City Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Call a meeting in order for the Ashton Board of City Commission. If you will rise, we will ask Commissioner Gutt to do our invocation and I'll lead us in the pledge.

Let us pray. Lord, we thank you this evening for our city. We're thankful for our citizens, our neighborhoods, and the quality of life that we enjoy in our community. As we conduct city business and not give us this board of mayor commissioners wisdom and guidance in our decisions. Bless our staff and employees and those in attendance this evening. We pray always in Jesus name. Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Commissioner Gute. OK. Motion to receive and file the agenda as presented. Second. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? Motion to receive the minutes for the recessed meeting for May the 20th, 2026. So moved. Any corrections, additions? All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? All right. Let's start with you.

Well, I want to welcome everybody that's here today to this meeting. The only thing that I want to touch on is I think we've had some record turnout in our at our Dawson pool this year as the season has started. So we're excited to see folks coming out utilizing our pool. This is the second season after the complete renovation of that pool down there. And it's really affordable. I think it was a $5 for adults. $3 for individuals, was it 17 or younger, and then there's a threshold younger than, is it five or eight, maybe that's free, Sean? Yeah, yeah, we need to push that and do what we can to, so we can help some folks on that. We can get that word out through social media. Yeah, thanks. That's all I have. Thanks, Sean. Okay, Commissioner Renfrow?

I just left the Housing Authority meeting in scope. They 98% occupancy right now. And reason not 100 they got seven units down for rehab. They got 303 people on the waiting list of scope. They have 111 on the waiting list of the board hill. So that's going very well. And DJ was talking about record crowds at the pool. I haven't been to all the first Fridays. But I went last Friday and that had, if that wasn't a record crowd, it had to be close to it. The car show was, I had to have over 150 cars.

Yeah, we were talking about the other day. We think maybe around 200.

And live music. I had my back turned. I didn't know if it was Les Cranepool or Geddy Lee playing bass, but I looked and it was Aaron Snyder from the paper. And so I was very impressed. Thank you, Aaron.

Very good. All right. Commissioner Martin.

Be sure to mention Mr. Renfrow in your article. I'm working hard up here, Aaron. Thanks for being here, guys. We've got a good agenda.

Commissioner Gutt. I just want to welcome everyone. I just want to recognize our two newest businesses, Alpha Piotto, and I ate there yesterday, and, of course, Kenley Donuts, if you can get in the place. They sell out just about every day. They're open from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the afternoon, seven days a week. And they're working really hard for the demand up there. It's just been probably unreal. And I just want to shout out to the First Friday comment. I heard it was a near-record crowd. And I'm looking forward to summer motion. That's all I have.

Very good.

All right, and I'll echo what everybody was talking about with First Friday. I think it was a very successful First Friday. But also I want to talk about our American 250 Committee just for a few minutes. We have the next event is our Blue Star Memorial dedication. The memorial is going to be Sunday at 3 o'clock, and we'll unveil that. Just a little information about what that is. The Blue Star Memorial was started by the National Garden Club, which our Southern Hills Garden Club is actually a part of, and who are sponsoring this event. And it was nationwide, but it came from the World War II Blue Star, and there were flags. that if you had an armed service member in your family that was deployed, then you put that blue star in the window. So the blue star really just signifies and plays honor to any of our current armed services members, men and women. Unlike the the gold star, which we just had the event for, which were service members that actually lost their lives in combat. So the blue star if you can make it that we would love to have you and these historical markers. It'll be in the 1500 block of Carter Avenue. And that's all I have.

And you mentioned Southern Hills Garden Club, we ought to special thanks to them for redoing the riverfront flower bed. Last week, it really looks nice.

