OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Richmond Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting - September 8, 2026

City Commission Meetings — Tuesday, September 8, 2026
BodyRichmond, Kentucky
SessionCity Commission Meetings
DateTuesday, September 8, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:20:17

Transcript — Verbatim
2:07

Thanks again, Pat.

2:09

And good evening again.

2:11

We're going to ask that Mary Lou Stevens, who serves as chaplain at the Baptist Health Facility here, she'd come and lead us in the invocation.

2:26

It is my privilege to be here this evening.

2:28

And look at what a wonderful crowd you have.

2:32

So please join me as I offer a word of invocation.

2:37

Gracious God, we do give you thanks for the city of Richmond, the place that we call home.

2:43

And we give you thanks for those who have given their time and their energy and their interest to serving on this commission for the decisions that they make tonight.

2:54

We ask your guidance for all the things in this community that need your care.

2:59

We ask for their wisdom to come as they make those decisions.

3:03

So now our gracious Lord, just be with us, be in our hearts that we would be attentive to what is asked of us today as just people being here to listen, to understand, and to support those making decisions.

4:44

Leading the pledge today are Lennon and Lindley.

4:48

Lennon is a two-year brownie, and Lindley is a brand new cadet.

4:53

Supporting them tonight are Finley, Harper, Elise, and Haley.

5:00

All four of these girls are two-year brownies.

5:02

Ladies, thank you for leading us.

5:05

Please proceed.

5:16

And to the public, one nation under God, an individual with liberty and justice for all.

5:31

Get up quick.

5:40

You know, they they did something that uh sparked something in the way of a memory.

5:47

The enthusiasm and excitement with which they did that.

5:53

Yep.

5:54

Needs to be passed on to some adults.

5:58

Yeah.

6:01

Yes.

6:02

Yes.

6:02

So does the honesty.

6:04

Yes.

6:05

Two things to tell you the truth.

6:06

Little kids in yoga pants.

6:08

Oh my gosh.

6:13

Lord help us.

6:15

Quickly.

6:16

Yes.

6:17

Madam Clerk, please call the role.

6:19

Commissioner Brewer.

6:20

I'm here.

6:21

Commissioner Cole.

6:22

Here.

6:22

Commissioner Goebel.

6:23

Here.

6:24

Commissioner Newby.

6:25

Here.

6:25

Mayor Blythe.

6:26

Here, thank you.

6:27

Have a couple of presentations tonight.

6:29

The first let me come down.

6:51

I'm going to ask Rachel Carter, please, to come.

7:06

Good evening.

7:08

I want to take this opportunity to uh congratulate you on uh in Coach of the Year.

7:17

This is now uh let's see.

7:19

This is UISA Boys Competitive Coach of the Year.

7:24

There's a note here from one of the boys.

7:28

Uh I would say age nine.

7:31

Yeah.

7:34

And simply says, Coach Rachel has taught me so much, and I can use that no matter what team I'm on.

7:44

And I know she'll always be cheering for me.

7:49

I know about that.

7:50

So you believe you do that here.

7:52

It's it's accepted.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████23%
Personnel Matters██████████████████18%
Manufactured Housing Regulations████████████12%
Parks and Recreation███████████11%
Code Enforcement██████6%
Economic Development██████6%
Taxation████4%
Historic Preservation████4%
Budget Equity Analysis███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Richmond Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting - September 8, 2026

The Richmond Board of Commissioners met on September 8, 2026, for a regular meeting. The meeting opened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Brownie and Cadette Girl Scouts. A special presentation honored Coach Rachel Carter with the Key to the City for her work with youth soccer. The commission then addressed a full agenda including tax rates, manufactured home regulations, alley closures, contract change orders, personnel actions, and charitable grants. All items were approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes of the regular meeting of August 25, 2026, by unanimous vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public came forward to speak.

