you you you you you Good morning. I hope everybody got here preliminary subdivision plan. The purpose of this plan is to create 57 single family lots, two open space parcels, one detention base, one common area, and streets. On the is to the right of the plan. This is southeast as it would be oriented. This is the subject property. There's a developed neighborhood to the north with a stub from, I'm sorry, from the northeast with a stub, I believe it's Tibbs, and then it also stubs in from the northwest, St. Martins and Dominic? Dominican. I knew that wasn't right. They're showing a common area where there's an existing lake for the detention area. There's also open space in this corner and then along Dominican between the street and the common property boundary. That's it. The applicant has submitted a revised plan and we've provided a revised staff report. The remaining conditions under requirements not met. Number one, proposed street cross section must have restricted parking on one side of the street. I think it just needs to be labeled on the cross section. Number two, denote tree canopy and street tree requirements and provide tree mitigation proposal. Number three, and I believe this may have been corrected as well, correct the zoning notation and the site statistics for St. Martins Avenue. With the revisions, it doesn't appear that they need any waivers at this point. They have created a connection through to break up the block length and then they did redesign to show them meeting the cross sections in the land subdivision regulations. Number one, under design considerations, see all Acela comments provided by the Division of Engineering. Number two, proposed street cross section must have restricted parking on one side of the street. And again, I think that just needs to be labeled. Number three, design does not protect preserve greatest number of trees reasonably practically. Evaluate preserving healthy significant trees on the property. Number four, describe how detention areas in the development are usable and accessible for common space. Under plan questions and or concerns, number one, discuss accessibility for residential service trucks on proposed streets. Number two, discuss improvements for price road frontage. Number three, discuss impacts to spring point near lot 39 and that is labeled right here. It says natural spring and it's in that location right there, which I believe is part of the HOA detention area lot. Number four, discuss need for additional stormwater or drainage easements. Number five, discuss detention area outfall and if this detention is sufficient for development. Number six, discuss stormwater management proposal. And number seven, discuss encroachment of structures from the adjacent property. That's from the existing mobile home park. And they do have a minor subdivision plat to create this as a non-build lot and it does show the property boundary a little bit further in to accommodate the, so there's no encroachments. And then staff does recommend approval with conditions with standard sign-offs, engineering, traffic engineering, landscaping, addressing, urban forester, department of environmental qualities, approval of environmentally sensitive areas, bike ped, open space, water qualities, approval of the cap requirements, and then provided the planning commission grants the requested waive. Oh, I'm sorry, that should have been taken off. I apologize for that. Number 10 should be removed. And then finally, number 11, to correct all noted deficiencies listed as requirements not met herein. And with that, I'll open it up to the committee for discussion. Before we go on, I just wanted to clarify one of the discussion items is discuss improvements for price road frontage. The applicant has shown improvements, but I wanted to make sure the commission members were aware that there's some concern from neighbors or nearby residents that one of the trees that's in the right-of-way is serving as a memorial location for someone who passed away after hitting the tree. So they're interested and have emailed the commission and our mailbox to ask that the tree be preserved. We've already spoken to traffic engineering about that. There's really no way to do any improvements without removing the tree, because the trees along that section of price road are only inches from what's currently the pavement edge, which obviously that could have been a factor in the accident. So I think from planning's perspective, the improvements obviously offer a lot of safety and safeguards for travel along that road, and those are, in our mind, very important. And if there can be some other avenue to create a memorial somewhere else, I think that would be our direction to the commission. Do you have any questions for staff? Thank you. Madam Chair, I've got one at the moment. As far as the cross-section, limiting parking on one side, I haven't seen the cross-section, I'm sorry. Is that throughout the development, or is that specific for certain streets? I believe that Mr. Beatty might be able to speak to that a little better. I believe it's throughout. Yes, it was going to be throughout. We had discussed Dominican, the existing part of Dominican. If it's going to connect, that Dominican needed to be restricted parking on the existing, so it would have continued throughout at that point. We don't always ask this, but I think we've done it the last couple of times. Is it possible to see the previous plan so that we can compare what's changed to this one? I don't think we have the previous plan. You don't have access to it? I think it's fair that the primary is the new street connection, because the block link was too long, so now they don't need to be able to open it. Yes, and then they've also provided, I think on the original plan there were no bump-outs. I think maybe there may have been an iteration previous that did have that, but they've shown the bump-outs at the intersections and made the connection through. I believe from the original submission, I don't remember exactly, the streets got narrower? Yes, because they were matching the existing cross-sections, so now they've transitioned to one of our ... I think the St. Martin's is an existing cross-section. It's different than anything we have in our sub-bricks, so they've transitioned to one of our standard cross-sections, again, to ensure there's no waivers necessary. I guess one other question. The tree's too large to move, is that ... Usually the tree doesn't survive that anyway. It's pretty large. Is it the tree or the location that they primarily want to memorialize there? It's the specific tree. This doesn't show it really well, but it's right here where Price meets the property. Price actually narrows, and there's a line of trees that are along Price Road there, and it's the second tree, and they're all pretty substantial. I believe they look to be pin-oaks from the photo, so they're very straight, and then everything's been limbed up, so they are pretty large. Sorry. I think earlier there was some questions, concerns, as to the lots fronting Price Road. Are they still coming out onto Price Road? Yeah. Okay. Yeah, you're talking about ... Those, yeah. Yeah, they will connect directly to Price Road, but I believe that's most of the other homes, lots along Price Road do connect directly to Price Road. Of course, right. Okay. Okay, any other questions for staff? If not, we'll go from the applicant. Okay. Hi. I'm Chris Sabetta, Vioxx & Vioxx. We were the engineer for this project. I guess our general comment is that all revisions were made to meet any deficiencies that were noted before. As he stated, the only real change was adding the cross street to satisfy the block length, but everything else, the intention was to meet regulations, and I believe that this project does. So if you have any questions for me, I'm happy to answer. Any questions for the applicant? No, I think we're good. Thank you. Thank you. All right, do we have any public comment? Okay. Well, we'll bring it back to the committee. I don't care. Madam Chair, I'll move for recommendation approval. Plan M-J-S-U-B 25-5, Suburban Point Subdivision Expansion, with the now 10 noted conditions. Eliminate number 10, as printed on the agenda. Revision. Second. Okay, the motion has been made and seconded. Is there any question to the motion? If not, all in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Unanimous. All right. The second plan on our agenda, it's final development plan, M-J-D-P 25-67, Margaret C. Kamick Property, W.E. Savage Property, which is located at 4630 Old Schoolhouse Lane. The purpose of the plan is to propose a senior living facility, 10 single family residential lots, and one HOA lot on a portion of the site. This is the overall plan. On the plan, you'll see there's a detail. Let me go back really quick. So, Old Schoolhouse. Sorry, looking at the wrong part of it. It's at this end, and then this is Agape that stubs here. Sorry, I'm going to get this wrong. It's Rima in the rear that stubs in as well. And then there's Greenway. There's a stream to the right end of the plan. What they're proposing is a senior living facility that would be accessed off of Agape, and then 10 single family residences along either side of Rima. As you can see, there's a pretty significant slope. It goes down pretty steeply to Rima from Agape. They did submit a revised plan, and there's a revised staff report that reflects that. Under the requirements not met, correct address of parcel 12 to 4734 Rima Way. I think it's just a matter of correcting the text. Number two, denote all existing and proposed easements. And number three, provide tree inventory map and tree preservation plan that comply with zoning ordinance article 26-4B and C. And then number four, dimension proposed building and correct site statistics to account for a two-story structure. We just want to make sure that the site statistics accurately reflect the square footage that's proposed. And number five, label lot 1, HOA lot 13, and Greenway lot 14. Those are basically just cleanup items. No waivers necessary at this time. Under design considerations, review all ACELA comments provided by the Division of Engineering. Under plan questions or concerns, number one, discuss vehicular use area in the front of the senior living facility. And I believe they've removed that. Number two, discuss whether assisted living or nursing services will be provided. Number three, discuss opening of a got bay drive removal of permanent barricade at Northern Terminus Point. Number four, discuss density change and land use change. Number five, discuss ownership and maintenance of stormwater management areas. And then under, we do recommend approval with following conditions. We do recommend approval with following conditions. The sign-offs of engineering, traffic engineering, landscaping, addressing, urban forester, environmental quality, bike ped, open space, division of fire, division of waste management, water qualities, approval of the CAP program requirements. Number 12, United States Postal Service sign-off. And 13, correct all noted deficiencies as requirements not met herein. And with that, I'll open it up for questions. Go ahead. Clarification on the questions or concerns. The opening of a got bay, would that require council to take a reversal of the action they took previously? Okay. Yes, it does. And discuss density change and land use change. What's the nature of the discussion that you all want to have there? I think that was from the original proposal, correct? Right. But it's the same density that they're proposing. They've changed the orientation. They've made the building a larger footprint, lot coverage. But they've reduced it from three-story to two-story. But it still does have 45 units. So the density's the same, but there's a change of use, obviously. That was single family or townhouses previously. And with the steep slope, with the additional impervious coverage, we got any changes in terms of drainage that we need to worry about? I mean, the engineer will need to answer that. Yeah. Yeah. Okay, just hold on one second. We'll bring you up in just a minute. Okay, is there any other questions for staff? All right. Okay, thank you. Now we'll hear from the applicant, if you would come forward. Good morning. My name is William Horton. I'm with Prime AE. In looking at this, we took into account the plan that was previously submitted for review and approval here with the city. We looked at the drainage requirements based upon that plan that was previously approved. We took that into account when we looked at the storm drainage on this and the impervious area. And so we do have plans on our preliminary construction drawings to handle the stormwater runoff. It's our understanding that there is some regional stormwater controls and detention areas within the vicinity of our project that can be utilized to handle our stormwater runoff. So we are aware of that, and we have taken that into consideration and put in together this development plan. Yeah, I think we'll just need to look at that more closely when you submit your documents, because I'm not familiar with a regional basin that would cover this development. Okay. Do we have any other questions for the applicant? Thank you. Thank you. All right, do we have any public comment? All right, do we have any public comment? How you doing? Bennett Clark. A little bit different approach. I know that we've talked about this multiple times. After the past two weeks, it is inconceivable that a senior living facility would be placed in an area that is unreachable by emergency personnel. Hear me out on this. I'm not here to harp on the road-clearing efforts over the past two weeks, but undeniably worth mentioning, Dogwood Trace subdivision has remained nearly impassable. Dogwood Trace Boulevard is listed as a Rank 3 street on the LFUCG snow removal plan. A portion of Agape Drive is listed as a Rank 4, and the section of Agape Drive closest to the proposed development, along with the majority of the subdivision, is not ranked at all. To put this in somewhat of a perspective, last Wednesday, my brother-in-law, a detective with the state police, reached out to see if I could assist in clearing his father's driveway in a different part of Lexington so that he could be released from the hospital as ambulance service would not bring him home until his driveway was cleared. Unfortunately, I couldn't assist, suggesting that heavy equipment would be necessary to clear the mess we're in. Eventually, by shovels, hammers, and determination, their decision, they were able to deliver him home, and unfortunately and completely unrelated to the weather events, he passed away Sunday. Imagine a senior required to extend their time spent at a hospital, unable to return home, incurring additional expense for additional time added to their hospital stay. This is not the first time we have discussed this development plan. It is well known the opposition that we have against higher-density development wedged between two established single-family residential subdivisions. There are loads of issues and concerns, traffic, accessibility, safety, green space, water retention, a fight over the Agape Drive barricade, and now, whether a facility such as the one proposed by AU can adequately and safely be serviced by LFUCG. The detriments to the established adjacent neighborhoods heavily outweigh the benefits of squeezing in this development. Our issue is not so much with AU. While I appreciate AU's willingness to meet, discuss, adjust, and apply our concerns to their plan, I cannot support any multifamily development on any of the adjacent land. Should you dismiss