Yes, we would. Matter of fact, Commissioner Martin and I were there while they were working because we knew that WSAZ was in route to actually present them with the Hometown Hero Award. So we tried to keep that as quiet as we could, but a few of them knew that. But we want to continue to to commemorate them for what they do for our city to beautify it and they do a lot of work and all the different all the different places and just wanted to give them recognition for that okay thank you Mr Mayor our presenter this evening is Eden McKenzie I think she's back here she's going to talk to us about economic development thank you

Good evening, Mayor and Commissioners. I would just like to take a few moments and to provide you all with an update on our ongoing economic development efforts here in the city of Ashland. We've recently received updated community data through our partnership with Blueprint Kentucky, and this data provides valuable insights into demographic trends, workforce characteristics and economic indicators specific to Ashland. These updates will help us better target industries, refine our recruitment strategies, and ensure we are making data-driven decisions moving forward. We also had the opportunity to meet with the representatives from the Cabinet for Economic Development to discuss new regulations and updates to opportunity zones. These changes are designed to make the program more accessible and effective, which could significantly enhance our ability to attract investment into designated areas within the city. This map is also located online as well, and you can see exactly where our opportunity zones are. We are actively exploring how to leverage these updates to support redevelopment and business expansion projects due to some changes made to the Kentucky business investment program. During the 2026 legislative session, our department participated in an informational webinar that was hosted by K a E D in the cabinet for economic development to help economic development professionals better understand what changes are going to be occurring. and how those updates could impact your community and future projects. We look forward to meeting with the cabinet directly to talk about how these changes can directly benefit Ashland. On a personal note, have to throw this in there, I'm proud to share that I recently graduated from the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. OU EDI is an intensive 117 hour certification program which provides a broad spectrum of advanced education for economic development professionals. This experience has provided me with additional tools, strategies, and national perspectives that I'm already applying to our local efforts here in Ashland. From a business recruitment standpoint, we see steady interest in logistics and small manufacturing companies. Several active prospects are currently seeking facilities in the 10 to 15,000 square foot range. We are working to identify suitable sites and buildings that can meet those needs and position Ashland competitively for these opportunities. Two calls this week with meetings already scheduled for next week that specifically fall under those parameters. We have also been actively engaging with site selectors and have submitted multiple Ashland properties for consideration by several national quick service restaurant brands. These conversations are ongoing, but we remain optimistic about the potential for new retail and dining options. Effective retail economic development requires a proactive strategy. It's a little different than normal recruitment. You have to figure targeted marketing, demographic data and real estate representatives and developer partnerships to kind of attract them. So you have to have a developer and a real estate agent who might not know each other. And then the middleman is essentially our department economic development. We bring every party to the table to discuss. Most communities now heavily recruit using data to prove their local market viability rather than just waiting for a business to arrive organically. So if nine times out of ten if you see me my cell phone is in my hand and that is just proactive outreach. The fast casual dining concept is the concept that is at the top of every site selectors list. It's just what's popular right now. It's what's trending right now. And so concepts like Chipotle are top targets alongside. high-demand coffee drive-throughs such as Dunkin Donuts and Seven Brew and specialized chicken chains and those are your top three all across the board through every site selector webinar I've attended and also discussions regarding the new townhome development in Ashland are continuing as community leaders and development partners explore opportunities to expand the city's housing inventory which everyone knows is much needed additional housing options are critical and they need they are needed to support our workforce growth attract new residents and meet the increasing demand for quality housing Lastly, discussions continue regarding the former AK Steel site. I know this is a very hot topic. It is a very hot topic in my office as well. The multiple parties are currently engaged in conversations surrounding potential acquisition and redevelopment. While these discussions are still in progress, the level of interest in this site shows long term potential for a transformative development in our community. Overall, we are seeing positive momentum across multiple fronts, and we remain focused on creating opportunities that will strengthen Ashland's economic future. And I appreciate you all letting me speak as always. And I'm happy to take any questions that you all might have. I know that was a lot to throw at you.

When you talk about that former AK Steel property, are you talking about the Coke plant? Are you talking about the Westworks? Are you talking both?

I'm talking specifically about the Coke plant.

Okay.

Congratulations on completing your course.

Thank you.

