Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council met on April 14, 2026, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber in Lexington, KY, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting included two agenda items: a public comment period on issues on the agenda and an informational presentation on the Mint Lane Pump Station Relocation Study. Over the course of the meeting, the Council heard 3 public comments and took 2 votes. Both agenda items were informational in nature, meaning no binding legislative action was taken on either matter.

Attendance

All 15 council members were present at the April 14, 2026 meeting. No members were absent or late.

Members Present: - Wu - Brown - Ellinger II - Morton - Lynch - Eblen - Curtis - Sheehan - Higgins-Hord - Hale - Beasley - Baxter - Sevigny - Reynolds - Boone

Votes and Decisions

Two votes were taken during the April 14, 2026 Council meeting.

• Approval of the March 26, 2026 Council Meeting Docket 1:05:26: Motioned by Baxter and seconded by Ellinger II, the Council voted unanimously to approve the docket, 15–0. All members voted in favor: Wu, Brown, Ellinger II, Morton, Lynch, Eblen, Curtis, Sheehan, Higgins-Hord, Hale, Beasley, Baxter, Sevigny, Reynolds, and Boone.

• Authorization to Proceed with Easement Negotiations for the Mint Lane Pump Station Project 2:49:31: Motioned by Boone, the Council voted on whether to authorize and direct the Division of Water Quality to proceed with negotiations for easements for the Mint Lane Pump Station project at its existing location. The motion failed on a roll call vote of 4–9. Voting in favor were Boone, Brown, Morton, and Baxter. Voting against were Wu, Ellinger II, Lynch, Eblen, Curtis, Sheehan, Higgins-Hord, Hale, Beasley, Savigny, and Reynolds.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council considered two financial items involving infrastructure and utility work at the April 14, 2026 meeting.

• L0247-26 — Tank Cleaning & Sludge Disposal (West Hickman WWTP): The Council took action on Final Change Order #1 to an existing agreement with NAC Heavy Highway Inc. for tank cleaning and sludge disposal services at the West Hickman Wastewater Treatment Plant. The change order totals $49,695.52, representing the final adjustment to the contract with that vendor.

• L0254-26 — Sanitary Sewer Infrastructure Relocation (Liberty Road): The Council considered an agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) valued at $556,074.14. The agreement covers the relocation, replacement, and installation of sanitary sewer infrastructure within the KYTC Liberty Road Improvement Project, coordinating utility work with the state's planned road improvements along that corridor.

Combined, the two items represent approximately $605,769.66 in contractual commitments considered at this meeting, spanning both a final contract closeout with a private contractor and a cooperative infrastructure agreement with a state agency.

Public Comment

Three members of the public addressed the Council during the comment period, offering perspectives on wetlands protection and infrastructure placement.

• Andrea Dreher 8:36, a professional wetland scientist, spoke in support of relocating a storage tank in order to protect nearby wetlands. She emphasized the ecological importance of wetlands, particularly their role in stormwater management.

• John Phillips 12:20 voiced opposition to moving the Mint Lane Pump Station outside the urban service boundary. His primary concern was that such a move could set a precedent for future expansions beyond the established boundary.

• Brittany Rothmeyer 34:46 also opposed relocating the pump station, stressing the importance of keeping infrastructure within the urban service boundary. She raised concerns that moving the station could enable future development outside that boundary.

The comments reflected a tension between wetlands protection on one hand and concerns about infrastructure policy and growth boundaries on the other. Both Phillips and Rothmeyer specifically flagged the potential long-term implications of relocating the Mint Lane Pump Station beyond the urban service boundary as a key point of opposition.

Appointments

During the April 14, 2026 Council meeting, the following appointment was made:

• Linda Gorton was appointed as Mayor.

Contested Items

• Mint Lane Pump Station Relocation: The proposal to relocate the Mint Lane Pump Station outside the urban service boundary drew significant opposition from community members during the meeting. The central concern raised was that approving such a relocation would set a precedent for future expansions beyond the urban service boundary, potentially opening the door to similar requests down the line. The disagreement pitted community members opposed to the relocation against the proposal as presented to the Council. No outcome data is available in the provided record for this item.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

6:00

The Council heard public comments focused on the relocation of the Mint Lane Pump Station and its potential implications for the urban service boundary and local wetlands.

Three members of the public addressed the Council on this topic:

• Andrea Dreher
• John Phillips
• Brittany Rothmeyer

Comments centered on concerns related to the proposed pump station relocation, with speakers raising issues about how the project could affect the urban service boundary and the impact on nearby wetlands. This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action taken by the Council as a result of the public comments.

Mint Lane Pump Station Relocation Study

1:34:14

Commissioner Charlie Martin presented the Mint Lane Pump Station Relocation Study to the Council. The presentation examined potential sites for relocating the Mint Lane Pump Station, covering the technical considerations and costs associated with each candidate site.

The item was informational in nature, and no vote or formal action was taken. No additional speakers, specific site details, cost figures, or concerns raised during the discussion are reflected in the available record.