OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Richmond City Council Meeting Summary: January 13, 2026

City Commission Meetings — Tuesday, January 13, 2026
BodyRichmond, Kentucky
SessionCity Commission Meetings
DateTuesday, January 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 56:03

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

And we enjoy living here, and yet there is always the desire that it be an even better community.

0:09

And I thank you for these that are before me, who have been called to do what they do.

0:14

This is not an easy calling and thus not an easy task.

0:18

And so I pray that you would just guide them and inspire them and fill them with your spirit.

0:22

And God, I pray that as each day they're together, working together, learning together, that they just continue to do the work that you have appointed them to do.

0:32

So, God, for those of us in the community, we want to be able to encourage them and to pray for them.

0:37

And we thank you for this particular day because we know that it is indeed a gift from you.

0:42

And it's in your name that we pray.

0:44

Amen.

0:46

Thank you, sir.

0:51

Bill Howe's retirement, busier than ever.

0:54

Well, somebody told me, Mr.

0:55

Mayor, that I plugged retirement.

0:58

Very well.

0:59

I would imagine so.

1:00

Thank you for all that you've done for all of us these many years, and for what you're doing for others, even beyond uh our community now.

1:08

Bless you, my friend.

1:14

We are honored to have Scouting America Troop 401 representatives who will process into the chambers with the flags this evening and will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:25

Throughout its service to the Richmond community for over 25 years, Troop 401 teaches leadership, outdoor skills, and strong character, living the mission of Scouting America to instill the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

1:41

Scouts, please proceed.

2:48

Post the colors.

2:53

Would you please say with me?

2:55

The Pledge of Allegiance.

2:56

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

3:01

And to the Republic for which it says one nation under God, individual liberty and justice for all.

3:52

As I enjoy saying when our scouts and other young people come to lead us in so many ways in our meetings, I simply say there is hope.

4:06

In spite of what we see and hear sometimes, there is hope.

4:15

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

4:17

Commissioner Brewer.

4:19

Here.

4:19

Commissioner Cole.

4:20

Here.

4:20

Commissioner Goebbell, here.

4:22

Commissioner Newby.

4:23

Here.

4:23

Mayor Blythe.

4:24

Here, thank you.

4:26

We have a presentation this evening from the Madison County International Delegation.

4:31

Pastor Kent Gilbert and Mayor Bruce Fraley are here.

4:35

Welcome to our meeting and to the chambers.

4:38

Thank you.

4:39

Mr.

4:40

Mayor, thank you.

4:41

Commissioners, pleasure to greet you.

4:42

On behalf of your Madison County International Committee, you may know that for the past more than 35 years, we have had a sister region relationship with Hokto City Japan.

4:54

And I apologize that our slideshow is not working, but on your desk, you have a copy of the presentation.

5:00

So we are a backup to the backup.

5:02

You will uh maybe want to go through it.

5:04

It looks like it's stapled on the wrong side, so you might start what looks like the back, but is actually should say 25 delegation to Hokoto City looks like this.

5:14

I wanted to uh give you a brief report on some of our recent activities, but also especially to to bring you greetings.

5:21

Our sister city is about two hours west of Tokyo in the mountains.

5:26

It is about 56,000 people, so a very similar parody in terms of geography and size, and it's about the same geographical area as Madison County.

5:37

We've had this relationship for a really long time.

5:40

It's very unusual in the United States.

5:43

We have one of the longest sister relationships that has met every single year and had contact and ongoing programming.

5:50

Many cities, bigger, like Lexington have a sister city, but they do a visit every five years.

5:57

We have active ongoing programming every single year.

6:01

And one of the features of that that happened in October was we send a delegation there in the even years, and in the odd years, they come to us.

6:11

So I wanted to uh report a little bit about our sister city and also give you a quick view.