It's quite an accomplishment. Thanks. And a very nice presentation tonight. Thank you.

thank you you know she mentioned housing several times in our homeless committee is working on that and there's something I'd like for us to explore explore not not today but as we know we we are demolishing a lot of the houses around here that nobody wants to work on. And a lot of them have cumulated enormous fines from code enforcement and that kind of thing, cutting grass and all that. I would love to come up with a program that maybe if a developer would somehow commit to refab rehab that house, within x amount of time that we would remove those funds. I don't know if that's possible or not. But maybe we're discussing for another time.

Well, just to be honest, over the last several years, we've been willing to work with different ideas and different developers and different folks. They're usually someone that already has an interest in the area, someone that's already a landlord or somebody that there's several folks that buy and flip houses, you know, rehab, troubled houses or houses that have problems, whether it be on foreclosure or whatever. We're willing to work with anybody on those fronts. Both I and Mike McKay are willing to entertain any ideas that folks have, whether it be a demolished house that is a vacant lot between two properties. And if a neighbor wants to see what we might be able to work out with them, we have always, at least since I've been here, actively worked with code enforcement and any prospective purchaser or someone who wants to get that house back onto the market and onto a tax roll in a positive way.

I think if we marketed that, I think we would have some of these developers for homes would come back to Ashland to work, if we're willing to work with them.

I think we need to look at some of our code regulations as well as zoning and start going to a common sense approach. I think some of the requirements now are mind-boggling or not common sense.

Some of the fines that are on these are liens. They're more than what the property's worth. And sometimes I think that's the deterrent. But we can talk about that and maybe bring it up and discuss it at another meeting.

Eden, what challenges do businesses face

if they want to invest downtown you know because you know you drive downtown you see several open shopping spaces retail spaces what challenges are are you hearing from businesses when they try to go downtown or try to look at space so one of the main i wouldn't necessarily say problems but a weakness that we have is unrealistic pricing on properties whether that be downtown or anywhere if you're trying to enter into ashland A lot of these property owners want, you know, two, three, four times what the appraisal price is. And, you know, unfortunately, when you tack on acquisition costs and construction costs, it just doesn't make the project feasible if acquisition costs of the property are astronomical. I think that is probably one of the biggest hurdles that we have to face. You know, those are some tough conversations you have to have with property owners because it is their property and they think the world of it. But unfortunately, if the price isn't correct, then people aren't going to be able to purchase or even lease the property. So to answer your question, I would say.

Have you seen any interest in South Ashland?

There is a lot of promise there. I send out a few different different sites based on the data that people present. And, you know, South Ashland is probably the most densely populated in southeastern Kentucky. I've heard that come out a few times with households with number of houses per like square mile. So that is one that we target specifically for, you know, small businesses, fast casual with the schools being right there. So it's showing promising redevelopment. Again, it just unfortunately time timing is everything in economic development.

Thank you for that.

Thank you for your hard work. Thank you.

Enjoy your trip to Gallenburg.

Thank you all.

All right. Let's move into our public participation. This is an opportunity, if anyone would like to address the commission of anything that is not on the agenda, this is the time to do that. You're allowed five minutes for one subject. If you like to do that, you can come to the podium and state your name and your address. And you'll be notified with yellow. You got 30 seconds. And red, you're out of time.

Hi, Mayor, commissioners. I'm Celeste Coons. I'm the executive director of Visit AKY, Winchester Avenue. um i just wanted to come forward and talk about the economic impact numbers that the governor went over with us yesterday and sent us boyd county and ashland are together so we put out a joint um a joint post today in 2025 we had a 2.7 percent increase we had 160.7 million dollars in secondary economic revenue We had 33.4 million dollars in labor and 12.4 million dollars in state and local taxes and I'm pretty proud of that I see the momentum move in the state of Kentucky we hit another record for the state at 14.6 billion dollars in tourism dollars so just wanted to come forward and let you guys know how tourism is impacting our area and definitely economic impact for sure.

You want to talk about First Friday just for a second?

Yes.

How many cars were there?

