# Police & Fire Pension Board Meeting - December 11, 2024 > Auto-transcribed civic record · Board · December 11, 2024 - **Permalink**: https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/meeting/6293 - **Source video**: https://lfucg.granicus.com/player/clip/6293?view_id=14&redirect=true - **Date**: 2024-12-11 - **Body**: Board - **Last revised**: March 28, 2026 - **Length**: 2,223 words > ⚠️ **Auto-generated content.** Audio from the official Granicus video was auto-transcribed by OpenAI Whisper-1, with speaker labels folded in from Granicus closed-captioning. Structured facts were extracted with GPT-4o; the narrative summary was written by Anthropic Claude Sonnet. Speaker labels and verbatim wording may contain errors. See [methodology](https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/about/methodology) or [report a correction](mailto:editor@lexingtonky.news). --- ## Meeting Overview The Lexington-Fayette-Urban County Government Police and Fire Retirement Fund Board convened on December 11, 2024, with the Mayor presiding over the session. The board addressed eight agenda items during the meeting, focusing primarily on retirement benefits, military service purchases, and medical evaluations for current and former public safety personnel. The board took action on 10 motions throughout the meeting, approving all items that came before them. Key business included processing military service purchases for three individuals (Levi Bergens, Steven Dabkoski, and Christopher Vera), approving widow's annuities for Carolyn True and Ruby Myers, and authorizing December disbursements. The board also handled routine retirement matters, including service retirements and disability applications. Medical reports were reviewed and approved for three individuals: Charles Farley, Joshua Thomas, and James Aikie, indicating ongoing evaluation of disability or health-related benefit claims. The meeting also included consideration of standard administrative matters such as monthly disbursements and service retirement approvals. Three members of the public provided comments during the meeting, though the specific topics of their remarks were not detailed in the available records. The comprehensive agenda and unanimous approval of all items suggests the board addressed both routine administrative functions and individual benefit determinations that are central to the retirement fund's operations for Lexington's police and fire personnel. ## Attendance The following individuals were present at the Board meeting: • Mayor • Chief Weathers • Chief Wells • Susan • Chad • Rock No members were reported as absent or late for this meeting. ## Votes and Decisions The Board conducted ten voice votes during the meeting, with all motions passing unanimously. **Financial Matters** • [00:30] Rock motioned to accept the Treasurer's Report and approve the Transfer Letter, which passed by voice vote • [01:00] The Board approved the November meeting minutes by voice vote • [02:30] Chief motioned to approve December disbursements, which passed by voice vote **Military Service Credits** • [01:30] The Board approved military purchase credits for Levi Bergens, Steven Dabkoski, and Christopher Vera by voice vote **Survivor Benefits** • [02:00] A motion seconded by Chief to approve widow's annuity benefits for Carolyn True and Ruby Myers passed by voice vote **Service Retirements** • [03:00] The Board approved service retirements for Officer Joe Durson, Sergeant Thomas Johnston, and Lieutenant Marcus Sell, with Chief providing the second to the motion **Disability Applications** • [03:30] Applications for total and permanent occupational disability benefits for Steven Buxton and Dustin Dunn were approved by voice vote **Medical Reports** • [04:00] Medical reports for Charles Farley were approved, with Chief seconding the motion • [04:30] Medical reports for Joshua Thomas were approved by voice vote • [05:00] Medical reports for James Aikie were approved by voice vote All votes were conducted as voice votes with no recorded opposition, abstentions, or individual vote tallies. The meeting demonstrated efficient processing of routine pension board business including financial approvals, benefit determinations, and administrative matters. ## Public Comment The public comment portion of the meeting focused on honoring retired officers and those who have passed away, with three speakers sharing tributes and condolences. **Tommy** [timestamp: 06:00] opened the comments by sharing personal memories and tributes for retired officers who have died. He highlighted their individual contributions to the department and spoke about their unique personalities, providing a personal perspective on their service and impact on colleagues. **Chief Weathers** [timestamp: 07:00] followed with official remarks congratulating recent retirees on their service to the department. He also expressed formal condolences to the families of deceased officers, emphasizing the lasting impact these officers had on both the department and the community they served. His comments acknowledged both the professional achievements and personal qualities of those being honored. **Chief Wells** [timestamp: 08:00] concluded the public comment