Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on November 21, 2019, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers at 200 E. Main Street, with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding. This meeting focused primarily on ceremonial recognitions and presentations, with three informational agenda items honoring local achievements and service. The Council recognized Miss Kentucky, presented information about the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame, and acknowledged Landrum & Shouse for their contributions to the community. During the session, the Council took two votes on motions, while no public comments were heard from citizens in attendance.

Attendance

All members were present at the Council meeting on November 21, 2019.

Present: • Mr. Gibbs • Vice Mayor Kaye • Ms. Lamb • Mr. McKern • Mr. Maloney • Ms. Massotti • Ms. Plowman • Ms. Reynolds • Mr. Worley • Ms. Bledsoe • Mr. Fred Brown • Mr. James Brown • Mr. Ellinger • Ms. Evans • Mr. Farmer

Absent: None

Late: None

The meeting achieved full attendance with all 15 members participating from the start of the session.

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted two roll call votes during the November 21, 2019 meeting, with both measures passing unanimously.

Ordinance 1241-19 2:30 Vice Mayor Kaye motioned to approve An Ordinance amending certain of the Budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures, and appropriating and re-appropriating funds, Schedule No. 18. Ms. Plowman seconded the motion. The ordinance passed by a vote of 15-0-0.

Voting in favor: Mr. Gibbs, Vice Mayor Kaye, Ms. Lamb, Mr. McKern, Mr. Maloney, Ms. Massotti, Ms. Plowman, Ms. Reynolds, Mr. Worley, Ms. Bledsoe, Mr. Fred Brown, Mr. James Brown, Mr. Ellinger, Ms. Evans, and Mr. Farmer.

Ordinance 1242-19 3:00 Vice Mayor Kaye motioned to approve An Ordinance amending Section 17-164 of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Code of Ordinances to require applicants to the Sidewalk Replacement Grant Program to reside upon the property for which they seek assistance. Ms. Plowman seconded the motion. The ordinance passed by a vote of 15-0-0.

Voting in favor: Mr. Gibbs, Vice Mayor Kaye, Ms. Lamb, Mr. McKern, Mr. Maloney, Ms. Massotti, Ms. Plowman, Ms. Reynolds, Mr. Worley, Ms. Bledsoe, Mr. Fred Brown, Mr. James Brown, Mr. Ellinger, Ms. Evans, and Mr. Farmer.

Both ordinances received unanimous support from all 15 Council members present, with no opposing votes or abstentions recorded for either measure.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved two significant financial items during the November 21, 2019 meeting.

Fiber Optic Cable Contract The Council authorized a contract worth $63,588 for the purchase of a 28-year indefeasible right of use to fiber optic cable under Resolution 1053-19. The contract is with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Finance and Administration Cabinet, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Kentucky Communications Network Authority. This agreement provides the city with long-term access to fiber optic infrastructure for municipal communications needs.

Youth Housing Assistance Grant Under Resolution 1150-19, the Council approved $25,000 in funding for a transitional housing assistance fund specifically designed to serve youth ages 18 to 24. The grant funding comes from Anthem Kentucky Medicaid. This program addresses housing stability for young adults who may be aging out of various support systems and need assistance securing transitional housing arrangements.

Both financial actions represent strategic investments in municipal infrastructure and social services, with the fiber optic agreement securing long-term telecommunications capabilities and the housing fund addressing critical needs among vulnerable young adults in the community.

Recognition of Miss Kentucky

10:00

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council recognized Alex Franke, Miss Kentucky, during agenda item 0921-19 at the November 21, 2019 meeting.

Mayor Linda Gorton and Councilmember Ellinger presented the recognition to Alex Franke for her achievements as Miss Kentucky and her upcoming participation in the Miss America contest. The agenda item was structured as a presentation to honor Franke's accomplishments and representation of Kentucky on the national stage.

Alex Franke was present at the meeting to receive the recognition from the Council. The presentation highlighted her role as Miss Kentucky and acknowledged her preparation for competing in the Miss America pageant.

This was an informational agenda item with no action required from the Council. The recognition served as a ceremonial acknowledgment of Franke's achievements and her representation of the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the national competition.

The presentation concluded without any debate or concerns raised by Council members, as it was purely ceremonial in nature to honor Miss Kentucky's accomplishments.

Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame Presentation

20:00

Mayor Linda Gorton presented recognition for three Lexington veterans who were inducted into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame for their distinguished military service and continued contributions to their community.

The presentation honored local veterans who demonstrated exceptional dedication both during their military careers and in their civilian lives following their service. The Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame recognizes veterans who have made significant contributions to their communities, state, and nation through their continued service after completing their military duties.

Mayor Gorton highlighted the importance of recognizing these veterans' dual commitment - first to their country through military service, and then to their local community through ongoing civic engagement and leadership. The three inductees represent the values of service, sacrifice, and community involvement that characterize the best of Kentucky's veteran population.

This agenda item (0972-19) served as an informational presentation to formally acknowledge these veterans' achievements and bring community attention to their recognition at the state level. The presentation emphasized the city's commitment to honoring military service members and veterans who continue to contribute to Lexington's civic life.

The recognition reflects the broader community value placed on military service and the ongoing contributions that veterans make to local communities after completing their military obligations. No council action was required for this ceremonial presentation.

Recognition of Landrum & Shouse

30:00

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council recognized Landrum & Shouse for their ongoing community support and charitable contributions during the November 21, 2019 meeting.

Mayor Linda Gorton, along with Council members John McNeil and Chris Ford, participated in acknowledging the law firm's community involvement. The recognition highlighted Landrum & Shouse's commitment to supporting local students through holiday gift programs and their contributions to various charitable organizations throughout the community.

The presentation was informational in nature, serving to publicly acknowledge the firm's civic engagement and community partnership efforts. No formal action was required as this was a ceremonial recognition of the organization's community service contributions.

This agenda item (1182-19) represented the Council's practice of recognizing local businesses and organizations that demonstrate significant community involvement and support for Lexington-Fayette County residents and institutions.