Council - Regular Meeting

Okay. All right. I'd like to call to order the Rackler City Council regular meeting for Tuesday, January 20th, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at Rockler City Hall being streamed live on Facebook reported by Harden County Television. If you could please rise for an invocation and can remain safely pledge.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day. We thank you for your many blessings. We thank you for the mayor, our council members, our city attorney. Father, we thank you for all of our department heads. Father, we ask that you bless this city as we move it forward. We ask that you bless each and every citizen. Bless our service members who are serving both here and abroad. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 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. [snorts]

All right. Roll call, please. Yes, sir. Bill present. Brown here. Darl here. Present. We have a quum. Can we have minutes from December 16th, 2025 meeting January 12th, 2026 meeting January 12th, 2026?

Second discussion. All in favor? But welcome everybody. Thank you all so much for being here. Um, we had a lunchon this afternoon and when I got up to speak and start my comments, I started with congratulations to Indiana. Uh, I don't know if there's any Indiana fans in here. Brian, are you an Indiana fan? No. Uh, I didn't know if anybody here was Indiana fans, but that was a heck of a football season for the fans. I know Miss Alders used to be here. She I used to stare at that Indiana plate every time she pulled out of her driveway across the street. So, um, congratulations all the Indiana fans. Anybody that watched that, that was a heck of a season for those. So, congratulations to them. Uh, public comments, we will open up the floor for public comments. Anyone that wants to speak or address the council, it's your opportunity to come up. Beth, you want to go first? I see you.

Do I have to sit there or can I just uh if you want to get close to the mic just so people Yeah, they can hear you. Um, just state your name.

Well, hi everyone. I'm Beth Amy. Um, and normally I'm with uh the Knox Regional Development Alliance, but I'm wearing a different hat tonight. I'm with the Pink Dot Project. And I was going to be here with Dr. Shannon Holt. She's a wonderful OBGYn in our community when she was called to the hospital. So um I'm doing it solo, but um Dr. Holt came to a group of ladies um called the Hills Together Investors, and Toshi and Terry are um two of those wonderful ladies. and she told us about um a story where she was treating a patient, a woman um maybe in her 30s came in with young children and asked her to stop her menstrual cycles and she said, "Well, okay, but um you know, are they heavy?" And the young lady said, "No." She said, [snorts] "Well, are they painful?" And the young lady said, "No." And she said, "Well, then why do you want me to stop this?" Um and the young lady said, "I can't afford the [snorts] products, the menstrual products." And um Shannon, who's been practicing medicine for so many years, was just floored. She said, "Well, um you know, do you have um wick benefits?" And she said, "Yes, but they don't cover them." Um then she said, "Well, surely then you have SNAP benefits." And they she said, "Yes, but you can't use SNAP benefits to buy menstrual products." And on top of that, Kentucky is one of, I believe, 20ome states in the nation that still um tax period products as a luxury item. And I assure you, all the women in this room know they are not a luxury item. So um Shannon got more angry, dug in, and learned that some two and five women struggle to afford these products on a monthly basis. One in four girls miss school. U women miss work. and she wanted to do something right here in her backyard, right here in Harden County where she grew up, um where she was raised and where she practices medicine.

So, she asked the ladies of the Hills Together Investment Fund, um if they would support an initiative called the Pink Dot Project. Um and our goal is to end period period poverty in Harden County. Um and the way we're doing it is we're setting up these donation bins all over the community. um two of the first locations. One was in um in Radcliffe at the Gathering Bakery, but um Councilwoman Owen said, "Hey, we need to have one at I called the Community Center and so I talked to Ashley. She said we could have um a temporary drive." So, we really appreciate you guys um supporting this effort and doing your part to help end period poverty. We have had overwhelming response and we're going to make our first distribution to schools and nonprofits throughout this region at the end of this month, but we don't want it to be just a onetime thing. We want to keep it going. So, um you know, if um if you're willing, put products in the box. Um you can also go online and there's a QR code on the box, too, where you can um buy money or buy products on our Amazon wish list. you can donate money and we'll go through the shopping for you. Um, if you know of a nonprofit organization um that serves women and girls that would need these products, there's also a link on our web page for them to sign up so that we can deliver the products to them. Um, so there's just a lot of different ways you can help and you're already doing it, but wanted to share um a little more information about it and answer any questions you might have.

Do you know where the drive is going to be initially or where they're going to set that up? It's already set up um right across from [snorts] the desk at C. The uh we are gonna do the passing out or the handouts for the products. Oh, we're gonna do that. Um where is it going to be? Yeah. Um well, we this the schools that have signed up so far are I know that Rackcliffe Elementary, North Middle, and John Harden have all or John Harden and North Harden have all signed up. Um Jana Sutton, who oversees all the um Friskies, she got the word out and we've been getting lots of requests. But if you know of nonprofits, Maria had a great idea to put them in her blessing box. I was just going to say the same thing. You're definitely going to do that. So, when are you going to start doing that? We're going to distribute them on January 30th.