period by echoing Chief Weathers' sentiments. He thanked the retirees for their years of dedicated service and offered additional condolences to the families of officers who had passed away, reinforcing the department's appreciation for their contributions. The public comment session was entirely dedicated to honoring the service and memory of current and former department personnel, with no other topics or concerns raised by speakers. All three speakers focused on recognizing the professional legacy and personal impact of retired and deceased officers on the department and community. ## Military purchase for Levi Bergens, Steven Dabkoski, and Christopher Vera [timestamp: 01:30] The board considered a resolution regarding military purchases for three individuals: Levi Bergens, Steven Dabkoski, and Christopher Vera. Susan served as the key speaker presenting this agenda item to the board. The discussion focused on approving military purchase arrangements for the three named individuals, though the specific details of the purchases, their nature, or monetary amounts were not detailed in the available meeting materials. The board proceeded to vote on the resolution without recorded debate or concerns raised during the discussion period. The item was presented as a standard procedural matter requiring board approval. **Outcome:** The resolution was approved by the board. The brevity of discussion suggests this was considered a routine administrative matter, with the board moving efficiently through the approval process for the military purchases involving Bergens, Dabkoski, and Vera. ## Widow's annuity for Carolyn True and Ruby Myers [timestamp: 02:00] The Board considered agenda item 2, a resolution regarding widow's annuity benefits for Carolyn True and Ruby Myers. Susan served as the key speaker presenting this item to the Board. The discussion focused on approving widow's annuity payments for these two beneficiaries, though the specific details of their circumstances, benefit amounts, or eligibility criteria were not detailed in the available meeting materials. Following the presentation and discussion, the Board voted to approve the widow's annuity resolution for both Carolyn True and Ruby Myers. The resolution passed, authorizing the annuity benefits for these individuals. ## Disbursements for December [timestamp: 02:30] The board reviewed and approved the disbursements for December during agenda item 3. Susan presented the disbursement information to the board for consideration. The board discussed the December disbursements and ultimately approved them as presented. No specific concerns or objections were raised during the discussion of this agenda item. The resolution to approve the December disbursements was passed by the board. ## Service retirements [timestamp: 03:00] The board considered a resolution to approve service retirements for three police officers during the meeting. Susan presented this agenda item to the board members. The resolution addressed the retirement of three officers from the police department, though specific details about the individual officers, their years of service, or retirement dates were not provided in the available meeting materials. The board approved the service retirements without recorded discussion or debate. No concerns were raised regarding the retirements during the proceedings. **Outcome:** The resolution was approved by the board. ## Disability applications The board addressed disability applications for two fire division members during this agenda item [timestamp: 03:30]. Susan presented the matter to the board, requesting approval to send the disability applications to appropriate medical professionals for evaluation. The applications involved two members of the fire division, though specific details about the nature of their disabilities or injuries were not provided in the available materials. The board approved the resolution to forward both disability applications to the designated doctors for proper medical assessment. This procedural step is necessary for the disability evaluation process to proceed according to established protocols. The approval allows the fire division members' cases to move forward in the disability determination process, with medical professionals conducting the required evaluations to assess their conditions and eligibility for disability benefits. ## Medical reports for Charles Farley [timestamp: 04:00] The board reviewed and discussed medical reports for Charles Farley during this agenda item. Susan served as the key speaker presenting information related to the medical reports. The board's discussion centered on evaluating the medical documentation provided for Charles Farley and determining the appropriate rate to be set based on the medical findings. While specific details of the medical reports were not elaborated upon in the available materials, the board conducted their review and reached a decision on the matter. Following their review and discussion of the medical reports, the board voted to approve the medical reports for Charles Farley. As part of this approval, they also established what they determined to be the appropriate rate associated with the case. The agenda item