Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

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Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] And the next item is we have citizens comments tonight and I'll invite Chris Claire to the podium and welcome back and The rules are we'll give you five minutes and we'll give you a warning and we may have questions or discussion after. That's all right.

Okay.

I don't think I'll take five minutes, but I'm Chris Claire. I live in South Frankfurt, proud South Frankfurt resident. Uh I wanted to stop by here tonight just to invite all of you and anyone else uh listening if they can hear us to the access soup kitchen and men shelter walk of awareness. Uh it's on Thanksgiving morning. It's our 30th annual walk of awareness. It kicks off at 8 a.m. from the VFW post 4075 at second in Capitol. Um, of course, when I say starts at 8 a.m., that's Kentucky time, so it might be a little bit after that. Um, this is Access's main fundraiser for the year. Uh it costs about $30,000 a month to keep the doors open and access and that allows us to serve in the typical year about 24,000 meals. Um we have 16 beds for men um who are not using. So, and those are full most nights. Uh, which, uh, I think actually points up the need for additional beds in town. And I was talking to a woman this afternoon, uh, who is in a a tough spot and she doesn't have anywhere to go because there's no women's shelter in town. So, uh, I know we're there are conversations going on about that, but it is a it is a need. Um but for access, we also share um just thousands of tons of food with other service organizations here in town uh that we pick up from Lexington and and get donated to us. Um and

yeah, so we're hoping that everyone who can can come out and walk off your Thanksgiving meal early. We're going to go up Capitol Avenue around the the roundabout there and then come back down and we'll end at the men's shelter on Second Street uh here right next to city hall. And um that's basically it. A big thank you to all of the supporters uh who donate their money and their time to access. We couldn't stay open without all of them. And uh we hope to see all of you on Thanksgiving morning. Happy to take any questions.

Anyone? Commissioner May, no real questions for you other than uh the the event tomorrow as a fundraiser. How do you raise the funds? If people wanted to to donate, will you be there accepting? Sure. You can you can come and register for the walk on the on the morning of. It's $30. Okay.

Uh we also through our Facebook page, access soup kitchen and men shelter on Facebook. there's a link where you can uh go to the run signup uh website and uh you can sign up there. You can donate your $30. You have the option to donate more if you'd like. If you visit our website, access soupkitchen.com, uh we have a button for PayPal and you can find a link to our Facebook page where you'll find the link to register for the walk. Thank you for that. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you, Chris. Thanks, guys.

Thank you. And uh next consent calendar. We'll turn it over to our city manager. Mayor, Commissioner Anger. Um could I make a motion to move item number three, the golf pro contract to action items. We have a motion to move action item number three on the consent calendar to action items. Sorry. Second. Any have a second? Second. Commissioner Smith will a second. All those in favor say I. I. I. All right. We will move that to action items. Thank you.

Item number one on the consent calendar are the minutes from work session October 13, 2025. The regular meeting October 27th, 2025. The special meeting October 29th, 2025. Item number two is the Brownfield consultant contract award. Staff request the board of commissioners authorization to award Brownfield consultant contract to Linebach Funkhouser Incorporated and for the mayor to sign all related documents. The city was awarded a $500,000 brownfield grant in July. Part of the grant work plan involves hiring a consultant for planning, oversight, environmental research, and testing. There is no budget impact on this grant. There was no matching funds. Item number four, emergency shelter certification for local nonprofits. Staff requests board of commissioners approval for the mayor to sign the certification certification of approval for local nonprofits for the Simon House and the Campbell Street Shelter for the Kentucky Housing Corporation emergency solutions grant for the emergency shelter component. The certification does not require any match from local government. Item number five is a contract with Josephine Sculpture Park, NEA grant. Staff request the board of commissioners authorize and for the mayor to sign a contract with Josephine Sculpture Park to oversee artist selection, coordination, and payment for the downtown art project, which includes various temporary sculptures in the downtown area. The contract includes a $20,000 NEA grant and $23,000 in kind match from the city for a total contract amount of $43,000. Item number six is amendment number one to the agreement with the capital LLC. Staff request approval for amendment number one to the agreement with the capital LLC dated October 14th, 2024 to finalize the cost to the city and pay capital LLC for trench rock removal for the installation of the city sewer project and authorize the mayor to sign

