# Urban County Council Meeting - State of the Merged Government Address - January 20, 2015 > Auto-transcribed civic record · January 20, 2015 - **Permalink**: https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/meeting/3563 - **Source video**: https://lfucg.granicus.com/player/clip/3563?view_id=14&redirect=true - **Date**: 2015-01-20 - **Last revised**: July 15, 2026 - **Length**: 3,425 words > ⚠️ **Auto-generated content.** Audio from the official Granicus video was auto-transcribed with OpenAI's open-source Whisper large-v3-turbo model, run locally by The Lexington Times. Structured facts were extracted with GPT-4o; the narrative summary was written by Anthropic Claude. Verbatim wording may contain errors. See [methodology](https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/about/methodology) or [report a correction](mailto:editor@lexingtonky.news). --- ## Meeting Overview The Urban County Council met on January 20, 2015, at 11:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency in the Patterson Ballroom, located at 401 W. High Street in Lexington, Kentucky. Mayor Jim Gray presided over the meeting. The council heard one informational agenda item: the State of the Merged Government Address. One member of the public provided comments during the meeting. No motions were voted on during this session. ## Attendance The following individuals were present at the meeting on January 20, 2015: * Steve Kay * Kevin Stinnett * Richard Moloney * Jake Gibbs * Susan Lamb * Angela Evans * Fred Brown * Amanda Mays Bledsoe * Chris Ford * Shevawn Akers * Bill Farmer * Jennifer Scutchfield * Jennifer Mossotti * Peggy Henson * Ed Lane No absences or late arrivals were recorded. ## Public Comment [timestamp: 0:00:00] Mayor Jim Gray delivered a State of the Merged Government Address to the assembly. In his remarks, Mayor Gray provided a comprehensive overview of the city's progress across several key areas: **Public Safety** — The Mayor highlighted accomplishments and ongoing efforts in this critical area. **Job Creation** — Economic development and employment initiatives were emphasized as part of the city's growth strategy. **Pension Reform** — The Mayor addressed pension system reforms as part of the city's financial management priorities. **Infrastructure** — Improvements and investments in the city's infrastructure were discussed. **Quality of Life Initiatives** — The Mayor outlined programs and projects aimed at enhancing residents' quality of life. Throughout his address, Mayor Gray stressed the importance of continued collaboration among city leadership and stakeholders, as well as the need for bold action to advance Lexington's position as a leading American city. The Mayor's remarks framed these initiatives as essential components of a broader vision to make Lexington the best city in America. ## State of the Merged Government Address Mayor Jim Gray delivered the State of the Merged Government Address, reviewing accomplishments and outlining priorities for the merged government. **Key Accomplishments** The address highlighted several achievements over the past four years: - Job growth - Public safety investments - Pension reform - Sewer system improvements - Quality of life initiatives **Future Priorities** Mayor Gray outlined priorities for continued development: - Historic preservation - Park development - Broadband expansion - Arts and entertainment growth **Outcome** This presentation was informational in nature, with no formal action or debate recorded. --- ## Full transcript Let me say I am deeply honored and I'm very humbled to accept this award and especially on the day after we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King to remind all of us that we are here to serve. I'm blessed with my husband and an awesome staff that I get to meet with young men six days a week to educate motivate and to activate the potential for excellence that lies within each of them and I want you to know we're helping to prepare tomorrow's leaders today to take your place thank you Wow, congratulations both Frosto and Roslyn. It's now time for our featured speaker. Please join me in welcoming Mayor Jim Gray as he addresses and delivers his 2015 State of the City Address. Thank you. Molly, I've got a bunch of your papers still up here. Here we go. There you go. Good afternoon, everyone, and congratulations to the winners of these awards, and thanks so much to the Lexington Forum, and especially to Kim Swayze. Y'all, let's give a big hand to Kim. This is her swan song. She has ... Kim has managed this event for nine years. Kim, thanks so much. I want to start today by shining a lens on our new council. Vice Mayor Steve Kay, our new at-large council members Kevin Stenet and Richard Maloney, new faces among our district council members Jake Gibbs, Susan Lamb, Angela Evans, Fred Brown, Amanda Mays Bledsoe, and our returning district council members Chris Ford, Siobhan Akers, Bill Farmer, Jennifer Scutchfield, Jennifer Massati, Peggy Henson, and Ed Lane. ask them to please stand for a generous round of applause. The council members and I thank everyone here and citizens across Lexington for trusting us to take care of our city. In a democracy, we have all learned that there is simply no greater honor than a vote of public trust. Well, we are here today to talk about the state of our city. I am proud to report that the state of our city is strong and promising. 