Winchester City Commission Meeting - March 17, 2026

The Winchester City Commission met on March 17, 2026. The meeting included a presentation of the fiscal year 2025 audit (which received a clean opinion), a vote on an appeal of a denied beer cheese relief fund grant, a decision to pause the Downtown Development Incentive Fund (DDIF) program, acceptance of the resignation of the Strategic Communications and Downtown Development Director, second reading of an ordinance establishing safety officer duties, and several routine personnel actions. The meeting concluded with a closed session for property acquisition and potential litigation.

Consent Calendar

• Employing Dana Robbins as police officer three (discussion included welcome from commissioners).
• Employing Darrell Daly and Monty Stamper as crossing guards.
• Employing Anthony Epperson as operator one.
• Amending the position description of administrative assistant/historic preservation commission assistant to administrative planning assistant (with a request to add attendance at board of adjustment meetings to examples of work).
• Adopting a vehicle maintenance mechanics shop form and position description classification and pay plan.
• Adopting a police officer three position description classification and pay plan.
• Second reading and adoption of an ordinance establishing the duties of city safety officers (unanimous roll call vote).
• Withdrawal of appeal (item 3B) by Catherine Pate and Cynthia Markham (Harlow's Lux Living) for a denied beer cheese relief fund grant.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public signed up to speak on items not on the agenda.

Discussion Items

Fiscal Year 2025 Audit Presentation

• Tom Sparks of Summers McCreary & Sparks presented the audit. Key points:
  • The city received a clean (unmodified) audit opinion.
  • Cash increased by approximately $6.6 million, primarily due to a $12.3 million loan parked in capital funds.
  • Unassigned fund balance decreased from $5.1 million (2024) to $3.6 million (2025), prompting a warning about future budget monitoring.
  • Revenues rose $4.7 million (mainly federal grants); expenses increased $5.3 million (wages/benefits and capital expenditures such as police cruisers, fire truck, ladder truck).
  • A new accounting standard (GASB 101) required a $652,000 liability increase for compensated absences.
  • No compliance issues or audit findings were reported.
• Finance Director Alicia thanked staff and the commission for their support, noting the audit represented her first full budget cycle.
• The commission unanimously voted to adopt the audit.

Appeal of Denied Beer Cheese Relief Fund Grant (Item 3A – Charlena Harman, The Hall)

• City Manager Michael Flynn explained that the original grant process required a CPA to certify actual losses. The CPA who previously provided pro bono certification is no longer available, and the city's CPA refused to certify projected numbers.
• The applicant could not provide verifiable actual losses, and providing their data to the city would make it public record (the previous process shredded documents after CPA review).
• Commissioner Strode expressed a desire to help but noted difficulty without violating application requirements.
• Whitney Leggett clarified that the application requirements were the same for all businesses; actual losses were required.
• Commissioner Toole moved to deny the appeal, stating that if guidelines exist, they must be upheld.
• Vote: 3-2 to deny the appeal (Commissioners opposed were not explicitly named, but the motion carried with three ayes and two nays).

Pause of Downtown Development Incentive Fund (DDIF) Program

• City Manager Flynn and Whitney Leggett recommended pausing the program for a minimum of 18–24 months due to lack of a sustainable revenue source.
• Existing grants in progress (e.g., rental assistance) will be completed. Six applications already submitted will be held and processed when the program reopens (subject to updates).
• Commissioner Toole noted that over $580,000 has been invested in downtown through the DDIF and related programs.
• Motion to pause passed unanimously.

Resignation of Whitney Leggett, Strategic Communications and Downtown Development Director

• The commission accepted the resignation with regret. Several commissioners commented:
  • Commissioner Toole noted the position has high turnover and recommended serious revision or pause of the role.
  • Commissioner Chenault praised Leggett's leadership with downtown businesses and the beer cheese festival, calling the job the toughest in the city.
  • Mayor Reed thanked Leggett and noted her next position is with Berea College.
• The resignation was accepted unanimously.

Other Items

• Item 6D (amending position description) included a discussion where Commissioner Strode requested adding attendance at board of adjustment meetings to the examples of work. Staff agreed to amend.

Key Outcomes

• The fiscal year 2025 audit was adopted unanimously.
• The appeal of the denied beer cheese relief fund grant (The Hall) was denied by a 3–2 vote.
• The DDIF program was paused for 18–24 months; existing grants continue.
• Whitney Leggett's resignation was accepted.
• The ordinance establishing city safety officer duties passed on second reading (unanimous roll call).
• All personnel orders (crossing guards, operator, position description amendments) were approved.
• The commission unanimously voted to adjourn to closed session for property acquisition (KRS Chapter 61.810(1)(b)) and potential litigation (KRS Chapter 61.810(1)(c)).