6:15

And I've brought uh my my prime exhibit here is a surviving delegate who was on the trip.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
International Relations████████████████████████24%
Personnel Matters██████████████████████22%
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Community Engagement██████████10%
Historic Preservation█████████9%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Animal Welfare█████5%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Richmond City Council Meeting Summary: January 13, 2026

The Richmond City Board of Commissioners convened on January 13, 2026, for a meeting focused on departmental appointments, financial grants, and community relations. The session opened with a prayer, a tribute to retiring staff member Bill Howe, and patriotic ceremonies led by Scouting America Troop 401. A significant portion of the evening was dedicated to a comprehensive presentation and greeting from the Madison County International Committee regarding their sister city relationship with Hôto City, Japan, including reports on a recent delegation visit and plans for an autumn reciprocal visit. The Board subsequently processed seven Orders of the City (26-01 through 26-07), covering internal promotions, new hires, grant authorizations, and interlocal agreements. The meeting concluded with a public comment period where the Mayor provided updates on the Richmond Regional Sports Complex and announced a resolution of support for state correctional officers.

Consent Calendar

  • Appointment of Assistant Fire Chief: The Board adopted Order 26-01, appointing David Kaufman as Assistant Fire Chief effective February 6, 2026. Kaufman has served the department since 2007, most recently as Battalion Chief. Commissioner Brewer expressed full support for the appointment, stating he "has rode with him and I have no complaints."
  • Adoption of Job Descriptions: Order 26-02 adopted job descriptions for several positions, including a new Fire Department Training Officer and a Whitehall Curator. The City Manager confirmed the Whitehall Curator position will be posted shortly after approval.
  • Hiring of Section 8 Employee: Order 26-03 hired Caitlin Sessions as Administrative Assistant One for the Section 8 Housing Department, effective January 14, 2026. Commissioner Newby expressed satisfaction with the hire.
  • Fire Department Promotions: Order 26-04 approved promotions for Firefighter 2 candidates, effective January 23, 2026. A minor typographical error regarding a hire date ("2055") was noted with humor by the Mayor.
  • CDBG Grant Application: Order 26-05 authorized the filing of a 2025 Kentucky Community Development Block Grant application for Liberty Place, seeking up to $200,000. Commissioner Newby confirmed the City acts as the "conduit" for the grant. Commissioner Brewer sought clarification and requested future access to full reports regarding the animal shelter's budget and operations, which the City Attorney confirmed would be provided.
  • Acceptance of Resignation: Order 26-06 accepted the resignation of Cheryl Richardson from the Finance Department effective January 30, 2026. Commissioner Brewer expressed strong appreciation for her decade of service in monitoring grants.
  • Animal Shelter Interlocal Agreement: Order 26-07 approved an interlocal agreement between the City and Madison County Fiscal Court for fiscal years 2026-2027. The City will contribute 25% of the shelter's operating budget (approx. $141,475). Commissioner Newby expressed support for the agreement, citing personal affection for animals, while verifying the availability of annual reporting.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • State Correctional Officers: Commissioner Brewer raised a motion to officially support the efforts of Commissioner Deanna Fraser Gordon (likely a reference to legislative efforts regarding pay for state correctional officers). The Mayor agreed to issue a resolution supporting the cause on behalf of the City.

Discussion Items

  • Madison County International Committee Report: Pastor Kent Gilbert and Mayor Bruce Fraley presented on the 35-year sister city relationship with Hôto City, Japan.
    • Pastor Kent Gilbert: Stated that the relationship is one of the longest-lasting in the U.S., with annual contact. He described Hôto City as having the most sunshine in Japan, producing a third of Japan's bottled water, and sharing similar agricultural profiles (rice, fruit, whiskey). He highlighted the historical connection to Paul Rush, who saved the area from starvation post-WWII. Gilbert noted the delegation of 15 members included city officials, educators, and business owners, and expressed that the experience is "life-changing."
    • Mayor Bruce Fraley: Emphasized the "overwhelming" hospitality of the Japanese hosts and the importance of person-to-person diplomacy. He described the "Madison County booth" at a 20,000-person festival in Hôto City as a centerpiece of their visit. Fraley expressed full support for the educational exchanges, noting that 60 students have participated in the Model High School exchange program.
  • Reciprocal Visitation: Mayor Blythe noted that the Japanese delegation is expected to visit in late September or early October. He expressed a positional hope that their arrival coincides with the Millstone Festival to maximize community interaction.
  • Richmond Regional Sports Complex Update: The City Manager provided project status.
    • Turf and Grass Fields: The Manager clarified that five artificial turf fields are complete and ready for July opening. Six natural grass fields were not sown this fall and will be planted in spring, with Commissioner Blythe noting they likely cannot be used until fall 2027. The Manager committed to meeting with the local soccer organization (Musa) to discuss these logistics.
    • Trail and Disc Golf: The 5.7-mile mountain bike trail and disc golf course are scheduled to begin construction next week.
  • Historic Preservation Strategy: Commissioner Goble discussed the strategic grouping of historic properties (Whitehall, Irvington House, Kit Carson Burks, Squire Boone, Millstone Park) to create a viable heritage tourism loop for tour buses. The City Manager outlined the upcoming key exchange and deed transfer pending state approval, with an intention to hire a curator.
  • Mayor's General Statement: Mayor Blythe remarked that he does not make statements on matters without having all facts, urging caution regarding public speculation while affirming the Board's diligence.

