Sierra Marling

The April 25 Madison County Commission meeting began with Mayor Blythe proclaiming April 2023 as Fair Housing Month in Richmond.

“Whereas fair housing is right protected by federal and state laws. and whereas housing discrimination is illegal, whereas Fair Housing means persons may freely choose a place to live without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin or because persons are disabled or have children in the family. and whereas fair housing laws apply to persons viewing, or renting an apartment, viewing or purchasing a home, applying for or securing a home loan, or purchasing homeowners or renters insurance. Now therefore, I Robert Bly, Mayor of the City of Richmond, do hereby proclaim the month of April of 2023, as Fair Housing Month in the city of Richmond, recognising the need for community education and awareness of fair housing,” declared Blythe.

Pat Reister, the long-time Chair of the Richmond Human Rights Commission, stepped to the podium to explain that the group meets once a month where they assist people with complaints of discrimination, including in housing.

“Really, not too many things come up. So we must be in pretty good shape, although we’re always working,” he said, adding that the group works closely with the Kentucky Human Rights Commission to ensure action is taken for those who are abused.

Mayor Blythe then presented select employees from the Richmond Recycling Department with certificates of appreciation for work. Blythe commended them for being adaptable as the city grows and the demand changes.

The floor was then opened to Richmond Police Chief Rodney Richardson who performed a pinning ceremony for Officer Lani Coleman, promoting her to master police officer.

Richardson commended her for her honesty and hard work and noted her passion for canines.

“She doesn’t always tell me what I need to hear, or want to hear — she tells me the way it is. She’s very active in our department. She trains officers. She’s very passionate about canines, especially loose canines in our community. She’s taken many of them home herself and took care of them until we find places to put them. Hopefully, she’ll be our next canine officer,” he said.

Ordinances

Ordinance 23-14: An Ordinance of the City of Richmond Amending Ordinance 23-07 for the Purpose of Establishing a Place and Time for the Regular Meetings of the Board of Commissioners.

This ordinance held its second reading, amending the previous ordinance 23-07 to change the official time of commissioner meetings.

It was decided that there would be a board of commissioners meeting on the second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. and also on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m in commissioner chambers in Richmond City Hall. These meetings will be considered regular meetings. Workshop meetings will be held the third Thursday of every month at noon in the conference toom at Richmond City Hall.

This ordinance was passed unanimously without further discussion.

The following ordinances were brought to the commission for their first reading.

Ordinance 23-15: An Ordinance of the City of Richmond, Kentucky Changing the Zoning Classification for Property at 416 N. 2nd} Street Located within City Limits.

It was recommended by the Richmond Planning and Zoning Commission to change the property of 416 N. 2nd Street from single family residential R-1C to Central Business District B-2 after a meeting held on March 15.

There was no discussion; this ordinance will appear on the agenda at the next regular meeting.

Ordinance 23-16: An Ordinance of the City of Richmond, Kentucky Amending the City’s Development Ordinance Relating to Solar Energy Systems (SES)

This ordinance would limit the size of solar arrays within zones classified as R1-R3 and B1-B3, I-1 and I-2, disallowing commercial utility sized arrays.

Commissioner Mike Brewer inquired about whether or not this ordinance included solar farms.

“It limits what can be put inside the city limits so it protects us from actually a solar farm located within the city limits. I think the maximum can be up to 10 acres and an industrial zoning classification. The other caveat to that, is solar energy produced from those solar panels has to support that infrastructure. It can’t be outsourced out,” replied City Attorney Tyler Frazier.

He and Richmond City Manager Rob Minerich added a request to change the language in the ordinance.

“We don’t feel like the residents that have applied for solar usage on top of their houses need to go to the board of adjustment for that. We feel like they ought to be able to just apply for a permit, be inspected, and be done,” Minerich said. “…When it gets into the industrial size. It cannot exceed 10 acres.”

“We feel like this action we’re taking protects the city from large solar farms that want to build grids on cheaper property, and then sell the energy somewhere else. This actually gives residents and local businesses the capability of putting panels on their houses, or in an industry up to 10 acres, but that cannot be sold to somebody else. It’s got to support that building or household,” Minerich added.

Frazier confirmed that this “was an unclassified use that was requested of the Planning and Zoning Board by a solar company.”

This ordinance will appear on the agenda for the next regular meeting.

Ordinance 23-18: An Ordinance of the City of Richmond Relating to the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Annual Budget and Amendment thereof- Liberty Place.

The City of Richmond received unanticipated revenues from the Kentucky Department for Local Government for the Liberty Place program. This ordinance would amend the budget for fiscal year 2022 through 2023 is amended to increase receipts of the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) fund by $200,000. The unanticipated revenues will be allocated toward increasing expenditures Office of Federal grants, increase the budget expenditures for account public services by $190,000 and administrative services by $10,000.

Orders

Order 23-61: An Order of the Board of Commissioners Approving a Task Order for the Gibson Bay Golf Course Driving Range Project and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute Same on Behalf of the City.

Completing a Task Order for Gibson Bay Golf Course Driving Range Project was approved unanimously.

Minerich clarified the necessity of the order for commissioners.

“What happened with this, is when we started excavating this project, we had to move several utilities, sprinkler systems, and some fiber optics. When we dug those up and moved those utilities, we filled them back in. When we went for inspection — the compaction inspection — before we poured the foundation, it didn’t pass. So, we had to dig those utilities lines back up and put in clay, re-compact that, and then it did pass inspection, so they can move forward,” Minerich said.

Commissioners unanimously passed the ordinance, creating a task order — essentially a mini-contract — for the construction, totaling $13,875.

Order 23-62: An Order of the City of Richmond, Kentucky Approving an Extended Lease Agreement and Authorizing the Mayor to Sign on Behalf of the City.

Extending the Lease Agreement with EKU for the Crabbe Street parking lot for another year was passed unanimously.

Minerich explained the lease agreement and that $35,000 a year has to be set aside to the Irvington House Preservation Fund.

Order 23-68: An Order of the City of Richmond Adopting a New Policy for the Richmond Police Department.

Richardson said this new policy will enable the department to set up a system to identify officers that are exhibiting behaviors of stress, or other behaviors that may pose a liability to the city, the community, or the officer.

“We have certain steps in place that we can take to protect the officer… It’s basically us taking care of our employees, identifying problems, and solving them before they become an issue,” he said.

The order passed unanimously.

Departmental Reports

Susan Willis, the director of the Section 8 Housing office, brought concerns before the board regarding a change in the management of Section 8. She informed the commission about changes that would outsource the Section 8 Housing Office to another company, while also giving the city manager control instead of the housing office.

Willis continued by stating that such changes would eliminate both her jobs and the jobs of her current staff and encouraged the commission to review the proposal in great detail.

“Some of the information in that proposal was not correct. I will tell you that, because I have refused the actual proposal. My agency, the Section 8 office, has a clean audit. We haven’t had any problems in all of the years that I’ve been director,” she asserted. “We’re a high performing agency.”

In response to this, Blythe committed to a future meeting for himself, Willis, Minerich, and Frazier to further discuss the issue.

Other Business

Commissioners unanimously reappointed Robert Moody and Susan Vanstone as members of the Ethics Board.

Commissioners unanimously accepted the resignation of Travis Howard from the finance department.

Becky Friend’s resignation from the Codes, Planning, Safety & Risk Management Department was passed unanimously.

Jason Brent Wilson’s promotion from fire inspector to fire marshall was unanimously approved.