all related documents. The original cost was estimated at $341,812. Total new cost is $332,782 for a $9,30 savings. Item number seven is a professional services contract with Lobo Systems Incorporated, uh, Capital Avenue Pump Station Drives and Controls Upgrade. Staff recommends a professional services contract with Lovo Systems Incorporated, and for the mayor to sign all related documents. Total request for approval of this contract is $116,151. This was budgeted. Item number eight are personnel actions. We have an appointment. Gina Jennings, public works transit 1118 2025 transit driver. We have an appointment of Andrew Richardson, public works transit 1114 2025 transit driver non CDL. Appointment of Mike Perkins, public works transit. 1118 2025 transit driver non CDL. We have a resignation of Cesar Mahia Ooa Fire Department 113205 firefighter and authorized payout of acred leave. And we have a resignation of Matthew Pridmore garage 112 2025 mechanic.

Motion to approve. Second. Thank you. And we have a motion and a second for the consent calendar. Any discussion? Seeing none, I'll ask the clerk to call for the vote. Commissioner Richardson. Yes.

Commissioner, yes. Commissioner Mayhe, yes. Commissioner Smith Wellis, yes. Mayor Wilkerson, yes. And the consent calendar is adopted. Next, we'll move on to action items. And if it's all right, we can move that [clears throat] consent calendar to the end and stay on track here. So, uh, act item number one, we have a second reading.

An ordinance amending Frankfurt Code of Ordinances, Chapter 38, Ambulance Service, section 38.30. This ordinance amends section 38.30 30 of the City of Frankfurt Code of Ordinances related to ambulance billing rates to increase the rates for basic life support, advanced life support, special care transport, and special procedures, and establish new charges for basic and advanced life support, disposable supplies, and treatment without transport. Motion to approve.

Second. All right. Any discussion on this ordinance amending the ambulance service agreement? If none, I'll ask the clerk to call for the vote. Commissioner Richardson, yes. Commissioner, yes. Commissioner May, yes. Commissioner Smith Willis, yes. Mayor Wilkerson, yes. And that motion, that ordinance is adopted. Next, next item number two, please.

Second reading. An [clears throat] ordinance of the city of Frankfurt, Kentucky, authorizing the issuance of its city of Frankfurt, Kentucky general obligation bonds series 2026A in the approximate aggregate principal amount of 9,740,000 which principal amount may be increased by up to 975,000 or decreased by any amount for the purpose of financing the cost of the acquisition, construction, installation, and equipping of a new municipal fire station and related facilities. furnishings and equipment within the jurisdictional boundaries of the city. Approving the form of the bonds. Authorizing designated officers to execute and deliver the bonds. Authorizing and directing the filing of a notice with the state local debt officer. Providing for the payment security of the bonds, establishing a bond payment fund for the bonds, affirming the maintenance of the existing syncing fund, authorizing the acceptance of the bid of the purchaser for the bonds, and repealing any inconsistent ordinances. This ordinance authorizes the issuance by the city of Frankfurt of a series of general obligation bonds designated as city of Frankfurt, Kentucky general obligation bonds series 2026A for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquiring, constructing, equipping, and installing a new municipal fire station and related facilities, furnishings, and equipment within the jurisdictional boundaries of the city for the well-being and [clears throat] benefit of the city of the citizens of the Paying capitalized interest on the bonds if desirable, paying all or a portion of the cost of credit enhancements for the bonds if any, and paying all or a portion of the costs of issuance of the bonds.

Motion to approve. Second. Second. All right. A motion and a second. Any discussion on this ordinance obligating us to build the fire station? All right. If not, I'll ask the clerk to call for the the vote. Commissioner Richardson, yes. Commissioner, yes. Commissioner May, yes. Commissioner Smith Willis, yes. Mayor Wilkerson, yes. And [clears throat] that motion is adopted. And action item number three is a first reading seeking a sponsor.

