OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Winchester City Commission Meeting - April 21, 2026: Recovery Residence Ordinance, Police Hiring, and Budget Discussions

Board of Commissioners Meetings — Tuesday, April 21, 2026
BodyWinchester, Kentucky
SessionBoard of Commissioners Meetings
DateTuesday, April 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 29:37

Transcript — Verbatim
3:02

Mr.

3:03

John Cheney will be leading us this evening.

3:06

John.

3:22

Please remain standing.

3:23

Chief Thompson will lead us in our invitation.

3:26

Heavily father, we thank you for the opportunity to get out here tonight and build the business of the city.

3:30

We thank you for these commissioners.

3:31

We thank you for our employees, and we thank you for these citizens that are engaged in this community.

3:36

And then please be seated.

4:12

Okay, let's go to item number five ordinance for first reading.

4:16

And Diana taught me today that we no longer are, I guess it's always been that way.

4:26

So no vote.

4:45

Okay, Diane.

4:46

Sorry.

4:47

Okay.

4:48

An ordinance promoting public health and the requirement of certification of recovery residences providing housing for individuals in recovery from substance use.

4:58

Okay, is there a motion?

5:00

I'm a motion by Commissioner Strode.

5:02

Is there a second?

5:03

Second.

5:03

Second by Commissioner Chenau.

5:05

Any discussion among the commissioners first?

5:07

Yeah, I've got some questions about this.

5:11

Okay.

5:14

Is there a non-profit?

5:16

You know, I think it's different from a profit run business.

5:21

Uh because I I don't like them to well, up the street from me, we had a uh a for-profit entity up there that that was a mess.

5:33

But is there a for-profit business?

5:36

Shouldn't they have to adhere to the same rules as a person running a garage out of their out of their building or a person having a beauty shop in their house?

5:56

Since it's a for profit thing, and have to go before the board of adjustments and adhere to the same rules and guidelines that those those folks do.

6:09

Yeah, well this is to be considered by the board of adjustments.

6:15

Yeah, so they consider that as part of the recovery residence as well, right?

6:29

And things like that.

6:32

Yes, and and no, it's a little bit different because of fair housing.

6:38

That impacts housing federal fair health laws impact recovery residents to some degree might be different than a Harrison law.

6:50

So but it but in general, I think you're right that this is gonna be this is gonna be reviewed by and passed or rejected by the board of adjustments.

7:02

Yeah, and I mean a a non-profit shouldn't be able to operate differently, I think, than for that a for-profit.

7:13

Well, if they're gonna be recovery residents, they still have to at least comport with the recovery residence that you 22500, yeah, or they cannot, yes.

7:28

That's state law, yes.

7:30

That is adopted not just by reference, but set out a lot.

7:37

Yeah, I mean, it doesn't matter whether or not it's for a profit or not for a profit.

7:42

Well, what if the board of adjustment says no, you you can't come here?

7:50

You can't have like four up around the block from me that had a a two bedroom house with 12 people in it, you know.

8:06

Well then that would have an enforcement action if they're operating illegally, then I mean that they can be shut out according to the order.

8:13

This gives it work the you know this order to do that, the ability to do that, which we currently do not have lawfully the ability to do that, yeah.

8:24

Well, this shut itself down when they basically destroyed the house and and uh broke it down every car on the street to at least one anything else you want to highlight I did I just you know what it just and the business license being a thousand dollars uh for these is that the general business license price?

8:57

No, with the business license if you look on it in section four under the requirements for the recovery residents under uh to a maintenance of they have to have a business license, which is the what which would be the general business license, but there's a yearly fee of a thousand dollars that's paid at home uh in addition, in addition in business okay, there's a fee licensure fee that's associated with this type of activity.

9:29

Okay, well, would that be waived if it's a nonprofit or not as it's currently laid out, no?

9:41

Business like it would be the business business.

9:48

Okay, I'm charge a ones.

9:51

A non profit okay, but the licensure fee would not be waived.

9:56

Okay, it's a thousand dollars annually, right?

10:00

It is.

10:01

I think I if I read that correctly.

10:02

The yearly fee is a thousand dollars and it's paid upon renewal of the business license itself.

10:08

When they go to pay their business license, then they would follow up with that.

10:13

Okay.

10:14

Well, and just uh start a pot of it.

10:17

So if they're not having to pay for a business license, what are the like what steps would you still bill it out like you would with the business license and then there'd still be other sort of to initially on get the business license if they are doing a uh brick and mortar or up something that other people will be in outside of then they would I think we can get inspections and then that is a renewal that they do have to do annual even if they don't pay the fee, it will need to be already annually and we get this in up to be ready?

10:58

A late fee tied to any of those kinds of things.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Substance Use Recovery████████████████████████24%
Public Safety████████████████16%
Personnel Matters███████████████15%
Youth Programs█████████████13%
Procedural████████████12%
Parks and Recreation███████████11%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Summary of Proceedings

Winchester City Commission Meeting - April 21, 2026

The Winchester City Commission met on April 21, 2026, to consider a first-reading ordinance on recovery residences, approve multiple personnel actions including the hiring of two police officers, and discuss budget and community updates. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

  • None explicitly designated; all items were voted on individually.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public signed up or offered comments.

