haven of Hope.

I am coming before you all today, the commissioners and the mayor to let you know that Haven of Hope has prayerfully considered many options for an emergency shelter for Madison County.

We've been working for months to find a suitable property.

We have met with planning and zoning, the city manager, the city attorney, fire marshal, building inspector, to find a suitable property to shelter emergency wise.

As of this afternoon, Haven of Hope has agreed to obtain a facility that seems to be very suitable to immediately uh almost immediately begin emergency shelter.

So within the next couple of weeks, with some help of a lot of community volunteers and again prayerful support of the community.

We should be able to open our doors to overnight shelter very soon.

Thank you.

Thank you for your your work.

Monica, may I get all up in your business?

She's if you don't mind my saying so, and and you've been very diligent, committed to finding this and making this work.

But may I tell folks that you left gainful employment to do what you're doing for this community?

Thank you.

I am currently still working a little bit.

A little bit, yes.

You have to.

But Madison County Schools has been very gracious with me.

Um I have taught for Madison County for 25 years.

When I tried to quit, it was kind of but they are working with me, and I'm still continuing to work a little bit.

But yes, I have left quite a bit of gainful employment to help this population.

Thank you.

You're very welcome.

Anyone else?

Yeah, yeah.

Hey, Jamie.

James.

My name's Jamie Jordan.

I'm the director of housing for Enrich.

I just wanted to point out uh what we have currently in place with that news from Monica and all the hard work she's done and Jesse over here, Jill with him.

Um we've needed for a while a housing solution, and what we have is a continuum right now, assuming all goes well with the acquisition of this property.

Uh we have a low barrier shelter uh where uh most any person can come and receive shelter uh for the evening.

Some, however, that stay in a shelter like that uh have differing reasons for being in there.

We we need to shatter the stereotypes of homelessness, first off.

Um, but there's plenty there that are willing to make the effort and step forward and get the job.

They just need a fresh start, and so with the houses that Haven of Hope uh is currently maintaining, uh, we can use those as transitional living houses where folks can accept a higher level of accountability, get the job, uh save their money, and uh and make their way there.

All of this in partnership with enrich.

Uh the enrich one stop is a game changer in my opinion, something we have not had before when it comes to our homeless solutions.

Uh, I'm in the business now of meeting with folks and helping them to find housing uh within this great city of ours, and uh pitching the idea to some of the enriched leadership there.

It's looking like within the emergency shelter with uh already happening in the transitional living homes, uh resource navigators like Felicia here and uh the whole group of them are able to meet with our folks, meet them where they are, and to take them uh to uh in a direction of self-sustainability.

And so we have this whole continuum in place where folks that are ready uh to um get back on their feet for whatever reason it is uh have they have now the resources and the folks that are willing to uh help them forward.

So I just wanted to make everybody aware of uh what the great things that are happening in our community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm Molly Zange.

I am the supervisor at Madison Home.

Um I'm not kind of up here to speak anything negative of anyone or anywhere.

Um, but we are still functioning.

We do still give resources to people.

Um we also assist people that also go to enrich.

Um there's not one place that can help everyone in this community, it takes all of us.

Yeah.

Um, so I'm gonna reiterate that to everyone.

One place cannot help all the people in this community that need help.

Um people at enrich are also sent to us to get their mail sent to us.

They come there for clothing, they come there for showers, they come there for a lot of other resources.

Um I did come here tonight to ask for liency on our occupancy permit for us to be able to house.

Um a lot of people don't know.

I work there on a daily basis.

I was hired as the office manager to answer phone calls and emails, um, and I have took on a lot of other roles.

Um, you know, people go through the job or someone else came to your bathroom.

I willingly took on that role because it needed to be done in that in Madison, no one else is there to do it.

Um you don't know what it's like when you come out of your building every morning, and you have someone on your porch that is literally covered in snow because there's nowhere else for them to go.

People should not be punished or freeze to death because they do drugs.

I'm sorry, they shouldn't.

Um people should not be punished for choices that they make, even though yes, they may not be the right one.

People should have a warm place to stay at this time of the year because you know, it shouldn't be life or death.

I'm sorry.

Um, but that is what I came here tonight for.

I'm in it every single day.

I I'm sorry, I don't look very professional today.

I literally did not leave there.

I came straight from there to here because I had to sweep them off and clean up after today of letting all of these people inside to stay more.

Um I don't take a lunch break, I don't I don't ever get a break because it is more important for me for them to be inside more every single day.

Um so if you all didn't know who I am, that's who I am.

Um is Molly Zaney.

I have given it given my personal money to people to get housing, to get an apartment, to buy them clothes, to do all these other things, and I'm not boasting about it, I don't do it for that reason.

I do it because sometimes people just need a little bit of help.