these concerns, at the very least, and perhaps this is a point to make to a different committee, recommend or place conditional zoning items on the remaining land which has a larger, more direct, and negative impact on adjacent and established residents and neighborhoods. The very definition of conditional zoning states these conditions aim to protect nearby properties from potential negative impacts that could arise from new zoning activities. Conditional zoning includes tailored restrictions that address the unique concerns of adjacent landowners. It feels off-putting to fight against a senior living facility, but it simply opens the door for CalGIL or someone like them, the previous applicant, to fulfill their bait-and-switch technique and negatively affect these established adjacent neighborhoods. Please recognize that your recommendation of approval versus disapproval has an impact on the adjacent property owners in ways that may not be well-vetted. As an example, the initial development plan with CalGIL in 2022 went on to include a 10-foot tree protection barrier along the border of the entire property. Once approved, CalGIL cleared the entire acreage minus that so-called 10-foot tree protection plan, which has proved to have a direct negative impact on adjacent property owners. Once exposed, these weak farm or weed trees that sit along the border have deteriorated and incurred necessary expense on multiple neighbors as well as continue to cause future concern for what may happen as a result of this unvetted decision. Multiple trees have fallen, causing property damage, with the expense left to be dealt by neighboring property owners. On my specific property that sits directly adjacent, it is not if but when these trees will fall. Having three kids under four years old, it is an obvious concern. I attempted to work with CalGIL on the removal of the weakest trees, but they failed to follow up after stating they would remove certain trees requested that I flag for removal. Why are our established residents required to flip the bill for tree removal and property damage when at no fault of their own? I would also like to invite you to visit me at my house on La Crosse Court, 2441 La Crosse Road, before you make any recommendations. Have you been to this subject property? Are you specifically knowledgeable about it? I'd also like to point out that our council representative, Whitney Baxter, likely not in attendance today, has been completely vacant from this discussion and continues to fail to respond to any correspondence. When an individual or organization continues to fail to respond to any correspondence, it's rarely due to a single missed message but a deliberate or systematic pattern of non-communication. This silence is, in itself, a form of response that often signals a lack of interest, disengagement, or setting of a boundary. Over the past 19 years as a REALTOR®, over a decade offering general contracting services, representing a developer, building new homes, and renovating properties as a staunch supporter of the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, do not get me wrong. I love development, but proper development. Cowgill, if they were here today, would state that the change requested in their initial development plan, which was appropriately shot down for their noted bait-and-switch efforts, as a change in economic factors is a farce. What should be proposed, approved, and upheld is for the development on the original 15 acres for single-family residential. This fulfills the highest and best use of this specific property and conforms to the adjacent properties in an appropriate manner that offers the best opportunities to truly enhance established adjacent neighborhoods. As you make your recommendation, please evaluate this on its own individual circumstance. Thank you. Please don't leave yet. Hold on one second. Please don't leave yet. I'm trying to understand your point about the trees. Are the weakened trees weakened by development activity, or are they trees that would have been subject to coming down anyway? I have a thumb drive with some pictures if you all would like to see. Can I plug in the thumb drive? Yes. Can you answer that question about... Yes, they are continuing to deteriorate. I've had... I have not had a tree fall across, but I've had portions of trees, Chris had a tree fall and miss his house by like six inches. But let me go back to the original question. Are they deteriorating because of the development activity, or are they deteriorating because they're trees that are at the end of their lifespan are unhealthy anyway? This entire 15 acres, if you go back and look at the aerial from... You can look on a PVA. You can see where that entire thing is completely treed. When they came in and hollowed everything out, except for the 10-foot tree protection barrier, which is a joke, these trees started falling. Just the wind, we had a lot of wind storms. Look at all the... Drive through there. Every week, there's a new roof going on from the wind damage, stuff like that. So all those trees back there are exposed. They're weak. They're not substantial trees like the previous thing. They're... I'll show you. These are a couple of the ones that are leaning back in towards my house. This is last night. It's getting dark. So there's a... This is the back of Chris's house. You can't see it that well, but it's a big stump. The one that fell, I think the one that fell across, fell across on this side of your house. There's another homeowner I couldn't contact that I think had actually fell on their house, down... Fell on his house. So four years ago, this tree line was a little bit more substantial, and my neighbor, maybe I'm showing it in a different one, had to take out all of his... I was quoted $13,000 to remove these trees. Keep going. If you don't mind. I think I have a... So it's... Now it just looks like, you know, here and there, they've just been dropping. Mr. Clark, are you... I just want to clarify. Are you saying that the homeowners are removing the trees on the Calgo's property? Is Calgo here to speak to that? No. Okay. I know when they were out there with the big giant machines that clamp, some of the property owners went out there and said, hey, do you guys mind taking those trees out? And a couple of them did. I see. So there's nobody overseeing this, nobody policing it. So, yeah, I mean, it's just kind of the wild west. Well, with a 10-foot tree protection area, the intent is to keep the trees, the mature trees, because they offer a buffer. It was, again, it was an unvetted something or another where it was just trying to work out an agreement with Calgill where I think there's other things like an 8-foot fence that was going to go around the entire 15 acres, some conditional things. But after the fact, it's pretty clear that, you know, these aren't trees that you keep. These are just old farm trees that are hackberries and black cherry and just weed trees. So generally we, even despite some maybe undesirable species, the Division of Planning still usually recommends keeping property edge trees because they do provide a buffer, a screen, and shade, and they work. Okay, so when this falls on my house, whose fault is it? It's no one's fault. And as a homeowner, you have insurance, I hope. So I've had a tree fall on my house, too. Better not fall on my kids. It was nobody's fault, okay? But it does happen, and insurance is there to cover that. What I'm saying is that decisions that are made, conditions that are slapped on, that aren't vetted, back then that was not well thought out. It was appeasing getting an agreement made with them so they can move forward. Okay. All right, thank you. Are there any other public comments? Yes, there are. How cool. So, good morning. My name's Chris Coldiron. I want to thank you all for allowing public comment. I also want to begin by acknowledging AU Associates for meeting with the surrounding neighborhoods and revising their proposal. The willingness to engage and make adjustments is very much appreciated. That said, the fundamental issue before this committee has not changed. This proposal is still a multifamily development being placed directly behind two established single-family neighborhoods. Whether it's two stories or three stories, whether it serves the general public or a specific population, the use is still multifamily and the distinction matters. When this property was rezoned in 2022, the justification presented to the Planning Commission and City Council was a single-family detached housing concept with density, layout, and buffering intended to be compatible with the adjacent neighborhoods. In March of 2024, which Ben had mentioned, when the proposal shifted towards apartments and townhomes, the Subdivision Committee recommended disapproval. As a planning member, Tracy White stated, and thank you, that the revised plan was substantially different and would alter the essential character. Those findings remain part of the site's record. LFUCG's own framework is also relevant here. The comprehensive plan that Lexington is constrained by the urban growth boundary and surrounding horse farms and that future growth must occur through infill development. But that same policy framework also emphasizes that infill must be context-sensitive and compatible with surrounding neighborhoods. Density alone is not the goal. Compatibility is. And I'd just like to ask a question, if I may. How many members of the committee have visited the site? So thank you all. So, I mean, to realize the site firsthand for evaluating the compatibility, you have to see it. On paper, you know, it just looks like standard infill. But when you're on the ground, it becomes clear how constrained the space is. When you all saw AU's development, it butted up right against the neighborhood. There was no boundary. So there's no clear arterial access, meaning the neighborhood roads from Agave or Tracer Oaks and Rema will all be above it because there is no direct in and out of this. So as the Subdivision Committee and the Roads by Traffic and Engineering has stated, these roads leading into Schoolhouse are substandard. Can we get a mic? Yeah. Sorry. Sorry. Just trying to point and talk. But the concern is reflected in the record as well. LFUCG's own engineering review concluded Old Schoolhouse Lane and surrounding streets are substandard at serving high-density residential traffic. That's a technical finding directly related to the subdivision review, and it hasn't changed. Reducing building height does not resolve that issue. Density stays the same. A two-story building does not eliminate the impacts associated with multifamily density, including parking demands, service access, lighting and traffic generation. From a planning perspective, the underlying incompatibility remains. The committee's role is to ensure that development proposals are consistent with the plans, representations, and standards under which zoning approvals were granted. Advancing a multifamily proposal here would depart from those commitments and establish a precedent that will be relied on for future phases of this property. We respectfully ask that you uphold the commitments that justify the original zoning and not advance this proposal in its current form. This is a consequential decision. Once set, the impacts to infrastructure, neighborhood compatibility, and land use precedent are irreversible, and it will shape these neighborhoods for decades. Thank you all for your time and consideration. Thank you. Next. Hi, good morning. I'm Mark Sock. I'm vice president of the Dogwood Trace Neighborhood Association. And speaking in general for the entire neighborhood, I do want to stress that the neighborhood is against this development. And we ask that you consider the rest of the neighborhood when making your decision. While the rationale here is that the 45 apartments in the proposed building would be comparable to 15 homes, to us in the neighborhood, it's still an apartment complex. And to us, there is a big difference. We ask that you carefully consider this development. I do want to basically reiterate what Chris and what Bennett have said. We appreciate AU's openness, transparency, and the willingness to meet with us at every turn. And they've been wonderful to work with, and we appreciate their efforts. But unfortunately, we just feel as a neighborhood that this is not compatible with everything else in the area. And we do know that your decision today will affect what Cowgill will request for the rest of the property that is still undeveloped. Thank you very much. Thank you. Any other public comment? Did the applicant want to address anything that came up? Good morning. I am Johan Graham with AU Associates. I guess the last speaker had a pretty accurate assessment of where we're at. I do think we've worked very well together to come up with the best plan possible to meet the specific requests of the neighbors. I'm guessing that we've flipped the building 180. We've gone to two stories to help reduce the height near the English Station neighborhood. We've revised the parking lot to remove headlights from the Dogwood Trace side. We've insulated the dumpster more internal to the site. I think specifically the plan is a really good plan for this area. It provides 45 units of senior housing, which is roughly equivalent to 15 single-family homes in terms of traffic density. The question is, I think it's more of a planning question, and as they've talked about as well, a practical question. We believe this is a good plan. We're a third-party buyer to this site that's zoned R3. I'm not sure we can be held responsible or accountable for what may happen in the future. I can't speak to what the CalGals may try to do. If they try to sell it to somebody else who could develop it at a higher density or not, or if they wanted to develop it at a higher density. The R3 zoning for this specific site that we're building on allows for a much higher density than we're requesting. So I guess that's a theoretical question about what's the future of this neighborhood and the future of this site. We believe the senior housing is compatible with the comprehensive plan and with the neighborhood, with putting affordable housing in all 12 council districts, with providing seniors with great amenities in terms of locations of shopping and being on the side of town that we don't have a lot of senior affordable housing. So I do understand and respect the neighborhood's position, and they have worked with us the last three months, and they've been good partners on developing the best plan we could for this site. My opinion is their problem isn't necessarily with me or this plan. It's with potentially the future, and we've kind of reached the end point of what we can do to mitigate those concerns. I think we've got the best plan possible right now. I do pledge to continue to work with them on the tree line. Obviously, we're interested in having a nice buffer that looks good for the neighborhood as well, so that's in terms of tree protection and what we put back and what we keep during the development phase and permitting. Now, we're really interested in making that look nice as well, but I think that's kind of where we're at. My appeal is that I think this is a good plan for the south side of Lexington. It's appropriate density in a single-family neighborhood with a multifamily not too far away. It doesn't increase the traffic count too much. I know we have to have the, like I say, we have to have the discussion about not this group with the Agape Drive opening that will be ongoing, but we believe this particular plan is a good plan and compatible with the neighborhood. Okay, thank you. All right, with that, we'll bring it back to the committee. Just for, I guess, clarity, the use is allowed in this particular zone that they're requesting, so today the use isn't really something we can dictate, or is the question, do they comply with the subdivision regulations and the zoning ordinance? Correct. Okay. I just want to say one more thing about the stormwater management. This is a commercial development the way we would look at it, so we don't usually mix commercial and residential stormwater because of maintenance responsibilities. Normally we want commercial properties to maintain their own stormwater systems, but we can talk through that with you. I just wanted to make that apparent. Okay. Any other comments? Okay. I don't know if I want to say this or not. This is to the neighborhood. I think the decisions we've made in the most recent comprehensive plan suggest that the idea that we're going to continue to build acres and acres of senior family homes altogether has gone. If you look at the plans for the expansion area, you'll see that the neighborhoods that are being planned out there include single family areas, they include duplexes, they include condominiums, they include apartments. I think part of this shift, and I'm thinking of myself also, I live in a neighborhood that was built in the 50s and 60s and early 70s. We have some mixtures in that area, and I think that this notion that apartments inevitably make everything go downhill, I'd say go to Ashland, okay? Go to the Chevy Chase area in neighborhoods that were designed by the same people, the same firm that designed Central Park, and it's possible to design a neighborhood with different types of housing in it that can be a beautiful neighborhood. It's not the addition of the different housing types, it's the way they're built and the way they're managed is what I would have to say about that. And we have a housing crisis. We are obligated under the comprehensive plan to increase our housing density. That is not going to please everybody, but that's the situation we're in. It's a matter of can we do this in a way that preserves quality and protects the people living there. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Come on up front. I'll go on and allow it. Come on up front. We're basically finished with it. I want to agree with you. We have a housing crisis. We do. I mean, you know, Lexington, we're constrained by the horse farms and we don't want to develop it. I mean, it's like a catch-22, really. And it's not so much the issue of creating the housing. What it is, it's the traffic flow, what it puts on these streets. Agape wasn't made to be a full connector from Tracery Oaks. Agape goes all the way down to Bellary where Kroger's is in Nicholasville and it connects to Bellary Boulevard, which comes out the back of the Clay's Mill. It would become a huge connector for hundreds, if not thousands, of people daily on Agape. The streets are just substandard. You have people parking on both sides of it. In addition to where kids are playing, multifamily increases traffic. They said, AU just said, right now it's equivalent to 15 homes. But right now it's equivalent to 45 single families. It increases the density substantially. And not even looking at future development, that's just one part. But it sets future precedent. And that's one thing I think we have to look at as well. Yes, the zoning allows it. It 100% does. But how the zoning was sold to City Council planning and commission was for single family houses. The reason we have a housing crisis is because nobody can move. Everybody's locked in with what I call golden handcuffs. They're golden because they either bought or they refinanced during COVID. And there's no one wanting to move from single family homes, whether it be a starter home or their middle home, if they want to call it that, into their forever home. The thing is, there's no houses to buy. Nobody wants to rent for the rest of their life. Now, for some people, they want to. But we have to create single family housing for families to move into. Okay. All right. Thank you. Okay. You know, pretty much to Commissioner Borth's point is that, you know, our comprehensive plan does call for a variety of housing in the same areas. And given that it's zoned R3, my kind of thought on that is having it as a senior facility, multifamily, is different than having it as a general population of 45. You know, because if you have it as seniors, the likelihood of having multiple vehicles and things like that goes way down. But if it's just an apartment, you know, then, yeah, 45, you know, may mean 90 cars. I mean, you know, it's hard to say. But, you know, but anyway, I just feel like this is in keeping with our comprehensive plan. Okay. No, we are still at the committee. We're going to wrap this up. Tracey, one thing. Back in 2022, the conditions were different. So when House Bill 44, State House Bill 443 was passed last summer, if it is allowed within the zoning and they comply with the subdivision regulations and zoning ordinances, they can proceed with their project. 2022, 23, we had some leeway where we could make a decision otherwise. But if the land use is appropriate, is it fair to say, and they comply with all the regulations, it's not a question of whether they can or can't. It's not our decision any longer. Correct? Right. We have to follow the objective standards. And I think the only leeway that is available is if there's a public health, safety, and welfare issue, threat. It says threat. So if that is identified, obviously the commission needs to consider that information and evidence in making its decision. But I'm not, and I think from the division of planning's opinion, modifying from 15 single family to 45 senior housing units doesn't hit a threshold of a public health, safety, welfare threat. And also to the point of road clearing and things like that, typically I live across the street from a senior facility and typically my street is cleared earlier than other streets because of that facility. So I don't know how those things are determined. And I say typically because it doesn't, like this past time it didn't happen as fast as it usually does. But that has a priority because of the type of facility. Madam Sheriff, if I may, my take may be a little bit different than others. I'm a little conflicted with this in the fact that, yes, our comprehensive plan does talk about density, but it also talks about compatibility. And my concern here is the direct access that this facility would have out onto Harrodsburg Road. I know, but we've got apartments two blocks away. They've got more direct access out onto Harrodsburg Road than this place would. Agape is going to be opened at some point in time. I'm just concerned that it would put more that wasn't planned, more traffic that wasn't planned onto Agape. So density would be a concern as far as compatibility for me. And then also it seems like engineering is unclear as to what is taking place with stormwater at this point. I'd like to give them an opportunity to visit with the applicant more and come up with a clearly defined plan before we move this thing forward. I'd just simply like to take it to the full commission. My thought right now would be just for a postponement, let them work on the stormwater, and hopefully we get a better decision next week, a clearer decision next week. Because either way it would go to the full commission, right? Mike, I want to understand what you're asking for here. If it goes to the commission at the hearing, it's the same amount of time, right? Unless you're asking for a postponement beyond that. You would be correct. It would in essence be the same amount of time. It gives them a week to get with engineering and come up with this stormwater plan. They're saying regional engineering, and they don't know of a regional facility in the area. I would like to see further clarification on that. I think I'm back now. It doesn't sound like it, but it looks like it. The item number 11 doesn't cover that. The documentation of the Division of Water Quality is approval of capacity. The Capacity Assurance Program is typically about the sewer, connecting to sewer, so ensuring that existing sewer capacity is available both in the lines and at the treatment plant. But I think what you're really talking about is stormwater, and that's covered under the urban county engineer's acceptance of drainage, storm, and sanitary sewers. I get that. It just seems like with these statements it's been said we'd be putting the cart before the horse on this. If there's a regional facility and they do have a plan, give them a week and let them show it. Let me think through something here. They're going to get the week no matter what we do, but I've noticed that zoning committees sometimes chooses not to take action on things before it comes to the full commission. Do we have the option of not taking action on this? It's not a postponement because it's really not going to be postponed. It's going to be heard in a week regardless of what we take. But if we don't take an action, is that an option for us to address Mike's concern? No, you have to do some sort of action, either recommend approval, recommend postponement, even recommend referral, but there needs to be a recommendation. And referral, we didn't really come to a conclusion. We want the full commission to hear it anyway, and of course they will anyway. I don't think that resolving the stormwater management is insurmountable. I just think it needed to be a discussion that I had with them. Honestly, I think the adjacent development probably did a no-rise certification saying that the floodplain elevations, flood elevation was not going to increase due to the development. I don't see any regional ponds, which is what they said. So I just wanted to make it clear to them that they may need to do some on-site stormwater management unless they approve otherwise. And those details are typically worked out with their infrastructure improvement plans. I understand, and I'm not meaning to throw Vaughn under the bus on this situation either, but I'd like to see clarification on this. My recommendation, as you're offering, would be for, instead of postponement, just a referral to the full commission. And I can make that motion if you're ready. I mean, I kind of don't see it either way, because it's kind of like you make the assumption that they're going to have to work it out in order to proceed. So whether we refer it or approve it is almost immaterial as far as I can see. You know, even if we refer it, I don't know how much will change. I mean, can you refer saying that we need to hear something, or do you just generally refer? I don't know that it's buying anybody anything. Oh, let me turn. I don't know. Thank you, Tracy. I'm back to the fact that I would ask for it, and if they can present it, fine. If not, we'll make a decision next week. And I'm fine if there's some direction for the referral, if there's something restated so that we are expecting them to come back with some information. Sure, why not? It's okay. Madam Chair, I'll move for a recommendation of referral to the full commission on plan MJDP 25-67 Margaret Camet property with the currently 13 conditions noted by the staff. Can we add a condition that when it comes to the full commission, it has a further explanation of how the storm water will be? Hopefully so. Okay. I think they've got that idea. She was like adding that to the motion. Yes, I'm very good with that. Okay, can I get a second to that? Second. Okay. Any questions to that motion? Okay, all in favor of referral? Aye. Aye. Okay, we're unanimous. We'll hear that next week. Anything else? I believe that's it. Okay. All right, well, thank you. See you next week. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I've been with you such a long time, you're my sunshine. And I want you to know that my feelings are true, I really love you. Oh, you're my favorite. You make me live. You make me. When the rain drops. I still come back to you. And rain or shine, you're still my girl. I'm happy and fine. Oh, you make me live. Whenever this world is cruel to me. I got you to help me forgive. Oh, you make me live now, honey. Oh, you make me live. Oh, you're the first one when things turn out bad. You know I'll never be lonely. You're my only one and I love the things. I really love the things that you do. Oh, you're my favorite. Oh, you make me live. You're my favorite. Oh, you're my favorite. Oh, you make me live. Oh, you're my favorite. Oh, you make me live. You say, I cannot get there from here, baby, and I don't care where I'm going, here's to your thin red blinds. Ooh, I'm slipping over. But you never miss me till I got a fast city address. Not a stock talker, but a rocker. Ooh, I'd murder in a flashback trance. Change, nothing stays the same. I'm changed. If you're here, then better run and change. Ain't nothing stays the same. I'm changed. If you're here, then better run. I know. I don't ask for permission. This is my chance to fly. Maybe enough ain't enough for you. But it's my turn to try. But you never miss me till I got a fast city address. Not a stock talker, but a rocker. Ooh, I'd murder in a flashback trance. Change, nothing stays the same. I'm changed. If you're here, then better run and change. Ain't nothing stays the same. I'm changed. If you're here, then better run. Change, nothing stays the same. I'm changed. If you're here, then better run and change. Ain't nothing stays the same. I'm changed. If you're here, then better run. Whoa, whoa. Take a look at this. Hey, man, that city is you. Woo-wee. You'll get some leg tonight for sure. Tell us how you do. Come on, Dave. Give it a break. Hey, hey, hey, hey. One break coming up. Change, nothing stays the same. I'm changed. If you're here, then better run and change. Ain't nothing stays the same. I'm changed. If you're here, then better run and change. Ain't nothing stays the same. I'm changed. If you're here, then better run and change. Ain't nothing stays the same. I'm changed. Just take those old records off the shelf. I sit and listen to them by myself. Today's music ain't got the same soul. I like that old time rock and roll. Don't try to take me to a disco. You'll never even get me out on the floor. In 10 minutes, I'll be late for the door. I like that old time rock and roll. Still like that old time rock and roll. That kind of music just soothes the soul. I reminisce about the days of old with that old time rock and roll. Let's go. Won't go anywhere I play tango. I barely hear some blues with funky old soul. There's only one sure way to get me to go. Stop playing old time rock and roll. Call me a rat, call me what you will. Say I'm old fashioned, say I'm over the hill. Today's music ain't got the same soul. I like that old time rock and roll. Still like that old time rock and roll. That kind of music just soothes my soul. I reminisce about the days of old with that old time rock and roll. Still like that old time rock and roll. That kind of music just soothes my soul. I reminisce about the days of old with that old time rock and roll. Still like that old time rock and roll. That kind of music just soothes my soul. I reminisce about the days of old with that old time rock and roll. Still like that old time rock and roll. That kind of music just soothes my soul. I reminisce about the days of old with that old time rock and roll. Still like that old time rock and roll. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Now I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know where I'm gonna go when the volcano blows. Let me say it now. