Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on October 14, 2021, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed three agenda items, including the approval of minutes from the previous meeting and two informational presentations recognizing local business achievements. The Council took three votes during the session and heard one public comment. The meeting focused primarily on administrative business and community recognition, with presentations highlighting Commerce Lexington's Salute to Small Business Winners and a special recognition of Greenhouse17.

Attendance

The following members were present at the October 14, 2021 meeting:

Present: • Mayor Gorton • J. Brown • Ellinger • Kay • Kloiber • Lamb • LeGris • McCurn • Moloney • Plomin • Reynolds • Worley • Baxter • Bledsoe • F. Brown

Absent: • Sheehan

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 15 members were in attendance, with one absence recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted three roll call votes during the meeting, with all items passing.

Ordinance 0952-21 2:00 - An Ordinance changing the zone from a Single Family Residential (R-1D) zone to a Neighborhood Business (B-1) zone, for property located at 355 American Ave. Vice Mayor Kay made the motion, seconded by Lamb. The ordinance passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: J. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Worley, Baxter, Bledsoe, and F. Brown.

Resolution 0959-21 4:00 - A Resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor and the Department of Finance to set aside and allocate up to $15 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act for certain qualified employees. Ellinger made the motion, seconded by Plomin. The resolution passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: J. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Worley, Baxter, Bledsoe, and F. Brown.

Resolution 0956-21 5:00 - A Resolution authorizing Change Order No. Two to the Contract with ATS construction for the Town Branch Trail Phase 6. Ellinger made the motion, seconded by Plomin. The resolution passed with 13 ayes and 1 nay. Council members voting in favor were: J. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Plomin, Reynolds, Worley, Baxter, Bledsoe, and F. Brown. Moloney cast the sole dissenting vote.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed three significant infrastructure contracts totaling approximately $6.88 million through two resolutions.

Resolution 0934-21 authorized two separate contracts:

• Liberty Rd. Trunk Sewer Wastewater System Improvements - $3,309,000 contract awarded to MAC Construction & Excavating, Inc. This represents the largest single expenditure approved during the meeting.

• Cane Run Bank Stabilization Program - $143,753 contract awarded to Environmental Remediation Contractor, LLC. This project focuses on environmental stabilization efforts along the Cane Run waterway.

Resolution 0935-21 approved:

• West Hickman Waste Water Treatment Plant Dewatering Improvements - $3,427,000 contract awarded to Judy Construction Co. This wastewater treatment facility upgrade represents the second-largest financial commitment of the meeting.

All three contracts focus on water and wastewater infrastructure improvements, indicating a significant municipal investment in utility system upgrades and environmental protection measures. The combined $6,879,753 in approved contracts demonstrates substantial capital expenditure for essential infrastructure maintenance and enhancement projects.

Public Comment

The public comment period was brief, with only one individual scheduled to speak 11:00.

Greg Talby was listed to provide general public comment but ultimately chose not to make any remarks when called upon. No other members of the public addressed the meeting during the designated comment period.

The absence of public commentary meant this portion of the meeting concluded quickly, allowing the proceedings to move forward to other agenda items.

Appointments

The meeting included two appointments to municipal boards and commissions.

Board of Health • Kacy Allen-Bryant was appointed to the Board of Health

Environmental Commission • Skylar Temple was appointed to the Environmental Commission

Both appointments were approved during the meeting, filling vacant positions on these important municipal bodies that serve the community in health oversight and environmental matters respectively.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one contested item that resulted in a split vote among council members.

ARPA Funds Allocation Amendment

A proposal to amend the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds faced significant opposition from the majority of council members. The amendment sought to expand the scope of ARPA fund usage to include private employees, but failed to gain sufficient support.

The vote resulted in a decisive 12-2 defeat of the proposed amendment, indicating strong opposition from most council members to including private employees in the ARPA funding allocation. Only two members voted in favor of the amendment, while twelve voted against it.

The nature of the disagreement centered on the appropriate use of federal ARPA funds and whether private sector employees should be eligible for assistance under the city's allocation plan. The overwhelming rejection of the proposal suggests that the majority of council members preferred to maintain the original allocation framework without extending benefits to private employees.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this contested item.*

Minutes of the September 30, 2021 Council Meeting

1:00

The council considered agenda item 1044-21, which addressed the approval of minutes from the September 30, 2021 council meeting. This routine procedural item involved reviewing the official record of the previous meeting's proceedings.

Council members Ellinger and Plomin participated in the discussion of this agenda item. The consideration of meeting minutes is a standard practice that ensures accuracy of the official record and provides council members an opportunity to request corrections or clarifications to the documented proceedings.

The minutes from the September 30, 2021 meeting were presented for council approval without any noted objections or requested amendments. No concerns were raised regarding the accuracy or completeness of the documented proceedings from the previous meeting.

The council approved the minutes of the September 30, 2021 council meeting, formally adopting them as the official record of that meeting's proceedings.

Commerce Lexington Salute to Small Business Winners

2:00

The council recognized the winners of Commerce Lexington's Salute to Small Business awards during this presentation. Mayor Gorton and Bob Quick served as the key speakers for this recognition ceremony.

Four local businesses were honored as winners of the small business awards:

• Crank & Boom Ice Cream - Local ice cream establishment
• Guide Realty - Real estate services company
• Peer House - Local business establishment
• Lexington Rescue Mission - Community service organization

This agenda item (1010-21) served as an informational presentation to publicly acknowledge these small businesses for their contributions to the Lexington community. The recognition highlights Commerce Lexington's ongoing efforts to support and celebrate local entrepreneurship and small business success in the area.

The presentation was ceremonial in nature, with no debate or concerns raised during the recognition process. The outcome was purely informational, providing a platform for the city to formally acknowledge these award recipients and their achievements in the local business community.

Recognition of Greenhouse17

3:00

The City Council received a proclamation declaring October 2021 as Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month in recognition of Greenhouse17, a local domestic violence prevention organization.

Mayor Gorton presented the proclamation, highlighting the importance of raising awareness about domestic violence issues in the community. The proclamation formally recognized October as a month dedicated to educating the public about domestic violence prevention and supporting survivors.

Darlene Thomas spoke on behalf of Greenhouse17, accepting the recognition and providing information about the organization's work in the community. Thomas outlined the services provided by Greenhouse17, which include support for domestic violence survivors and prevention education programs.

The agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action required from the Council. The proclamation serves to officially acknowledge the city's support for domestic violence awareness efforts and recognizes Greenhouse17's contributions to community safety and support services.

This recognition aligns with national Domestic Violence Awareness Month observances and demonstrates the city's commitment to addressing domestic violence issues through community partnerships with organizations like Greenhouse17.