OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Winchester City Commission Meeting – May 5, 2026

Board of Commissioners MeetingsTuesday, May 5, 2026
BodyWinchester, Kentucky
SessionBoard of Commissioners Meetings
DateTuesday, May 5, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 20:46

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

The professional municipal clerk is the oldest among public servants.

0:04

And whereas the office of the professional municipal clerk provides the professional link between the citizens, the local government bodies, and agencies of government at other levels.

0:16

And whereas professional municipal clerks have pledged to be ever mindful of their neutrality and impartiality, rendering equal service to all, and whereas the professional municipal clerk serves as the information center on the functions of local government and community.

0:33

And whereas professional municipal clerks continually strive to improve the administration of the affairs of the office of the professional municipal clerk through participation in education programs, seminars, workshops, and the annuities of their state.

0:54

And whereas it's most appropriate that we recognize the accomplishments of the office of professional municipal clerk.

1:02

Now therefore I joined Mayor Winchester.

1:05

Do recognize the week of May 3rd through May 9, 2026 as professional municipal clerk suite.

1:12

And further extend appreciation to our city clerk Joy Curtis, that would be city clerk Diana Lane, City Clerk in training with TNOffice, and to all professional municipal clerks for the vital services they perform and their exemplary dedication to the committees they represent.

1:31

Signed this fifth day of May 2026.

1:34

Thank you all for what you did.

2:06

Okay, let's move to item three.

2:17

A resolution of the city of Winchester, Kentucky authorizing the completion and filing of a safe streets and roads for all SS4A program of 2026 grant application for up to 200,000 in grant program funds with the Department of Transportation.

2:34

Is there a motion?

2:36

Motion by Commissioner Strode.

2:38

Is there a second?

2:39

Second by Commissioner Toole.

2:41

Any discussion?

2:42

All in favor, aye.

2:43

Aye.

2:44

Any opposed by like sign?

2:46

Motion carries item four ordinance for second reading.

2:51

Madam Clerk, if you'll read it by title, please.

2:54

This is a summary, an ordinance promoting public health and the requirement of certification of recovery residences providing housing for individuals in recovery from substance use.

3:05

A certified copy of this ordinance can be viewed in the city clerk's office 32 Wall Street.

3:09

I hereby certify that the foregoing is an accurate summary of the attached ordinance.

3:13

Will you make the city attorney?

3:16

This is a second reading.

3:17

Is there a motion?

3:19

Uh Maried, I will motion to table this ordinance until the next meeting, which I believe is in June for the commission to further research and review said ordinance.

3:32

Okay, motion by Commissioner Tools, second by Commissioner Strode.

3:36

Any discussion among the commission?

3:39

Okay, all in favor of tables.

3:41

Well, I guess we both spoke up at the same time.

3:44

I was just gonna say I've had a lot of people reach out, so that I just think it needs a refiner tooth code.

3:49

Okay, I think that there are people that have questions about this legitimate question that need to be answered, and uh we need to maybe have you go send your questions to Mike and he can get them to Bill Dykman and uh Dan Doe get up, get an answer and satisfy what you want.

4:25

Okay, that's redundant in it.

4:27

Satisfy what you want.

4:30

Okay, are we all in favor of tabling to oh Bill?

4:34

I'm sorry.

4:41

We wait Bill, wait a minute.

4:42

We we can't hear the topic of city provided mic with a handbook to show you all that is such a complex ordinance.

4:51

He did he did.

5:00

Um that that I've seen we need to address, and probably one of the things we've had a sober living facility um group that's met ever since I've been back as the city manager.

5:13

I know I've met with them on two occasions that I can recall.

5:18

And there's a couple things there that we can look at and I'll forward those questions to Bill, but I'm gonna bring that group back together once again for any final comments.

5:28

We'll call I guess the biggest question I got, or the what I would need to know is number one.

5:36

We've got first reading of an ordinance that's before us, or that that was it before the commission at the last meeting.

5:42

Correct.

5:42

If I bring if we bring some revisions back to the ordinance that's there, is there gonna be legally?

5:51

Do I have to do we have to uh first and second events and second reading?

5:56

That's probably one of the biggest questions that I've got.

5:58

I don't care about the revisions, and at the end of the day, um, you know, this ordinance, I know people's got their own uh the the ordinance from my perspective is I'm trying to protect the city of Winchester and protect those that are providing the services to protect our citizens uh that are uh that are out there in regards to to this ordinance.

6:24

Now there's other things that are there that are I'm sure important to those folks who operate the facilities who do these type of things, but my goal and and my main focus in this is to make sure that the law enforcement and those that provide first responder services are protected and can do what they need to do as it relates to the to the operation of these type of facilities.

6:48

That's first and foremost in my mind, and then and then any subsequent um benefits that are there.

6:55

Um I'm all for them as well.

6:58

So um we'll bring that group back together again.

7:01

Okay, um, and that that's quite a substantial group.

7:04

There's 10 12 in that group that's around the table that include some of these folks that are that are right here, and we'll uh hash that out.

7:13

And then I did talk to Mr.

7:15

Palmer prior to the meeting, and he's got a few questions he wants to ask as well, and I'll run those by Bill and make sure that we take care of any of those things before we bring this back.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████59%
Substance Use Recovery████████████████21%
Historic Preservation████████10%
Personnel Matters████████10%
Summary of Proceedings

Winchester City Commission Meeting – May 5, 2026

The Winchester City Commission met on May 5, 2026, to issue a proclamation, approve a grant application, table a recovery residence ordinance, and pass numerous administrative orders. The meeting also included planning for upcoming budget workshops.