30th. Okay. Yeah. Um and you know, folks like um Warren [snorts] Blessings has asked for some Family Scholar House. So, if you know of other nonprofits that are in need um we would gladly deliver those products. So, we also change Inc. also has a storefront now in [clears throat] Ratley Plaza. Okay. And we open Monday nights, Wednesday nights, and Thursday nights and giving free food out. You can bring the product. And you can bring the products there. I'll send you the address. Okay. Great. Thank you. So, but um just thank you again to um Councilwoman Owens and Muro especially for their support and their investment. But thank you to all of you for supporting this. Really appreciate it. Thank you.

Thank you. state.

Hi, my name is David, mayor, city council members. Uh, I understand that there's a building that was going up for sale that the build that the city has owned. Um, I would like to propose a proposition to the city um in closed doors um so that other cities don't get a an idea from it. um if possible either after or later on uh just to put in you here and see if it's something that the city of Rat would like to like to pursue.

Um probably best way would just you and me speak you not necessarily with the council. I mean you just come in and see me or we can talk at some period but the sale date scheduled for February 5th, right? Those are sealed bids that you know anybody that can meet the reserve meet the requirements has an opportunity to bid. Um so uh we're pretty close to that date. Um but if you want to hang out for a little while after the meeting I probably discuss I got a meeting with my attorney about something else but I can probably talk to you for a few minutes. Just got to pop the ID in 500 500,000 [laughter]

you know I just speak in terms American [laughter] [clears throat]

Good evening. This being the first meeting of the year where public commentary is allowed, I'd like to wish the city council, the city government, parks and recreation, and our rack lift and fire department a happy new year. I come to speak on several things and I may as long as Joe. First of all, I'd like to do a follow-up report on the community dinner that we held last month, December 20th, was held at North Harden High School. served over 550 meals and 43 deliveries. It is part of a collaborative effort of hard and local. It's a group of young entreneurs and community spiritedminded individuals. And while 98% of those donating the food and labor probably came from the Elizabeth Town and Harden County area, the justice we were prepared to hold a second one. And so at a matter of convenience, they volunteered to do it all over again. Everyone had a good time. We had a Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus professionally done. We had gingerbread people like uh Terry Owens and Canada to Astros and full body inflatable costumes which were usually run by a small fl a small fan but in this instance hot air [laughter] but it was a great thing and we're looking forward to our next one which will be the summer orient where children will be able to come and take home food with them. We had some great sponsors from Elizabeth Town. Donado's Pizza, Little Charlie's Pizza, about 18 Mom and Bobby Eeries and Bakeries. There was an overabundance of food. And the greatest lesson learned, it's okay to cross both sides of Joe Prather, Highway 313.

Yeah, exactly. So, we look forward to the next one. Thank you for that follow, too, because you you spoke about it at the app.

And uh wonderful news in Rackcliffe, Boys and Girls of America is coming. great collaborative effort between the city, Stanford Baptist Church, and Boys and Girls of America. A great opportunity for the youth. First time I heard about the need for a Youth Center was in 1966 when I was nine. The next time was in 1994 when I was third 37. And the real actual fulfillment of this dream came last year where I turned 68. So I've gone from a youth center to the senior center. Uh mayor, great publicity here just within the last week alone. Rackcliffe on the front page where mayor was at the chamber of commerce meeting announced that we've have a five years debtree within the city. $45 million worth of development and 14 million in reserve. The rainy day fund you will. Some great things coming. new elementary school, 100,000 square feet, $50 million. It'll be uh next to the proximity of North Harden Middle School. We're also looking forward to the mayor's breakfast. So, with the state of the city, with the construction and the mayor's breakfast, you had a trifecta of three stories in one week, which is something that all of you can be proud of. It's medication talking tonight, too. [laughter] We also look forward to 70 years as [clears throat] the incorporation of the [laughter] city. A nonprofit will be the pet expo which usually has well around 1500 people that's sponsored by uh Forever Homes for Paws Toshi's charity. Culture festival returns. Last year we had 3,500 attendees. Quality food trucks, quality entertainment, quality vendors. It was the best one yet. City

parade also happens. The good thing may be celebrating the 70 years as a city for the city fireworks. Perhaps the theme may center around 250 years of the Declaration of Independence. All kinds of opportunities. That's all the good news. This may seem adversarial, but at the Christmas meeting concluding, City Attorney Mike Pike doesn't say much, but when he does, it's quite profound. And he announced that in this day a climate of political hate and political division and just not the civility we used to have that we need more peace. We need more love and we need Jesus and we need more respect and that respect should not only come from within the parties but it should come from us who address you at the main deis certain issues. Project was brought up for the archery team at North Middle School. Each and every one of you were put in the spotlight as to donate. Personally, it's a complete lack of decorum and respect. I don't know what your financial situation is. Since I eat so much at the local eeries, I'm always broke. But the main thing is no one ever should be put in that position. You should practice the Christian doctrine of giving quietly and cheerfully. Not saying, "How about you, Maria? How much are you going to give? How about you, Jerry? How much you going to give? How about you, Pam? How much are you going to give? The proper term is Mayor Duval and councilwoman or council member. And the emphasis was well the city council members given their own money. The students don't have to fund raise and the parents don't have to pay. I would say that the students and the parents and the school and the team need to be involved and there are so many of us who'd be willing to help. So that's my gist is that you should be