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know where I'm gonna go when the volcano blows. Grouchy's moving under me. Tidal waves out on the sea. I hope I smoke up in the sky. But then soon we'll learn to fly. Let me hear you now. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know where I'm gonna go when the volcano blows. Now my girl quickly said to me, you better watch your feet. Lava come down soft and hot. You better love me now or love me not. Let me say it now. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know where I'm gonna go when the volcano blows. Mr. Utley. No time to count what I'm worth. Because I just left the planet Earth. Where I go I hope there's rum. Not to worry, mine soon come. Now I don't know. I don't know. I don't know where I'm gonna go when the volcano blows. One more now. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know where I'm gonna go when the volcano blows. But I don't want to land in the New York City. I don't want to land in Mexico. Don't want to land on no three-mile island. I don't want to see my skin not glow. Don't want to land on Comanche Sky Park or in Nashville, Tennessee. Don't want to land on no San Juan airport or the Yukon territory. Don't want to land on San Diego. Don't want to land in no Bazaar Bay. Don't want to land on no Ayatollah. I got nothing more to say. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know where I'm going to go in the volcano. Just one more. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I'm Jack Patty and this is the Senior Minute. Successfully serving seniors. Hello. Welcome to another episode of the Senior Service Commission's Senior Minute. Today we have with us Ms. Kim Gooch, a senior advocate. Before we get going, just to remind folks that this is one of a three-set videos of the topics that Ms. Gooch is going to bring to us, Are Your Decks in a Row? So welcome, Ms. Gooch. Thank you for being here. Thank you for having me. Could you give a brief intro again about Are Your Decks in a Row? Sure. So Are Your Decks in a Row turns out to be a guidebook or workbook for families and seniors to work together to complete, just so that they can learn together, plan together, and age and end well. Very good. That sounds like a good thing to know how to do. So thanks to you, you defined what decks was. The first one has to do with decisions. Can you go into a little more detail about that section? Sure. So again, one of the reasons that I decided to put this together is because when I was working in home care, when I was working in senior living, I would see many of the same patterns with families. And most of the patterns were, you know, there would be a little bewildered when they would come in because we'd ask certain things. Maybe they wouldn't know it. You could kind of tell there there was just a disconnect just because there wasn't a plan. It's not that they don't want what's best. It's not that they don't have a plan in their head. It's just that no one's really shared it. And so decisions are really important. When you read some statistics, we find that only about 50 percent of people over 50 have an advanced directive. And then more alarming related to that is only one in three of us would guess our relatives wishes correctly. So it would behoove all of us to have our advanced health care directive in those decisions made and shared with their family so that we don't have to leave that to them in a moment of crisis. Crisis brings with it emotion, stress. And nobody wants to make those kind of decisions when it's on the cusp of all that. So health care decisions. Who's going to be the health care surrogate? Who might be the power of attorney? Do I need different ones for health care? Different one for finances? Who's going to look after my affairs after I'm gone? Who's going to look after my pets? What do I want to do with my body? Maybe I want to donate it to science or perhaps I want to be cremated. And so I need to have those conversations with my family because there are different cultures and different beliefs that feel strongly about some of those things. And so it's best for families to discuss those before it's time to make that decision. So if we can get through the D section of the book, we'll lead you through how to make those decisions, where to find the forms. In no way does that negate the need for professional advice. I think you should always work with a law professional, an elder care person, someone that you trust to get these things in place. Your last will and testament. Talk about giving things away. Lots of families keep the antique chest because they want to give it to daughter number one. And daughter number one wants nothing to do with the chest. Don't be offended by that. Let's go ahead and have a conversation because there could be somebody else in the family that that would be very meaningful to. So let's go ahead and give it to that person. So just having those decisions and thinking through some of them will help when you do get to the moment that you need that decision made. And then you, it's just really a checklist and an explanation of why you need certain documents together. Things like your birth certificate, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, mortgages, deeds. If you have military service records, there's a whole myriad of stuff. A long checklist of things that we feel like if you apply for some benefit somewhere or you apply for admission to a senior living community, they're going to ask you for many of these things. Once you're gone and your executor of your will has to take care of your affairs, they're going to need many of these documents. So let's talk through the checklist and let's get them all together. Let's let someone know where they are. Let's keep them together nicely and organized. And if we don't have something, let's find out where we need to apply for it and let someone know that we've done that. Subscriptions, auto pay accounts, all those things just kind of need to be organized and someone needs to know about them and where they are and where to find that information. So just to interrupt you, so that is the useful records section. Correct. The U being the second. All right. Thank you. And then the C chapter is just almost completely, well, there is I think one worksheet in there, but it's a chapter to educate you about all kinds of care environments that you might be interested in knowing about. So most of us say we want to age in place at home. Some of the statistics around that are kind of scary. Seventy-seven percent of people say they want to age at home. But recently there was a study released that said I think only like 60 percent of people really can afford to entertain that idea. And I just spoke with a friend of mine who continues to work in private home care, and she was telling me that 24-7 care for home care could be anywhere from $18,000 to $23,000 a month if you need round-the-clock care. So aging in place at home is a wonderful sentiment. If you need 24-hour care, it's going to be expensive. If you're going to stay there, you're probably going to have to make modifications. You're going to have to reimagine home. And I have a dear friend here in Lexington who works on that project. And there's all kinds of ways to rethink about where you live and what you call home. There's all kinds of support programs to help you age in place at home. So we go through them. They're all different, home care versus home health care. What's a village model that could be available in Lexington? Just all kinds of support ideas that we talk about. And then if you choose to live outside the home, there are all kinds of different care settings, and we try to educate you about those in that particular section of the book. And then K deals a little bit with kids and kin. And so we all know that, well, we say that kids are a blessing, and they usually are, mine included. But, you know, sometimes families live with, you know, a strange relationship or certainly, you know, things happen. And so let's try to all get on the same page. Let's try not to go through the end of our life with regret, perhaps. Perhaps something has happened in our family that was very difficult 10 years ago. Maybe I couldn't accept something that I could maybe revisit and maybe be more apt to accept at this point. So if there are things that we can work through, let's do that before it's too late. Let's get our kids and kin and let's live like a village taking care of one another as best we can. So we just talk through a lot of things about living with your offspring and your extended family in that particular chapter. And then S is probably the most important part of the book. From my standpoint, it's probably one of the primary reasons I ever started on the project to begin with. And it stands, S stands for the story of you. There is only one you. Your intergenerational family needs to know who you are. They need to know the life's lessons that you learned. And I don't think I could be wrong. You know, this story, my grandmother's story, played a very important part of her care when she was in a skilled nursing home living with Alzheimer's. And so her care changed once her caregivers knew her story. So if you are dealing with those kinds of memory loss issues, the more your caregiver knows about your story, the more dignified and compassionate they can be in the delivery of care for you. And so it becomes paramount at that point. But it's still important no matter what. And I don't think I could be wrong if Taylor Swift is singing about it. So my daughter just recently shared with me that she wrote a story about her grandmother. And in this, I'm sorry, she wrote a song about her grandmother. And in the song, she says, I should have asked you questions. I should have asked you how to be. I should have asked you to write it down for me. And I think that's a beautiful sentiment about how important your story is too. This is good. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. It's a little bit of genuine thing to call a lover. Well, I always thought that I had me a pretty good style. But I lost and raced my good old country mile. Yeah, I was walking all around with my head held way up high. And it threw me, hit me, really took me by surprise. Oh, that little bit of teeny weeny thing to call a lover. Nobody's ever seen it, but it's got the whole world shook up. It all started with a little bit of kiss and a hug. It's a little bit of teeny weeny thing to call a lover. Oh, that little bit of teeny weeny thing to call a lover. Nobody's ever seen it, but it's got the whole world shook up. It all started with a little bit of kiss and a hug. It's a little bit of teeny weeny thing to call a lover. Yeah, it's a little bit of teeny weeny thing to call a lover. Yeah, it's a little bit of teeny weeny thing to call a lover. Get On Your Mark, Get Set, Ready or Not, Here I Come On this special edition of Lexington Now, highlights of Mayor Gorton's State of the City-County Address. I'm Neal Noah and welcome to Lexington Now for the week of February 2nd, 2026. Mayor Gorton gave the annual State of the City-County Address this past week. We're bringing you some of the highlights today. We begin with a look at the economy. Today, we're turning a page in our community's weighty history book. 2025, a year in which we marked our 250th anniversary, is behind us. 2026, number 251, of course, has begun. Our historic 250 Lex celebration was a yearlong affair dedicated to what makes Lexington great. And thousands of people joined in with events in every corner of our community. With the dawn of 251, it's time to redouble our focus on the future. We know the future really is now and we know that progress doesn't just happen. So we continuously lay the groundwork for it. As I talk today about the changes we've made over the past year, I want you to know that we are again ready to launch some exciting new initiatives. This starts with the discussion of our economy and the investments for future success we are making in it. First, where do things stand? Well, the good news continues. That's not wrong. Over the past year, we set a record for the highest employment in our history. Currently, there are 171,656 people employed in Fayette County, the highest ever. While our cost of living remains relatively low, per capita income and median household income continue to climb. To make sure those numbers continue to grow, economic development remains a top priority for me. As I start my eighth year as mayor, it continues to be something I work on every single day to secure a bright future for our children and their children. For example, we have invested in two new industrial parks, the Legacy Business Park and the new public regional industrial park in Berea, also involving Madison and Scott counties, along with Lexington-Fayette County. Construction on Legacy Business Park, the city's newest light industrial park, began last June and will be completed later this year. We got the deed to the property in 2022 and broke ground in 2025, a quick turnaround. We are investing $22.6 million in infrastructure to make this 200-acre park on Georgetown Road shovel-ready for businesses. Our upfront costs are fully funded. This park will open debt-free. It will have 16 lots totaling 147 acres for development. We estimate Legacy will be home to nearly 1,700 jobs, with an annual estimated payroll of $100 million. This is awesome progress. In addition, I recently helped initiate and join the City of Berea and Madison and Scott County Fiscal Courts to create the Central Kentucky Business Park Authority, which has purchased and will manage Central Kentucky's first public regional business park. It's a goal we have been actively working toward for several years. I have been building strong partnerships with Bluegrass leaders so that we could begin working together on regional economic development. Along with our friends in Madison and Scott Counties, whom I began meeting with my first year as mayor, we are doing it. Based in Berea, this economic development project, a 300-acre industrial park, will provide good jobs and tax revenue that will allow governments in Berea and in all three of our counties to make improvements. This is something that is actively underway. And again, because of the relationships we have built, I am hopeful that the future will bring more regional projects. The future really is now. In economic development, we work to grow and attract all kinds of jobs at various skill levels. That is also the focus of our city's workforce development program, which helps some residents find a first job through classes in essential employment skills and prepares others for a better job through more advanced training. All of our training keeps in mind the needs of our local employers. In fact, our employers visit our new Davis Park Workforce Center and meet with prospective employees. The center served over 400 people in 2025, its first year of operation. Eight Work Lexington partners provide job training for the city. Between July 2024 and June 2025, these partners trained, then helped over 1,600 people find employment. Finally, our Second Chance Academy offers job training inside our jail to inmates whose sentences are coming to an end. In 2025, 71 inmates completed this training. This will continue our look at the city cap. Welcome back to Lexington. Welcome back to Lexington. Public safety took center stage in the next portion of the mayor's speech. Police Department, Fire Department, Community Corrections, E911, and Emergency Management. In recent years, investments we have made in technology have transformed several of these divisions. Violent crime is