City Council - Regular Meeting

Welcome everyone to Elizabeth Town City Council regular meeting for April 20th, 2026. I will now call the meeting to order and ask Council Member Julia Springsteen if he she'd lead us in the invocation, please. He she would be honored.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we gather this evening as servants of this community, entrusted with the welfare of our neighbors. Grant us clear minds and open hearts as we deliberate together. Where there is disagreement, give us patience. Where there is complexity, give us discernment. Where there is need, give us the will to act with compassion and courage. May all that we do this night be worthy of the people we serve and pleasing in your sight. Protect also our first responders and military as they go about their duty, protecting us and our country. In your name we pray. Amen.

Amen. And if you join us in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance 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. Madame clerk, if you would please call the role. Yes, sir. Council member Bishop here. Vulkerson present. Isacs here. Jones here.

Springsteen here. Tyler here. Mayor, you have a quorum. Thank you, ma'am. We'll start with approval of minutes from April 13th, 2026. If I can get a motion. Second. Y'all beat Marty that time. I've been trained. Well, all in favor? Opposed? Seeing none, motion carries.

We do have some recognitions that we would like to make tonight. A couple special people that work for our planning department. And Aaron or Jeff, if you all would one of you'all come up and explain their accomplishments to us, please. love to explain their accomplishments. So, first we'll start with Mason Druan. Mason is a commercial inspector in our department and he is officially now a level three building inspector. So, what that means is Mason now uh not only can inspect every building in the city limits, but he also can do plan review. So, uh, it's a very important, uh, qualification for, uh, Mason to get to in our department. So, um, I do want to point out that Mason was given when hired one year from start date to achieve a level two inspector, and he took it above and beyond and achieved level three in a year and five months. So, also point out that there's not been one inspector in the city of Elizabeth Town that has become a level three faster than Mason. So, uh, we are beyond proud of Mason and his hard work and dedication. So,

do you all ever have you all reminded Randy of that? No comment. Congrats, Mason. We appreciate you. We're glad to have you. Yeah.

Good work. And then we also have Todd Williams uh who is now a official licensed electrical inspector uh for the city of Elizabeth Town. So Todd uh much to his surprise, he did not realize at first that he was going to have to take the test because he thought he was already qualified. So uh you can imagine surprise when he found out I haven't taken a test in a long time. So now I got to pass this this test. So Todd took it upon himself to to study and get the materials and he passed it with flying colors about a month ago. So we are proud of Todd and Todd is now our second official uh license inspector for electrical inspections in the city and and uh we're we're beyond proud of Todd so for achieving that. So

So Todd, same thing. We're glad to have you and you do a great job in spite of having to work with Todd Vaughn. You've come a long way and I'm glad that you went back to school for a little while. I hope it wasn't too big of a shock. You like what I did there? Oh, we do need to get a picture. Yeah. Yeah. They we do have family for both of them here. So, if they want to come up and Yeah, that'd be great. Come on up, recognize and get your picture. Mayor, when I was first introduced to Mason, I was told he's the future of the city.

Oh, here you are. Right there. Awesome. Good job. Thank you.

Thank you.

Congrats again, Mason and Todd. and don't feel like you're obligated to stay if you all have something else to do. This might be boring what we're getting ready to go through next. Or you can stay and teach the young ones about the civic process. Okay. First reading of ordinance number 8 2026 by motion zoning map amendment for 1612 North Mile Street from R2 to R3. If I can get a motion in a second to read, please. So a motion second. All in favor? I opposed. Judge Howard.

This is a first reading. By summary, this ordinance amends the official zoning classification for the property located at 1612 North Mile Street from suburban residential, which is R2, to urban residential, which is R3, to allow for uses such as a shortterm rental. The change was approved by the Listown City Council as it was found to be in agreement with the city's comprehensive plan. The full text of the ordinance can be found uh by contacting the city clerk's office. This again is a first reading by summary. Any discussion? That'll bring us to municipal order number 27206, appointment of Rick Townsen to the board of zoning adjustment. If I can get a motion in a second to read, please.