Key Outcomes

  • Adoption of Orders 26-01 through 26-07: All seven orders were passed unanimously by the Board of Commissioners (Mayor Blythe, Brewers, Cole, Goebbel, Newby).
  • Authorization of CDBG Application: The City is authorized to apply for up to $200,000 for the Liberty Place project.
  • Approval of Interlocal Agreement: The City has agreed to fund 25% of the Madison County Animal Shelter operating budget for FY 2026-2027, contingent on receiving full reporting.
  • Support for Correctional Officers: The Mayor committed to presenting a resolution supporting the pay raise efforts for state correctional officers.
  • Future Event Planning: Efforts are underway to align the Japanese delegation's fall visit (Sept 26 - Oct 26 window) with the Millstone Festival.

Meeting Transcript

And we enjoy living here, and yet there is always the desire that it be an even better community. And I thank you for these that are before me, who have been called to do what they do. This is not an easy calling and thus not an easy task. And so I pray that you would just guide them and inspire them and fill them with your spirit. And God, I pray that as each day they're together, working together, learning together, that they just continue to do the work that you have appointed them to do. So, God, for those of us in the community, we want to be able to encourage them and to pray for them. And we thank you for this particular day because we know that it is indeed a gift from you. And it's in your name that we pray. Amen. Thank you, sir. Bill Howe's retirement, busier than ever. Well, somebody told me, Mr. Mayor, that I plugged retirement. Very well. I would imagine so. Thank you for all that you've done for all of us these many years, and for what you're doing for others, even beyond uh our community now. Bless you, my friend. We are honored to have Scouting America Troop 401 representatives who will process into the chambers with the flags this evening and will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Throughout its service to the Richmond community for over 25 years, Troop 401 teaches leadership, outdoor skills, and strong character, living the mission of Scouting America to instill the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Scouts, please proceed. Post the colors. Would you please say with me? The Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the Fly of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it says one nation under God, individual liberty and justice for all. As I enjoy saying when our scouts and other young people come to lead us in so many ways in our meetings, I simply say there is hope. In spite of what we see and hear sometimes, there is hope. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Commissioner Brewer. Here. Commissioner Cole. Here. Commissioner Goebbell, here. Commissioner Newby. Here. Mayor Blythe. Here, thank you. We have a presentation this evening from the Madison County International Delegation. Pastor Kent Gilbert and Mayor Bruce Fraley are here. Welcome to our meeting and to the chambers. Thank you. Mr. Mayor, thank you. Commissioners, pleasure to greet you. On behalf of your Madison County International Committee, you may know that for the past more than 35 years, we have had a sister region relationship with Hokto City Japan. And I apologize that our slideshow is not working, but on your desk, you have a copy of the presentation. So we are a backup to the backup. You will uh maybe want to go through it. It looks like it's stapled on the wrong side, so you might start what looks like the back, but is actually should say 25 delegation to Hokoto City looks like this. I wanted to uh give you a brief report on some of our recent activities, but also especially to to bring you greetings.

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