Presentations & Informational Reports

  • Coach Rachel Carter Recognition: Presented with the Key to the City and named UISA Boys Competitive Coach of the Year for her contributions to youth sports and quality of life.
  • Millstone Festival 2026: Public Information Officer Kelly McBride announced the festival will be held Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Main Street. Platinum sponsor: Dreaming Creek Brewery. Gold sponsors: Allen Company Inc. and EKU. Features include live music (Jenkins Twins, Bourbon Revival, Rhythm Phoenix), a car cruise-in for vehicles 1972 and older, twins contest, petting zoo, Shriner train rides, and a free trolley shuttle from Madison Central parking lot.
  • Neon Night Run/Walk: Save the date for Friday, September 25, 2026, downtown on Water Street (6–10 p.m.), a Paint the Town Pink event sponsored by the Quarter, Baptist Health, EKU, and the City of Richmond. Block party at 6 p.m., kickoff celebration at 7 p.m. with a joint proclamation from all three Madison County governments.

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance 26-25 (Ad Valorem Tax – Second Reading): Levies 2026 property taxes at 15.5 cents/$100 for personal property, 11.0 cents/$100 for real property, and 28.7 cents/$100 for motor vehicles. A 2% discount for payment before November 1, face amount due November 1–December 31, 2026, 10% penalty and 15% interest after January 1, 2027. City Manager noted the compensating rate was used; total assessed value rose from $75 million to $86 million. Unanimous approval.
  • Ordinance 26-26 (Manufactured Homes Compatibility – Second Reading): Adopts standards per KRS 100.348 to regulate qualified manufactured homes. Requires a minimum 7/12 roof pitch. The city attorney clarified that HOAs and deed restrictions still control and that these homes must be built within the last five years. Effective upon publication. Unanimous approval.
  • Ordinance 26-27 (Alley Closure – First Reading): Closes an alley off Heath Street connecting to Big Hill Avenue, requested by adjacent property owner MBR Properties LLC. City Manager stated the alley is impassable and creates unwanted gatherings. Second reading and final vote scheduled for October 13, 2026.
  • Order 26-132 (Sports Complex Change Order): Approved $153,819 change order with contractor Rising Sun Development for bid package two, including conduit for future security cameras, concrete pads for bleachers at tennis/pickleball courts, masonry bases for kiosk signs, fuel tank containment, and revised grading for tennis/pickleball layout. Funded from project fund. Unanimous.
  • Order 26-137 (10-Day USPS Payment Grace Period): Adopts a 10-day grace period for payments mailed via USPS, effective immediately. Does not apply to Richmond Utilities or payments by other delivery methods. City attorney noted the delay is caused by mail being routed through Louisville for postmarking. Unanimous.
  • Order 26-139 (Firefighter Hires): Hired five firefighters (Cooper Atkins, Ethan Shackelford, John Combs, Wallace Reims, Keaton Young) effective September 14, 2026, at pay grade 3. Fire Chief Tudor reported over 200 applicants; these are “the cream of the crop.” Staffing now at 74. Unanimous.
  • Order 26-140 (Resignation – Buildings & Grounds): Accepted resignation of Vernon Cecil effective August 15, 2026. Unanimous.
  • Order 26-141 (Resignation – Battlefield Curator): Accepted resignation of Emma Carmack effective September 4, 2026. Position posted. Unanimous.
  • Order 26-142 (Firefighter Promotions): Promoted Christopher Neal (2025), Herb Lovett (2024), and Samuel Blackburn (2022) to Firefighter II effective September 4, 2026. Unanimous.
  • Order 26-143 (Resignations – Public Works): Accepted resignations of equipment operators Russell Barrett and Zachary Stanley. Unanimous.
  • Order 26-144 (Resignation – Police): Accepted resignation of Master Police Officer Rebecca Foster, effective immediately. City thanked her for service since 2020. Unanimous.
  • Order 26-145 (Charitable Grants): Approved $50,000 in grants to 20 organizations, including $5,000 each to Richmond Area Arts Council, Casa of the Wilderness Trail, Hope’s Wings Domestic Violence Program, Redeeming Hope Inc., Humane Society Animal League for Life; $3,000 each to New Liberty Family Shelter, Madison County Haven of Hope; $2,500 to Special Olympics of Kentucky; and smaller amounts to others. Unanimous.
  • Order 26-146 (Employee Status Change – Buildings & Grounds): Reclassified Jay Cornelson from Sports Field Specialist to Assistant Director of Buildings and Grounds effective September 14, 2026, pay grade 4. He will manage Lake Reba Park. Unanimous.
  • Order 26-147 (Job Description Update): Adopted an updated job description for the administrative assistant position (Wanda Bailey), reflecting current duties. Unanimous.
  • Order 26-148 (Employee Status Change – Fire): Changed Nicholas Stevens from Training Officer to Firefighter III effective October 2, 2026. Unanimous.

