OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Winchester City Commission Meeting - August 4, 2026

Board of Commissioners Meetings — Tuesday, August 4, 2026
BodyWinchester, Kentucky
SessionBoard of Commissioners Meetings
DateTuesday, August 4, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 16:57
Transcript — Verbatim
0:33

Led by Fire Chief Nick Riggs.

0:36

Nick, if you'd come forward, followed by the invocation by Diane Lane, Deputy City Clerk.

0:41

Chief.

1:00

Pray with me, please.

1:01

Father God, as we come before you tonight, we want to thank you, dear Lord, for all the blessings and opportunities that you provide to us.

1:09

We also want to thank you for the challenges and even the frustration because we know that through them and by them, you grow us into people that you want us to be.

1:18

Thank you, dear Lord, for being here with us tonight.

1:21

We pray that you give us wisdom to make good decisions.

1:25

That is for the best of the community.

1:27

And we pray, dear Lord, that you would be glorified in all that is said it is all that is done.

1:33

It was traveling mercies as we read this place and keep all of our staff and our first responders safe as they go about for business tonight.

1:42

We love you and we praise you.

1:44

And it's in Jesus' name we pray.

1:46

Please be seated.

1:52

Jesse, we able to get her.

1:55

Okay.

1:55

All right, we'll uh officially call the meeting to order.

1:59

And the first item uh that we're gonna take up is a public hearing that has been advertised in the paper, and uh I'm going to allow a four-minute comment if anyone is here regarding the public hearing.

2:13

Mattia, if you'll read what the purpose is.

2:16

Uh if everyone doesn't mind just sign the clipboard going around, thank you.

2:22

For the purpose of obtaining public comment in relation to the establishment of the Colby Road local development area.

2:28

Okay, is anyone here that wants to speak on that topic during our hearing?

2:37

Okay, seeing none, I will close the public hearing.

2:41

Okay, let's move forward.

2:43

Uh we're gonna take things out of order here in just a second because we have a whole lot of firefighters outside.

2:50

And they are gonna come in now, Alicia's getting them for a great occasion.

3:00

Come on up front.

3:10

You want to get your family with you?

3:15

Okay.

3:19

Madam Clerk, we are here to address item eight H.

3:35

It's eight H the personnel orders.

3:43

Everybody in the room, no sign.

3:48

Yeah, that's right.

3:53

That's pretty much what I played.

3:58

You might have the old reach in.

4:00

Oh told you there's a bunch of firefighters out there.

4:10

See how you need that.

4:19

Mike, everyone in.

4:21

We have here.

4:38

Come on up here.

4:40

Come on up here and get my high.

4:47

Come on.

4:50

Hey guys, come stand with Nick up here.

4:53

Come on.

4:54

Everybody come stand with Nick.

4:56

At least the ladies are listening.

5:02

Don't some of you guys want to be around Nick.

5:07

Okay.

5:09

Mateo.

5:10

Item eight.

5:12

H in order promoting Nicholas Riggs from assistant fire chief to fire chief.

5:17

I will make that motion.

5:19

Is there a second?

5:20

Second.

5:20

Second by Commissioner Cox.

5:21

Any discussion?

5:23

All in favor.

5:24

Aye.

5:24

Aye.

5:24

Any opposed by lake sign.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████25%
Transportation Safety████████████████████████24%
Personnel Matters█████████████████████21%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Active Transportation███████7%
Economic Development████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Winchester City Commission Meeting - August 4, 2026

The Winchester City Board of Commissioners met on August 4, 2026, for a regular meeting. The meeting began with an invocation led by Deputy City Clerk Diane Lane, followed by a public hearing on the establishment of the Colby Road local development area, which received no public comments. The board then conducted a public ceremony promoting Nicholas Riggs to Fire Chief, heard presentations on traffic safety improvements, and considered a resolution supporting an active transportation master plan.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke during the public hearing regarding the establishment of the Colby Road local development area.