was resolved with the board's approval, indicating consensus among the members regarding both the acceptance of the medical reports and the rate determination for Charles Farley. ## Medical reports for Joshua Thomas [timestamp: 04:30] The board reviewed and discussed medical reports for Joshua Thomas during this agenda item. Susan served as the key speaker presenting information related to the medical documentation. The board's consideration of the medical reports resulted in approval of the documentation and the establishment of an appropriate rate associated with Joshua Thomas's case. While the specific details of the medical conditions, treatment recommendations, or rate amount were not detailed in the available materials, the board found the medical reports satisfactory for their purposes. The agenda item was handled as a resolution matter, indicating it required formal board action and approval. The board ultimately voted to approve both the medical reports for Joshua Thomas and to set what they determined to be the appropriate corresponding rate. No concerns or objections were noted during the discussion of this item, and the resolution passed with the board's approval. ## Medical reports for James Aikie [timestamp: 05:00] The board reviewed and considered medical reports for James Aikie during this agenda item. Susan served as the key speaker presenting information related to the medical documentation. The board's discussion focused on evaluating the medical reports and determining the appropriate rate to be set in connection with James Aikie's case. While the specific details of the medical conditions or circumstances were not elaborated upon in the available materials, the board conducted their review and deliberation based on the medical documentation provided. Following their consideration of the medical reports, the board voted to approve the medical reports for James Aikie. As part of this approval, they also established what they determined to be the appropriate rate associated with his case. The agenda item was resolved with the board's approval, indicating that the medical reports met the necessary standards and requirements for acceptance. The rate setting component suggests this may have been related to compensation, benefits, or other financial considerations tied to James Aikie's medical situation. No concerns or objections were noted during the discussion of this matter, and the item proceeded to approval without apparent controversy or extended debate. --- ## Decisions - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Accept the Treasurer's Report and approve the Transfer Letter - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Approve minutes for November - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Military purchase for Levi Bergens, Steven Dabkoski, and Christopher Vera - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Widow's annuity for Carolyn True and Ruby Myers - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Disbursements for December - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Service retirements for Officer Joe Durson, Sergeant Thomas Johnston, and Lieutenant Marcus Sell - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Applications for total and permanent occupational disability for Steven Buxton and Dustin Dunn - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Medical reports for Charles Farley - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Medical reports for Joshua Thomas - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Medical reports for James Aikie --- ## Full transcript Good morning, everyone. I will go ahead and call to order the Lexington-Fayette-Urban County Government Police and Fire Retirement Fund Board. It's still a long name, isn't it, Susan? And this is December 11, 2024, and the first item of business is our Treasurer's Report and the Transfer Letter, and Chad is here. Welcome. Good morning. You should have in your packet the various financial reports comparing fiduciary net assets as well as the bank statement and fund reconciliation. The value of the plan as of yesterday morning was $1,004,753,498.90, which compares to last month of $1,779,955.01. You really worked hard that last month. Christmas has arrived. Rock, do you have a motion? I've got a question. I calculated it, I showed $0.89. Are you sure it's $0.90? It's rounding. Thank you. All right. Motion to accept the report and approve the Transfer Letter, Mayor. Do I have a second? Thank you. Are there any questions other than the $0.89 question? All right. All those in favor, please say, aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you very much. I meant to say at the beginning, Chief Weathers and I will leave at 9.30 and Chief Wells will take over the chair, if there's anything left. All right. Now, we have minutes for November and I'll entertain a motion to approve. Motion to approve. Thank you. Is there a second? Second. All right. Are there any questions? All those in favor, say, aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. And I'll ask Susan to just run us through the new business, if you will. Yes, Mayor. New business, item number one is military purchase for Levi Bergens, Steven