Urban County Council Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council convened on June 12, 2008, at 7:00 PM in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Jim Newberry presiding. The meeting included a formal invocation and a commemoration ceremony honoring Grace Shaftner. During the session, the Council conducted 2 votes on various matters and heard 1 public comment from a community member. The meeting addressed 2 agenda items, both of which were informational in nature, focusing on ceremonial and commemorative proceedings rather than legislative business.

Attendance

The Council meeting on June 12, 2008 had strong attendance with 14 members present and only one absence.

Present: Ellinger, Gorton, Gray, Henson, James, Lane, McChord, Myers, Stevens, Stinnett, Beard, Blevins, Blues, and Crosbie

Absent: DeCamp

Late: None

All members arrived on time for the meeting, with no late arrivals recorded during the session.

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted two roll call votes on ordinances during the June 12, 2008 meeting.

Ordinance 0130-17 2:00 An Ordinance amending Section 13-63(a) of the Code of Ordinances increasing the Special 911 Emergency Telephone Service Funding Fee was brought forward by Councilmember Crosbie and seconded by Councilmember Ellinger. The ordinance passed with 12 ayes and 2 nays.

• Voting in favor (12): Ellinger, Gray, Henson, Lane, McChord, Myers, Stevens, Stinnett, Beard, Blevins, Blues, and Crosbie
• Voting against (2): Gorton and James

Ordinance 0130-16 3:00 An Ordinance amending Section 13-64 of the Code of Ordinances to increase charges for specialty care inter-hospital transportation and other services was also motioned by Councilmember Crosbie and seconded by Councilmember Ellinger. This ordinance passed with 11 ayes and 3 nays.

• Voting in favor (11): Ellinger, Gorton, Gray, Lane, McChord, Myers, Stevens, Stinnett, Blevins, Blues, and Crosbie
• Voting against (3): Henson, James, and Beard

Both ordinances received majority support from the Council, with the 911 Emergency Telephone Service funding fee increase garnering broader support than the inter-hospital transportation fee increases.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved two financial items during the June 12, 2008 meeting, totaling $73,049.41 in expenditures and grant funding.

Contract Approvals

The Council authorized a contract for chiller replacement at the Agricultural Extension Office through Ordinance 0130-06. The contract with Disponette Service Company, Inc. totals $62,793 for the equipment replacement project.

Grant Funding

Under Ordinance 0130-07, the Council approved accepting a grant in the amount of $10,256.41 from the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. The grant funding will be used for the purchase of bicycles outfitted with advanced life support equipment.

Both ordinances were presented as part of the Council's regular business and received approval during the meeting proceedings.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one resident addressed the Council regarding ongoing infrastructure concerns in the community.

Thomas Roberts spoke about the Saran Drive construction project 5:00. Mr. Roberts expressed frustration over the unfinished state of the construction work and urged the Council to take action to expedite the project's completion. He emphasized the need for the Council to prioritize resolving the ongoing construction delays that have affected the area.

The public comment period provided residents with an opportunity to bring local concerns directly to the Council's attention, with infrastructure and construction project completion being the primary focus of citizen input during this meeting.

Appointments

The Council approved several appointments and reappointments to various city boards and commissions during the June 12, 2008 meeting.

New Appointments: • Nancy Wiser was appointed to the Airport Board • Mary Lee Kerr was appointed to the Downtown Development Authority Board • Eli Mertens was appointed to the Human Rights Commission • William J. Huffman was appointed to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

Reappointments: • Phil Holoubek was reappointed to the Lexington Center Corporation Board • Everett McCorvey was reappointed to the Lexington Center Corporation Board

These appointments fill vacant positions and continue representation on key municipal boards that advise the Council on matters ranging from airport operations and downtown development to human rights issues and parks management. The Lexington Center Corporation Board oversees the city's convention and entertainment facilities.

Contested Items

The primary contested item during the June 12, 2008 Council meeting was an ordinance to increase the Special 911 Emergency Telephone Service Funding Fee. This measure generated notable opposition among council members, resulting in a split vote rather than the unanimous approval typical of many routine council matters.

The ordinance ultimately passed with a vote of 12-2, indicating that while a strong majority of council members supported the fee increase, two members voted against the measure. The split vote suggests there was substantive debate regarding the necessity or appropriateness of raising the 911 service funding fee at that time.

The nature of the specific objections raised by the dissenting council members, the proposed fee amount, or the justification provided by supporters was not detailed in the available meeting data. However, the fact that this item required a formal vote with recorded opposition demonstrates it was considered a significant policy decision rather than a routine administrative matter.

Emergency 911 service funding is typically a critical municipal service, making any proposed changes to its financing structure a matter of public interest and potential council debate. The 12-2 vote outcome shows that while the measure had sufficient support to pass, it was not without controversy among the elected representatives.

Invocation

0:30

Pastor Glen Schneiders from Crossroads Christian Church delivered the invocation at the beginning of the June 12, 2008 Council meeting. Pastor Schneiders offered a prayer asking for divine wisdom and strength to guide the council members in their deliberations and decision-making during the session.

The invocation served as the traditional opening of the meeting, providing a moment of reflection before the council proceeded with the evening's business agenda.

Commemoration of Grace Shaftner

1:00

Council Member McChord presented a commemoration honoring Grace Shaftner, a young equestrian champion, recognizing her achievements and contributions to the community. The presentation highlighted Shaftner's accomplishments in equestrian sports and her positive impact.

The commemoration was presented as an informational item, with McChord serving as the primary speaker for this recognition. The presentation focused on celebrating Shaftner's success as a champion in equestrian competition and acknowledging her broader contributions to the community.

This agenda item was ceremonial in nature, providing the Council with an opportunity to formally recognize a young community member's achievements in competitive equestrian sports. No formal action was required, as this was presented for informational purposes only.