City Manager & Commissioner Reports

  • City Manager: Met with Heritage Council for property audit at battlefield; curator position being filled; visitor center to reopen by September 30 thanks to association and tourism staff. Sports complex soft opening planned for mid-November; sponsorship packages to be released September 21; EKU and professional soccer groups are interested. Downtown traffic lights out of sync – contact District 7. Code enforcement process takes time due to legal constraints; fines accumulate and liens can be placed. Commissioner Brewer raised concerns about gravel driveway enforcement; City Manager explained the step-by-step process. Commissioner Newby noted mobility issues prevented attending battlefield event. Mayor Blythe celebrated new businesses downtown and encouraged attendance at Tasty Tuesdays and Millstone Festival.

Key Outcomes

  • All votes were unanimous (5-0) on every ordinance and order except the first-reading alley closure (no vote needed).
  • Next regular meeting: October 13, 2026, for second reading of the alley closure ordinance.
  • Next steps: The sports complex is on track for a mid-November soft opening; the battlefield visitor center is expected to open by September 30; USPS grace period effective immediately; new firefighters begin September 14; code enforcement continues on specific properties with escalating fines.

Meeting Transcript

Thanks again, Pat. And good evening again. We're going to ask that Mary Lou Stevens, who serves as chaplain at the Baptist Health Facility here, she'd come and lead us in the invocation. It is my privilege to be here this evening. And look at what a wonderful crowd you have. So please join me as I offer a word of invocation. Gracious God, we do give you thanks for the city of Richmond, the place that we call home. And we give you thanks for those who have given their time and their energy and their interest to serving on this commission for the decisions that they make tonight. We ask your guidance for all the things in this community that need your care. We ask for their wisdom to come as they make those decisions. So now our gracious Lord, just be with us, be in our hearts that we would be attentive to what is asked of us today as just people being here to listen, to understand, and to support those making decisions. Leading the pledge today are Lennon and Lindley. Lennon is a two-year brownie, and Lindley is a brand new cadet. Supporting them tonight are Finley, Harper, Elise, and Haley. All four of these girls are two-year brownies. Ladies, thank you for leading us. Please proceed. And to the public, one nation under God, an individual with liberty and justice for all. Get up quick. You know, they they did something that uh sparked something in the way of a memory. The enthusiasm and excitement with which they did that. Yep. Needs to be passed on to some adults. Yeah. Yes. Yes. So does the honesty. Yes. Two things to tell you the truth. Little kids in yoga pants. Oh my gosh. Lord help us. Quickly. Yes. Madam Clerk, please call the role. Commissioner Brewer. I'm here. Commissioner Cole. Here. Commissioner Goebel. Here. Commissioner Newby. Here. Mayor Blythe. Here, thank you. Have a couple of presentations tonight. The first let me come down. I'm going to ask Rachel Carter, please, to come. Good evening. I want to take this opportunity to uh congratulate you on uh in Coach of the Year.

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