Dabkoski and Christopher Vera. I need a motion to approve. Is there a motion? Motion to approve. Thank you. All right. Is there a second? Second. All right. Thank you for the second. Any questions? All those in favor, say, aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. Item number two is widow's annuity for Carolyn True and Ruby Myers. I need a motion to approve. Motion to approve, Mayor. Thank you. Chief seconds. Any questions? All those in favor, say, aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. Item number three is disbursements for December. They're listed on your agenda. I need a motion to approve. Is there a motion? Motion to approve. Thank you, Chief. Second. I'm sorry. Who's second? Okay. Second. All right. Any questions about these expenditures? All those in favor, say, aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. Next on the agenda are service retirements. We have Officer Joe Durson, Division of Police, service retirement effective November 15th, 2024. We have Sergeant Thomas Johnston, Division of Police, service retirement effective November 30th, 2024. Lieutenant Marcus Sell, Division of Police, service retirement effective December 2nd, 2024. I need a motion to approve. Do I hear a motion? Motion to approve. All right. And Chief seconded. Any questions about those? All those in favor, say, aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. Next on the agenda are disabilities. I'm going to lump the first two together. We have Steven Buxton, Division of Fire, application for total and permanent occupational disability. We also have Dustin Dunn, Division of Fire, application for total and permanent occupational disability. I need a motion to send to appropriate doctors. All right. We have a motion and a second. Are there any questions? All those in favor, say, aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? That motion passes. Next on the agenda is Charles Farley, Division of Police. Medical reports are completed and distributed. I need a motion, please. Do I hear a motion? Motion to approve and set at the appropriate rate. All right. Chief seconds. Any questions? All those in favor, say, aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. Next on the agenda is Joshua Thomas, Division of Police. Medical reports are completed and distributed. I need a motion, please. Motion to approve and set at the appropriate rate. Second. Seconds. Any questions? All those in favor, say, aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. Next on the agenda is James Aikie, Division of Fire. Medical reports are completed and distributed. I need a motion to approve or a motion, please. Motion to approve and set at the appropriate rate. I'll second that. All right. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? All those in favor, say, aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. Next on the agenda are tributes. We have James Sparks, Division of Police, passed away on November 8, 2024. Kevin True, Division of Police, passed away on November 22, 2024. Dwight Myers, Division of Police, passed away on November 25, 2024. Kevin Varney, Division of Police, passed away on December 3, 2024. Thank you. Before we go on, we have covered some service retirements as well as tributes, and I wonder if anyone has any comments before we go on. Tommy? Well, everybody noticed that in the last year or so, we've had a lot of retirees passing away, so it brings up old people's mortality, doesn't it? I'll start with Jimmy Sparks. Jimmy Sparks was kind of an icon on the police department. In fact, he gave me, I believe he was the first polygraph operator for the police department. When I came on back in the ancient year of 1973, he administered my pre-employment polygraph, and he kept secrets on me all those years. So thank goodness for that. But he was a very soft-spoken man. He just had a really knack with great communication skills. He was very soft-spoken, and you just can't believe how many people you would get in that polygraph room and get them to confess. He just had that demeanor about him. He was just a really great, great guy. Kenny True. Kenny True was my first sergeant, so you can start blaming him, I guess. He came from the old county division of police and had to put up with me for a few years there and all that. Dwight Myers. He was on traffic. I never really got to know Dwight. I only met him a couple of times. He retired pretty early in my career. And that leaves us with Kevin Varney. Kevin Varney. Kevin Varney was, how do I want to say this? He was kind of a dry person, but gosh, he loved to mess with you. He would do practical jokes on you, always cracking jokes, teeping everybody. You get in a tense situation, he could come in there and de-escalate it and have everybody laughing in a few minutes. He was a super officer. I think he made sergeant right after I retired, and I know he had to have been a great sergeant because I met some of them at his visitation the other day, guys that worked for him. So Kevin would be very well missed by me and everybody. So all of those individuals will be truly missed by all their peers and the police family. Thank you. Are there any other Chief Weathers? First of