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance (First Reading) – Recovery Residence Certification: An ordinance promoting public health and requiring certification of recovery residences for individuals in recovery from substance use. Commissioner Strode questioned the difference between for-profit and nonprofit residences, application of board of adjustment rules, fair housing laws, and business license fees. City staff clarified that the ordinance would be enforced through the board of adjustments and included a $1,000 annual licensure fee in addition to the general business license. The ordinance was approved unanimously on first reading.
  • General Order – Fifth Street Stream Restoration Project: Approved a bid of $96,700 from Circle G Excavating LLC for the Fifth Street stream restoration project. Unanimous.
  • Personnel Actions:
    • Employed Kennan Martin and Michael Baker as police officers (uncertified). Chief Thompson highlighted the department's staffing challenges, noting the department had been down 32 officers, and praised the commission for making the department competitive. Both officers are local residents.
    • Granted educational certification incentive salary increases to Tristan Frame and certain other personnel.
    • Terminated the employment of building inspector Jennifer Meredith.
    • Amended position descriptions for accounting specialist and tax and license clerk.
    • Reclassified Laura Poe (also known as Beth) from tax and license clerk to accounting specialist.

Key Outcomes

  • All agenda items received unanimous approval.
  • The meeting adjourned to closed session for property acquisition under KRS 618.10B, after which the public meeting was adjourned.

Additional Updates

  • Commissioner & City Manager Reports:
    • Commissioner Chenault reported progress on the High Side Main Street project, with only a few items remaining before final approval and a warranty period.
    • KU street lights on High Side expected to be connected by end of week or early next week.
    • First "Rock the Block" event scheduled for May 15th downtown, sponsored by tourism and chamber.
    • Commissioner Cox updated that pipe covers for High Side have been ordered and received.
    • Work camp this summer will host 298 youth from 12 states, working on 55 homes from July 5-11.
    • City Manager Flynn announced the Splash Park opening on May 23rd (rain date May 30th) and reported that fuel costs exceeded budget by $11,000 in March, impacting operations.
    • Commissioner Toole challenged others to donate to the splash pad admission fund, noting she donated $500 last year.
    • Mayor announced budget work sessions on May 7th and 8th, and confirmed that Publix will be developing on Kobe Road, with a press release expected soon.

Closed Session

  • The commission voted to go into closed session for property acquisition under KRS 618.10B and then adjourned the public meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Mr. John Cheney will be leading us this evening. John. Please remain standing. Chief Thompson will lead us in our invitation. Heavily father, we thank you for the opportunity to get out here tonight and build the business of the city. We thank you for these commissioners. We thank you for our employees, and we thank you for these citizens that are engaged in this community. And then please be seated. Okay, let's go to item number five ordinance for first reading. And Diana taught me today that we no longer are, I guess it's always been that way. So no vote. Okay, Diane. Sorry. Okay. An ordinance promoting public health and the requirement of certification of recovery residences providing housing for individuals in recovery from substance use. Okay, is there a motion? I'm a motion by Commissioner Strode. Is there a second? Second. Second by Commissioner Chenau. Any discussion among the commissioners first? Yeah, I've got some questions about this. Okay. Is there a non-profit? You know, I think it's different from a profit run business. Uh because I I don't like them to well, up the street from me, we had a uh a for-profit entity up there that that was a mess. But is there a for-profit business? Shouldn't they have to adhere to the same rules as a person running a garage out of their out of their building or a person having a beauty shop in their house? Since it's a for profit thing, and have to go before the board of adjustments and adhere to the same rules and guidelines that those those folks do. Yeah, well this is to be considered by the board of adjustments. Yeah, so they consider that as part of the recovery residence as well, right? And things like that. Yes, and and no, it's a little bit different because of fair housing. That impacts housing federal fair health laws impact recovery residents to some degree might be different than a Harrison law. So but it but in general, I think you're right that this is gonna be this is gonna be reviewed by and passed or rejected by the board of adjustments. Yeah, and I mean a a non-profit shouldn't be able to operate differently, I think, than for that a for-profit. Well, if they're gonna be recovery residents, they still have to at least comport with the recovery residence that you 22500, yeah, or they cannot, yes. That's state law, yes. That is adopted not just by reference, but set out a lot. Yeah, I mean, it doesn't matter whether or not it's for a profit or not for a profit. Well, what if the board of adjustment says no, you you can't come here? You can't have like four up around the block from me that had a a two bedroom house with 12 people in it, you know. Well then that would have an enforcement action if they're operating illegally, then I mean that they can be shut out according to the order. This gives it work the you know this order to do that, the ability to do that, which we currently do not have lawfully the ability to do that, yeah. Well, this shut itself down when they basically destroyed the house and and uh broke it down every car on the street to at least one anything else you want to highlight I did I just you know what it just and the business license being a thousand dollars uh for these is that the general business license price? No, with the business license if you look on it in section four under the requirements for the recovery residents under uh to a maintenance of they have to have a business license, which is the what which would be the general business license, but there's a yearly fee of a thousand dollars that's paid at home uh in addition, in addition in business okay, there's a fee licensure fee that's associated with this type of activity. Okay, well, would that be waived if it's a nonprofit or not as it's currently laid out, no? Business like it would be the business business. Okay, I'm charge a ones.

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