treated with dignity and respect. We don't know your financial situation, but I do know your loving parents and grandparents. Maria Bell has Councilwoman Maria Bell has three grandchildren. Councilman Jerry Brown has two. Councilwoman Pam D. Ro has five grandchildren and is doing a wonderful job of taking care of her two elderly parents. Toshinuro has the largest extended family I've ever seen. I met them one night at El Molenos and there was at least 20 people there. Nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grand and they're all young. They're in their 20s and 30s. There's more coming. And then my valued colleague Terry Owens may not have the large family here present locally, but she certainly has earned her keep and right to give as much as she wants when she wants because she has dedicated half of her life to the United States Army 30 years. And so the gist is no matter how passionate people have been in the past, getting excitable, getting angry because you didn't support their football team or you didn't support other ventures like a housing for the homeless and so forth. First and foremost, there should be a sense of dignity and decor and civility when addressing our council members elected by the population. In closing, when you work well together, there was an ordinance for two years about creating a youth council. Mr. Pike brought up some of the liability issues and maybe mandating it by having youth present, perhaps being on camera or having the sign in. And among discussion of yourselves, you came to an easy resolution. Just do it. Same way Fort Knox when they sort of objected to a new neighborhood joining the military reservation. Toshi Mural Council and Monro asked for a public hearing. Important questions

were asked unanswered. The Fort Knox insisted on the high fence top of Bob Wire separating the properties. Mr. Glenn Turner, the representative for the developer, agreed. And so we have a new neighborhood coming with housing that's needed. And so in closing, once again, shortly you'll be discussing the remedial of the cabins out at Sa Springs. Union and Confederate forces passed through Saunders Springs. It was the main water source for then Camp Knox and then Fort Knox. 1919 1968. We went to the municipal water system and then it became a huge nature preserves with the cabins being moved out there in the early 1990s and I believe Councilwoman Bell was one of the first to visit the cabins back in 93. So my gist is on this. The city has $14 million in reserve. You have $14 million as a rainy day fund. You have more than enough for the common practice of having enough in reserve to operate for one year. I believe that you should use the money for the fullest extent possible to rehab and to protect those cabins. If you promote them, protect them. If you promote them, preserve them. And with experience from working the tourism booth at the state fair, everybody's excited about the brochures. People like to have their pictures taken at the cabins for engagements, weddings, reunions, and such. And when you consider that it is our greatest resource of tourism along with Boundary Oak and Red Hill Cutlery, it must be done. And I'm hoping that you will see it this way. And this is not an exercise in team building. This is a

necessary action. You still can do the remedial and I believe uh Miss Baker has the figures. I believe it was like 13,000 for the spraying and perhaps a little over 30,000 for the uh deconstruction and storage of the other one. But my point is even if you spend that money, you still have 13,960,000 left. [snorts] And then the interest of the monies will probably more than cover that. So partying, I wish everyone against happy new year and ask that you do what's right for Saunders Springs. Thank you. Thank you.

You all know me. I've been coming here for a while and every time I come I advocate for our youth. I have talked to their several years. We go way back way back. Um they are with a football team the long horns. Were you introducing you? Yes. Okay.

This is coach and coach. They can tell you more about the aspects of what this money goes and how they help you. I have been advocating for how long? Long time. Several of you have been contacted for no response. I'm here and I will continue to come until you all respond. It's our youth. They are our future. If we do not invest in youth, then what are we gonna do? We don't need to demean them. We don't need to down them. We need to bring them up. These two gentlemen here, they do that. [snorts] They take their time to teach our kids, your kids, your grandkids. And all I'm asking is for some help so that they can continue. I would let them speak.

I don't know um a lot about the the help. I'm so used to doing we're so used to doing everything on our own fundraising. [snorts] do a lot of pretty well to support ourselves. This past season we took on uh two more age groups because North [clears throat] football they decided to you know move on. Even though we originally split from the party football, they went ahead and gave us the seven and age groups. So cluster, you know, he was he was 30 years [snorts] old, you know, we only had our 11. We split from the team. carry one age group, one age group. [snorts] Now you have to think about 30 other parents for 70, 30 other parents for 90 and then all those kids. Our biggest I want to say our biggest um mishap was equipment for our smaller kids. We got tons of equipment but we weren't prepared for a seven, you know, six year old, you know, have a skinny body and a big head and you know we weren't prepared for those types of equipment mishaps. So then we're spending extra funds to try to fit these kids. Also with field I think we have to pay like four grand

which is great. All of our players are playing Harden right now. Will Harden have been real generous. I mean, even though I coach there, but they still couldn't charge us because the youth organization, but they've been real generous. We practice facility and then we have to have a game and we can't get to high school, no charge. I have donated to Northville. Um, they need a new market and things like that. I get donations. So, stuff that I can't use, I turn it over to A lot of the stuff in this shade is is old. So wherever I can help, I help. And you know, favor for favor, but I don't necessarily only want to talk about fun. Um, I want to talk about inclusion. So I had a parent come up to me and hey, I never heard of y'all before. We've been around for a long time. So, working to find I looked on the rack page and it doesn't list your unless um the KFL baseball two baseball leak. So, I never bothered to look. So, [clears throat] I looked and sure enough, we're not on there. And my question is how do we get on it? How do we get a part of that? I know your statement in there says you don't directly um organize the youth and goes on to say these are you know organizations that you know donate time to the I mean we technically know football

