Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on August 17, 2017, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gray presiding over the session. The meeting focused on a single agenda item addressing the relocation of statues, which was successfully approved by the council. During the proceedings, the council heard from 2 members of the public who provided comments on the matter under consideration. The council took 1 formal vote during the meeting, resulting in the approval of a resolution expressing support for the relocation of statues.

Attendance

All council members were present for the meeting on August 17, 2017.

Present: • Mayor Gray • Bledsoe • F. Brown • J. Brown • Evans • Farmer • Gibbs • Henson • Kay • Lamb • Moloney • Mossotti • Plomin • Scutchfield • Smith • Stinnett

Absent: None

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The council took one formal vote during the meeting on Resolution 0908-17, which addressed the relocation of two Confederate statues in Lexington.

Resolution 0908-17 - Support for relocation of the John Hunt Morgan and John C. Breckinridge statues 9:04

Ms. Evans made the motion to approve the resolution, which was seconded by Ms. Henson. The resolution passed unanimously with a vote of 15-0, with no abstentions.

All 15 council members present voted in favor of the resolution: - Bledsoe - F. Brown - J. Brown - Evans - Farmer - Gibbs - Henson - Kay - Lamb - Moloney - Mossotti - Plomin - Scutchfield - Smith - Stinnett

The unanimous vote demonstrated full council support for relocating the two Confederate statues from their current locations. No council members voted against the resolution or abstained from voting.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed one significant financial action involving a service agreement with a local government entity.

Resolution 0849-17 authorized a Purchase of Service Agreement with the Lexington Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission for $237,230. This contract establishes a formal service arrangement between the entities, though the specific services to be provided under this agreement were not detailed in the available meeting materials.

The substantial dollar amount indicates this represents a major service commitment, likely involving ongoing operational support or specialized services that the Human Rights Commission will provide. As a purchase of service agreement, this arrangement typically involves the commission delivering specific programs, services, or expertise that align with human rights and civil rights enforcement or education initiatives.

This financial action required formal resolution approval, demonstrating the significance of the commitment and ensuring proper oversight of the expenditure of public funds.

Public Comment

Two speakers addressed the meeting during the public comment period, both focusing on the relocation of statues in Lexington.

Rev. Nancy Jo Kemper 0:00 spoke first, sharing her personal history and expressing strong support for the removal of the statues. Rev. Kemper characterized the statues as symbols of terrorism and advocated for their removal from public spaces.

Trent Garrison 0:00 followed, representing multiple local organizations in the community. Garrison voiced support for relocating the statues, arguing that their removal would help make Lexington a more inclusive city for all residents.

Both speakers aligned in their position favoring the relocation of the statues, presenting arguments focused on community inclusivity and the symbolic impact of the monuments on Lexington residents.

Contested Items

The primary contested item at this meeting centered on the relocation of Confederate statues, which generated significant community opposition and debate.

Relocation of Confederate statues - This issue sparked extensive public commentary from community members holding opposing viewpoints. The meeting featured substantial public input from residents both supporting and opposing the proposed relocation of Confederate monuments. The discussion revealed a significant divide within the community regarding how to handle these historical markers.

Supporters of relocation argued for removing the statues, while opponents advocated for keeping them in their current locations. The extensive public comment period demonstrated the depth of feeling on both sides of this issue, with community members presenting their perspectives during the meeting.

The nature of the opposition was characterized as community-wide, indicating that this was not merely a procedural disagreement but rather a substantive policy debate that engaged residents across different segments of the community. The meeting provided a forum for these competing viewpoints to be heard and considered as part of the decision-making process.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this meeting summary.*

Resolution expressing support for relocation of statues

9:04

The council considered Resolution 0908-17, which expressed support for relocating two Confederate statues currently located in the city. The resolution specifically addressed the John Hunt Morgan and John C. Breckinridge statues, calling for their relocation to a more appropriate location.

Mayor Gray served as a key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item, along with Chief Mark Barnard, who provided input on the matter. The resolution outlined a specific timeline for action, requiring the Mayor to present a formal recommendation for the statue relocation within 30 days of the resolution's passage.

The timing of this resolution came amid broader national discussions about Confederate monuments and their placement in public spaces. The proposed relocation would move the statues from their current location to what the resolution deemed a "more appropriate location," though specific details about the proposed new site were not detailed in the available summary.

The council ultimately approved Resolution 0908-17, formally expressing the city's support for relocating both the John Hunt Morgan and John C. Breckinridge statues. With the resolution's passage, Mayor Gray was tasked with developing and presenting a specific relocation plan within the established 30-day timeframe.

This action represented the council's formal position on addressing the placement of Confederate monuments within city limits, providing a structured approach to the relocation process through the Mayor's upcoming recommendation.