Motion. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Judge Howard.

At a regular meeting of the city council held on the date set out below, a motion to read and adopt the following municipal order was duly made, seconded, and approved. Whereas the mayor, pursuant to KRS 100.217, wishes to appoint Rick Townsen to the board of zoning adjustment to fill an unexpired term. This term expires on December 31st of 2026. Now, be it ordered that Rick Townsen is appointed to the board of zoning adjustment with a term to expire December 31st, 2026, and the mayor of the city and/or designate is hereby authorized and directed to take all steps necessary to perfect this order read adopted and approved this 20th day of April. Just so you all are familiar with Mr. Townsen, if you do not know him, he is retired military. Uh they decided to stay here after they retired. Great guy, combat veteran. He his son Taquan uh was in the same grade as my girls. They graduated together and uh we became friends that way. And he told me multiple times, if you have the opportunity to let me help you serve the citizens of Elizabeth Town, I'd love to have that opportunity. And so when Chief Schiller, who was on BZA, became the chairman of the tourism, I'm sorry, the chamber board, he got a lot busier. So he went off of BZA and that left a vacancy. And so I contacted Mr. Townsen and he was thrilled to have the opportunity to serve. So if you all will agree with me, I'd love a motion in a second to adopt.

So moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Seeing none, motion carries. Thank you all. And that brings us to resolution number two, 2026, amending the comprehensive plan adding the downtown master plan. If I can get a motion in a second to read, please. Motion. Second. All in favor? I

opposed. Judge Howard. Whereas the city desires to operate a planning program for the community that is based in sound planning. And whereas the city council desires to comply with all statutes and laws relating to the operation of a planning program for the city. And whereas the Elizabeth Town Planning Commission prepared a comprehensive plan to serve as a guide for public and private development actions and decisions in 2020. And whereas the city council endorsed the 2020 version of the comprehensive plan and endorsed updates to the plan in 2022, in July of 2025, which was the town mall master plan, and in August of 2025, which was the Envision Active Elizabeth Town bicycle and pedestrian master plan. And whereas one of the goals of the plan is to continually invest in the downtown to make it a destination. And whereas a series of public meetings were held to gain community input into action, ideas, and projects for the downtown area. And the planning commission at their March 24th, 2026 meeting endorsed the downtown master plan of 2026. Now therefore bit resolved by the Elizabeth Town City Council, the plan elements of the Envision Elizabeth Town 2040 comprehensive plan are reaffirmed and the downtown master plan in its entirety is endorsed and adopted to be utilized utilized by the planning commission and city council to identify and develop programs and projects to enhance public spaces, improve mobility, walkability and foster unique mixeduse

cultural districts in downtown Elizabeth Town. Done this 20th day of April of 2026. Any discussion? Mayor, I'm excited to get this plan implemented. It's got a lot of great things. Uh I think it just continues momentum for downtown and especially those speaker system. Just saying. Yeah, that was for Amy. speakers.

I would concur. I also want to make sure that we thank the people that were on that committee. Uh they put in a lot of work and a lot of time. Mike, I know you were in those meetings and they're productive and it's going to be great for our city. So once again, our citizens coming through when we put them on committees or on boards and they don't get a lot of recognition, but they should get more than they do because they're serving their city. So thank you to them as well. And Marty to add um from that committee that was one of the first task was the speaker system. So So Amy and I are super excited now mayor. So we'll see how it goes. They were motivated on figuring out how to make that work.

Need a motion and a second to adopt, please. I'll make a motion. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Seeing none, motion carries. That was quick. That brings us to the public comments section. Yes, ma'am.