league is the oldest league in Harden County. So how do we get on that? we get on the rack city page also with a link that you know connects them directly to us. It looks like there's only one organization here and it's absolutely not. I mean we've been in every championship game since 2018. We won this past season one year before we won up prior to that we had won five out of six championship and we're not pulling kids from all over. We're using the kids right here to go beat up on these teams down the street and it's like we don't exist. So my question how do we how coach real quick but some of that came from you can talk some of that came from previous administrations when that league split and then they had those issues and law enforcement those folks came in previously and I said previous that partnership and I think that's where that has I know there's been talk of trying to get the group back together some sort of way and get things worked out. But I think that they have a contraction. I can look at my parks and corrections director, but they had a we still have an agreement with them or no. So that would be maybe where we would start to say, "Hey, how does how do you because I know they utilize our field sometimes for practices and stuff like that." So there's some of those things that could probably

Yeah. I just want to be listed on the page. They can have Dolly I mean, but They're practicing there. I don't want to disrupt. No, I said we can probably figure something out. Rebecca's back there. She's our park director. But real quick, my clerk needs names because she has to put in the record that you all spoke. Could you say your full name? Simpson. I'm Simpson. ask you to [laughter]

but yeah absolutely I mean I think there's probably and I I'll put you off on Rebecca because she's working with our she works with our our teams and everything to see now real quick before you all get done uh I know you what is the ask in a sense just real quick I know you talked about when you all do fundraising maybe let us know let the city know or you what's your ask that you're asking for because we typically don't just give money Right. Right. What are you looking for from us other than that?

I would just say inclusion and support. Like we feel like we're not being supported. That's how it feels. And it it's because we never had this conversation after that past administration. So this conversation should have happened a long time ago, but you know, we're having it now. So step away for a while. So you you want to Yeah. Mayor, I have a question please. Um, how many kids approximately are involved with your league and what are the ages are we talking about?

So, we ages range from 6 to 12 and we're carried around 75 years. That is class. Absolutely. Okay. A lot of parents cannot really support. [snorts] So that way the parents don't have to be saying I want my kids play but I can afford.

Sure. What's your sign up for kids? It's we know the high school being so expensive right now. But prior to that we We do a bunch of kids because I'm not going to tell you this kid wants to play. That's a different couple.

Have you tried a grant sports? Yeah, we get um we do get um a small grant and it's pretty much absorbed by the high school and I'll make sure she's discussion. I like

she has me every time I email her. I'm not down to anybody up there, but I've emailed everybody. Every last one of you. And Miss Terry and Kim are the only two [snorts] that contacted me. Miss my daughter. I don't know if you all know but my daughter is you all today. That's my daughter Terry and Miss and all you have been per Monday. All right. Appreciate you. Thank you.

All right. Anybody else?

All right. All right. We will move on. I don't think we have any information discussions. We will start with new business. Maker, do you want to come up? We'll just maybe sit there in case you um so to be clear, I know this came up and I [snorts] know that in the work session, um the headline that the paper used, uh I thought was just a little bit misleading. Uh we didn't have any intention on tearing down any of the discussion of tearing down any of the other structures uh or cabins that are in the Ser Nature Preserve. We were talking about one particular cabin, which is the Stovall cabin that we are we're going to have to do some sort of uh repair to. And of course, you know, on social media, things run wild and people say things. Those cabins, as I think Pete, you had mentioned, have been out there since the 90s, which makes them about 35 years old

and then 150 years

before that. Exactly. So, I think they have have done fairly well um in the condition they're in. We have Mr. Jeff, we've had uh of course Becky who's currently, we've had Lori Jury, we've had uh Rhonda, we've had about four or five parks and wrecks, James Hmel, the other one I was thinking of that has worked to ensure that they have stayed through tornadoes, storms, wind, hail, uh people breaking in and out of them, uh trying to set fire to them. But we've had a number of different things over the years. And um the one that we particularly were talking about is the Stovall cabin that has had some unfortunate, you know, damage due to rain, the the way that was constructed. The water kind of ran back towards the roof and it just it needs to be repaired. And so that was the discussion of how much do we want to spend on that? What's that look like? I think we all agreed that the Beatles is something that we need to address. And then the real question came is do we go ahead and move forward with taking down the structure, storing it, and then determining how we want to proceed forward to rebuild that cabinet. I think that was the conversation. So, and I think if you read the body of the paper, um you actually saw that that was the discussion that was in there. It's just the um headline made it seem like the city's considering tearing down a bunch of the cabins that are really uh mean something to all of us that are sitting here and it means a lot to our community. So I don't think in any way, shape or form the body, the council here uh had that intent. So want to make sure that is on the record and it's being reported and it's very well said. So all right with that I will go to item one consideration approval of remediation for the powder post beetle and solder springs nature preserve. Do we have a motion?