Well, honestly, not 100% sure. Because after 130, they stopped coming and registering. So we had 130 register. Past that point, they were parking in the parking lot beside of Retina and Associates down the side streets. We had some that drove through and left. We had so many smiling, happy people. It was the coolest thing to see, because everybody seemed to really have a great time, and it was very positive. I'm very blessed by that. That was such a good, it was a good feeling to be there. I feel like we're able to keep revving that up and we're able now to help with giving the kids things that they could take home. They had little cars that they could color and take home. Dutch Miller gave us some money to be able to do that so we can give the kids things to take home and possibly be able to give them ice creams and things like that at each of the first Fridays so that we're able to give back as well as have them be there. So first Friday was pretty amazing. And the next thing that we have coming up, of course, we have sunset scenes next weekend and maker's market. Sunset scenes is angels in the outfield. So we've asked that all the baseball, local softball and baseball teams come out. anyone that wears their uniforms and we'd love to have like older people who have them to be able to get free popcorn but we just think that that'll be a really cool community thing too to see all these kids and people out just wearing their uniforms and enjoying the riverfront and it'll be pretty awesome thank you for what you do thank you guys thank you

My name's William Reeves. I'm here to congratulate everybody that had such a good time there as well. One of the things that I noticed and kind of upset me, we have Winona Judge coming back to Ashland. The nameplate for her mother was ripped off the stage. It's not over there anymore. If you look at the front of the stage, the base, there's a thing that talks about it. There used to be a nameplate on top of the stage that said her mother's name on it. renamed i think that was back when they when previous commissions well it would have been something that the previous group took with them revamped uh no it's been gone for two or three months you're you're talking just on the stage on the stage there's a little plaque that says have you seen it there since the other group left what other group No no it's been there way before you this it's been gone for about two months but anyway I thought it'd be nice to put that back with what knows it would be back in town we'll take we'll go over there and look at yeah plenty of people walk by they never really look at it thank you thank you anyone else like to address the Commission

okay hearing none let's move into our old business uh mr wheeler item a second reading and final adoption of an ordinance entitled a series bond ordinance of the city of ashland kentucky authorizing the issuance of 10 million dollars principal amount of water and sewer revenue bonds series 2026a which amount may be increased by up to 100 000 or decreased by any amount designating the paying agent and registrar in respect thereof, approving the preparation of a preliminary and final official statement in respect thereof, providing for the sale of such bonds to the lowest and best bidder, and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute documents on behalf of the city.

So moved. Second.

Discussion?

on at the request of the finance director, I'm not going to make a motion to table for another meeting.

So I just encourage you know, if we could make sure we have a pretty good list of projects, obviously, that we're planning to do with this. I think that's something that Commissioner Martin, I will just share and say have a good point and have a good plan.

We do have a good firm planned up to do.

Water loss team did a excellent job to

We have a good plan. We actually have a list of already engineered projects, so projects that we can start on immediately as soon as we get the staff and equipment. And then we have a second list of ones we could have engineered while we're working on the other ones. And some of the bigger projects that we need to do, Erica and Corporation Council and I have actually, we're looking for grant funds for those. And our water intake. We actually have some PFAS settlement money, that 2 million that we have that we can put towards those. So we have a good plan with our water overall.

From that water litigation, right?

Yes.

But the 10 million is for water lines.

Water lines only.

Could we maybe get a bullet point kind of synopsis of what the plan is?

Yes. Our water loss team meets next week, and that will be our first priority. right appreciate it how can we get shovels into the ground he's ordered the equipment and I think he has some staffing things open we talked a little bit today so we think in early fall

That might be a little bit aggressive to be able to get to that. But we are we we still have a water line replacement project that we're getting ready to do in Catlett's Berg. Excuse me. We're working on Brian and Brian Drive and Ewing Lane. And as soon as we finish that, we're going to do the the larger project in Catlett's Berg where we're going to add I think it's like seven hydrants. Right. But until we're able to get this staffed properly, we wouldn't be able to get super aggressive on on that until we get staffed properly. OK. Which the problem with that, probably the biggest hang up for that is getting an operator, an equipment operator, and then just rotating your new people on to other, you know, we can't put all new people on. We'd have to have experienced people to do the replacement projects. So just rotating the people around and making sure that everyone's trained.