trending down in our community, in part because of technology-intensive, precision-based, intelligence-led policing. Acting as a police force multiplier, technology boosts efficiency, allows for expanded data analysis, and improves officer safety. Our real-time intelligence center has had a significant impact on solving crime, with additional specialists hired this year to expand operating hours. The overall numbers tell the story. Between 2024 and 2025, violent crime has dropped 10.8%. So last year, we also expanded evidence testing through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, which compares ballistic evidence gathered across the country to the number of leads in violent crimes involving firearms. That, coupled with our local investment to expand DNA testing, led to the closure of a 27-year-old cold case this year, the murder of Linda Rutledge, at last providing closure for her family. This future is now. We're also expanding faster response times to the fire department. A new alerting system installed last year, a $1 million investment, allows for better integration with E911. It also features electronic dispatch, freeing dispatchers from verbally dispatching every single run, and speeding up the all-important dispatch times. The system has built-in backup, an important layer of protection for the public. Increased public protection is also the goal of a new program the fire department launched last June with the Kentucky Blood Center. It's already saving lives. It's already providing blood transfusions at the scene, improving patient survival rates. Our firefighters have already administered whole blood over 20 times. And as a registered nurse, I certainly understand how this is an enormous step forward. In part, only 1% to 2% of emergency medical services nationwide perform such transfusions. Another step forward, our community paramedicine team expanded in 2025 with the addition of a crisis response team, building on an already unique multidisciplinary approach that includes firefighters, paramedics, law enforcement, social workers, and counselors. This expansion further positions our city at the forefront of community paramedicine and mobile integrated health. E911 technology is vital to public safety. In 2025, we upgraded that technology to allow transmission of text, photos, videos, and other location data. The change improves emergency response, making it faster and more effective. The Division of Emergency Management also upgraded its technology, including the mass notification system that is the backbone of LexAlerts, Lexington's free emergency and public notification system. The new systems provide multi-language capabilities. In addition, they represent a savings of over $100,000 a year. Finally, in public safety, our Division of Community Corrections has made significant progress in how our community cares for individuals with severe behavioral health needs in our detention center. Lexington established a dedicated behavioral health unit. This unit is designed for rehabilitation and reentry, serving some of the most at-risk individuals in our system, and preparing them to return to community healthier, safer, and more stable. Every corrections recruit now completes crisis intervention training prior to graduation, ensuring officers can recognize mental health crisis early. Officers assigned to the behavioral health unit receive advanced mental health training. This level of preparation is uncommon in corrections nationally and earned our corrections officers recognition from local mental health advocates. Here are some final highlights of the Mayor's State of the City County Address. Another part of our government, Parks and Recreation, plays an essential role in youth development through all kinds of sports programs, outdoor play, arts and culture activities, and much, much more. In many ways, 2025 was a banner year for our parks. Thanks to the Rescue Act funding and local dollars, we were able to invest over $29 million in significant parks projects all over town. In addition, we upgraded many of our playgrounds, our equipment, our trails, our sports courts, and much, much more. The bigger projects we completed include the opening of Cardinal Run North, the first large regional park our community has opened in 25 years. The opening of Kelly's Landing, providing Lexington's first public access to the river. The reopening of Douglas Aquatic Center with a new pool and pool house. And the reinvention of Phoenix Park downtown, which opened this fall to rave reviews. Now, affordable housing is an essential investment in the future of many of our families and our community. We currently have 231 units under construction. Most will provide needed units for seniors this time, ages 55 and over. Once these units are complete, our growing portfolio will total 3,826 units. Either preserved or constructed, and we hope to top 4,000 units by the end of this year. Including a $5 million investment last year, we have invested $60 million in public money to leverage a $490 million investment by the private sector since this affordable housing program started in 2014. We have made solid progress in affordable housing. Building affordable housing is one of many ways we work to reduce the number of people in our community who are experiencing homelessness. In 2025, we again offered a winter shelter service to meet seasonal needs. We increased outreach downtown to quickly respond to concerns and to engage individuals in need of assistance. I formed the Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness, which is focused on identifying strategies, resources, and solutions to better serve Lexington's homeless population. Since 2020, we have spent $50 million to address homelessness. Even so, like many other cities across our nation, we saw an increase in the number of unhoused people in Lexington last year. I have asked this new task force to examine best practices in other cities, looking for new creative approaches. Finally today, I want to talk about investments we make to maintain our hometown. I'm talking about the basic building blocks of our community. You all know it. Roads, traffic signals, snow removal, sewers, sidewalks, recycling, trails, and much, much more. Here are a few highlights from 2025. We closed gaps in sidewalks on Squires Road and Wilson Downing, upgraded the area around Gatton Park, the privately funded Destination Park that opened this year downtown with drainage improvements, a tunnel for access, and landscaping. We performed basic road maintenance, pruning trees, cutting back brush, and fixing potholes, 8,979 of them. Invested an additional $2 million in snow removal equipment and contracts. Started a successful education campaign to improve the way we recycle. Improved traffic signals and signage in many locations all over town. Continued sanitary sewer improvements. Over 75 percent of the improvements ordered by the courts in 2011 are now complete with total costs under original estimates. I want to close today with a big thank you to our residents. You are extraordinary. Back in November, I asked everyone in Lexington to dig into their pockets and contribute to a month-long food drive for God's Pantry Food Bank. We called it Lexington's Big Give. And wow, what a response. You donated 105,000 pounds of food during one month. God's Pantry was blown away. That was their words. 41 percent of all the food collected for God's Pantry in 2025 came from the Big Give. 41 percent. Plus $6,000 in monetary contributions, all to combat food insecurity. You can find the complete speech on our YouTube page or on the city's website at lexingtonky.gov. We are now joined by Randy with the Pets of the Week. Hey everyone, welcome to this week's Lexington Fayette County Adoptable Pets from LexTV and the Lexington Humane Society. First up, we have Air, a female, toby and white in color, approximate age one year old, mature size is medium, positive cat interaction is yes. Archibald, adorable white and orange in color, female, approximate age seven months old, mature size is medium, positive cat interaction is yes, does well with children. And we have adorable Annie, color is black, female, approximately 12 years old, mature size is medium, And take a look at Archibald, adorable male, brown, tabby and white, age six years old, mature size is medium, positive cat interaction is yes, and also does well with children. And last we have Baby, blue in color, female, approximate age 10 years old, a domestic short hair mix, mature size is medium, positive cat interaction is yes, and also does well with children. And that's been a look at your adorable adoptable pets from the Lexington Humane Society and LexTV. For more information make sure to visit LexingtonHumaneSociety.org And remember folks, we adopt, we don't shop. Thanks Randy, and now here's Tanner Triplett with this weekend's events. Hey there, I'm Tanner in security. Here's some upcoming events coming up this weekend, February 7th. It's story walk time Saturday, February 7th at McConnell Springs Park. Story walk is a very fun way for children and adults to experience reading. Laminated pages of a children's book will be posted all around the trail for all to enjoy at their own pace. This is a self-guided event, there's no registration necessary. When possible, stories are offered in English and Spanish to better serve the community. Are you curious about backpacking? Join the outdoor programs for a moderate hike around Heisel Farm Park Saturday, February 7th at 11 a.m. We will provide backpacks of various sizes for you to try out during the hike. We will talk about packs and the differences before going on a mile-long hike around the park. Birdwalking count Sunday, February 8th at 2 p.m. at McConnell Springs Park. Learn the basics of birdwatching and participate in the Global Citizen Science event, the Great Backyard Bird Count. Park staff will lead the walk, help identify birds, and report our sightings to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Registration is required. I'm Tanner, and that's just some of the things that we have going on this weekend in Lexington and Fayette County. You may need to pre-register for some of these events. For more events and more information, be sure to visit lexingtonky.gov and click the calendar tab at the top. Thanks for watching, we'll see you next week. Hi everyone, I'm Tanner Insecurity. Here's our current live meeting schedule this week, February 2nd, 2026 for LexTV. Remember, you can watch all our live coverage on LexTV channel 185 and always online at lexingtonky.gov. First up, on Tuesday morning at 930 February 3rd, watch the Public Art Commission. And then, watch the Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee meeting at 1. And later, at 3pm, watch the Council Work Session meeting. On Thursday in the morning at 830 February 5th, watch the Planning Commission Subdivision Subcommittee meeting. And later that afternoon at 1.30, watch the Planning Commission Zoning Subcommittee meeting. That's our current live meeting schedule for LexTV for the week of February 2026. Watch all of our live meeting coverage on LexTV channel 185 or always online at lexingtonky.gov. And click the LexTV tab at the top. I'm Tanner and we'll see you next time. That's all for now, but as always, you can keep up with us on social media. Check out the latest traffic updates on X at LexRex or catch our live traffic cams on lexingtonky.gov. For all of us at LexTV, I'm Neil Noah and that's it for now. LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LextLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music LexLegend's Music Do you remember earlier this year? It was one of the coldest days of the year. How could I forget? And we did the Patrol episode. It was so cold. Well and thats the thing about Patrol. Every day is different. Every shift is different. Every, I mean you see, you obviously go to work every day knowing that you can see the worst of the worst. Yeah. And thats what a lot of people don't realize, I don't think, about Patrol is that, you know, somebody has to respond to these things, right? Yeah. And it all starts with Patrol, so. And we're your first line of, you know, defense. We get the calls, we initiate the initial report before it goes to its specified bureau or detective that it's going to go to. And if an officer wants to follow up with that particular, you know, case, they can get with that detective. They get assigned that case and they'll assign it to them as well and they can work, you know, in unison with that detective to, you know, see this case. If it goes all the way through the court system and, you know, if it has to go to trial and stuff like that, so. We do like doing that because, you know, there's a few cases that just hit home. Right. You're just like, oh man, can I follow through with this case? Whether it's domestic or narcotic related or you got someone and it closes out like five to six burglary reports because they've been tied to all these other, you know, criminal offenses. And you remember when we did the motor episode and Larry Wilcox from Chips came in. Absolutely love that. Yeah. Good morning and a happy day to everybody in Lexington and the PD department. God bless you. You mentioned that you rode before, before the show and that you went through police motorcycle training. Was there any differences in what you knew before you went through training compared to after you went through training? You think your riding changed a lot? Yeah, it really changed a lot. You know, most of the stuff that I knew before were problem areas that get in the way in terms of police training. But, you know, for example, just your head placement in terms of what you look at and where you're looking at things that you don't want to be looking at because you're going to hit them. You know, they always say, don't look at the rock in the middle of the road because you're going to hit it now. Right. Which sure enough, you do. Right. And, you know, then turning, you know, it's always looking about what people forget is that police bikes very heavy, number one. And it's a lot of, you know, the difficulty is all the slow riding, the inertia and the balancing of the bike when you're just breaking and clutching and barely moving through traffic. And trying to balance it in kind of weird areas. So, you know, we got really good at that. And doing figure eights in a small rectangle without laying the bike down is always an issue. And that's why I always say that, you know, anyone can ride a motorcycle fast, but not many can ride it really, really slow. High speed braking was another issue. You know, I didn't know anything about that. And so my braking was usually just the rear brake. CHP train different where you use both brakes and easily use them. So, you know, I probably laid the bike down multiple times and all that. But you have those bars on the side that it falls on. So that spares you a little bit. Yeah, without gloves and, you know, some pads and stuff, it can bruise you up a little bit. But once you learn how to do it, it's not a big deal. And then so braking was one issue. High speed braking in terms of where the rear end comes around and says hello to you. The motorcycle, I'm exaggerating to make my point. But it does come around. And, you know, that's pretty intimidating. But once you learn how to do it, you know, look pretty cool when you come in hot and that happens. It's not a big deal, right? And then also, you know, being quiet and logical instead of emotional so that you can process information on a motorcycle because you have another you have multiple other factors going on. And do you also remember a couple