2015 is a time to celebrate our strength and to make the most of it, and a time to use our strength. And we've got plenty to do as we work together going forward. First, since past performance, past behavior is the best indicator of future behavior and performance, let's get a sense of where we've been and then look ahead to where we're going. It really boils down to three words, getting things done. We got things done. We are getting things done. And the best is yet to come. Four years ago, in 2011, we identified two core values for our city, public safety, and quality of life. Then we established goals to support those values, create jobs, run government efficiently, and build a great American city. Together, we got things done. First came surviving the worst recession in our lifetimes without compromising the quality of our basic citizen services, police, fire, garbage pickup. Now this was about the time I myself learned that if you have a deep need to be loved, do not run for mayor. Well, you all know, because you lived through it, that this recession sort of held on doggedly for years. Now this was about the time I learned that in this job you've got to love three things. You've got to love people, you've got to love Lexington, and you've got to love problems because we had plenty of them. Yes, the recession was tough, but our citizens were tougher. We affirmed that. We affirmed that in times of adversity, the human spirit triumphs. It does not fail. Together we got things done. Our basic services remained vigorous and strong. At the same time, we began work on our top goal of creating jobs. And over the past four years, we have created jobs. The unemployment rate in January 2011 was 8.8 percent. The most recent numbers, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics, show it at 4.4 percent. That's a 50 percent drop. The job – and you all know that the job of creating jobs, of attracting and growing jobs is an everyday job. an everyday job and a continuous one. So we set up a unique jobs incentive program called the Lexington Jobs Fund. Local businesses are now applying for the Jobs Fund loans, a program designed to help companies grow jobs. So far, two companies have signed on and the fund has kept 250 jobs from moving out of Lexington. Now, in any conversation about jobs and the strength and promise of our city. The University of Kentucky is a key measure of that strength. We are a university city. And UK is growing and thriving under President Eli Capilouto. Please join me in welcoming him and his wife, Mary Lynn. Thank you, Eli. UK is our largest employer, and in recent years, our largest source of job growth. But it is even more. UK is our cultural, intellectual, and economic anchor and engine. A growing and thriving university leads to a growing and thriving city. When the economy began recovering, we initiated major investments in public safety, and since 2012, we've made significant investments in police and corrections officers, in firefighters, and in new equipment. Since 2012, we have invested almost three-quarters of a billion dollars in public safety, including new officers, new firefighters, new ambulances and fire trucks, and new cruisers, investing more than in any three-year period. Last month, we welcomed a new police chief, Mark Barnard. As former chief, Ronnie Baston moved into the Public Safety Commissioner's post, giving us another layer of experience. Yes, together we got things done. We set our sights on running government efficiently through significant structural changes and by working with police officers and firefighters to reform our pension. We have already reduced our unfunded liability by $116 million. And these reforms have turned an unstable pension into a stable one so police officers and firefighters can retire with security and confidence. In fact, a national actuarial firm recently called Lexington's pension reform the most effective reform in the country. Together – and again, together, we got things done. We also restructured employee health insurance within the government, within the city government, providing cost savings for the city and for employees. This year we are expanding to serve young children at the clinic for the first time. Our new approach to health insurance has paid off, saving the city roughly $12 million each year. Discipline and improved efficiency have driven our approach to the city's largest construction project underway, fixing our sanitary sewers and storm sewers, a federal EPA mandate. In 2008, this project was estimated at $600 million over a period of 11 to 13 years. By insisting on disciplined project management, we have already reduced that price tag by $60 million. As the council members know, as we rebuild our crumbling sewers, so far we have kept 50 million gallons of raw sewage from getting into our creeks because of the repairs already made to the sewer system. Yes, together, getting things done. Discipline and efficiency can improve big projects and small ones, and there's really nothing too small, like the Mental Health Court, a modest program, but it will make Lexington safer, save taxpayer money, and most importantly, help citizens who really need our help. In the business of governing, you all know that's called a win-win. Those among us struggling with mental illness who wander our streets are often jailed, spend time in shelters and hospitals, and then return to the streets, they cycle through the court system without ever getting the treatment they need, all at a very high cost to their own mental and physical health and at great financial cost to taxpayers. Regrettably, those who are often stationed on our streets can cost well over $100,000 a year, and in some cases, even more. With innovative new projects like Housing First and the Mental Health Court, we are making important investments now that will pay off in the long term. Joining us today are representatives from NAMI Lexington, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. They were so instrumental in getting this project in place. Phil and Kelly Gunning, and with them is Tony Fawn, who has an immediate family member mental health court is already helping. Now a new term for all of us is beginning, and because of the discipline deficiencies brought to City Hall, we can begin making quality of life