Winchester City Commission Meeting - December 11, 2025
Winchester City Commission Meeting
The Winchester City Commission met on December 11, 2025, to discuss several key items, including a major downtown streetscape project, updates to the historic preservation ordinance, and public concerns about odor from a local fertilizer plant. The meeting also included recognition of the city's economic development director and a heartfelt letter from a family praising the community's response to a mental health crisis.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jesse Jarman, a 67-year resident of Winchester, expressed strong displeasure with ongoing issues on Hill Street, particularly from the Kentucky Fertilizer plant. He reported that a lime-like substance falls on his neighborhood several times a month, damaging gardens and causing respiratory problems for his wife, who requires oxygen. He stated that the odor permeates the entire north end and downtown. Mayor Reed and Commissioner Strode reported that an odor complaint on November 24 prompted an investigation by the state Division of Air Quality on December 4; inspectors found no violations but noted a brief odor in ambient air. The facility attributed the odor to a change in lignin supplier and has since reverted to the old process. The commission agreed to support a citizen petition and send a formal letter to Frankfort if Mr. Jarman collects signatures.
Presentations & Reports
- Recognition of Brad Southern: Mayor Reed presented a certificate from the Kentucky Association of Economic Development to Brad Southern, who has served as industrial development director for three years. The award recognized his leadership in bringing "hundreds of jobs and millions in capital investment" to Winchester Clark County.
- TAP Grant Presentation: Mike from Palmer Engineering, accompanied by project manager Josh Colburn, presented a request to apply for a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant for the next phases of the Main Street improvements. Phase one (costing $3.8 million, $600,000 under budget) is nearly complete with 29 punch-list items remaining. The proposed phase two (Boone Avenue to Lexington Avenue) and phase three design would add angle parking, bulb-outs, retaining walls, and rapid-flashing beacons at St. Agatha School Crossing. Total project cost is estimated at $3.157 million (Palmer estimate) to $3.3 million (state-mandated contingency). The TAP grant would cover 80% ($2.64 million), with a state GRANT grant covering the remaining 20%, requiring a city match of only $25,000. Design is expected in 2026, with construction in 2027. Commissioner Strode voiced concerns about diagonal parking hindering traffic flow, citing examples from other towns, but Mayor Reed and Commissioner Chenault supported the project as pedestrian-friendly and attracting new businesses.
Discussion Items
- Historic District Ordinance (First Reading): An ordinance amending the historic district overlay to increase the historic preservation commission from six to seven members was discussed. Commissioner Cox requested that the ordinance codify a requirement that at least two members be either business or property owners in the historic district, and that an ex-officio member from Planning and Zoning be included. The city attorney advised this would be a major change requiring a new first reading. The commission voted to table the ordinance and bring a revised version back in January.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Minutes: Unanimously approved minutes from the November 4, 2025 and November 18, 2025 meetings (both special and regular sessions) by separate votes.
- Approved Departmental Reports: Unanimously approved departmental reports (items 4A through 4M).
- Approved TAP Grant Resolution (6A): Unanimously passed a resolution authorizing submission of a TAP grant application for up to $2,674,400 from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
- Approved GRANT Grant Resolution (6B): Unanimously passed a resolution authorizing submission of a Government Resources Accelerating Needed Transformation (GRANT) grant application for up to $642,096 from the Cabinet for Economic Development.
- Approved Orders (8A-8E): Unanimously approved the reappointment of Krista Joint to the Heritage Commission; funding of $4,778 from Beer Cheese Relief Funds for a business at 66 South Main Street; a $1,000 Retail Kickstart Grant for a business at 128 North Highland; $1,631 from Beer Cheese Relief Funds for a business at 68 South Main Street; and a $2,750 Main Street High Side Business Support Grant for a business at 5 South Main Street.
- Approved Personnel Orders (9A-9C): Unanimously approved amendments to police department rules and regulations, rescinding and adopting a new position description for HR Benefits Coordinator, and amending the position description for Stormwater Coordinator/Code Enforcement Support.
- Closed Session: The commission voted unanimously to adjourn to closed session for property acquisition discussions (KRS 61.810(1)(b)).
Meeting Transcript
Don't you think it's not the same? Okay, if everyone would please stand, I'd like to invite Carson Adams to come here and stand with me for just a moment. This young man is the future mayor of Winchester. So don't forget to vote for him and how many years? 12, 14, but Carson's with us tonight. He is a 60-year-old first grader at Calvary Christian School. And uh he's interested in government. And so this is where we start, folks. This is where we start with this age and teach them about government and citizenship right here. And this is a fine young man who's gonna lead us in the pledge this evening, and then he's gonna tell you something at the end. Pledge of the United States of America or not liberty and justice. So please remain seeing we're gonna have our invocation, but I found out something about Carson. You tell me if this is true. I found out that he acts like our city manager and that he loves bad jokes. Is that right? How about telling us more? What's a pilot's favorite weather? What does a what is a pilot's favorite weather? A pirate's favorite weather. A pirate or sea. Let's pray. Early gracious assembly father, we thank you for this evening where we can come together and serve the city of Winchester. We just lift up all of our first responders that keep our city safe, dear father. We lift up all of our staff that help keep the roads clean and have our city run day to day. We just uh ask for wisdom and discernment with our board of commissioners tonight, dear father, and bless us as we um depart here and in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. So what is a pirate's favorite letter, right? See I thought we that was like the carols are today. Oh, and thank you to his parents for sharing him with us this evening. We we appreciate that. Bruce, you haven't even covered that one yet. No, I haven't. We've got another pirate joke. Oh, that's okay. Hey Carlos Carson, you want to come back and I'll let Chief give this to you. Here's a pen with the city of Winchester link so you can wear this. I'll let Chief Thompson give it to you, okay. All right, let's go ahead and call this meeting officially to order. And the first thing on the agenda is we have a presentation uh for Mr. Brad Southern, and I'd like to ask him to come down front and the commission to join me as well. That's okay. It's a front button. I'm not prepared. I'm gonna go put you on the we are we're very excited and we're very proud of this young guy. He has um been our industrial development director for three years now. Three and a half in August, right? And uh we appreciate everything he's done, but not only do we as a community appreciate what Brad is done, the state is recognized what Brad has done in the area of economic development. So I'm gonna take the privilege to put my glasses on for just one sec, and I want to read you part of the pressure lease from the Kentucky Association of Economic Development. This award recognizes excellence and leadership achievement and innovation and community economic development across the Commonwealth of the Natason though. But under his leadership, Winchester Clark County has experienced measurable economic growth and transformation.
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