Hi. Y'all seen my face before, so my name is Judy Elliott. Um, I wanted to come up here today and discuss an issue that's been ongoing for many years. I know that it's been told to me many of times that this is a new development that people's not aware of. It goes back to Robert Bush days. It goes back to Kougall now Davis Gray and Han and Mayor Gregory is aware of it at this point. They said that they weren't aware of it previously, but I had inquired in reference to the St. John estates. Um, and of course, we have to do the response I received was city capital projects must compete for the funds. So, I haven't been really addressed by any of you all. So, if y'all have any questions or anything of why the importance of this is, you're more than welcome to hit me with them. Um, with that being said, I've got a little statement I'd like to present to you. And I did a public record. And with that being said, just the drainage area in the area that I'm speaking of, everyone of these properties along have called in just in the last 5 years because I've only got information back to 2020 from my public record request. Every house along it has had an issue with the strange. It's not just mine. So, my name is Judy Elliot and I live in St. St. John Estates. I am requesting confirmation that the St. John estate storm water drainage issue that has been documented since 2009 in the storm water master plan. It says it bottlenecks. Even though it wasn't part of the plan, it was bad enough for it to be brought up into the discussion. A known failure that has not been prior priorized has and will continue to cause property damage and safety hazards. not

just to me but to other people in the neighborhood. In the stormwater master plan provided it to the city by Santech consulting services which states complaints have been received by the city and the system bottlenecks. So this is dated April of 2009. um some of the information and data they received. I had called back in there 2006 from the flooding. Given the length of time this concern has been persistent and the ongoing property damage and safety hazards, it needs to be included in the 2627 budget. I would like confirmation specifically what can be done now to prevent damage before the next storm. whether interim mitigation measures will be implemented before the next heavy rain event. I have asked that multiple times in my emails with no response to that question. What are we doing currently until the full infrastructure can be completed? I have done my part. I have put a trench drain in my house. I am rerouting water. I have a subp pump in my house. I have extra two pumps and hoses that I've purchased to reroute water a different direction to try and keep it out of my home. This is also damaging my property, the concrete driveway and eroding my road or eroding my yard. It's encroaching onto my property. It has gone beyond reasonable use, way beyond reasonable use of my property. And I want to know if the project will be included in this budget. If not, what criteria is keeping you out of it? What is the anticipated timeline and design for this construction?

You all have a duty and I've been available at multiple meetings for anybody to address me. One person has come up and told me I wasn't aware of the situation priorly and that was Mr. Mr. Mayor Gregory. Um, but you have a duty to correct hazardous conditions and provide adequate drainage infrastructure to the citizens. Why is this not being done? The city is collecting and directing storm water through coververts and ditches, then discarding it into undersized downstream systems, causing overflow, backlog, bottleneck, the diversion of the water onto private property and into residents. This exceeds reasonable use of somebody's property. What can be done? 2006, 2013, 2018, 2025, it has made it into my home. That's not counting what's how many times it's made it onto my property and didn't go further. I actually have pictures of some of my property. This is just after a 30 minute rain, the covert being filled. This is what it's being dumped into. This is what it looks like. That's the reason it's backing up into my yard. The Harvard Drive ditch is not feasible for the amount of water they're feeding into it with the way it is right now. Would you all have any further questions for me? Would you like to see any of this information? Because I've not really been inquired. I've sent text. I've sent videos. I've sent all kinds of stuff to Han and Davis and Gray. I've also included you all on all my correspondences.

So, ju just a couple things. We're we're aware of everything that you're talking about. And as we've told you multiple times, we have to have a study done. It has to be included in the budget, which we don't do until May. But most importantly, when you ask why nobody is responding to you, when you threaten litigation, it locks our hands. And that's why you've been dealing with our city attorney and he's been answering. So, they're not going to respond to you when you've threatened litigation because if we get into a lawsuit, then there you go. There you have it. So, that's why they nor I have been responding to your emails and the city attorney has.

It was a simple inquiry. Does it take that to get action? That was the question. That was a simple inquiry.