Um, I know we can't set a time and we don't have a timeline. I wouldn't think of how long this $10 million can will last on on on repair or replacement projects. But do you have like an estimate, you know, it'll take two years to complete the list that you're you're planning to prepare or our list is way bigger than $10 million.

So, yeah, well, I mean, this I think we can spend the money. We can probably come up with something.

Well, I think the beauty of this too, hopefully we're going to have less breaks and then less time to spend fixing those breaks and be able to even compensate more.

One of the benefits for me is that when we fix our worse of our worse, our repair costs are going to go down. We're not spending staff time repairing them. We're not spending time going out to the same sites over and over. And there'll be less citizens that will be without water in these areas. So we're going to hit the worst ones first.

is the priority list change markers at what we reviewed in the budget session it's it's relatively the same i mean but it always changes to some extent over the weekend you know when we had the raw water issue how how those change but it's it's not changed a whole lot since then okay i can i can get you all up yeah whatever the current deal is yeah could you remind us again of the timeline on the equipment that you've ordered I believe that the that the excavators available right now and then that that I want to think that the trailers a few months out, the longest item is is the the dump truck. And I want to think it was like six to nine months. Let me follow up on that thumb is with the excavators. Yes. Yeah. But the excavator is basically ready. Okay. Great.

Our discussion has basically been that the list that we have could be completed within a three year time period. Is that a fair statement in terms of what the estimate was?

I'm not sure. not sure if all i'd like to look at it and get back to you on that because there's some large projects on that list too some like oakview road and 29th street are right are large projects and those would be contractor projects um but we we we are continuing to seek grant funding for those we we want to get the little ones that are in there there may be some contractor projects as opposed to doing it all internally is that right there could be yeah that would include the raw water But that'll definitely be a contractor project.

And the raw water will be paid with the PFAS funds, so it will not touch the 10 million. It's going to be a redundant system. What?

It would be kind of a redundant system, right? That's what we're shooting for. Yeah.

I think a one time I think we did talk about in time frames once we got the money and equipment. Was this a three or four year project? Yeah, maybe. I don't know if I just imagine that or Yeah, but so that was talked about. I remember being mentioned.

Yeah. All right. Thank you all. Thanks, guys. Thank you. Any other questions? All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed?

Item B. Second reading and final adoption of an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the city of Ashland, Kentucky, adopting and enacting supplement 2026 S1 to the code of ordinances of the city of Ashland.

Second. Second. Discussion?

All in favor say aye.

Aye. All opposed?

Item C. Second reading and final adoption of an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the city of Ashland, Kentucky authorizing and directing the mayor to execute an agreement between the city of Ashland, Kentucky and s for water sales and service LLC for annual servicing of the total organic carbon analyzer in the amount of $6,275 for the Department of Utilities division of water treatment plant for a period of one year.

Some discussion.

All opposed? Item D. Second reading and final adoption of an ordinance entitled An Ordinance of the City of Ashland, Kentucky, amending Ordinance Number 101, Series of 1986, as previously amended, by amending Article 2, Supplementary District Regulations, Article 14, District Regulations, and Article 15, Definitions, to incorporate definitions and land use regulations related to qualified manufactured homes, and amending the Table of Permitted and Conditional Uses.

So moved.

Second. Second. Discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed?

Item E, second reading and final adoption of an ordinance entitled An Ordinance of the City of Ashland, Kentucky, Amending Ordinance Number 101, Series of 1986, as previously amended, by amending Article 13, Conditional Uses, Article 14, District Regulations, and Article 15, Definitions, to incorporate definitions and land use regulations related to recreational vehicles, and amending the table of permitted and conditional uses. Motion.