I can sponsor. Okay. An ordinance fixing the rate of taxation for the year of 2025 on all taxable capital of domestic life insurance companies subject to tax and levying said tax for all city purposes. This ordinance establishes that the 2025 city of Frankfurt Avalorum tax rate is 8 and210 cents on each $100 valuation on taxable capital of domestic life insurance companies.

Is there any discussion on this proposed ordinance? All right. If none, we can look to put that on the voting meeting in December. December. What month? December.

Item number four is High Home Street Corridor Phase One Tap Grant Application Cabinet for economic development grant state program application, TAP, and CED grant application submittals and city match approval and resolution. Staff requests board commissioner approval to apply for the TAP and CED grant applications and for the mayor to sign all related documents. In order to keep phase one of the project on schedule, the city recommends submitting to KYTC a transportation alternative program grant application for $12.2 million to replace a portion of the rescended NAE construction funding. Total city matching funds for this grant would be $110,000 200 or 110 $238,000. All right, Commissioner.

Um, [clears throat] I just want to thank you, Chuck Nolles, and all staff for work on this. Um, this has been something that I personally have been pretty upset about that the current federal administration um, rescended some major funding for this Home Street corridor project. and and it sure seemed like it was just because the words access and equity were included in in the title. Um so thank you for bringing this to us to apply for. Um I you know I hope that we are able to continue to find other funding sources that can hopefully make up some of this rescended [clears throat] money which was about 15.6 6 million for the first phase of the Home Street corridor. So, thank you and um yeah, I'm just glad we're here and hopefully we'll be able to make up some of that

and I would make a motion to approve. Second.

Okay, we have a motion uh to apply for the these funds and a second. Any discussion? Further discussion, questions. I just want to make a comment to the public that we this is a two-phase the Home Street corridor project [snorts] is a two-phase project and the the irony now is we do have the funding for the second phase all the way, but we don't have the funding for the the full funding for the first phase. We we had obligated some funds over $4 million, I think, and I just couldn't obligate all of it before the the federal government rescended it. So thankfully we we have identified another avenue and we're going to pursue everything we can to make sure this happens.

If no other discussion, I'll ask the clerk to call for the vote. Commissioner Richardson, yes. Commissioner Anger, yes. Commissioner May, yes. Commissioner Smith Willis, yes. Mayor Wilkerson, yes. And that motion carries. Action item number five. Action item number five is a surplus property order from the fire department. Staff is seeking approval to declare a 40ft shipping container as surplus property and authorize the mayor to sign all related documents. Motion to approve. Second. Any discussion on this surplus order for from fire? If none, I'll ask the clerk to call for a vote. Commissioner Richardson, yes.

Commissioner, yes. Commissioner Manning, yes. Commissioner Smith. Yes. Mayor Wilkerson, yes. Motion is adopted. Action item number six. Action item number six, a resolution of the city of Frankfurt, Kentucky, approving condemnation of certain parcels required for the right-of-way acquisition acquisition for the Home Street Corridor project. Motion to approve. Second. Second. A motion and a second. Is there any discussion or questions on this motion, this resolution? If none, Madame Clerk, Commissioner Richardson,

yes. Commissioner, yes. Commissioner May, yes. Commissioner Smith Willis, yes. Mayor Wilkerson, yes. And that resolution is adopted. Action item number seven. Item number seven, a resolution of the board of commissioners of the city of Frankfurt, Kentucky regarding the payment of funds to the Franklin Anderson Industrial Development Authority. Motion to approve. Second. Any discussion on this resolution? Questions? If none, madame clerk, recall for the vote. Commissioner Richardson, yes.

Commissioner Unger, yes. Commissioner May, yes. Commissioner Smith Willis, yes. Mayor Wilkerson, yes. And that resolution is adopted. And action item number eight. Action item number eight is an emergency declaration US 127 at Old Herburg Road, Force Main Break, Basham Construction. Uh, this is an emergency project. We will need to have a budget amendment to fund this project. And the contract is written as a do not exceed $125,000. Motion to approve. Second.