Yeah. This is a subdivision. It's one of It's an older subdivision uh in uh in our city and as such it was uh built I don't remember who by but uh it was built before we even had standards to address uh storm water. Uh and so as we've seen throughout the older parts of of our city, drainage issues are present. Uh and as I have informed Miss Elliot last week, we can't just fix one problem and push the problem to a neighbor or downstream. So it requires kind of a comprehensive study uh by engineers who do these things uh in order for us to reach a solution that doesn't harm somebody else. Uh and that's the process that we're in. All of Michelit's information is known to the storm water department. They've documented it. Uh and it is in uh the budget process. uh and as all of you all know uh there are many projects uh that are in the budget process and they will uh a decision has to be made by this body as to which of those projects get funded. We'd like to fund them all just simply not uh economically feasible to do that. And as I've advised Miss Elliot last week, an answer to her question really will not be available probably until June until you all finally adopt the budget. Okay.

Is there any imminent resolutions that can be done? Because I'm at a a lock. I've done everything I can as a homeowner because according to Etown city ordinances and everything else, I can't build a fence. I can't build the barriers that go past my house. There's nothing else I can do at this time. So, I'm just supposed to endure it longer and longer being a known issue because the information didn't get carried on. We're talking 20 years now, guys. We're competing. I'm up here discussing because I want it to be known and it actually be addressed instead of put off and put off or I'm sorry I'm not aware of it. I've never heard of this before.

That is comments that I have directly been told. Well, I don't think anybody's telling you that now. We're we're aware of it. We've gotten all of your correspondence and as the judge said, we're we have a process that we have to work through and once we get into the budget process, if it gets funded, then we're going to take care of it the best we can. But it, like he said, and like you've said, it's it's not just your house. It's all throughout the subdivision. And so, we're not just going to address your house if it's a

No, I would like it to be completely done, but there needs to be something but that's not something that happens in two weeks. Mr. Martinez, if he's here, can tell you that we've been working on Foxboro for 3, four, 5 years now. And uh he'll also tell you that their first uh complaint started in 2010 and it went several years and it wasn't addressed, but we addressed it. And so that's what we're going to try to do with yours as well. We just we have a lot of things that we have to go through before we can give you a clear answer of when and how. And I mean, we don't know how much it's going to cost. We don't know what other projects it's competing with because there's there's several across the city, not just yours, that have similar requests. So, we're we're going to do the best we can, but you're going to have to give us honestly till July 1 or whenever we vote this next 26 27 budget in to be able to give you a clear answer.

And I want to make sure that it's being addressed and I'm in the compete. this area is in the compete because like I'm saying it's it's it's been documented and for over 20 years now like you said 2010 yes I understand 2010 I'm giving you dates of 2006 with Robert Bush I'm giving you dates of 2009 that an engineer study had seen the issues and stuff so the time has been put in now's the time to act and get it in the budget So noted. Thank you. Anybody else? Okay. City council information items. The next meeting will be on April 27th, 2026. East scrap recycling event will be this Saturday, April 25th, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the AGC automotive plant. And a reminder of spring cleanup is currently underway to include removal of any campaign political signs that are in the rightways. And luckily that won't be any of yours or mine because we haven't gotten that far yet. So make sure that the political signs are not in the rightways because they will be removed. You all have anything you want to address? Mason and Todd, thank you all again. Appreciate what you do. We're glad to recognize you. Uh, a lot of times, uh, the council sees our employees, but they don't always hear about the accomplishments that that they make, and we think that it's important that we highlight that. Also, I want to introduce somebody, Jamie Henderson. If you'll throw your hand up there in the back, he has taken Todd Williams, Tom Williams position in uh, inspections and planning as well. He is a former or retired fire chief from Ragcliffe and wanted to get back in the game in a different capacity, and we're glad to

hire him. So, he's going to do a great job. We're glad to have him on the team as well. We good. I think we're going to have Jamie say a couple words. Get up here. You want a speech? I'd just say like I say, he probably would like to work for a good mayor since he was working for JJ a little bit, but it'll be a culture shock, right, Todd? Okay. Okay, with that we will adjourn with a motion and a second, please. Motion second. All in favor? I

opposed. Seeing none, motion carries. We're adjourned. Thank you all.