Um, you know, regardless of how they got where they got.

Um I'm I'm a person that I'm one paycheck away from being homeless myself.

If I missed one paycheck, I would be just like they are.

Um I'm sorry if that took more than your five minutes, but I do ask for lenient sea.

Um, even if there is another homeless shelter, one may not be enough to house all the people that need it.

Um I have served meals, I've been with Max and Home a little over a year and a half, and we have been feeding over 50 people a day.

Um, so one shelter may not be enough, we may need both.

Um so if you will find it in your heart that you think this is important, please give us leniency and grace and allow us to open two house people because that's important.

Um these people, regardless of the lifestyle that they live, they need a wrong place to sleep, and they need necessities, they need their needs, so um, but that's all I have to say.

I hope you will have a good night.

Thank you.

You also molly.

Thank you.

Yeah, okay.

Anyone else?

Give is it okay I'm in one more.

Sorry, I'm back again.

I just want to follow up at the end here.

Um to publicly say Madison Home is unbelievable.

You all are very aware that this time last year I was in the trenches with Molly.

Molly isn't instrumental to our community.

Molly and Sal.

Work tirelessly, and they have just like she said for over a year.

Yesterday I met with some of the board of Madison Home for about two hours.

I told them I'm I'm close.

Haven of Hope is close to acquiring a facility that is appropriate to shelter.

Molly is very right.

We're probably gonna need more beds than what I will have.

There's a lot of services that Madison Home offers every day that the people are utilizing, and I am thankful for that because Molly said it all.

One group cannot do it all.

It takes a community working together to support this entire population of people.

And Madison Home is a big player in that they are a big part.

The only way for Haven of Hope to open a shelter right now is if we do not need to immediately start feeding them in this facility.

But when I talked to the board members of Madison Home, they said we're still gonna serve dinner, and I said, Perfect.

There's so many things that Madison Home will continue to be able to do for this population, and to start out with, if they are not able to shelter, I'll be able to shelter at the Haven Pope facility.

So thank you very much, Molly, for all that you do because it is very appreciated by the people that stay in Haven of Hope right now.

I appreciated it when I was there, and I still continue to appreciate it in everything that Madison Home does.

Thank you all for that.

Thank you, Margaret.

That's that's the spirit that the community needs.

First recognize that no one uh agency group, whatever can do it all.

But there are aspects of it.

You know, you like you just said if you will feed wheel shelter and I think this is a challenge for our community tonight.

You like you just said, if you will feed, we'll shelter, and uh I think this is a challenge for our community tonight, a call to arms for this community for those who like to talk about the homeless situation.

This is an opportunity.

You said volunteers.

I'm sure that each one of these groups needs volunteers, and here's an opportunity for all of us to participate in some way.

Right.

Volunteers are always needed.

Um again financing.

I mean that's yes.

I mean, there's no reason to hide hide about it.

Me signing paperwork on a building today, I jumped out on some faith because I don't have the money to fulfill the agreement that I signed today.

But I believe that God will provide it.

So it does.

It takes a whole community with hearing people.

That's it.

Thank you, Monica.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Mr.

City Manager, please.

Uh mayor commissioners, I would remind you all that next Thursday at our work session on the 18th at noon.

Uh the main topic on our agenda is inviting these nonprofits to discuss uh some of these issues and how we can help each other.

So I just want to put that out there.

Thank you for the reminder.

Yep.

Um, second thing I have, I I want to uh commend, commend uh team Richmond for the Christmas parade Friday night.

Um I wasn't able to attend.

I I was became ill and was down in the bed for two days, but that's just a prime example of our strong leadership in our departments.

Uh I didn't get to walk the perimeter and say hi to everybody.

I missed that, but I heard it was a great success.

That's great.

Um third thing is I'm I'm very happy about our audit.

Um getting the clean audit is always nice, coming in under budget is always nice.

Uh, but more so than anything, getting that ARPA money out the door and audited.

That was a big thing.

That was over nine million dollars uh we received during COVID, and it was nice to have, but managing it and getting it out the door and following the federal guidelines, and for our auditors tonight say we're good to go.

That's a relief to me.

Yes.

Uh so those are the three things I have tonight.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

I'm glad that you're feeling a little bit better.

Yeah, I sound worse than I feel.

Yeah.

Commissioner Gobel.

I just want to say I got so many compliments from just different people.

When they were standing downtown going, you know, watching the parade, they love the lights, they love just how downtown looks right now.

And um it was just so festive and so fun.

The crowd was fun, it was a great great time.

So thanks to everybody, Commissioner Brewer.

I don't know what I could match uh saying about the parade.

It's probably one of the better ones I've really ever attended.

A lot of times I drive Bill Strong's in them this time.

I got to watch.