All right. Any discussion on this emergency declaration? None. Please call for the vote. Commissioner Richardson, yes. Commissioner, [clears throat] yes. Commissioner May, yes. Commissioner Smith Willis, yes. Mayor Wilkerson, and yes. And that's the end of the original action items. We will now go back to the golf pro contract from the consent calendar.

It was item number three, consent, the golf pro contract. Uh staff seeks board commissioner approval to renew the Juniper Hills Golf Course Golf Professionals contract and for the mayor to sign all related documents. Uh Kirk Skoolie has been the golf pro since 2004 and his contract is up for renewal. There is no budget impact on the golf pro as the golf pro is a budgeted position. Commissioner Anger.

Thank you. Um just to open up conversation and this is um no knock to Kirk Skoolie. I know our community appreciates all he does and so do I. Um but I after review I just realized that um you know the contract is one year with the two years that auto renew and I just don't want to see us here or other future boards in three years you know reviewing this again and then not necessarily seeing some potential changes at the golf course. It's not that it's with the golf pro at all, but that um I know some discussions after the recent park rates discussion, I've had people reach out to me about the golf course. So, I just wanted to sort of stay at the front of our mind. Um and so that was something I wanted to bring up to the board to see if anyone else was interested in just keeping it maybe one year so that we bring it up again to discuss. And right now I think the way it was written was it's it's one year and then it's automatically renewed unless we is that is that the way it is?

Okay. Unless 60 days prior to the expiration of the term we take a step otherwise. [clears throat] So would we just take out that 60-day? Yes. It it's actually really easy. Um I'm looking at it right now and we just do a term of one year and then the statement. nothing else about you know the two additional automatic renewals. We would just say that either party may cancel for any reason upon 90 days. So ultimately we're just deleting a little bit of length just it won't automatically renew. Was that in the form of a motion? I can make that motion

to make those changes so that it doesn't auto renew. Okay. Is that good enough? And um if if you all Yes, if you all want to do that and then vote on the as amended and to vote on it as amended. Yes, that's perfect. So, we'll amend first and then vote on it after it's amended. Correct. I'm sure I'm hearing right. Actually, you can do it in one motion if you want. If everybody understands instead of the two automatic renewals, we're going to one year and that will be the amendment. Got it. Second.

Okay. So, we have a motion to proceed with the contract with an an amended contract just taking out the automatic renewal. Yes. Everyone understand that? And we have a second on that. Is there any discussion? Further discussion? Commissioner Smith Willis. My commissioner is directed toward Commissioner Anger. Are there any what what the community is asking questions about in terms of the rates? Are they putting out what they would like to see out of the golf or like is it just like a very blanketed like we want more out of it and then you know us revisiting the contract?

I think what I've heard is um there's a certain quality of some you know maybe it's the greens or something else at the golf course that some people would like to see improved instead of a continue raising of rates. So I think I would like to dig into the golf course deeper to um understand and also look at efficiencies. Um but I think just the change of this to one year just keeps it at the front of our mind. Thank you. Anyone else? Commissioner Richardson,

I would like to remind the community that the golf course, you know, is a quality of life item for the city. And I'm all behind the golf course. I've known Kurt for several years. I think he does a fine job. Um, one of the biggest things that I talk to people when it comes to golf rates is they need to realize that just the maintenance and upkeep of the golf course has doubled, tripled exponentially over the years. Um, you know, the golf course doesn't make a lot of money in the sense of operationwise, but and I do believe we need to keep it. Uh, but I think the public needs to realize that it's very costly to keep a golf course. I've said this once in many meetings. I'll say it again. I travel all across the state. There's very municipalities that maintain their own golf course because they are quite quite expensive to do so. Uh I agree that we need to provide a a a really nice course and I play on Juniper uh several times. Uh and I think it's wellkept. Uh of course that depends on the weather if it's very dry, very wet. Uh but um I just kind of want to remind everyone that you know the golf course it is an expensive endeavor uh for any municipality to maintain. And if am I not correct uh Mr. city manager is. Now, Kurt is a city employee, correct?