of months ago, one of my favorite episodes, canine unit with all the puppy dogs? Everybody loves the dogs. So how do we use the dogs? What are the purposes and what do we have patrol dogs? We have different types of dogs. What do we have? Yeah. So our primary three things are going to be patrol dogs, narcotic dogs and bomb dogs. Obviously, we use dogs because they smell better than us. So the main breeds that you're going to see is obviously your typical German Shepherd. That's what everybody thinks about for a police dog. We also have Belgian Malinois. We have a Dutch Shepherd. And then obviously you saw Raya. We have lab floppy ears dogs sometimes for single purpose use. What is the difference between the three, the patrol, narcotics and bomb? So the patrol dogs, they're going to be used primarily whenever we need to find subjects who have committed crimes. Whether it's a symptom that's broken into a building, they've committed a violent crime and we need to track their odor and find them for the sake of us and the public. Your explosive dogs, I'm sure Chaz can go into it more. This is going to be for your big events to make sure that we don't have any explosives hidden. And then narcotics is primary use is going to be for vehicles that we suspect there's narcotics inside. So I know we talked about the different types of dogs. Are they multipurpose or do they just, if that's a narcotics dog, that's just a narcotics dog? No, most of our dogs are dual purpose. We'll have, I think we have two single purpose dogs. One was Raya that you spoke with earlier. She's an explosives dog. That's her only job. We have another narcotics detection dog. He's with our narcotics unit. He's only narcotics. All the other dogs are dual purpose, which means they'll do patrol, which is apprehension, finding people, finding evidence. And they're also either narcotics or explosives. My dog, Kato, is a dual purpose patrol and bomb dog. So he does both. When we look for the dogs, we look for a dog that is environmentally sound. We need to make sure that they're comfortable in every environment because it can be really weird out there in the world, right? We look for dogs that have great noses. Pat mentioned their best feature for us is their nose. It helps us locate what we need to find, whether it's missing people, criminals, narcotics, explosives. So we always look to make sure that they have a really good hunt drive and that they hunt and that they have really good changes and they can find things. First, it's just the ball because they know what a ball is. It's easy to see. We want to make sure they have a lot of ball drive and that they hunt methodically. So they're always checking and looking and hopeful that they're going to discover something because that makes the training take a lot better than if they didn't care. And you remember going up in the helicopter doing the air support unit and you did a fly along with us? Yes, and I didn't get sick. You didn't get sick, and that was a good thing, right? Well, you used to be in a cruiser on the ground, so we're about 1,000 feet right now over the city. What are your thoughts? What do you think about it? Do you like it? I love to fly, so I think this is awesome. The first time I flew, I didn't know our cruisers had our P numbers on the hood because I was like, how do you tell whose is who? That helps us out a whole lot because there's been several times that we would have to reposition cruisers, and by having that P number on top of the car, we can certainly tell where everybody's at. It's definitely a different perspective from up here. You know, it's truly a bird's eye view, so again, it's all about safety, keeping the officers safe, but also keeping the citizens safe. We do a lot of large-scale events. We're command and control for UK football games. Anytime we've got a large traffic event where we can monitor traffic flow up here, and advise arteries to go green and assist with traffic flow. So there's all different types of uses for this. One of the benefits for us, a lot of times a call will be dispatched, and we can get over the call relatively quickly to give the ground units information that they need. For instance, it may be an accident on I-75. We're able to get over there pretty quick and let them know what they've got, how it's going to impact traffic flow, what kind of fire apparatus is going to be needed, everything's like that. So we do not have to worry about stoplights up here. We are right now, we're about 70 miles per hour as far as ground speed goes. We do everything by knots, but we're roughly about 70 miles an hour right now. So we always maintain about a 60-knot forward airspeed just in case we were to lose an engine. We can do an autorotation and land safely as long as we've got that forward airspeed. So you'll never see us hovering in the air. It's only on takeoff and landing. So, question. Yes, ma'am. Is the visibility better, like, in the wintertime? Because you have all these trees and the leaves, and we can't see through them like spring, summer. But if we're trying to find someone in the wintertime, is it better when there's no leaves on the trees? That is a great question. So a topical flight officer loves wintertime because we don't have leaves, and it does, the visibility is completely different. How we compensate for that is flight patterns. We adjust those a little bit in the summer when we've got a lot of foliage. And then we also have the thermal imager before looking infrared, the FLIR onboard. So depending on how thick the vegetation is, we'll utilize that a lot of times. If we have somebody fleeing on foot, or if we have a lost subject on the ground, we'll be able to use the port looking infrared to detect body heat and try to locate them that way through foliage. And one of our most recent episodes was the drones. The drones, always love the technology, yeah. So when the drones were put into patrol, we put one in each sector, and we trained two pilots each shift for each sector. Those folks train quarterly according to policy, so they come in and do their quarterly training. We do a night training to make sure they're proficient in their skills. And those drones have proven to be very beneficial for finding not only missing folks, but also suspects that are wanted in crimes. Yes. So do we have some success stories? We have a lot of success stories. Fortunately, we've been able to find some missing people, missing children, that have been either run away or gotten away from home that they can't find their way back, and we've been able to use that. Most importantly, we've been able to protect our officers on scene when they're responding to calls. One specifically happened within the last year where a person had assaulted their significant other, fled in a vehicle, and then the police got behind that vehicle. The person wrecked and then fled into a wooded area. What you have there is a wooded area where somebody can take up an advantage against the police. We were able to use the drone and find a heat signature. What that did is allow the officers to form a perimeter and call that person out to them rather than potentially harming not only our officers, but the suspect that was in there. It makes an overall safe environment because, once again, you have that third perspective, and you're able to say, we know we see you in there. You need to come out to us, and that person actually did give up. And that's just one of many success stories where we've been able to find folks that have fled from traffic stops or domestic violence or any kind of crimes in our community. They've been able to dispatch those drones from the patrol officers that have those with them, put those up immediately after, and find these folks. Man, that was great. Who puts all this together? That was some pretty great material, let me just tell you. Tyler Rowlett, he's our producer, our editor with the project with LexTV. He's awesome. Awesome. Fantastic job. Surely we don't have any bloopers, though, do we? I've got a whole folder. I keep all of them. I don't believe it. You do? Yeah, I've got two years' worth. Let's check some out. Well, it's not my fault. That's his fault. Keep it down. Hey, we are back here with Sergeant Gary Thurman with... Let's start over. That's on the bloopers, okay. Do what? I'm having one of your moments. We are here with Matt Grayhouse, commander of the... Oh, God. Sorry. Commander of Oh, God. All right. All right. 1917. Why don't you play your video games back there? I don't have anything to hold on to. Right there. There you go. Oh, Jesus. That's just... Ugh. All right. Man, it is two seasons. It's hard to believe. It's hard to believe. It was fun today, though, going back and watching. We've had so much fun doing this project. And are you ready for season three? Yes. So I know we've interviewed a whole lot of specialized units already in the first two seasons. Who do we have lined up coming up for season three? You know, we've still got many, many specialized units. I know that we already have some planned as far as E911, the 911 center, where everything starts, when people call the police department, call the fire department. And we've got the emergency response unit, our SWAT team. We're going to be talking with them. So we've got other partnerships, other specialized units, a full lineup for season three. I'm excited. I am, too. So we, again, thank everyone for watching Your Lex PD, and make sure that you join us for all of our episodes on season three. ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ So thank you both for being here with me today to talk over this new and exciting project. Thank you so much for having us. Yeah. Liza, can you tell me a little bit about the project, just kind of a general overview? Absolutely. Stand With Her Story is an initiative based upon the fact that women historically have been very underrepresented in history. And so we thought doing something that might overrepresent us a little bit might be a really neat idea. So this is an all-call for stories about how women are making our society work. It could be everything from a six-year-old saying my mom is the best to someone who has an employee that just always lifts the morale, all the way up to Isabel Yates is an icon and everything in between. So it's a quantity versus quality type of an initiative. And all of the people who are submitted, their stories will live in a display here at the Lexington History Museum. So you can come and visit and type in the name and be able to see the impact that those women have made. Thank you. And so this started with the League of Women Voters of Lexington, but you are now partnering with the History Museum, and we're in the Lexington History Museum right now. Mandy, tell us a little bit about this partnership, how it has evolved, and what the History Museum's role is going to be. Yeah. So Liza came. Liza kind of cold-called me, which was great. She said, I have this idea, and I think the museum would be a great partner. And so we met at Marteen's. You know, if somebody wants to nominate Marteen's, that might be a great one. And had a conversation about the importance of. what the work that we can do in uplifting women's stories. So the Lexington History Museum tells everybody in Lexington stories, and we were immediately really intrigued with this idea of being a place where you could come to learn a little bit more about everyday Lexingtonians, as well as our most well-known folks. So we started talking about how we could do that, how we could honor women. It came to the conclusion that a permanent kiosk of nominated and self-nominated stories would allow us to do that. And then what's so exciting for us and for history lovers is that we're gonna get stories we never had before to understand Lexington, and so we're really excited to see who people nominate and what kind of stories we can tell that tell us a lot about the larger Fayette County over the course of its 250 years and how we're thinking about ourselves today. Yeah, and we're standing next to some great women of Lexington's history, like we've got Isabelle Yates here and Pam Miller here, among some other women that are highlighted. But this is a broader call, right? So we oftentimes think about like award winners, or you have to do something grand, you know, to be nominated for an award. But this is broader than that. So it's not an award, but it's like a recognition of, like you said, all the everyday people. So tell me a little bit more about the stories you'd like to share or some examples of who to nominate. You mentioned a couple before. Yeah, so for me, history is made by all of us, right? So any one of us are impacting the people around us every day. Those are the stories we want. The person who made sure that kids went to school with shoes every day, but we didn't know their name. Or the Fortune 500 banker who made sure that a small business got a loan, which led to the next thing, and we didn't know the banker's name, right? We only know about that business that took off. We want those stories because that tells us so much about who we are and who this community is and who it could be if we all knew all of these sorts of things. And we also want for individuals to realize their own power in this, right? That you, every day, are interacting with people that you are making a difference when you're doing that, and you may not know it. So this is a chance for me to nominate a friend or a colleague who I see doing really incredible work, and for that to be recorded in history, and it doesn't just stop with me knowing they did it. Now everybody has a chance to know they did it. Yeah, and I think the stories can not only recognize someone whose work might have not gotten recognized in the past, but also can inspire others to do something that they might see as like a simple task, but really has an impact on someone else's life and the growth of Lexington overall. So tell me a little bit about how to nominate someone. We try to make it as easy as possible. We do have flyers that we're kind of placing around town with little QR codes, but you can go to the League's website which is lwvlexington.com and slash her story will get you right there. And so it's a short chat form that it'll ask for your name, your, the name of your nominee, a little bit, about 250 words, up to 250 words, doesn't have to be that long about the person. And we're also asking when this impact happened because maybe it was a grandmother that, you know, from several generations ago that made some sort of an impact and then you can upload pictures or a little video or whatever you'd like to, to be able to contribute to your story. Then we're excited that in March, we're gonna do a reading of all the names that have been submitted down at the stand. So everybody will be able to have their, their name publicly brought forward. And then we're real excited about the opportunity to maybe get more people into the museum so that they could come in, type in Lee Sheehan and see the wonderful impact that you've made. Well, maybe. So tell us where the stand is too, because not everyone might be familiar with that cause that is also an achievement for our community. It really is. Very few monuments are made for women and Breaking the Brown Ceiling was an organization really designed to make that happen here in Lexington. And so there is this gorgeous, like super tall statue of suffragettes that is on the backside of the blue building. So I believe that's on High Street. Yeah, so, so you can see that, that monument downtown, but that's where the reading of the names for all of those in this project will be. So the call to action here is for you to think of one, two, three, five, 10 women whose stories that you want to recognize and then go to the League of Women Voters of Lexington's website and submit those stories so they can be preserved, and everyone can know about all the great things going on in Lexington. Thank you everyone. ♪ Said it's so hard sometimes ♪ ♪ I know it's so hard to feel alone ♪ ♪ So hard, said it's so sad sometimes ♪ ♪ There must be some other way, don't have to do it ♪ ♪ Said it's about the way sometimes, ah! ♪ ♪ You don't have to say it, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Said it's about the way sometimes, ah! ♪ ♪ You know I want to make it home to you ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I've been holding you so long, I've been sleeping all along, oh, and I miss you ♪ ♪ I've been acting on the phone, I've been sleeping all along, I won't be cussing you ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ah! ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ah! ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ah! ♪ ♪ Well, I've been howling in my sleep, you've been starring in my dreams, Lord, I'll pass your time ♪ ♪ I've been waiting in the hall, been waiting on your call, your phone rings, it's just a friend of mine, you see ♪ ♪ Hey, what's the matter, man? We're gonna come around the square with some Puerto Rican girls, it's just us, and me too ♪ ♪ We're gonna bring a case of wine, and we're gonna mess some fool around, you know, like we used to ♪ ♪ La-la-la-ah-ah, la-la-la-ah-ah, la-la-la-ah-ah, la-la-la-ah-ah, la-la-la-la-ah-ah, la-la-la-la-ah-ah, la-la-la-la-ah-ah, la-la-la-la-ah ♪ La-la-la-ah, la-la-la-ah-ah, la-la-la-la-ah, la-la-la-la-ah-ah, la-la-la-la-ah-ah, la-la-la-la-ah-ah, la-la-la-la-ah-ah-ah, la-la-la-la-ah-ah, la-la-la-la-ah-ah, la-la-la-la-ah-ah ♪ Ooh, everybody waits so long ♪ Ooh, everybody waits so long ♪ Come on, come on ♪ Come on ♪ I've been walking Central Park ♪ Singing after dark ♪ People think I'm crazy ♪ Stuffing on my feet ♪ Shuffling to the street ♪ Asking people ♪ What's the matter with you, boy? ♪ Sometimes my words say ♪ To myself ♪ Sometimes I say ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ I won't get too much ♪ I guess I'm lying to myself ♪ It's just you and no one else, Lord ♪ I won't make you shy ♪ La-la, la-la-la-la ♪ La-la, la-la-la-la ♪ La-la, la-la-la-la ♪ La-la, la-la-la-la ♪ Ha, ha-ha ♪ La-la, la-la-la-la ♪ La-la, la-la-la-la ♪ Ha, ha-ha ♪ La-la, la-la-la-la ♪ La-la, la-la-la-la ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Look what you're doing to me I'm actually at your whim All of my defense is down The camera looks through me But it's like 3D vision I'm on the ground All I can manage to push from my lips Is a stream of absurdity Every word I intended to speak Winds up locked in the circuitry No way to control it It's totally automatic Whenever you're around I'm walking my phone in Completely automatic All of my systems are down Down, down, down Automatic Automatic What is this madness That makes my motor run My legs too weak to stand I go from sadness To exhilaration Like a robot at your command My hands perspire Shake like a leaf Up and down blows my temperature I call my doctors To get some relief But they tell me there is no cure Tell me No way to control it It's totally automatic Whenever you're around I'm walking my phone in Completely automatic All of my systems are down Down, down, down Automatic Automatic Automatic Automatic Automatic Automatic Automatic Look what you're doing to me I'm utterly at your whim All of my defense is down Your camera looks through me With its x-ray vision And all systems run aground All I can manage To push from my lips Is a stream of absurdity Every word I intend to speak Winds up locked in a circuitry No way to control it It's totally automatic Whenever you're around I'm walking my phone in Completely automatic All of my systems are down Down, down No way to control it It's totally automatic Whenever you're around I'm walking my phone in Completely automatic All of my systems are down Down, down, down No way to control it It's totally automatic Whenever you're around I'm walking my phone in Completely automatic All of my systems are down If I could reach the stars Pull one down for you Shining on my heart So you could see the truth And this love I have inside And this love I have inside Is everything it seems But for now I find It's only in my dreams That I can change the world I would be the sunlight in your universe You would think my love was really something good Baby, if I could change the world If I could be king Even for a day I'd take you as my queen I'd have no other way I'd have no other way And our love would rule This kingdom we have made Till then I'd be a fool Wishing for the day That I can change the world I would be the sunlight in your universe You would think my love was really something good Baby, if I could change the world Baby, if I could change the world I would be the sunlight in your universe You would think my love was really something good Baby, if I could change the world I would be the sunlight in your universe You would think my love was really something good You would think my love was really something good Baby, if I could change the world Baby, if I could change the world Baby, if I could change the world You would think my love was really something good Baby, if I could change the world You would think my love was really something good Baby, if I could change the world I would be the sunlight in your universe You would think my love was really something good Baby, if I could change the world Baby, if I could change the world Baby, if I could change the world I got me a car, it's as big as a well And we're heading on down to the love shack I got me a Chrysler and it's about 20 So hurry up and bring your jukebox money The love shack is a little place where We can get together Love shack baby Love shack baby Love shack, baby, love shack Love shack, baby, love shack Love shack, baby, love shack Love shack, baby, love shack Sign says stay away fools Cause love rules at the love shack Well it's set way back in the middle of a field To the funky old shack and I gotta get back Glitter on the mattress Glitter on the highway Glitter on the sun porch Glitter on the highway The love shack is a little place where We can get together Love shack baby Love shack baby Love shack, that's where it's at Love shack, that's where it's at Puggin' and a-kissin' and dancin' and a-lovin' Wearin' nothing, nothin' Puggin' hard as a-nothin' The whole shack shimmy Yeah, the whole shack shimmy The whole shack shimmy When everybody's movin' around and around And around and around Everybody's movin' Everybody's movin', baby Folks lightin' up outside just to get down Everybody's movin' Everybody's movin', baby Puggin' and a-shack Puggin' and a-shack Puggin' and a-shack Puggin' and a-shack Puggin' and a-shack Up in my Chrysler It's as big as a whale And it's about to set sail I got me a car And seats about 20 So come on And bring your jukebox money Oh, the love shack is a little place where we get together Love shack baby Love shack baby Love shack Love shack baby Love shack Love shack, baby Love shack Love shack baby Love shack Love shack Bang, bang, bang On the door, baby Nothing louder, baby Bang, bang, bang On the door, baby I can't hear you Bang, bang, bang On the door, baby Nothing louder, sugar Bang, bang, bang On the door, baby I can't hear you Bang, bang, bang On the door, baby Bang, bang, bang On the door, baby Bang, bang On the door, baby Bang, bang On the door Bang, bang On the door, baby Bang, bang Your voice can rest Love shack, baby, love shack Love shack Baby, love shack Love shack, baby, love shack Love shack Baby, love shack You'll never love back applause music Times are hard You're afraid to pay the fee So you find yourself somebody Who can do the job for free When you need a bit of lovin' Cause your man is out of town That's the time to get me runnin' And you know I'll be around I'm a fool to do your dirty work Oh yeah I don't wanna do your dirty work No more I'm a fool to do your dirty work Oh yeah Light the candle Put the lock upon the door You have sent the maid home early Like a thousand times before Like the castle in his corner In a medieval game I foresee terrible trouble And I stay here just the same I'm a fool to do your dirty work Oh yeah I don't wanna do your dirty work No more I'm a fool to do your dirty work Oh yeah music I'm a fool to do your dirty work Oh yeah I don't wanna do your dirty work No more I'm a fool to do your dirty work Oh yeah I don't wanna do your dirty work No more I'm a fool to do your dirty work Oh yeah music music When you want all the love you deserve And the heat on your mind Don't you even think about it I'll be there just wrapped around you I can't hold back what I feel inside It's just a fact that you should be mine Anything you want You got your heart about my love Your heart about me You should be mine Anything you want You got your heart about my love Your heart about me And you want And you want And you want You should be mine, all mine Any way that your heart has been denied Ooh, you can come to me Every time that we're together Just confirms the good thing we've got And something this good can't be defined One thing's for sure That you should be mine Anything you want You got your heart about my love Your heart about me You should be mine Anything you want You got your heart about my love Your heart about me And you want And you want And you want You should be mine, all mine And you want And you want And you want You should be mine In the height of your worry Where it's running too deep for you When it all proves too much Too much, too much I'll pull you through I can't hold back What I know inside It's just the fact That you should be mine Anything you want You got your heart about my love Your heart about me You should be mine Anything you want You got your heart about my love Your heart about me And you want And you want And you want You should be mine, all mine And you want And you want And you want You should be mine You should be mine Call out the instigator Because there's something in the air We've got to get together sooner or later Because the revolution's here And you know it's right And you know that it's right We have got to get it together We have got to get it together now Run through the fields and houses Because there's something in the air We've got to get together sooner or later Because the revolution's here And you know it's right And you know that it's right And you know that it's right We have got to get it together We have got to get it together now guitar solo guitar solo guitar solo Call out the instigator Because there's something in the air We've got to get together sooner or later Because the revolution's here And you know it's right And you know that it's right We have got to get it together We have got to get it together now guitar solo guitar solo guitar solo guitar solo James Dean, James Dean I know just what you mean James Dean You said it all so clean And I know my life would look all right If I could see it on the silver screen You were the lowdown rebel if there ever was Even if you had no calls James Dean You said it all so clean And I know my life would look all right If I could see it on the silver screen James Dean Yeah, talk about a lowdown man Refrigerator, you were just too cool for school Sock, hot, soda pop, basketball and auto shop The only thing that got you off Was breaking all the rules James Dean, James Dean So hungry and so lean James Dean You said it all so clean And I know my life would look all right If I could see it on the silver screen guitar solo Little James Dean up on the screen Wondering who we might be Along came a starter, picked up a rider Took him down the road to eternity James Dean, James Dean You bought it sight unseen James Dean, James Dean You bought it sight unseen You were too fast to live Too young to die, die, die Too fast to live Too young to die, die, die Too fast to live Too young to die Too fast to live, too young to die Too fast to live Too young to die Too fast to live Too young to die My friend, what do I call you all the time, what can I say? I don't feel the need to give such secrets away You think maybe I need help, no, I know I'm right, all right I'm just better off not listening to friends' advice When they insist on knowing my bliss I tell them this when they want to know what the reason is I only smile when I lie, then I tell them why Because your kiss, your kiss is on my list For the best things in life Because your kiss, your kiss is on my list Because your kiss, I can't resist Because your kiss is what I miss When I turn out the light I go crazy wondering what there is to really see Does the night just take up your time? Does it mean more to me? Sometimes I forget what I'm doing and forget what I want, I want Regret what I've done, regret you, I couldn't go on But if you insist on knowing my bliss I tell you this if you want to know what the reason is I only smile when I lie, then I tell you why Because your kiss, your kiss is on my list Because your kiss, I can't resist Because your kiss is what I miss When I turn out the light When I turn out the light Because your kiss, your kiss is on my list Because your kiss is on my list For the best things in life Because your kiss, your kiss is on my list Because your kiss, I can't resist Because your kiss is on my list For the best things in life For the best things in life Lovers live longer Lovers live right Lovers get crazy Deep in the night Lovers live longer So let's stay together Cause the way that we're going We might live forever Babe, I read it in the news today How to live to be a ripe old age Funny thing is what they had to say It's something we've known all along Lovers live longer Lovers live right Lovers get crazy Deep in the night Lovers live longer So let's stay together Cause the way that we're going We might live forever I play your body like a fine guitar You light me up just like a shining star Let them guess how young or old we are We'll just love our lives away Lovers live longer Lovers live right Lovers live longer Lovers live right Lovers get crazy Deep in the night Lovers live longer So let's stay together Cause the way that we're going We might live forever Lovers live longer So let's stay together Cause the way that we're going We might live forever We might live forever We might live forever Every night it's the same I hear you calling my name You're lying next to me I give in to your charms You disappear in my arms I realize it's just a dream But desperately I long to feel your touch But you left me all alone In love and now I Shake the sleep from my head And try to crawl out of bed Today is just another day I make the coffee for one I turn the radio on Pretend that everything's okay But desperately I long to feel your touch But you left me all alone In love and now I Know there's no reason to smile It's gonna take me a while Cause I still love you desperately But desperately I long to feel your touch But you left me all alone In love and now I Watch the sun going down There ain't nobody around I feel a night in the dreams I keep on telling myself I don't need nobody else And I can do as I please But desperately I long to feel your touch But you left me all alone In love and now I Desperately I long to feel your touch But you left me all alone In love and now Every night it's the same I hear you calling my name I still love you desperately I still love you I still want you I still love you desperately I still love you There ain't no good in our goodbyes True love takes a lot of trying Oh I'm crying