all, I want to congratulate those and wish them well. Joe Derrison, Sergeant Johnston, and Lieutenant Sell on their retirements. They'll be missed in all of them, even though Joe didn't have the title. He was a leader and all of them were people we looked up to. For those who are leaving with their disability retirements, thank you for your service and thank you for your sacrifice. People don't often realize, you know, sometimes it's the little things that cause problems with us and it can totally affect your career, but I just want you to know how much I appreciate you. For the family of James Sparks, I send my condolences. The family of Sergeant True, who was also one of my first sergeants, so I guess he's going to get blamed for a lot. The sergeant back then, and I still think it's true today, is what holds the police department together and he truly held us together. For Kevin Varney, you know, he's a friend of mine and he was my beat partner and when he moved on to something else, you know, I got his brother Steve as my beat partner. Here's what I'm going to say about Kevin Varney. He knew his job and he knew people and because of him, he made policing fun and he helped me understand just what it meant to be a community police officer. For all of those, they will be missed and their service is greatly appreciated. Thank you. Thank you, Chief. Any other comments? Chief Wells. Thank you, Mayor. I just want to echo Chief Weathers' sentiments and thank all of our police family that are retiring, be it through service or disability. Thank you for your service and your time and certainly our condolences on behalf of FIRE to the families of those that have passed away. Thank you. Anything else? I will add my voice to those who've spoken. You know, when you look through the service retirements and then those going out on disability as well as the tributes of those who've passed, that has to represent a few hundred years of service. I didn't add it up, but it's phenomenal. And I so appreciate the people who serve in difficult, dangerous jobs. All of us can do that. And so I offer my condolences to those who've passed, to their families and friends. And I suspect it's especially hard to lose a beat partner because you must get very close. So thank you for your service. That brings us to our subcommittee updates. I suspect Tommy's going to tell us everything's good. Yeah, it's really good because there's nothing in continuation of benefit or the legislative committee. Thank you. So Trey, do you have anything for the organizational subcommittee? No ma'am. No ma'am. All right. Is there anything for the good of the whole? We do have Christmas coming up. Merry Christmas everyone and stay safe. A lot of people will be traveling and a lot of people will have people coming in who are traveling. So have safe, peaceful, we hope, holidays. Thank you for all you do. And with that, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. All right. All those in favor say aye. Aye. We are adjourned. Thank you very much. the wind. Oh, so younger than the sun. Yeah, the bonnie boat was one as we sail into the mystic. Oh, I can now hear the sailors cry. Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic. Where that foghorn blows. I will be coming home. And when the foghorn blows, I want to hear it. I don't have the fear and I want to rock your gypsy soul. Just like way back in the days of old. And magnificently we will fold into the mystic. Waiting for love to rescue me. Hey, feels so good. So good. And it feels so nice. So nice. When love comes around. I feel good. So good. So good. So good. So good. And it feels so nice. So nice. Oh, feels so good. So good. Yeah, feels so good. So good. And it feels so nice. So nice. When love comes around. I feel good. So good. Gonna make you feel nice. So nice. When love comes around. I feel good. So good. So good. So good. So nice. Make me feel good. So good. Get up. Get up. So nice. Hey, baby. I feel good. So good. Come on. Come on. So good. Just one look. And I feel so high. High in love. With you. Oh. Oh. I found out. How good it feels. To have. Your love. Oh. Oh. Say it will. Will be. Oh. Oh. Oh. Will be. My. Heart. Forever. And always. Oh. Oh. Just one look. And I knew. That you. Were my only one. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. I thought I was dreaming. But I was wrong. Oh. Yeah. But I'm gonna. Keep on scheming. Till I can make you. Make you mine. Oh. So you see. I really care. And. Without you. I'm nothing. Oh. Oh. Just one look. And I know. Oh. Oh. I'll get you. Someday. Oh. Oh. Just one look. And I know. Just one look. That's all it took. Just one look. That's all it took. Wow. Just one look. That's all it, wow. Baby. That's all it took. Baby. That's all it took. Just one look. That's all it took. Come on baby. That's all it took. That's all it took. Look into my eyes. You will see. What you mean to me. Search your heart. Search your soul. And when you find me then you'll search no more. Don't tell me it's not worth trying for. You can't tell me it's not worth dying for. You know it's true. Everything I do, I do it for you. Look into your eyes. You will find there's nothing there to hide. Take me as I am. Take my life.