I second. I have a motion second. Now we have discussion for it.

I personally and strongly uh and support keeping these c restoring these cabinets and keep keeping them up doing whatever needs to be done to make sure that we have this um there is so much duplication amongst what towns have. Everybody has a McDonald's. Everybody has a yada yada yada. These are unique to raglift. It brings people into rag. People want to have their trash tank there. They want to have events there. This is one of the few things that we have that we can smile about and all agree on. So, I think this is one one of those things that's worth keeping, worth supporting, uh, worth putting our money in.

Yeah. If you go in my office, the big picture on my wall has my family sitting in one of the cabins is our family photo right on my wall. So, I mean, it's, you know, my family too, sir. Yeah. So, it's, yeah, definitely a lot of folks have taken photos there. Um, I guess the second question is on that, Mr. Of course you have you have this in front of you is the also the motion um would be could be added I guess if we decide to do the replacement. Any suggestion between you and Becky on that? That's just the taking down the U. So we're changing our terminology to deconstruct. Yeah. Deconstruct maybe that or disassemble. Disassemble as

and storing. and store. Disassemble in storage. That way maybe it'll stay. Not the other words. Well, I just the way I was written

and we could do it to up up to 37,000. That way if we have just a little bit lower. All right. So, right now the motion's just going to stand uh as item number one is going to be the approval of the $13,752 to do the powder post beetle remediation there at the cabins. Have any other discussion? Hearing none. Roll call vote, please. B. Yes. Brown. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Carries. I'm going to add a um number three. We'll move two to three and two will now be a consideration approval for the um D. Let's say it again, Mr. Speaker. Disassemble and storage of these stiff or the stiff cabin. Stove wall. Stove. Stove wall. I said stiff by reading. stowall cabin uh to be stored as approximately up to let's say 40 37,000 or 40,000 the estimate was 37. Yeah. So say 40 Mr. Quake. Yes sir. And it is a specialty job. This is not something that anyone gets off the street. So um that will be a motion to approve.

Motion to approve. Yes, sir. Second. Motion second. Any discussion? I do have a question. Um, [clears throat] so we're gonna have to tear it down. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Okay. So, if we were going to redo that, it still has to be disassembled. anchored because all of the foundations need to be uh better anchored and raised. I just wanted to make that clarification because um if we are going to rebuild it later, I can envision there questions why didn't you go ahead and do all that at one time to that it is not stable. I mean, I've been out there and seen it.

Yes. I mean, I understand. But I do want to clarify that we're gonna have to take it apart and reassemble it if that's what we choose to do. Yes. Well, whether we did it all right now, it still would have to be disassembled and marked so that you get all the logs back in the in the right place. I just wanted that clarification. But some of the logs they need to be replaced and treated treated properly.

Yes, the logs that are uh usable will be treated for the powder post beetles and then when we get to the rebuilding phase, those will also need to be treated just to make sure. We don't want to have three or four logs in compromise anything. So those would also be treated when we get ready to rebuild for some future conversation about this. It would be nice to know what percentage of the walls will need to be replaced on any of the buildings. I guess yes.

Anybody else? So when we met out there, I think my concern is and I said it the last at the last meeting. I obviously it's not structurally sound and it's not safe. So it does need to be disassembled. I I I think for me I'm still a little bit concerned about storing it. I don't know what that looks like. I mean is that mean a stack of logs and then we're going to cover it with a tarp? Is it going to go inside of a protective case? They they will be stored outside with covering but they will be stored in such a way that they will have air flow through them. So it won't just it's not like a log pile that you've got your firewood in

and then they will be the termite treatment will still be protecting the the logs. And um I mean obviously for the record I'm just going to say it again that I personally would have liked a bid on putting it up as well because we don't know how long this is going to sit and we don't know what it's going to cost to rebuild it. Problem was we did get a we did it was expensive to rebuild It was it was significant sign. Yeah, it was it was we could have we could have built a 3500 square foot house, right? Yes. So,

which is concerning that means um it's just concerning to me. So, I'm just making that my my belief. So, I think if you if you put it in the mind that we need to we do need to get it down, I think that's the safe venture. And I think we need to continue our search. We And I know for a fact after meeting with them that they have reached out to several organizations that are in Barstown, here locally, and other places. And it is surprisingly how many people really have enough work that they're content without taking on more work. Um, and the ones that are willing to do it are are what the build of 3500, right?

