OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Richmond City Commission Meeting - March 10, 2026

City Commission Meetings — Tuesday, March 10, 2026
BodyRichmond, Kentucky
SessionCity Commission Meetings
DateTuesday, March 10, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 56:34

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

For the city of Richmond, and uh we welcome all of you who have come.

0:09

Lots of really great things we're going to talk about tonight and opportunity to present some people and uh thank you.

0:21

The afternoon.

0:23

Nice and bright and sunshiny.

0:27

We'll take it.

0:29

I just told uh Commissioner Brewer.

0:32

Uh my mother, when we were kids, my brother, my sister, and I mother would remind us.

0:38

Yeah, but it's still winter.

0:42

Okay.

0:43

Yes, indeed.

0:44

So we don't want to get sick, but we'll certainly take this day.

0:50

I'm going to invite Jamie Jordan, who serves the city of Richmond in our housing efforts, uh, both with the city and its boards and also uh in the efforts of enrich and one stop and others uh to provide for people.

1:08

Jamie, we greatly appreciate all that you do.

1:11

Good to see you tonight, my friend.

1:13

Thank you.

1:13

You will thank you.

1:15

Let us pray.

1:17

God is tempting to stand up here and ask for more.

1:23

But as we pray, I just want to thank you for what you've already done.

1:26

I want to thank you for the prayers of your people that have been prayed within this building and all around for the people of this great community of ours.

1:35

So we thank you uh for what you've done in the past.

1:39

And Lord, we thank you for what you're doing now.

1:41

I pray you'll just give us the eyes to see the works that are going on all around us, to better lives all around us, to pick people up when they've fallen, Lord, and uh put people on the right path.

1:53

So, Lord, I thank you uh for this leadership before us.

1:56

I pray, Lord, that you would uh give them your wisdom as we deliberate and as we consider and as we vote and as we decide, Lord, um just have your way within this community, Lord.

2:08

I uh pray that you'd be with all those in attendance, Lord, and that your spirit would rest on us all, Lord, as we chart the course for this community that you know and love.

2:17

Lord, I pray all this in the name of Jesus, amen.

2:21

Amen.

2:22

Thank you, sir.

2:25

I often mention Commissioner Newby uh that at the last portion of our uh job descriptions.

2:35

Uh there's always that line that says other duties as may be assigned, right?

2:41

So other duties may be assigned at this moment.

2:45

Police Chief Richardson, will you come, please?

2:47

I'd be honored, Mayor.

2:49

And lead us in the pledge.

2:52

Uh would everyone please stand for the pledge.

2:58

I pledge allegiance to the flag of United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

3:12

Thank you.

3:13

Thank you, Chief.

3:18

Call the meeting to order.

3:20

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

3:21

Commissioner Newby.

3:22

Here.

3:23

Commissioner Brewer.

3:24

President.

3:25

Commissioner Cole.

3:26

Here.

3:26

Commissioner Goble.

3:27

Here.

3:28

Mayor Blythe.

3:29

Here, thank you.

3:30

We have a couple of presentations tonight.

3:32

The first uh new business recognition, Carrie Hensey.

3:36

Kerry, if you'll come, please.

3:38

Didn't realize your middle name was Lee.

3:42

Good evening, uh Mayor and Commission.

3:46

We have two new businesses we want to recognize at the meeting.

3:50

And uh the first is Citizens National Bank, and we've got Sean Daughty here, and he's gonna come up and tell us a little bit uh about their services, and then we're gonna get a photo.

4:06

Thank you.

4:07

First, I would I'd like to thank uh the city of Richmond for welcoming us town.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Personnel Matters████████████████████20%
Public Engagement████████████████16%
Economic Development█████████████13%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████12%
Parks and Recreation███████7%
Home Occupation Regulations██████6%
Transportation Safety██2%
Public Safety██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Richmond City Commission Meeting - March 10, 2026

The Richmond Board of Commissioners met on March 10, 2026, for a regular meeting. The meeting included presentations for new businesses, a proclamation declaring March as Hunger Awareness Month, first readings of several ordinances, and approval of multiple orders including reappointments, promotions, and equipment purchases. No public comments were made.

Presentations and Proclamations

  • New Business Recognition: Sean Daughty of Citizens National Bank introduced the bank's expansion into Richmond, noting the bank's founding in 1920 and its focus on community relationships. The bank is converting its loan production office to a branch. Marseille from Parlour Pizza presented the opening of a new location in Richmond, their seventh overall. A grand opening and ribbon cutting is scheduled for March 26, 2026, with soft opens for first responders (March 24) and VIPs (March 25) supporting charities CASA, Wilderness Trail, and Madison Animal Shelter.
  • Hunger Awareness Month Proclamation: Mayor Blythe proclaimed March 2026 as Richmond Hunger Awareness Month. The Empty Bowls project, now in its 27th year, will be held on March 20, 2026, at First Baptist Church. A minimum $20 donation provides a bowl, soup, hoe cake, and drink. 100% of proceeds benefit God's Outreach, Madison County Food Bank, New Liberty Shelter, Home Meals Delivery, and Salvation Army of Madison County.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the regular meeting of February 10, 2026, and the workshop of February 19, 2026, were approved unanimously (5-0).