Correct. He He is a city employee, but we also have some other issues with this contract. It's a golf pro. It's it's a different way that it works and operates with golf pros, but yes, we do pay him as a city employee. Okay. Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Smith Willis. I'm just thinking back to our last conversation. They do not I do not golf, full disclosure, so I'm not sure what to golf. Like, I've been, but I don't know how to do it. So I like I've never been able to go to appreciate like the entertainment aspect of it and there is no liquor sales there. Correct. At the golf course there's beer, no liquor. Okay, cool. Just curious. License maintained by the pro, not by the Got you. That's that was a part of the conversation I remember. Thank you for that. Beer, no liquor.

Okay, everybody good with that? We have a motion, a second, and no other discussion. I ask the clerk to call for a vote on the amended contract. Commissioner Richardson, yes. Commissioner [clears throat] Unger, yes. Commissioner May, yes. Commissioner Smith Willis, yes. Mayor Wilkerson, yes. And that contract is adopted. And that's end of that's the end of our scheduled business. We can move on to any unfinished business. We didn't have anything from last meeting. Any new business to come before the board?

Commissioner Under. Um I think after our last meeting [clears throat] and discussions with uh the city manager, we we found out that there weren't anyus for the shooting range for those 18 external organizations. Was that correct? That is correct.

Okay. um and maybe haven't been for a little while. So, I just thought as that sort of procedural issue probably needs to be addressed. So, I wanted to bring it up again um just to let every one on the board know if they didn't know. Um, and then, um, I'm I was sort of, you know, I'm willing to make a motion to maybe suspend some of the external organizations from using it until we do haveus, but after some discussion, I also don't want to throw a wrench in any of the external organizations plans to use it in the very near future. Um, so I wanted to sort of open that up for any conversation. with the board. [clears throat] Uh

oh. Commissioner May.

No, I appreciate Commissioner Anger addressing the concern with the public and certainly in this instance just exposure and liability standpoint for the city government. Uh but in our conversation, something that was very important to me was that we, you know, if we have agencies that are planning already have planned events to use the training grounds, I would like for them to be able to do that without, you know, essentially pulling the rug or feeling like we're pulling the rug out from underneath them on something they were expecting to be there. Um, however, I also understand just the the need to make sure that we're covering our our assets here. Um, so I I'm in support of getting the MLUS established. I want to know if there's any and maybe chief, you may know if there's any plan through the end of the year, uh, agencies that were could potentially be impacted if we were to decide tonight that you had to have that before you step foot on the property. I have to look at the range schedule. Okay. I do know um there have beenus in the past. I guess they just need to be renewed. Um and also I know that KSP is insured because it's a local insurance agency that insures them as well. They reached out to me after seeing the meeting and said, "Hey, we'll send a copy of KSP's insurance." Okay.

I know. Okay. And then uh a question as far as and there's like you said there's 18 different agencies roughly using it to get theus [clears throat] out. We can get them out from our end probably pretty quickly and then it's going to be relying on how quickly they get them back.

That is correct. Yeah. I I would do just a basic form um because I do think we found a couple but they're like 30 years old. So, I think um I'll probably start from scratch, use those, do a form, send them out, but then their legal counsel, whoever else would have to renew or have to review. So, it could take a little while um to get those back. Okay, thank you. That's all the questions.

Um I think I appreciate Commissioner Anger, of course, bringing this up as well. I also want to echo what Commissioner May had said too. I don't really want to throw a wrench at anybody's schedule. So, Chief, if you could probably I would like to know how many things are lined up until the end of the year. I hate that it's taken so long for this to maybe possibly come up, but u maybe if we can find like a a peak time of like not too much movement at the shooting range because I do think that it's going to take a while for it to come back from council. So, just I don't want to like mess up anybody's schedule because I feel like the training is of course very imperative, but if we're coming up on the holidays, maybe if we can figure out a timeline between the entities that are using the shooting range and then us getting our MLUs back so nobody's schedules are thrown off with training. That was a question I guess chief also, but if you can get that, that'd be awesome just to know who's all about to be training soon.

Is that directed through our city manager? Yeah, look at city manager. And if no one has an objection to Yeah, Commissioner Richardson.