Personnel Orders

  • The board unanimously approved item 8H, promoting Nicholas Riggs from Assistant Fire Chief to Fire Chief. City Manager Mike spoke in support, noting Riggs' exceptional work and commitment to the department's plan. Riggs thanked his family, parents, and Chief Whitley for guidance. The motion was made by Commissioner Mateo, seconded by Commissioner Cox, with all voting in favor.

Discussion Items

  • Frontier Way Stop Sign Request: Brian Sewell, Director of Public Works, presented a proposal to improve safety at the intersection of Frontier Way and the bypass, near Lowe's and Maximus. Concerns include cut-through traffic and accidents. The plan would extend the double yellow line, add flexible delineator posts, and restrict turns to right-only from the access road and Maximus parking lot. Chief Thompson supported the proposal, noting it addresses a legitimate complaint. Both Lowe's and Maximus managers were reportedly okay with the changes. Discussion included whether the road could accommodate two lanes; further review was mentioned.
  • Arlington Road Update: Brian Sewell presented a follow-up on a stop sign request from the previous meeting. The proposal includes adding stop bars, stop signs, and "stop ahead" signs to slow traffic and improve sight distance at the intersection of Arlington and Fulton. Staff attempted to contact homeowners at 128 and 129 Arlington, but no one was home. The city plans to send letters to property owners before implementation. Extra patrol will be added initially.
  • Resolution Supporting Active Transportation Master Plan: The clerk read a resolution expressing the city's support for the Clark County Health Department in creating an active transportation master plan, with the health department as fiscal agent for state funding. The board was informed that a vote was needed, but the transcript ends before the vote is recorded.

Key Outcomes

  • Nicholas Riggs was unanimously promoted to Fire Chief.
  • The board discussed but did not take final votes on the Frontier Way stop sign proposal, Arlington Road stop sign update, or the active transportation resolution. Next steps include further traffic analysis, homeowner notification, and a future vote on the resolution.

Meeting Transcript

Led by Fire Chief Nick Riggs. Nick, if you'd come forward, followed by the invocation by Diane Lane, Deputy City Clerk. Chief. Pray with me, please. Father God, as we come before you tonight, we want to thank you, dear Lord, for all the blessings and opportunities that you provide to us. We also want to thank you for the challenges and even the frustration because we know that through them and by them, you grow us into people that you want us to be. Thank you, dear Lord, for being here with us tonight. We pray that you give us wisdom to make good decisions. That is for the best of the community. And we pray, dear Lord, that you would be glorified in all that is said it is all that is done. It was traveling mercies as we read this place and keep all of our staff and our first responders safe as they go about for business tonight. We love you and we praise you. And it's in Jesus' name we pray. Please be seated. Jesse, we able to get her. Okay. All right, we'll uh officially call the meeting to order. And the first item uh that we're gonna take up is a public hearing that has been advertised in the paper, and uh I'm going to allow a four-minute comment if anyone is here regarding the public hearing. Mattia, if you'll read what the purpose is. Uh if everyone doesn't mind just sign the clipboard going around, thank you. For the purpose of obtaining public comment in relation to the establishment of the Colby Road local development area. Okay, is anyone here that wants to speak on that topic during our hearing? Okay, seeing none, I will close the public hearing. Okay, let's move forward. Uh we're gonna take things out of order here in just a second because we have a whole lot of firefighters outside. And they are gonna come in now, Alicia's getting them for a great occasion. Come on up front. You want to get your family with you? Okay. Madam Clerk, we are here to address item eight H. It's eight H the personnel orders. Everybody in the room, no sign. Yeah, that's right. That's pretty much what I played. You might have the old reach in. Oh told you there's a bunch of firefighters out there. See how you need that. Mike, everyone in. We have here. Come on up here. Come on up here and get my high. Come on. Hey guys, come stand with Nick up here. Come on. Everybody come stand with Nick. At least the ladies are listening. Don't some of you guys want to be around Nick. Okay. Mateo. Item eight.

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