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance 26-08 (First Reading): Annexation and zoning of 1055 Berea Road (B3 Highway Business). Requested by IBS LLC. No vote taken; second reading scheduled for March 24, 2026.
  • Ordinance 26-09 (First Reading): Amendment to short-term rental regulations to allow them in Planned Unit Development (PUD) zones. City Manager explained this is the only change; existing ordinance remains. Second reading on March 24, 2026.
  • Ordinance 26-10 (First Reading): Annexation of 343.53 acres (Elliott Ford Road) and 18.2 acres (Duncan Lane) owned by Ramsey Farms, Kentucky LLC, maintaining agricultural zoning. City Manager noted the property is in the comprehensive plan for future annexation and will require connectivity from Duncan Lane to Lancaster Road (Highway 52) to alleviate traffic. Second reading scheduled for April 28, 2026, due to 45-day notice to Madison County Fiscal Court.
  • Ordinance 26-11 (First Reading): Budget amendment for FY 2025-2026 regarding CDBG funds for Liberty Place. Increases receipts by $200,000 and expenditures: public services $190,000, administrative fees $10,000. Second reading on March 24, 2026.
  • Order 26-39: Adoption of job descriptions for Parks and Recreation Department, including a new assistant director position. Approved unanimously (5-0).
  • Order 26-40: Reappointment of 10 members to the Richmond Industrial Development Corporation for three-year terms. Approved unanimously (5-0).
  • Order 26-41: Reappointment of four members to the Richmond Park Board for terms expiring 2029-2030. Approved unanimously (5-0).
  • Order 26-42: Promotion of two firefighters: Zachary Young to Firefighter 2 (pay grade 3) and Robert Foster to Firefighter 1, effective March 20, 2026. Approved unanimously (5-0).
  • Order 26-43: Reappointment of Peggy Brooks Thompson to the Madison County Ambulance Board for a two-year term expiring 2028. Approved unanimously (5-0).
  • Order 26-44: Acceptance of resignation of Philip Seifert from the Battlefield Department as curator, effective March 13, 2026. Approved unanimously (5-0).
  • Order 26-45: Award of bids for equipment for the new Richmond Regional Sports Complex: two VIN track mowers ($90,604.80), a ProGator ($41,440.81), a Kubota track machine ($69,975), and three Polaris Rangers ($66,183.56). Total from parks capital projects. Approved unanimously (5-0).
  • Order 26-46: Award of grounds maintenance contract for City Hall, Madison Hall of Justice, District Court, and Richmond Active Living Center to Rollett's Lawn Care for $26,502.18 per year, with one-year renewal option. Approved unanimously (5-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke during the public comments period.

Key Outcomes

  • All orders and ordinances on first reading were introduced and scheduled for second reading and vote on future dates.
  • All presented orders (26-39 through 26-46) were approved unanimously (5-0).
  • The City Manager announced that FY 2027 budget meetings will begin in late March/early April, with a first draft expected by the end of April.
  • Commissioner Cole introduced a student from Model Laboratory School attending as part of a senior project on local government.
  • Commissioner Goble reported on Leadership Madison County's local government day.
  • Mayor Blythe highlighted the city's investment in shovel-ready sites for industrial recruitment and noted the State of the City address will be on March 18, 2026, at the Perkins Building.

Meeting Transcript

For the city of Richmond, and uh we welcome all of you who have come. Lots of really great things we're going to talk about tonight and opportunity to present some people and uh thank you. The afternoon. Nice and bright and sunshiny. We'll take it. I just told uh Commissioner Brewer. Uh my mother, when we were kids, my brother, my sister, and I mother would remind us. Yeah, but it's still winter. Okay. Yes, indeed. So we don't want to get sick, but we'll certainly take this day. I'm going to invite Jamie Jordan, who serves the city of Richmond in our housing efforts, uh, both with the city and its boards and also uh in the efforts of enrich and one stop and others uh to provide for people. Jamie, we greatly appreciate all that you do. Good to see you tonight, my friend. Thank you. You will thank you. Let us pray. God is tempting to stand up here and ask for more. But as we pray, I just want to thank you for what you've already done. I want to thank you for the prayers of your people that have been prayed within this building and all around for the people of this great community of ours. So we thank you uh for what you've done in the past. And Lord, we thank you for what you're doing now. I pray you'll just give us the eyes to see the works that are going on all around us, to better lives all around us, to pick people up when they've fallen, Lord, and uh put people on the right path. So, Lord, I thank you uh for this leadership before us. I pray, Lord, that you would uh give them your wisdom as we deliberate and as we consider and as we vote and as we decide, Lord, um just have your way within this community, Lord. I uh pray that you'd be with all those in attendance, Lord, and that your spirit would rest on us all, Lord, as we chart the course for this community that you know and love. Lord, I pray all this in the name of Jesus, amen. Amen. Thank you, sir. I often mention Commissioner Newby uh that at the last portion of our uh job descriptions. Uh there's always that line that says other duties as may be assigned, right? So other duties may be assigned at this moment. Police Chief Richardson, will you come, please? I'd be honored, Mayor. And lead us in the pledge. Uh would everyone please stand for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Thank you, Chief. Call the meeting to order. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Commissioner Newby. Here. Commissioner Brewer. President. Commissioner Cole. Here. Commissioner Goble. Here. Mayor Blythe.

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