And we did a fantastic job of taking care of the downtown pleased street department, fire department, all these people come together to do a parade second to none in Kentucky.

I'm just sorry, that's the way I feel about it.

But it was awesome.

And at the CU.

The judges, I didn't get to sit around them, but it was uh stayed a little time with the mayor, but it was a nice nice time.

And Josh, I can need to see you after the commission meeting if I could.

That's all, Mayor.

Alrighty, Commissioner Newby.

I I have nothing, sir.

All right, Commissioner Cole.

I'm good, thank you.

All right.

And let me mention just a couple of things very quickly.

Um certainly that that parade had what I call I wrote myself a note that had just had team written all over it.

And uh it was it was so well uh executed.

I understand about 120 units this time, and some had to be turned away, I believe, but about 120 of all varieties.

The weather was perfect for a Christmas parade.

It was cold, but that's what you want.

It did not bother the children.

They were doing somersaults across the street and just having a ball.

But what it is about, I just shared with a young fellow this afternoon.

But what it really is about, Mindy is families and children, and that's one of the things Richmond has going for it.

And I pray that it'll just remain strong, that families and children will be safe in this place, and uh that we'll be able even from here to provide some of the things that are needed to make that happen.

Let me thank this lady for being here tonight, first of all.

But uh for all you do.

Uh you we know you have an assignment, but you do far beyond that.

Yes, and tonight is an example.

Her problem is, however.

She crowd enough tonight.

Her problem is she just gets attached to folks.

And uh this is part of the team.

And tonight is uh folks, a couple of folks in particular, um, are processed in their retirement.

That's that's a matter of the team.

These are some folks who serve this community well, and uh so we're grateful.

Want to thank you for what you do.

Let me mention the clerk, uh, the city clerk properly is not here tonight.

Please keep uh uh Lisa Cassidy, our city clerk, uh, and the mayor's secretary in your prayers uh with her family, her father and her mother, both of whom are ill, and she's attempting to do what a good daughter would do in taking care of her parents.

Wanda picks up the slack, times like that.

Rob picks up the slack, everybody just sort of takes up the slack to make sure things get done.

Now you can always tell when I'm just uh a bumbling bumbling idiot, uh a bungling idiot or whatever kind of idiot it is.

When Lisa's not here to tell me where I'm supposed to be, I'm just wandering aimlessly.

So you all just uh sort of bear with me how much we appreciate the service that each of these people, each member of this team gives.

And then let me not go Pat who sits back there and makes sure we sound good.

Thank you, Pat, for uh all you do at all of these meetings and making sure that uh we can be heard and that uh whatever is necessary sound wise and IT-wise uh gets done.

So thank you and the staff down there at IT.

Uh once again, uh back to the parade, and I'm done.

And Josh, thank you and your crew and the police uh who stay around while your crew is making sure that in an hour or so, no one would ever know there was a parade on Main Street.

It is clean enough to eat on.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And I you know I like to hang around uh with the fellas and just tell them thank you and thank you and tell them a joke or two so they can laugh while they're getting it done.

And and uh Mayor Josh said he picked up was it two five-gallon buckets of candy between West Main and Waterstore?

I can imagine.

Yeah, I saw candy that was still in the street there.

Yeah.

Yeah, but uh, but thank you and uh to the crew, certainly.

Thanks.

Parts grounds, don't forget them.

And parts, yes, and parks.

That's that team that came together that comes together every year to make sure this gets done, and then make sure that all uh signs that it was ever there are gone.

Uh that takes a lot of effort.

Takes a lot of planning.

Thank you, Mr.

City Manager, for the overall coordination of that thing.

And then you got sick on us and couldn't uh enjoy it, but still thank you because it went off well.

You know what?

When I called the department heads and told them I wasn't gonna be able to make it, they reassured me, don't worry about it.

We got this, and that's what it's all about.

Yes, indeed.

Yes, indeed.

Um take care of it.

We appreciate uh WBON also for live streaming that parade.

And there were folks who were able, uh perhaps who couldn't get out for whatever reason, who were able to watch the parade and uh watch and listen.

I think that's enough.

Jim's ready to take some my heart and mine's good, but my joints are killing me.

Uh what did you say about the Grinch?

Exactly.

He owed some people some money this year, he couldn't make it.

We can't walk that far.

Thank you.

Thank you.

If all hearts and minds are clear, we'll entertain a motion to adjourn.

So moved.

Commissioner Cole and Commissioner Gobel.

Madam Clerk, please.

Commissioner Goble, yes, Commissioner Newby, yes, Commissioner Brewer.

Yes, Commissioner Cole, yes, Mayor Bly.

Yes, thank you.

And thanks to all of you for what you do for this community.

God bless you.

Hey Rob.