OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Winchester City Commission Meeting – January 9, 2026

Board of Commissioners Meetings — Friday, January 9, 2026
BodyWinchester, Kentucky
SessionBoard of Commissioners Meetings
DateFriday, January 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 23:16

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Please rise for our pledge of allegiance, which will led by our city clerk, Joy Purdue, followed by the invitation from our city manager, Dr.

0:08

Rich Mann.

0:09

Pledge allegiance to the United States.

0:24

Please remain standing.

0:26

Let's pray.

0:26

Our degree assembly father, we just want to take this opportunity tonight to ask for special blessings upon our city for the new year.

0:34

We thank you for the prosperous uh 2025, and we ask for continued blessings for uh safety, peace, and prosperity going into the new year.

0:43

We thank you for all of our leaders tonight.

0:45

We just ask you to be with them as they guide and direct our city.

0:49

Jesus' name we pray.

0:50

Amen.

0:50

And you see, please be seated.

0:54

I will officially call the meeting to order.

0:57

Uh I'm gonna try to stay on test tonight.

1:00

I was having an MRI on my shoulder this morning and ran out of the room and had a claustrophobia.

1:06

So no we're aye this morning.

1:08

So it's been one of those kind of days, but it's good to see everybody here tonight and welcome.

1:14

Uh we have a not a huge agenda this evening, but uh we're gonna go through it and uh let's go.

1:21

Are we ready?

1:22

All right, minutes of the December 9th, 2025, special 530 p.m.

1:27

meeting.

1:27

Is there a motion to accept?

1:29

Motion by Commissioner Toole is there second.

1:33

Second by Commissioner Chenault.

1:35

Any discussion, additions, corrections?

1:37

All in favor, aye.

1:38

Aye.

1:38

Any opposed by like sign?

1:40

Motion carries item three, A through K.

1:45

These are departmental and agency reports.

1:47

Is there a motion to accept those?

1:49

Comment motion by Commissioner uh Strode.

1:52

Is there second second by Commissioner Toole?

1:55

Any discussion?

1:57

All in favor, aye.

1:59

Any opposed by like sign?

2:01

Motion carries item four informational items.

2:05

Uh as we always say, these are not do not require vote, they're information only.

2:11

I'd like to point out three things on this.

2:14

A I would like to congratulate on behalf of the city, uh Leisha Martin, who completed Kentucky's 2025 community development block grant administrators training, and she is now carrying the title of certified CDBG Administrator.

2:30

That's a huge step.

2:36

So we talked about this gentleman at our last meeting, but it's worthy of saying this again.

2:41

Uh Kentucky Transportation Center's 2025 Road Scholar and Roadmaster graduation.

2:47

Our own Jesse McCoy Engineering Tech received the Road Scholar designation and is working on his next level.

2:54

So let's congratulate Jesse.

3:05

And um, what I've going to do so everyone knows how we're going to do this.

3:10

I'm going through what we can legally do uh and give you all some timelines and uh we cannot take any comment this evening from us or from you, and I'll tell you why in just a second.

3:23

So okay.

3:24

Um if any of you are here this evening regarding the planning commission held on December the 9th and the vote to approve the application for the zoning change parcel at 2020 by Pest Row.

3:39

Please be advised that no action or discussion by the city commission or the public can take place at this meeting.

3:47

The city attorney has advised that Article 14 D of the Winchester Clark County Zoning Ordinance requires the planning commission to submit its recommendations to this body within 60 days after the public hearing, and that makes that date February 7th.

4:05

The planning commission meets tonight.

4:07

Tonight's their regular meeting across the street.

4:09

If any of you all want to attend after this meeting, where I anticipate the minutes of the December meeting will be approved.

4:15

I'm not, I can't speak for the planning commission, but we're anticipating those minutes be approved tonight.

4:21

Following approval of the their minutes, I understand that the planning director, Rob Jeffries, the Commission attorney Bobby Gaulett, and the chairperson, uh Stephen Fink will submit their recommendations back to us in a timely manner as required by the audience by the ordinance, not the audience, the ordinance.

4:41

The submission will consist of all these items that will be a letter to the commission making a recommendation.

4:49

We will be sent a draft ordinance.

4:52

We will be sent all the staff reports.

4:55

We will be sent all documents that were presented at the December 9th meeting.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Public Safety████████████████████20%
Mental Health Awareness█████████████13%
Land Use Planning████████████12%
Community Engagement██████████10%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Personnel Matters████████8%
Historic Preservation█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Winchester City Commission Meeting – January 9, 2026

The meeting was called to order by the Mayor, with opening ceremonies including the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation. The commission approved minutes, departmental reports, and several ordinances and orders. Key topics included the process for a zoning change request at 2020 By Pest Row, first readings of a historic district overlay amendment and an invasive bamboo ban, approval of an automatic fire aid agreement with Clark County, and a land transaction for housing development. Personnel hires were also approved.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of the December 9, 2025 special meeting approved unanimously.
  • Departmental and agency reports (items 3A-K) approved unanimously.