Well, there are and and I get that and I know we have to right to build these and are viewed as arts,

right? And I'm 100% agree with all of that. And you know, I I know that for me personally when I mentioned um reaching out like to tourism because tourism is this is what they do, right? They they they market and they they advertise and they're they brand our SE springs with their tourism. So it was more of a more of a partnership, right? So I want that to be clear that that was more of an ask. It wasn't because Nothing was ever mentioned that we can't afford it. Nothing was ever mentioned that Rackcliffe didn't have the funds. And we weren't we weren't um soliciting or trying to um deter our responsibilities, you know, or defer our responsibilities onto somebody else. We weren't trying to do that ever. That was never the intent. Um, so I just want that to be clear as well that we will be responsible for the cabins and we want them we want it to be safe, structurally sound and rebuilt at whatever time frame that happens to be. And I just want make sure that

and also the guarantee how many years that reconstruction is to last. How in 10 years do the same thing again or 20 years do the same if it's rebuilt properly it should last another 200 years my question would be what is it going to take to maintain it and should that not be revisited every year ma'am

we we build in a budget to take care of those cabins yearly instead of waiting till we're in this same place having to spend a lot of money so I think because at budget time we make sure we put that in. No, we we totally agree. So, you know, up until I was hired as the naturalist, we didn't have somebody that was specifically over Sandre Springs. So, you know, they were trying to do all the parks, all ball fields, everything. [snorts] And now it's like, you know, um, Miss Kyer and I, we work I work under her obviously, but we work well together and I can take care of Saun Springs and she doesn't have that worry.

Well, I mean, and I only have to worry about Saun Springs. So, it's making it easier for us to get those programs in place as far as maintenance. This is one of those programs that I think we're all proud of and I think we need to make sure we take care of it. and the safety and the safety. So, did you say a couple hundred years to last after it's been reconstructed? Did they get well?

I asked that question. I said once we put these um back up, how long would they be good for? Because I don't want to, you know, me, I do not want to waste any taxpayer dollars. Uh and they said, you know, barring a storm or something, you know, catastrophic like that, they should last another 200 years with the way they rebuild them structurally. We may not should be good. [laughter] Now, I don't know how you're going to go back on that guarantee,

but they will be built to a very high standard. Excellent. Thank you. Anybody else? You're working so hard, Louis. We appreciate it. I was out at seven degrees this morning taking video. Yes, ma'am. So, with that and the understanding that this is a not a tear down, construction, there deconstruction. Disassemble. See, we're going to get it wrong. We're going to get it wrong and we're going to store it and we're not tearing down our cabinets. All right. Uh, can we have one call, please? Yes, sir. Yes. Ro, yes. Merl, yes.

Owens, yes. Yes. Motion carries. All right. At this time, we thank you. Number three is going to be a close session for KRS61.8101B. 8101B acquisition or sale of real property C litigation in G economic development. Do I have a motion to enter into executive session? Second. Second. Any discussion? All in favor?

Any opposed? Motion carries. We'll let you all hang out here. Those that want to wait, this may be a little bit of a lengthy meeting. Um you're more than welcome to stay obviously if you want to stay for this. Um but if not, you know, we'll be out for a little while. So apologize but part of part of our elected duties. Step.

Okay. All right. I'd like to uh have a motion to go back into our regular meeting. Motion second. Any discussion? All in favor? Any oppose? Motion carries. Please let it be known that no official vote was taken while in executive session or or action. Uh at this time we'll do mayor council comments. I'll start on the short end of the road.

Sorry. Sorry. I would like to uh say congratulations to all the middle schools on this side of the road who are playing basketball. It's tournament time, sir. They will play Central Hardings side next weekend. So, Meadow View, Fine Girl, Radcliffe, and Woodland Woodland Eagles did, you know, they did an exceeding job considering a lot of this is new for some of the schools that started their extracurricular games. And so, they were in North High School. We also had Get Your Money Right doing this past week with the scholarships and scholarship information. So you had a number of organizations that were in in support of it, some of the Greek organizations as well, a bound bank. And so they learn how to prepare for after they graduate from high school, whether they go to college or not, is is, you know, an option, but they learn how to manage their money. You know, that credit card application, it comes in the mail, and they just think they've just got a whole bunch of money to work with or it's fast time. it's time to f when it's time to fill out their financial aid forms and how to do that. And so they learn how to get their money right along with whoever the parent or grandparent was along with them because there's several stages to do that. And then of course for those who knew Miss Glover Don who was the executive director at War Blessings Community Kitchen in in Elizabeth Town, her memorial was this weekend out in Louisville and so we did a balloon release and some other things. So, I got the opportunity to meet some of her relatives and friends and bffs. And for people who didn't know, not only did she pass away, her husband had passed away in February and her son had passed away six years ago. So, we always have to think about lifting people up before we complain. Just think about the other person. So, I just say

thank you to everyone that's up here trying to do what we do to be good stewards of our community's money and the other organizations that make this community work. And none of that could happen without the sticky widgets in between, which is the citizens. So, that's it, sir. Thank you. Don't pass out. I have no comment today. [laughter] Boy, Doug and Terry are taking notes right now. Nothing. Mr. Roach, see you got [laughter] me. She did stir you up, didn't she?

Okay. I want to say thank you to Pete Countryman for bringing so many wonderful uh topics to our attention tonight and covering them so well and reminding us of the things that we have on our agenda for this year. So, thank you for doing that, Pete. Um, I want to say thank you to everybody for sharing your public comments with us tonight. We do try to pay attention to those and listen. Um, and to Miss Baker for embracing our cabin situation and trying to make sure we get those things in order for everyone to enjoy going forward. So, thank you for embracing that and look forward to seeing everybody this this Saturday.