So moved.

Second? Second. Discussion?

I got a question about in the summary part of it. It said the last sentence staff recommends the length of stay shall be no more than six months with the option of a one-time extension of an additional six months. That was their recommendation. That doesn't mean we have to go by that. I mean Once it's passed we do but I mean at this point we could amend that we have a lot of traveling nurses that come through here and a lot of traveling construction people and I was I'm concerned If that's long enough I have Airbnb across the street from me that they stay for months and months and months, and I know that's a regular house, but some of these people choose to live in travel trailers, and this particular place was out there close to Breesland. I don't even consider that, I mean, that's pretty far out, consider the residential section in Ashland.

That's 12 months. Do we know the reasoning behind the six months with the additional six? what the criteria was of the reasoning behind that those numbers.

Yeah, I'm not sure we have a team member here from a department may maybe even.

Did that did this come from the planning commissioner, I would assume.

Yes, Catherine that singer is not available today she is out. But this was a recommendation from the planning Commission. Again the Board of Commissioners can either you know except there. I guess recommendation alter it or deny it so it at the end of the day the City Commission is the one that has the final say that this was a recommendation of the planning.

My concern is that we want to for lack of better term can't ground in inside the city limits. to me, it's it's almost what you have.

Well, I think one of the key words in there to recreational vehicle, you know, not Airbnb.

I mean, true, true. But I mean, you're gonna have a lot of construction people come through here that that choose to live in one of those. I just think it's kind of kind of limits their options.

i would assume that the planning commission had some reason that they use the six months i mean i i don't know what they considered so it's kind of hard to i like to hear their reasoning without hearing a reason behind it do the people that live in those recreation vehicles do they own them or are they renting them if they're renting them

It's there. It's going to be like a campground all the time.

Well, they wouldn't meet that criteria. Why don't I make a motion that we table this to the next meeting and someone from Planning Commission can speak on this.

Or that we find out from the Planning Commission what the reasoning was.

Well, we'll supplement as it will Catherine be back on Monday. We'll supplement once she gets back prior to your next meeting.

Yeah, Mike, Mike may have a recollection what the reason was, right?

Well, there'll be minutes from the planning commission that should be available as well. Okay, so I'll motion to table that.

So we have motion to table. Second.

second. I already said Oh, yeah.

Oh, I'm sorry. Okay, all in favor of the table say aye. All opposed. All right.

Let's move to our consent agenda. Resolution to the city of Ashland, Kentucky adopting, authorizing, and approving the course of action presented by the city manager on the items appearing on the consent agenda for the regular meeting of the Board of City Commissioners of June 11, 2026. So moved.

Second.

All right. Discussion? Only comment that I have is for item B, salt. I hope that the bin is overflowing in front of the bin, on top of the bin, around the bin, and behind the bin. So we'll have enough for... Well, this one, you remember...

I think we will. We got up to 2,200 tons that we found.

If you notice that the member of this was a discussion we had with Doug Cheney. Correct. Yeah. And in your summary, you're talking about us selling it. I think Miss Beach, our price was cheaper than what they could get. Is that not correct?

I can. I can answer that.

Okay. The county, the county, the city's man was 115 and the county's mission at 150. So we're essentially doing some co-op purchasing.

So this is a way for us to actually work with both city, Ashland City, Catholicsburg, and the county to save county taxpayers and city of Catholicsburg taxpayers money through this program with us all.

My question is, before we got 1,000 tons at the time, is that correct, Sean? Do we have enough space, covered space, to put 2,200 tons of salt?

I think previously we got 1,000 tons, but this allows us the option to purchase up to 2,200 pounds.

Well, it doesn't always have to be delivered at once. No.

But what I'm getting at, last year, if you remember, we didn't get it all at once, and we couldn't get it.

Well, you know, there was a discussion or deliver.

Well, you know, maybe put them in multiple locations, you know, but we'll see your best and I just have one question the on item C. Chief, on the, it said where our project for the showers are 30% complete. Are you, does it meet your all's approval? Are they on task with that?

