Winchester City Commission Meeting Summary - August 4, 2026
Winchester City Commission Meeting Summary - August 4, 2026
The Winchester City Commission met on August 4, 2026, in a special called meeting. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Library Director Angela Turner, followed by an invocation by Mike Flynn. Commissioner Strode was excused from the 4:30 portion due to being out of state. The commission heard a library update, discussed new automated license plate reader (ALPR) policy, announced significant grant awards, and moved into closed session for personnel matters.
Consent Calendar
- The commission unanimously approved the departmental and agency reports as presented. Motion by Commissioner Cox, seconded by Commissioner Chennault.
Presentations
- Library Update: Angela Turner, Winchester Clark County Public Library Director, reported on the library's performance for the fiscal year ending June 30. Key statistics: 2,076,273,000 physical materials checked out (as stated), over 93,000 digital items, over 39,000 attendees at in-person events, over 14,000 books distributed through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (with 59% of eligible children enrolled), over 1,600 programs, and 20–25 outreach stops per week. The library also offers a "Library of Things," notary services, and a blood pressure station. Commissioners praised the library's services, including the new bookmobile and community partnerships.
Discussion Items
- Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) Policy: The chief of police presented a new standard operating procedure required by state legislation effective July 15, 2026. The policy restricts access to trained personnel, requires individual logins for auditability, limits use to official law enforcement purposes, mandates verification of alerts before enforcement action, and requires an audit every 90 days of at least 10 random searches. The chief emphasized that the cameras do not capture faces or conduct facial recognition, only license plates on public roads. Commissioners expressed support for the policy and transparency, though one commissioner noted privacy concerns and the monopoly of the vendor. It was also reported that a camera was vandalized two weeks prior, and the department is investigating.
- Grant Awards: The city manager announced receipt of a $43,000 COPS grant and a $526,000 grant for the Martin Luther King Corridor project (bridge and roundabout). The total project cost is approximately $2 million, with the city's contribution being $40,000 for construction, plus engineering costs. This funding allows the project to proceed with detailed design and coordination with the transportation department.
- Informational Items: The August edition of Southern Living featured L8 (a local business) in its Hall of Fame. Commissioners also noted the start of school in eight days and community events.
Commissioner Comments
- Commissioners thanked the police department for their work, noted the successful L8 pop-up event (attracting visitors from out of state and possibly Australia), and encouraged collection of soda pull tabs and medicine bottles for the homemakers' annual meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Approval of Departmental Reports: Unanimous approval.
- Closed Session: The commission voted unanimously to adjourn to closed session in the city manager's office for personnel matters under KRS 61.810(1)(f). The motion included that the closed session and the special call meeting would be simultaneously adjourned.
- Next Steps: The ALPR policy will be implemented with audits beginning; the MLK corridor project will proceed with engineering; the library will continue outreach.
Meeting Transcript
No, I'm the only allegiance, which will be led this evening by Farr County Library Director. Angela Turner, followed by the invocation by Mike Flynn. Angela. One nation under God. Please remain standing. Father, we come to you this evening. Thank you for the good day that you've given us. I pray tonight as we uh look at the business of the city that you would uh got our thoughts, our minds, and uh Lord, our comments, and uh may you be glorified through the thank you for our community and um the good things that uh we have here may we uh continue to uh take care of those things that you've entrusted us with be with our first responders and those that work for the city with them and their families and those that are going through troubles this evening and especially with the county with the loss of the deputy there. May you bless that family this evening and those that uh serve in that capacity. We love you and thank you for all it's in Jesus' name. We make our prayer in that please be seated. We will officially call the meeting to order. And the first thing Matt Smith will not be with us tonight on item two presentations. So Ms. Turner's here is gonna give us an update on the Winchester Clark County Public Library. Thank you. So we're staying real busy library. Hey, I have some books in the car. Can I give them two so our year runs July 1st to G30? So uh we try to get statistics together for the for our this past year. We checked out 2,076, 273,000 physical materials for the library and over 93,000 digital items. Unbelievable. We had over 39,000 people in the door uh and at events at programs that uh we did with the Wikimobile. Over 14,000 books went out to children who are in the Dolly Party Imagination Library. Um we had over 1600 programs in the last year, and we run 20 to 25 uh outreach stops per week. Um so we're out and about uh and if we're fighting and fun. Um you will find a brochure about Dolly. Um challenge all of you all to think of somebody that you know that have a child, grandchildren, whatever it's under age five, and tell them about this program. Uh there are a little over two thousand children in our community that are eligible uh to be in the program. And currently we are at 59 percent actually participating. Um so there are a lot of kiddos out there who could be getting a book in the mail every week. Um and people just don't realize like how easy it is. Uh on the brochure there's a QR code that you register online, they can come in. There's also a form they can fill out and bring to the library. That's awesome. It's good. You also got some stuff just about one brochure that says how the public library can help you say. But there's useful information inside the databases that we have and the services that we have. If you all have not been in the library, you really need to come in, look around. We have over a hundred thousand items in the library that you can check out. Umusual library items because you're in our library of things. Um we've got a few of those. And they've been pretty popular. And of course, we have the other person. Um so you don't want a physical book, I don't know. We can still help you get a book, but if you want to listen or read it uh on television. We can vaccinate notary services. Um not sure we can help you, but recall in this fact. So you don't have any questions about anything related to that. I just know that our library is a top-notch library.
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