This Saturday at 9:00 for the mayor's breakfast. So see you all there.

As um Councilwoman [clears throat] Owens was talking, I was reflecting on the accomplishments that u Pete brought to our attention and the co the coaches who were working with with our youth. uh talking about Barbara with with the cabins and and it reminded me of a of a book I used to sell in the bookstore called the little engine that could and it was uh I guess the phrase that it kept using was I think I can. I think I can. And finally it got to I know I can. I know I can. And it reminds me so much of Ragcliffe. We overcome such huge obstacles because our people don't know how to quit. We keep going. We keep moving forward. We keep finding a way to succeed. Our people have the best spirit. We refuse to quit. We refuse to give give up. But I'm so proud to be here and be a part of this. This is fantastic.

How you done? Yes. Miss Belle,

I am going to start doing my closing like Pete. I got my notes. I usually don't write. First I want to ask same way balances the same level with Barbara and JJ. But I think JJ wins. Not because he wears a tie. We had the homeless lady living behind the Pizza Hut and she had come to be the change storefront building and we gave her blankets and then she wrote something. She told us she lived behind the Pizza Hut. And then she wrote on Sunday when I had the big yard sale to raise money raise [snorts] homeless and hotels. She posted something and she mentioned my name that Maria helped us and we need some help more more than that. Can anybody give us a hotel room? JJ called me when the TV was there. W TV came [snorts] there to see the program. brother answer the phone

and my brother answered the phone because I was too busy talking to to the reporter and the bottom line is that Mayor KJ Deval Mayor Pam reached out and Mayor Pam

Alden Vine Vine mayor and Ratcliffe mayor thank you so much whatever nights you left be the change is taking over So it's very important and not just the closet the cold coldest nights for God's sake it could be medium cold these people need to go inside you don't check the temperature you don't listen to the weather report say oh I'm going to put a a homeless in a motel no you just have we need we need a program from all the community I'm not saying they don't help they do Well, because we raised money Sunday, we raised money. Good money. Not just peanuts, good money. And we're placed another one today at the Gateway Motel in in Raptive. And there's another one coming for Echon Lodge. But we need to take these people off the streets. It's very, very, very imminent. Enough is enough. So, thank you so much for listening to me. I want to thank

I want yesterday at the end of the uh freedom fund lunchon they mentioned that the committee of NACP will go and fill 16 blessing boxes. So I told to Miss Jackson, can I go and say thank you? Because I think 15 of them they uh the blessing boxes that be the change built and it was the end of the time and the um pastor was already to to close the whole election. So and AACP committee for the blessing boxes filling yesterday. Thank you. Thank you. And thank you again. I'm done.

You're done. Okay, sir. I got a segue on that. The 16 uh the kids that were there helping, they went between Rag and Lizard Town, Miss Lenora Young Born Stars van and it was full of kids and just so happened I was filling the wine on five streets. They swoop right around sir and they so that was the last box of the day which was fine street on the opposite end of St. Stevens. So your last box was the box that I had that I [snorts] filled. So it was a great thing and it got And that was the first first Yes. that was built. Yes.

And after be the change stopped building in 2023 when the pandemic was a little bit over then other other people started building also. And not just here, right? I got orders from Louisville, from Richmond, from the Great Lakes. Somebody called Yeah. So, they enjoyed it. It was It was a little cold, but they helped stuff it all in there. Yes. That was wonderful.

Everybody good? All right. Texting the chief to check something for me real quick. I thought um police chief, not fire chief. Um All right. Real quick, just want to wrap up. Uh uh we have as uh Mr. Burch and me are going to talk here in just a few minutes, but as of right now, we have a sale of the FFO building um that is going to be taking place. So, that is the property that's located there, Fure Liquidators, next to the old movie theater. That property was donated to the city back in 21, I believe, early 22 if I'm not mistaken, somewhere in that time frame. And so, um the city has looked at that and I know there's been we have bids out currently. Um but the city has looked at that building. And I'm just refreshing people's memory as we spoke about. Um we have looked at that building for a youth center. We were looking at for many different things, many different operations and it just did not come to fruition. Uh we were looking at 3.5 to 4 million for the youth center that we were looking at doing there. Uh but the Kentucky Boys and Girls Club, as Pete mentioned, is going to be located at Stiffen Baptist Church. Uh that was a basically like we like to say a plug-and-play which means it had the gym facilities, it had all the bathroom security, office space, classroom space, kitchen, um cafeteria space and it really was all remodeled and freshly done. And so that offered an opportunity um and I was told today they did attend the RSBA meeting and without much advertisement, in fact I did not advertise it that they were taking um applications because I didn't know because we're at capacity. Um I did want to put it out there and we you know had too many people calling kids were getting rejected. So with the work of uh some of the boys and girls club members and working with our local school systems uh they have reached their capacity limit already and so it's like oh wow we haven't even got going and kids are and so that they they were very when I say pleased they're pleased that people are responding well not pleased that we meet this need. it's a pleas