Yeah, they ran into a few hiccups. We did have a change where that came through, but they've done really well with that. They're moving forward. It's just been a little bit of a slow process where to remodel things haven't quite went as quick as they wanted it to. But you're okay with that? Yeah, everything's been going good. They've been working well with us. It's just a slow process where it's putting in something after the fact the building being built usable showers.

yes yep each station's got usable showers at the moment and they've been good working with us to make that happen well i pardon i do have another question i guess mark on item f all these surplus pipe that we are actually getting a heck of a deal on but are we going to be able to utilize all those different sizes of pipe i guess Even though we're getting a good deal on them, at 50%, that's pretty good.

Well, we use a lot of 12-inch fittings and those types of things. The pop itself, I don't have the numbers right in front of me, but it's around 2,000 feet of 12-inch pop. We have 6,000 feet of 12 inch pop to replace on 20th not street. So if we if we go to do that we're we're a 3rd of the way there with the materials right off that.

OK so that's a great deal yeah.

I don't find out about this they just call you all. They did contact. They contact our water distribution department actually the transportation cabinet contacted them. They had worked out some type of deal with the contractor and there's actually 2 invoices. The way they had it it's weird the way they had to split it up but we're basically buying buying it off the contractor, but the state is like chipping in for a portion of it on one of the invoices. I don't really know what their side is. But I know that we're getting it at 50% of what they what they paid for you.

So hard, hard to pass up anymore.

Thank you.

Any other questions? We have a first and second all in favor say aye. All opposed.

All right, let's move to our new business out of a First reading and approval of an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the city of Ashland, Kentucky, authorizing and directing the mayor to execute a contract between the city of Ashland and Morton Salt Inc. for the purchase of up to 2,200 tons of treated rock salt at $115.50 per ton for the Department of Public Services Division of Streets.

So moved. Second.

Discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? Item B. First reading and approval of an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the city of Ashland, Kentucky authorizing and directing the mayor to execute a trust participation agreement for the Kentucky League of Cities Insurance Service General Insurance Trust for fiscal year 2026 to 2027 and payment of property and casualty premiums in the amount of $957,261.42. So moved.

Second discussion.

Were there other bids on this or just did we just go to KLC?

I know this is a almost a 14% increase. But I do know that our local independent agent it was with us. You know, we're not going to use them. So that's probably saving 20,000. Roughly.

OK. Who's going to respond to this, Michelle?

I'm sorry, what was the question again? Well, I guess no.

Did we get any other bids on the insurance? Just KLC.

OK, any other discussion? All in favor say aye.

All right, item C, E. First reading and approval of an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the city of Ashland, Kentucky, authorizing and directing the mayor to execute a contract between the city of Ashland and Centos Corporation for the rental of work uniforms for a period of two years for the departments of public services, utilities, parks and recreation, and code enforcement in the city of Ashland pursuant to bid documents opened on June 4, 2026.

So moved. Second. Discussion?

All in favor, say aye.

Aye. All opposed?

Item D. Reading and adoption of the municipal order entitled the municipal order of the city of Ashland, Kentucky authorizing and directing the mayor to execute a temporary construction easement between the city of Ashland, Kentucky and Paul Evans Holbrook Jr. regarding the Beachwood Forest and Woodland Avenue storm sewer project.

So moved. Second. Discussion? All in favor say aye. All opposed. All right, let's move to our executive session.

I believe we do have move that we go into executive session to discuss individual personnel matters and possible acquisition of property. Anything else?

Just making sure you said matters. There's multiple personal matters. I said, personal matters. Thank you. Yeah, matter there.

Okay. Second, second. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? All right. We shall return. We're back in session from our executive session. As Mr. Renfrow comes back in. Wait just a minute.

And no action was taken. Actually, Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to terminate employee 06112026. Second.

First and a second. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? All right. Anything else that needs to come before the board? All right, we stand adjourned.