Informational Items

  • The Mayor recognized Leisha Martin for completing CDBG Administrator training and Jesse McCoy for Road Scholar designation.
  • The Mayor detailed the procedural requirements for the zoning change request for 2020 By Pest Row, noting that no discussion or action could occur at this meeting due to the planning commission’s Feb 7 deadline. The planning commission’s recommendation will be submitted after their meeting that evening.

First Reading of Ordinances

  • Ordinance 19-2001 / 2-2024 amendment: Historic district overlay, designation, and protection of landmarks. Moved by Commissioner Cox, seconded by Commissioner Stroh, passed unanimously.
  • Invasive Bamboo Ban: Ordinance prohibiting planting or installation of invasive bamboo. Moved by Commissioner Strode, seconded by Commissioner Chenault, passed unanimously.

Orders

  • Automatic Aid Agreement (Fire): Approved an agreement between the City of Winchester and Clark County Fiscal Court for automatic aid on structure fires and emergencies. Fire Chief described it as a collaborative benefit. Motion by Commissioner Cox, seconded by Commissioner Strode, passed unanimously.
  • Special Warranty Deed with Columbia Gas: Approved for a lot on Mutual Avenue to facilitate housing development in partnership with Kentucky River Cook Hills. Motion by Commissioner Toole, seconded by Commissioner Cox, passed unanimously.

Personnel Orders

  • Joseph Israel employed as maintenance worker. Welcomed by the Mayor.
  • Jennifer Meredith employed as building inspector. Welcomed by the Mayor.

Public Comments

  • None.

Comments from Officials

  • Commissioner Toole requested Facebook comments be turned on, reported Salvation Army bell ringing exceeded goal by 6%, and announced her candidacy for Clark County Judge Executive.
  • Commissioner Strode praised community giving, noted Dale Hatton’s pizza donations for the jail, and reminded of the Good Giving checks distribution on Jan 27.
  • City Manager Mann highlighted the Chip Terry Foundation PTSD and trauma training event on Jan 20 at BCTC, organized by Fire Chief Whitley, with a food truck.
  • Mayor congratulated police for toy drive, invited to community prayer service on Jan 10 (Saturday) at Living Rivers Fellowship, and mentioned state of the city address to Rotary on Friday.
  • City Attorney Dykman congratulated Alicia Martin.

Key Outcomes

  • All votes were unanimous.
  • The zoning change request for 2020 By Pest Row will be considered at a future meeting after the planning commission’s recommendation is received.
  • The automatic fire aid agreement and land deed were approved, advancing public safety and housing initiatives.
  • Two new city employees were hired.

Meeting Transcript

Please rise for our pledge of allegiance, which will led by our city clerk, Joy Purdue, followed by the invitation from our city manager, Dr. Rich Mann. Pledge allegiance to the United States. Please remain standing. Let's pray. Our degree assembly father, we just want to take this opportunity tonight to ask for special blessings upon our city for the new year. We thank you for the prosperous uh 2025, and we ask for continued blessings for uh safety, peace, and prosperity going into the new year. We thank you for all of our leaders tonight. We just ask you to be with them as they guide and direct our city. Jesus' name we pray. Amen. And you see, please be seated. I will officially call the meeting to order. Uh I'm gonna try to stay on test tonight. I was having an MRI on my shoulder this morning and ran out of the room and had a claustrophobia. So no we're aye this morning. So it's been one of those kind of days, but it's good to see everybody here tonight and welcome. Uh we have a not a huge agenda this evening, but uh we're gonna go through it and uh let's go. Are we ready? All right, minutes of the December 9th, 2025, special 530 p.m. meeting. Is there a motion to accept? Motion by Commissioner Toole is there second. Second by Commissioner Chenault. Any discussion, additions, corrections? All in favor, aye. Aye. Any opposed by like sign? Motion carries item three, A through K. These are departmental and agency reports. Is there a motion to accept those? Comment motion by Commissioner uh Strode. Is there second second by Commissioner Toole? Any discussion? All in favor, aye. Any opposed by like sign? Motion carries item four informational items. Uh as we always say, these are not do not require vote, they're information only. I'd like to point out three things on this. A I would like to congratulate on behalf of the city, uh Leisha Martin, who completed Kentucky's 2025 community development block grant administrators training, and she is now carrying the title of certified CDBG Administrator. That's a huge step. So we talked about this gentleman at our last meeting, but it's worthy of saying this again. Uh Kentucky Transportation Center's 2025 Road Scholar and Roadmaster graduation. Our own Jesse McCoy Engineering Tech received the Road Scholar designation and is working on his next level. So let's congratulate Jesse. And um, what I've going to do so everyone knows how we're going to do this. I'm going through what we can legally do uh and give you all some timelines and uh we cannot take any comment this evening from us or from you, and I'll tell you why in just a second. So okay. Um if any of you are here this evening regarding the planning commission held on December the 9th and the vote to approve the application for the zoning change parcel at 2020 by Pest Row. Please be advised that no action or discussion by the city commission or the public can take place at this meeting.

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