that hey they know they're they're in the right space or right place um for this project. And so on February 13th they're going to be having a 4 to6 they're going to be having a ribbon cutting. They're asking the public to come out and uh support that. Uh that's going to be an opening open house and we look forward to that. We appreciate them becoming such a big part of our community. Uh again FFO property is moving forward for sale. It's going to be it's still out for bid. Um, you can it can be seen by appointment. Uh, you can contact city hall, ask for Ashley or myself, and we will take you personally out there to tour that building. The closing date is February 5th. It closes at 10 a.m. I believe we set that at. And the way the seal bid process works for those that don't know, a sealed bid is exactly what a sealed bid is. It's in a sealed envelope. They are presented in here. You sign a sheet when you walk in and then they are opened by the clerk. The clerk reads the numbers out loud and then they are presented to the city council and at that time the city council will review those and they can reject any and all bids even if the bids come in over 500. We just have to make sure that the person that's bidding it is u qualified and and has the necessary means to provide um the [snorts] bid that they uh submitted. Yeah. So uh again I'll be clear it is moving forward. We are going to bid uh February 5th. uh if the bids do not come in where the council likes or we don't receive any bids, then the council can decide at that time the direction we want to go with the building, whether it's either through an auction, online auction, listed with a real estate agent. Uh but there's many steps that the council can take. It doesn't necessarily this is the end all like this is not going to happen. So, the fact that um we are moving forward with it, it just shows that we want to do something with the building and again the building was donated to the city and I think we've kind of expended all uses that we could use it for and hopefully there's somebody out in the community that can utilize the building and maybe Mr. Burch's idea uh shortly after this maybe

be something that uh could be done with the building. So, February 5th, closing date, 10 a.m. If you want to bids for the bids, um, February 5th, 10 a.m., uh, submit those prior to 959. Correct, Ashley?

You can get online, download any bid applications or again, if you have any questions or want to and that bid the has a reserve of 500,000 and the appraisal came in at 8:15 for the property and that's with the stuff inside the building. It came in at 8:15. So remember, if you don't hear it on the official city pages or read it in the news enterprise, it's just all unofficial information. So just keep that in mind. All right, with that, I'm trying to think what else. Uh breakfast, mayor's breakfast. Um this Saturday, the 24th. Oh, something else. Thank you, Mr. B. Saturday the 24th is our annual mayor's breakfast. I know Pam, you announced that just now. So come out. Tons of door prizes, tons of free food. I gave out door prizes [snorts] last year, Mr. Baker, for two and a half hours, I believe. Is that right? Non-stop. Is that about right?

I feel like it was two I stood up there two and a half hours about passed out. Um,

and then the last thing I want to mention is the weather forecast that is coming in uh to the city. Uh last year we went through quite a bit of snow, uh ice, wind, and rain all in I think one week. And so we're anticipating, we're monitoring the weather like most people, five [clears throat] in potentially depending on how it goes up or down. Um please keep in mind our our public works teams, our road teams, we monitor this. We've been out riding today. Um we always do the main roads first, secondary roads second. Secondary roads would be roads like South Woodland, uh, Shelton Road, Wilson Road. U, we do all those. Your culde-sacs and deadend side streets unfortunately are typically the last ones we get to. I know a lot of people, but if we do get three to five inches like they're predicting, it does take, we got about 125 miles of road that we have to do, and it does take us a while to get through there. And so, I know a lot of people love to to say, "Well, they're not doing anything." I may just go out and pick up a random person and just get in the truck with me and just see how long it takes to snowplow. Pete, I may [snorts] just pick you up and you can

Yeah, you can you can ride around because you can get a real honest opinion of how long it takes to go around and do the job that these guys have to do. And so again, we're monitoring it. We're watching it just like all cities and counties are doing and uh we'll do the best we can to keep our roads cleaner safe. Yes, sir. I just I just have some Miss Bill, I just got a text. Okay, go ahead. about warming places. Is the city going to open uh the fire department or I'm going to actually say that we will Yes, sir.

Um we've already pre prepped for the Red Cross for our disaster assistant uh our disaster assistance team have already been identified as to what warming shelters we're going to have outside of our standard on fire and police. So stiffen is the one that we did last last Saturday. So we've already run through it, prepped through it, know what we need to take and we got connectivity because that was an issue at first. So if EMS if the county decides between the mayor Y it must be stiffened first for our side. How many how many people they they can accommodate? We can get 120 in there. 120. Okay.

Yeah. We we activate when the Red Cross or um the EOC emergency office they'll activate and they let us know and then uh call is a emergency shelter but it's only activated during the time in which it's required to be open. No, it depends on what the snow is if it's dependent because it's not now they're saying it's going to be late Saturday maybe Sunday before it was like Friday to Saturday. So we're just watching that. It's going to be cold though. So where is it going to be posted that and what hours? It's really up to when we get Yeah. the EOC emergency management office county they also get notifications counted. Okay Facebook

we we'll post on Facebook stuff like that. Yeah. All right. With that I'll take a motion to second. Any discussion? All in favor? Any opposed? All right. Motion carries. Thank you all.

Are you coming in selfies? No, I'm just giving you that. Oh, she comes into our Yeah.

What made you jump in the middle? I see him all time. do really help.