investments that will lead to economic opportunity and prosperity and jobs. To be competitive, everyone in this room knows we must focus on quality of life. It is essential. Fifty years ago, people moved to where the jobs were. In Lexington, think IBM, train, Square D. Today, jobs move to where the people are, where the talent is. And talent moves to where there's a premium attached to quality of life. We all work hard in Lexington to create that environment. Quality of life, quality of place. a compelling and lively central business district within walking distance of remarkable college campuses, modern and attractive industrial office and research parks. Together we are getting things done. So yes, today is a time to reflect on what's occurred over the past few years because the further we look back, the longer we can look ahead. Today our citizens are demanding that we look ahead with a call to action where there's There's no room for complacency or second best or lack of courage because nothing big ever came from thinking small and because I, like every one of you in this room, want Lexington to be the best city in America. Now let me say something I said two weeks ago at our swearing-in ceremony. Being the best city in America does not mean being the biggest city in America. Thinking best means managing the basics and thinking aspirationally and implementing the things that matter. But more specifically, what does best look like? Best means delivering the best public services. Keeping our city and citizens safe is a core value. general services excellently supports our quality of life core value. It's important to deliver those services in the most efficient way and to focus on continuous improvement. With committed employees throughout our government, we can do just that. Being the best also means delivering the best infrastructure. roads, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, trails, mass transit, safe modern services for water, electricity, waste disposal, storm and sanitary sewers, modern police and fire stations, equipment and technology. An example of this is our new emergency operations center, where we save $26 million by using an existing building owned by the city, and it will open next year. Another example of best infrastructure is quality of life infrastructure, a new senior center, one of the best in America where construction is underway today. Together, getting things done. Being the best also means encouraging the best business environment. Businesses need high-skilled employees, and we must deliver them. The best education system is essential. So thanks again to Dr. Capilouto, Interim Schools Superintendent Dr. Marlene Helm, school board members Amanda Ferguson, Melissa Bacon, and Darrell Love who are with us today, and from Bluegrass Community and Technical College Dr. Augusta Julian and Joellen Reed. Thanks to all of you for coming today and for your irrepressible spirit working together to place education as a top priority. And Dr. Helm, as our public schools look for a new superintendent, the community stands ready to help with this transition and afterward. Business also needs affordable broadband. We really must become a gigabit city, making the information superhighway available and affordable for all businesses and citizens. While cities with rivers and railroads had an advantage in the industrial age, knowledge and ideas are what power today's information economy, and knowledge and ideas are carried on fiber. We must have it to compete, and thanks to the University of Kentucky for working with us on this important project. Now, being the best also means honoring and preserving our history. In the last campaign, I heard from many of you and others across our cities, and from council members as well. Please, Mayor, let's fix the old courthouse, and you are right. Taking care of history says a lot about a place. So here's our plan for the historic courthouse. In 2014, the city shored up the critical needs of the foundation. This year, we will be taking steps to save the building. The courthouse needs to be imaginative, innovative, and functional, and provide a gravitational pull that will attract citizens and visitors. The courthouse will have an assessment report in the next few weeks, and then in February and March we will host a series of public meetings to gain community input. And I will include funding for the first phase in my budget addressed in April. We also— Thanks, Deborah Hensley. We also need to make plans for the government center, City Hall, a historic building that regrettably is costing us far too much to operate and repair. But of course, it also means saving that building. Now being the best also means creating the best place to call home. We look ahead to a world-class park system, including getting started on Town Branch Common and improving neighborhood parks across the city. Great cities have great parks, timeless public spaces for celebration and recreation. Lexington has 105 parks covering 4,400 acres. They're right here on this map, the green spots. And clearly, we need a master plan to deliver the best parks system. While we're getting that master plan in place, Let's move forward on a park where we already have an excellent plan, Town Branch Commons. Town Branch Commons, and this shows it, the plan, is the park that will follow the path of historic Town Branch through downtown. The plan for Town Branch meets the criteria of a great park. In fact, it has already won national recognition. Town Branch Commons will link the present and the past. Lexington was founded on the banks of Town Branch near McConnell Springs almost 240 years ago in 1775. It will also link our urban core to our extraordinary countryside, and I will also include funding for the first phase in my budget address in April. But we need to think bigger about parks and find