Proclamation: Professional Municipal Clerks Week

  • Mayor Winchester proclaimed May 3–9, 2026, as Professional Municipal Clerks Week, recognizing City Clerk Joy Curtis (Diana Lane) and all professional municipal clerks for their service.

Resolution: Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Application

  • The commission unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the completion and filing of a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant application for up to $200,000 in grant funds with the Department of Transportation.

Ordinance: Certification of Recovery Residences (Second Reading)

  • Commissioner Toole moved to table the ordinance until the June meeting for further research and review. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Strode and passed unanimously.
  • City Manager Mike noted that the ordinance needs refinement and that he will reconvene a stakeholder group to address questions, focusing on protecting first responders and the city. The next regular meeting in May is canceled due to Election Day, so the ordinance will be taken up at the first June meeting.

Orders (Items 5A–5G and 6A–6E)

  • The commission approved a series of items unanimously:
    • Appointed Daniel Gillam to a four-year term on the Winchester County Administrative Hearing Board.
    • Declared certain city property obsolete and surplus.
    • Authorized transfer of surplus equipment to the Clark County Detention Center.
    • Declared additional city property obsolete and surplus.
    • Accepted the resignation of Derek Hood from the Winchester Historic Preservation Commission due to a perceived conflict of interest.
    • Approved a contract with Palmer Engineering for engineering services for the Winchester Farmers Market Pavilion and Restaurant.
    • Appointed Matt Davidson to a three-year term on the Historic Preservation Commission.
    • Amended position descriptions for grant writer and building inspector/pay classification plans.
    • Reclassified Matea Knox from receptionist/finance to tax and license clerk (as part of training to become city clerk).
    • Accepted the resignation of Xavier Riley, Firefighter 3.
    • Reclassified Alicia Martin from Grant Writer to Grant Coordinator.

Public Comments

  • No members of the public spoke during the comment period.

Budget Workshop Planning

  • City Manager discussed scheduling budget review meetings. The commission will determine a date (likely a half-day in the week of May 12–13) to review department budgets. Budget binders were distributed, and commissioners were asked to provide lunch preferences for upcoming employee appreciation events.

Commissioner Comments

  • Commissioner Cox reported that Jerry Tax is hospitalized after a major heart attack and asked for thoughts and prayers for him and his family.

Key Outcomes

  • Proclamation for Professional Municipal Clerks Week adopted.
  • SS4A grant application authorized.
  • Recovery residence ordinance tabled to the June 2026 meeting.
  • All administrative orders (5A–6E) approved unanimously.
  • Budget workshop date to be determined by May 7.
  • Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

The professional municipal clerk is the oldest among public servants. And whereas the office of the professional municipal clerk provides the professional link between the citizens, the local government bodies, and agencies of government at other levels. And whereas professional municipal clerks have pledged to be ever mindful of their neutrality and impartiality, rendering equal service to all, and whereas the professional municipal clerk serves as the information center on the functions of local government and community. And whereas professional municipal clerks continually strive to improve the administration of the affairs of the office of the professional municipal clerk through participation in education programs, seminars, workshops, and the annuities of their state. And whereas it's most appropriate that we recognize the accomplishments of the office of professional municipal clerk. Now therefore I joined Mayor Winchester. Do recognize the week of May 3rd through May 9, 2026 as professional municipal clerk suite. And further extend appreciation to our city clerk Joy Curtis, that would be city clerk Diana Lane, City Clerk in training with TNOffice, and to all professional municipal clerks for the vital services they perform and their exemplary dedication to the committees they represent. Signed this fifth day of May 2026. Thank you all for what you did. Okay, let's move to item three. A resolution of the city of Winchester, Kentucky authorizing the completion and filing of a safe streets and roads for all SS4A program of 2026 grant application for up to 200,000 in grant program funds with the Department of Transportation. Is there a motion? Motion by Commissioner Strode. Is there a second? Second by Commissioner Toole. Any discussion? All in favor, aye. Aye. Any opposed by like sign? Motion carries item four ordinance for second reading. Madam Clerk, if you'll read it by title, please. This is a summary, an ordinance promoting public health and the requirement of certification of recovery residences providing housing for individuals in recovery from substance use. A certified copy of this ordinance can be viewed in the city clerk's office 32 Wall Street. I hereby certify that the foregoing is an accurate summary of the attached ordinance. Will you make the city attorney? This is a second reading. Is there a motion? Uh Maried, I will motion to table this ordinance until the next meeting, which I believe is in June for the commission to further research and review said ordinance. Okay, motion by Commissioner Tools, second by Commissioner Strode. Any discussion among the commission? Okay, all in favor of tables. Well, I guess we both spoke up at the same time. I was just gonna say I've had a lot of people reach out, so that I just think it needs a refiner tooth code. Okay, I think that there are people that have questions about this legitimate question that need to be answered, and uh we need to maybe have you go send your questions to Mike and he can get them to Bill Dykman and uh Dan Doe get up, get an answer and satisfy what you want. Okay, that's redundant in it. Satisfy what you want. Okay, are we all in favor of tabling to oh Bill? I'm sorry. We wait Bill, wait a minute. We we can't hear the topic of city provided mic with a handbook to show you all that is such a complex ordinance. He did he did. Um that that I've seen we need to address, and probably one of the things we've had a sober living facility um group that's met ever since I've been back as the city manager. I know I've met with them on two occasions that I can recall. And there's a couple things there that we can look at and I'll forward those questions to Bill, but I'm gonna bring that group back together once again for any final comments. We'll call I guess the biggest question I got, or the what I would need to know is number one. We've got first reading of an ordinance that's before us, or that that was it before the commission at the last meeting. Correct. If I bring if we bring some revisions back to the ordinance that's there, is there gonna be legally? Do I have to do we have to uh first and second events and second reading?

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