Do-do-do-do-do Do-do-do-do-do Do-do-do-do-do Let's hang on to what we've got Let's go girl we've got a lot We've got a lot of love between us Hang on, hang on, hang on To what we've got To what we've got Do-do-do-do-do To what we've got Do-do-do-do-do You see you're gonna go and call the quits Gonna chuck it all and we're gonna Break it up I wish you'd never said Break it up Oh no we don't want regrets That little chip of diamond on your hand Ain't a fortune baby but you know it We're not wishin' for the love To die and find But we both can't leave behind us Baby, don't you know baby Don't you go freakin' over and stay Let's hang on to what we've got Let's go girl we've got a lot We've got a lot of love between us Hang on, hang on, hang on To what we've got To what we've got Do-do-do-do-do To what we've got Do-do-do-do-do If there isn't anything I wouldn't do I'd pay any price to getting good with you Patch it up Give me a second chance Patch it up I don't feel alright You got me crying down at your door Don't shut me out Let me in more Open up Open up Open up Open up Baby, don't you know baby Don't you go freakin' over and stay Let's hang on to what we've got Let's go girl we've got a lot We've got a lot of love between us Hang on, hang on, hang on Let's hang on to what we've got Do-do-do-do To what we've got Do-do-do-do We've got a lot of love between us Hang on, hang on, hang on Let's hang on to what we've got Do-do-do-do To what we've got Do-do-do-do To what we've got Instrumental Tonight's the night we're gonna make it happen Tonight we'll put all other things aside Give in this time and show me some affection We're going for those pleasures in the night I want to love you, feel you Wrap myself around you I want to squeeze you, please you I just can't get enough And if you move real slow I'll let it go I'm so excited And I just can't hide it I'm about to lose control And I think I like it I'm so excited And I just can't hide it And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know, I want you We shouldn't even think about tomorrow Sweet memories will last a long, long time We'll have a good time, baby, don't you worry And if we're still playing around Boy, that's just fine Let's get excited We just can't hide it No, no, no, no I'm about to lose control And I think I like it I'm so excited And I just can't hide it I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I want you, I want you Oh, boy, I want to love you, feel you Wrap myself around you I want to squeeze you, please you No, I just can't get enough And if you move real slow I'll let it go I'm so excited And I just can't hide it I'm about to lose control And I think I like it I'm so excited And I just can't hide it No, no, no, no I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I want you I want you I'm so excited I just can't hide it I'm about to lose control And I think I like it I'm so excited And I just can't get enough I'm so excited And I just can't hide it Now, now, now. I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I'm so excited And I just can't hide it It's burning, it's burning up And I think I like it I'm so excited And I just can't get enough And I just can't get enough of you Oh, oh, oh, oh Keep on Going fast Won't you give me just one more chance Maybe we could make a little romance No reason why you and me Can't get it back together like it used to be Give me, give me, give me just another try I can't have you, I'm gonna die Give me one more chance Give me one more chance Do you remember How we used to be When we had a love so true You were my confidante You were my confidante On this special edition of Lexington Now, highlights of Mayor Gorton's State and the City-County Address. I'm Neal Noah and welcome to Lexington Now for the week of February 2nd, 2026. Mayor Gorton gave the annual State and the City-County Address this past week. We're bringing you some of the highlights today. We begin with a look at the economy. Today we're turning a page in our community's weighty history book. 2025, a year in which we marked our 250th anniversary, is behind us. 2026, number 251, of course, has begun. Our historic 250 Lex celebration was a year-long affair dedicated to what makes Lexington great. And thousands of people joined in with events in every corner of our community. With the dawn of 251, it's time to redouble our focus on the future. We know the future really is now. And we know that progress doesn't just happen. So we continuously lay the groundwork for it. As I talk today about the changes we've made over the past year, I want you to know that we are again ready to launch some exciting new initiatives. This starts with the discussion of our economy and the investments for future success we are making in it. First, where do things stand? Well, the good news continues. Our economy remains very strong. Over the past year, we set a record for the highest employment in our history. Currently, there are 171,656 people employed in Fayette County. The highest ever. While our cost of living remains relatively low, per capita income and median household income continue to climb. To make sure those numbers continue to grow, economic development remains a top priority for me. As I start my eighth year as mayor, it continues to be something I work on every single day to secure a bright future for our children and their children. For example, we have invested in a new school. For example, we have invested in two new industrial parks, the Legacy Business Park and the new public regional industrial park in Berea, also involving Madison and Scott counties, along with Lexington-Fayette County. Construction on Legacy Business Park, the city's newest light industrial park, began last June and will be completed later this year. We got the deed to the property in 2022 and broke ground in 2025. A quick turnaround. We are investing $22.6 million in infrastructure to make this 200-acre park on Georgetown Road shovel-ready for businesses. Our upfront costs are fully funded. This park will open debt-free. This park will include 19 lots totaling 147 acres for development. We estimate Legacy will be home to nearly 1,700 jobs with an annual estimated payroll of $100 million. This is awesome progress. In addition, I recently helped initiate and join the City of Berea and Madison and Scott County Fiscal Courts to create the Central Kentucky Business Park Authority, which has purchased and will manage Central Kentucky's first public regional business park. It's a goal we have been actively working toward for several years. I have been building strong partnerships with Bluegrass leaders so that we could begin working together on regional economic development. Now, along with our friends in Madison and Scott Counties, whom I began meeting with my first year as mayor, we are doing it. Based in Berea, this economic development project, a 300-acre industrial park, will provide good jobs and tax revenue that will allow governments in Berea and in all three of our counties to make improvements. Site planning is actively underway. And again, because of the relationships we have built, I am hopeful that the future will bring more regional projects. The future really is now. Mayor Gordon continued with the related topic, jobs. In regional economic development, we work to grow and attract all kinds of jobs to meet the needs of residents at various skill levels. That is also the focus of our city's workforce development program, which helps some residents find a first job through classes in essential employment skills and prepares others for a better job through more advanced training. All of our training keeps in mind the needs of our local employers. In fact, our employers visit our new Davis Park Workforce Center and meet with prospective employees. The center served over 400 people in 2025, its first year of operation. Eight Work Lexington partners provide job training for the city. Between July 2024 and June 2025, these partners trained, then helped over 1,600 people find employment. Finally, our Second Chance Academy offers job training inside our jail to inmates whose sentences are coming to an end. In 2025, 71 inmates completed this training. After this, we'll continue our look at the city capitol. Welcome back to Lexington Now. Public safety took center stage in the next portion of the mayor's speech. Our police department, fire department, community corrections, E911, and emergency management. In recent years, investments we have made in technology have transformed several of these divisions. Violent crime is trending down in our community in part because of technology-intensive, precision-based, intelligence-led policing. Acting as a police force multiplier, technology boosts efficiency, allows for expanded data analysis, and improves officer safety. Our real-time intelligence center has had a significant impact on solving crime, with additional specialists hired this year to expand operating hours. The overall numbers tell the story. Between 2024 and 2025, violent crime has dropped 10.8%. So last year, we also expanded evidence testing through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, which compares ballistic evidence gathered across the country to generate investigative leads in violent crimes involving firearms. That, coupled with our local investment to expand DNA testing, led to the closure of a 27-year-old cold case this year. The murder of Linda Rutledge, at last providing closure for her family. This future is now. Technology changes are bringing faster response times to the fire department. A new alerting system installed last year, a $1 million investment, allows for better integration with E911. It also features electronic dispatch, freeing dispatchers from verbally dispatching every single run and speeding up the all-important dispatch times. The system has built-in backup, an important layer of protection for the public. Increased public protection is also the goal of a new program the fire department launched last June with the Kentucky Blood Center. It's already saving lives. Lexington ambulances now have access to whole blood to perform transfusions at the scene, improving patient survival rates. Our firefighters have already administered whole blood over 20 times. And as a registered nurse, I certainly understand how this is an enormous step forward. This blood transfusion program sets our firefighters apart. Only 1-2% of emergency medical services nationwide perform such transfusions. Another step forward. Our community paramedicine team expanded in 2025 with the addition of a crisis response team, building on an already unique multidisciplinary approach that includes firefighters, paramedics, law enforcement, social workers, and counselors. This expansion further positions our city at the forefront of community paramedicine and mobile integrated health. E911 technology is vital to public safety. In 2025, we upgraded that technology to allow transmission of texts, photos, videos, and other location data. The change improves emergency response, making it faster and more effective. The Division of Emergency Management also upgraded its technology, including the mass notification system that is the backbone of LexAlerts, Lexington's free emergency and public notification system. The new systems provide multi-language capabilities In addition, they represent a savings of over $100,000 a year. Finally, in public safety, our Division of Community Corrections has made significant progress in how our community cares for individuals with severe behavioral health needs in our detention center. Lexington established a dedicated behavioral health unit. This unit is designed for rehabilitation and reentry, serving some of the most at-risk individuals in our system and preparing them to return to community healthier, safer, and more stable. Every corrections recruit now completes crisis intervention training prior to graduation, ensuring officers can recognize mental health crisis early. Officers assigned to the behavioral health unit receive advanced mental health training. This level of preparation is uncommon in corrections nationally and earned our corrections officers recognition from local mental health advocates. Here are some final highlights of the Mayor's State of the City-County Address. Another part of our government, Parks and Recreation, plays an essential role in youth development through all kinds of sports programs, outdoor play, arts and culture activities, and much, much more. In many ways, 2025 was a banner year for our parks. Thanks to Federal American Rescue Act funding and local dollars, we were able to invest over $29 million in significant parks projects all over town. In addition, we upgraded many of our playgrounds, our equipment, our trails, our sports courts, and much, much more. The bigger projects we completed include the opening of Cardinal Run North, the first large regional park our community has opened in 25 years. The opening of Kelly's Landing, providing Lexington's first public access to the river, the reopening of Douglas Aquatic Center with a new pool and pool house, and the reinvention of Phoenix Park downtown, which opened this fall to rave reviews. Now, affordable housing is an essential investment in the future of many of our families and our community. We currently have 231 units under construction, most will provide needed units for seniors this time, ages 55 and over. Once these units are complete, our growing portfolio will total 3,826 units, either preserved or constructed, and we hope to top 4,000 units by the end of this year. Including a $5 million investment last year, we have invested $60 million in public money to leverage a $490 million investment by the private sector since this affordable housing program started in 2014. We have made solid progress in affordable housing. Building affordable housing is one of many ways we work to reduce the number of people in our community who are experiencing homelessness. In 2025, we again offered a winter shelter service to meet seasonal needs. We increased outreach downtown to quickly respond to concerns and to engage individuals in need of assistance. I formed the Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness, which is focused on identifying strategies, resources, and solutions to better serve Lexington's homeless population. Since 2020, we have spent $50 million to address homelessness. Even so, like many other cities across our nation, we saw an increase in the number of unhoused people in Lexington last year. I have asked this new task force to examine best practices in other cities, looking for new creative approaches. Finally today, I want to talk about investments we make to maintain our hometown. I'm talking about the basic building blocks of our community. You all know it. Roads, traffic signals, snow removal, sewers, sidewalks, recycling, trails, and much, much more. Here are a few highlights from 2025. We closed gaps in sidewalks on Squires Road and Wilson Downing, added to Brighton Trail by connecting Liberty Park, upgraded the area around Gatton Park, the privately funded Destination Park that opened this year downtown with drainage improvements, a tunnel for access, and landscaping. We performed basic road maintenance, pruning trees, cutting back brush, and fixing potholes. 8,979 of them. Invested an additional $2 million in snow removal equipment and contracts, started a successful education campaign to improve the way we recycle, improved traffic signals and signage in many locations all over town, continued sanitary sewer improvements. Over 75% of the improvements ordered by the courts in 2011 are now complete, with total costs under original estimates.