ways to develop great parks throughout our city. Some of our leaders and citizens have been talking to our neighbors in Louisville who have already been creating a world-class parks system. Being the best means delivering the best arts and entertainment value to our citizens and guests. We aspire to be a city that's comfortable on the international stage. events like the FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games in 2010, and now the Breeders' Cup this fall. The horse capital of the world is the perfect spot to host the best of the best. We're proud today to welcome Bill Thomason, President and CEO of the Keeneland Association, and Greg Fravel, President and CEO of the Breeders' Cup. Thank you, Bill. Thank you. Thanks, Craig. Thank you all. And let me give a shout out to creative young people, especially to Price Bell and his leadership and leadership of his friends in developing the concept that we've recently heard about, horse country. The equivalent, the equine equivalent perhaps of the bourbon trail for our world-famous horse farms. And say hello, too, to Nan Plumer, who has just been named President and CEO of LexArts. Nan is one of several new professionals moving to Lexington. Together, they will be taking local arts to the next challenging level. Like Stuart Haradner, the new director of the University of Kentucky Arts Museum. and two new theater groups. Bo List is here representing Athens West, and Jeremy Smith is here representing the Lexington Theatre Company. Former council member and businesswoman Deborah Hensley is here representing a new opportunity, Lexington Community Radio, a new community station that's all about urban downtown communities. It is expected to go live this fall, And if you know Deborah, you know that she hits her deadlines. And, of course, can't miss honoring the irrepressible Isabel Yates, who is also here today. Thanks, Isabel. She's right over here. Thanks to Isabel and her committee, the friends of the Kentucky Theater, who have given our grand old theater new life, raising $800,000 to make much-needed improvements. Over time in history, Lexington has often been characterized as a leading city, today the 61st largest city in America. We had the first urban services boundary. We were an early city-county merger. We were once known as the Athens of the West. Today we are leading again the National Cancer Institute designation for the University of Kentucky, the nation's most effective pension reform, an innovative housing first model for the homeless, one of the first cities to pursue gigabit internet speeds, a world-class talent competition to design our town branch commons, and hosting world-class events like the Altec FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010 and the Breeders' Cup this year. Yes, together we are getting things done, the right things. Now, just a little story to close things out. And it's actually a story that I suspect many of you, when you were younger, experienced yourselves. Well, when I was young, I too, I played Little League Baseball. Well, in a very loose sense of that verb, played. I never played in what anyone might have called an important ball game and was never more than an average player. But I do have several memories from those years, just like all of you do. Some good, some bad. I didn't really grasp the meaning of my most bitter memory from one of those sports events for almost 40 years. One afternoon, when I was 10, a game that meant nothing to anyone except our parents and the players, and not much to most of us, actually, someone on the other team hit a little pop fly that at least three of us were close enough to catch. I was playing left field. Three of us ran toward the ball, and we all stopped, waiting for the other one to catch it. No one did, and the base runners ran around the bases. We lost. Forty years later, I realized why that memory remained fresh and bitter. It was not that we lost or that an error was made. That happened many times. Dropped the ball, failed to get a hit, allow a hit. All those events occurred. and had been mostly forgotten. But losing because I failed to act stuck with me forever, while failures made attempting to execute faded away. So let me close today with a call to seize the moment. To the citizens of Lexington, make 2015 your year of service. Contribute your time, talent, or treasure to a cause you believe in like the one here today. Council members, let's fund our shared priorities and lead Lexington's future. Let's continue working together to make big things happen for our hometown. Legislators, give Kentuckians the opportunity to decide the fate of local projects by supporting and passing House Bill 1, the LIFT initiative. It's true for every... Thank you, Bob. It's true for every Kentucky city and county. When you're green, you grow. When you're ripe, you rot. And every city needs your help with legislation on the heroin problems and treatment. And to the governor, close out your second term just as strongly, giving Lexington and other communities the innovative workforce development solutions and systems and funding we need to train tomorrow's workforce. And even to candidates for governor, call for bold steps, reform Kentucky's tax system, and help our economic engines, rural areas, and our cities drive the state out of this budget trouble. When we do, we can reinvest in education, workforce development, and other economic development projects, and we can fix our underfunded pension systems. And lastly, to all of Lexington, we can reach out and catch that pop fly. We can seize the moment because we know where we have been, where we are going, and how we are going to get there. Yes, you know, we all know, that for Lexington, the best is yet to come. Thank you all very much. Thank you very much, Mayor Gray. And to the entire LFUGC staff and the Hyatt Regency staff.