Yeah, we just got to remember like to get thoseus back. I think uh Laura said it best. It's going to take some bodies of government. It may take them a meeting or two or month. So I am 100% on board have theus and don't believe that until we give them quite frankly the fact that maybe we don't have an updatedou from someone I think that would fall on us uh our responsibility um I don't feel like we should punish u any agency using our range uh not to train on it. So I think that sounds like the consensus but timeline um it just would depend on that govern body and if I'm not mistaken chief can probably answer this you know you have a lot of state you may have 18 different agencies that he mentioned but out of that you may have five or six of those may be state agencies um that would really fall under one insurer uh as for the state if I'm not mistaken That's correct. We have federal agencies, state agencies, then we have um the county jail and the sheriff's office of other county. So, a lot of different divisions in the Kentucky State Police. Um but really it's all the state. So, we break it down that way. It's well and Jtown. So, maybe four or five different entities. We break it down that way. and respect those.

Is there a way um is there a way I guess that we could give all these entities a heads up? I know you said KSP saw the meeting, but I think in lie of this of timing. That's why I asked my question of do we have like a dead period to where they're not going to be actively training to where we can get this get this in motion. But if not, I just feel like also at the same time giving everybody a heads up like, "Hey, we're doing this because like Commissioner Richson said, I mean, it's been a while since it's been talked about where the accountability falls at." That that's another conversation. But in terms of them training, not throwing off their training, but then also us being transparent and giving everybody a heads up, I feel like that would be a really genuine gesture. So, um, that's just my thoughts on that before we start making pieces move.

December absolutely the time December into January, you know, through the holidays and then the dead of winter. That's the slowest time. Commissioner, I understand the impact that this could make on those agencies um and organizations, but I also want to um make sure we're doing everything as we should and you know, legally safe. Um and that's part of, you know, why we're here to make sure we're doing things correctly. So, I would also default to what you might have to say in terms of should we continue to let people use it for a period of time. You don't have to answer this now, but I I would like to um also just hear [clears throat] from from your side legally

at some point now that we've been put on notice that um that we don't have theus and and you all this this does happen in city government. I mean, right, you know, neither Derek nor Jason nor it was 20 20 years before our time maybe on on a couple of those.

Um, but now that it's been brought to our attention and we are aware, I I do think that the more quickly we get these in place um, the better. So maybe it's a matter of really speaking to the agencies in terms of the urgency of it now that we know. I I realize nothing has happened in this amount of time, but now I do feel like we're on notice and um we we need to actually get those in place pretty quickly. So, do we want to put a a time frame on this or or take it up at the work session or how would you like to proceed?

Would you like me to work with the police chief to get that time frame to bring to you all at the work session? Would that work? We can get that time frame of what we think might be a good time frame. Look at the dead periods. Look at the scheduling and bring that to you all to work session. That'd be that if we don't have MOAS in place, then there's a there's a cut off. Yes, we can definitely we can definitely set it up like that. And one thing we can do in the meantime too is to check with all the entities just like KSP volunteered uh the information to see if they do have insurance which is a major you know that's that's really um I'd say the glaring most important concern right now. So

then we'll have an opportunity to weigh in whether or not just because you have insurance doesn't mean you get to use our it's just we're allowing it without the agreement. Is that does everyone feel good about that? I feel good about that or good enough. Good first step. All right. So we'll target that for December work session. December work session. I'll work with the we'll start work tomorrow on it and kind of figure out [snorts] the time frame. Thank you. Is there any other new business to come before the board? How about board comments?

Commissioner Smith Willis. I have one. Since I guess it's the week of the holiday um for whatever celebrates, I just wanted to um just say I appreciate the community for hanging out with us this year as a new board of commissioners. And I just appreciate the staff, of course, per usual. Um, I know we've kind of went through a lot of different things this year, but it's been really great working with you all and just um, learning with you guys. So, I just want to say thank you, Commissioner.

I just want to um, Yep. say happy Thanksgiving Thanksgiving to everybody and hope you can take some time to be with family and friends and relax. We all need it. Any other board comments? Besides, happy Thanksgiving everyone. Motion to second. All those in favor of journing say I. I. I. We'rejourned. Bye Rob. Hope you feel better. [music]

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