Stormwater Stakeholder Advisory Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Stormwater Stakeholder Advisory Committee met on September 5, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in the Phoenix Building – 3rd Floor Conference Room, with Amy Sohner presiding. The meeting covered 8 agenda items in total, including 2 items that were brought to a vote and approved: the minutes from the March 3, 2025 meeting and the committee's meeting dates for 2026. The committee also received 4 informational presentations covering an introduction to WaterwaysLex, Inc., the Fayette County Conservation District's Backyard Conservation Program, an introduction and overview of the Royal Springs Aquifer, and a proposed Manual Updates Workgroup overview. Additionally, the meeting included discussion of potential topics for the next meeting, an announcements segment, and 3 public comments were heard during the session.

Attendance

The following 49 members were present at the September 5, 2025 Committee meeting:

Jason Ainslie, Doug Burton, Jennifer Carey, Ken Cooke, Steve Garland, Jim Griggs, Amy Sohner, Russ Turpin, Traci Wade, Jerry Weisenfluh, Denice Bullock, Chris Chaney, Sarah Donaldson, Brooke Gray, Gabe Hensley, Becky Irwin, Chase Jones, Greg Lubeck, Craig Morgan, Jennifer Myatt, Mark Sanders, Dave Sevigny, Abby Terry, Richard Walker, Bailee Young, Ashfaq Ahmad, Chase Azevedo, Sara Bell, Eileen Burk, Jacob Crouch, Jerry Davis, Andrea Drayer, Pace Cook Emmons, Adam Garner, Don Hill, Ben Krebs, Nathan Krebs, Kevin Lewis, Tom Lowe, Doug McClaren, Richard McClure, Rick Mummery, John Pike, Heather Silvanik, Rebecca Stay, Brian Stephens, Audrey Suit, Steve Vogel, and Sarah Ward.

No members were recorded as absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

Two motions were brought before the committee during the September 5, 2025 meeting, both of which passed unanimously.

• Approval of March 3, 2025 Minutes 1:03: A motion to approve the minutes from the March 3, 2025 meeting was made by Ken Cooke and seconded by Russ Turpin. The motion passed unanimously. No roll call vote was recorded.

• Approval of Meeting Dates for 2026 59:30: A motion to approve the committee's meeting dates for 2026 was made by Jennifer Carey and seconded by Dave Sevigny. The motion passed unanimously. No roll call vote was recorded.

Public Comment

Three members of the public addressed the committee during the public comment period.

Doug McClaren asked about the timeline for the WaterwaysLex project to move forward. No specific response or timeline details are recorded in the meeting materials.

Jerry Weisenfluh spoke about the Backyard National Park concept, referencing the work of Doug Tallamy. He suggested that the committee consider encouraging grant applicants to list their projects on the Backyard National Park registry, framing it as a way to connect local conservation efforts to a broader national framework.

Eileen Burk raised concerns about the Royal Spring Aquifer, specifically asking about protections related to phosphorus and expressing concern about upcoming regulations that may affect the aquifer.

No transcript timestamps are available for the public comment portion of this meeting.

Approval of 03/03/2025 Minutes

1:03

The Committee reviewed the minutes from its March 3, 2025 meeting. Amy Sohner, Ken Cooke, and Russ Turpin were among the key speakers during this portion of the meeting. No additions or corrections were proposed, and no concerns were raised regarding the accuracy or completeness of the prior meeting's record. The minutes were approved as presented.

Introduction to WaterwaysLex, Inc.

2:17

John Pike presented an introduction to WaterwaysLex, Inc., a newly formed volunteer-based organization focused on the watersheds of Fayette County. Pike outlined the organization's mission and provided an overview of its upcoming projects.

This agenda item was informational in nature, serving to acquaint the Committee with the new organization and its work in the community. No vote or formal action was taken as a result of the presentation.

Fayette County Conservation District's Backyard Conservation Program

11:26

Heather Silvanik presented to the Committee on the Fayette County Conservation District's Backyard Conservation Program. The presentation covered the program's history, its impact to date, and plans for its future direction.

This agenda item was informational in nature, and no vote or formal action was taken as a result of the presentation.

*Note: Additional details regarding specific program statistics, initiatives discussed, concerns raised, or future plans were not available in the source data for this meeting item.*

Royal Springs Aquifer Introduction and Overview

31:44

Ben Krebs and Chase Azevedo presented an introduction and overview of the Royal Springs Wellhead Protection Program, covering its significance for water quality protection.

The presentation was informational in nature, providing the Committee with foundational context on the Royal Springs Aquifer and the wellhead protection efforts associated with it. No vote or formal action was taken as a result of this agenda item.

*Note: Detailed discussion points, specific data, and any questions or concerns raised during this presentation are not available in the source materials for this summary.*

Proposed Manual Updates Workgroup Overview

57:59

Bailee Young provided the Committee with an overview of the Manual Updates Workgroup, offering an informational presentation on the group's focus areas and ongoing work.

The overview covered topics under consideration by the workgroup, including wetlands and green infrastructure. No vote or formal action was taken on this item, as it was presented for informational purposes only.

*Note: The available structured data for this agenda item is limited. A more detailed summary — including specific proposals, concerns raised by Committee members, and the full scope of workgroup discussions — would require additional source materials from the meeting transcript or supporting documents.*

Approval of Meeting Dates for 2026

59:30

The committee took up Agenda Item 6, the approval of meeting dates for the 2026 calendar year. Jennifer Carey and Dave Sevigny were the key speakers during this portion of the meeting.

The committee discussed the proposed schedule of meeting dates for 2026 before moving to a decision. The item was approved.

*Note: Detailed discussion points, specific dates proposed, and any concerns raised during this agenda item are not available in the source materials beyond what is summarized above.*

Potential Topics for Next Meeting

1:00:00

Under this agenda item, Committee members discussed potential topics to be taken up at a future meeting.

• Ken Cooke suggested that the Committee consider scheduling a presentation on the implementation of the Green Infrastructure Plan.

No additional topics were proposed, and the item was informational in nature. No formal vote or decision was taken.

Announcements

1:01:00

Bailee Young presented announcements regarding upcoming events and meetings. The announcements included information about the Kentucky River Watershed Walk and Stormwater Awareness Week. This agenda item was informational in nature, with no action required from the committee.