City Commissioners - Regular Meeting

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Motion to uh file and and uh receive the agenda as presented. Second. Any additions? All in favor say I. All opposed. All right. We'll receive and file our minutes for the recessed uh meeting for April 16th, 2026. So moved. Second.

Any additions or corrections? All in favor say I. I all opposed. Now for the regular meeting on April 23rd, 2026. A motion. First and a second. Any corrections? All in favor say I. I. All opposed. All right. Um, let's see. We'll start off with Mr. Refro this time.

Uh, welcome everybody. It's going to be a long meeting. I'm not going to be long. Um, only thing I would ask is whatever the city needs to do, whatever department needs to be involved, we've got to do something about the 300 block of 23rd Street that it looks that hotel there, they've cleaned it out and it that's an eyesore that is unbelievable. I mean, we've got a $160 million addition to a hospital two blocks away and we've got that that what people see before they get to the hospital. Whatever we can do to take care of that, we need to do.

Yeah, I believe Mr. Wheeler is on that. Uh, all right. Let's see. Uh, DJ, I just want to welcome everybody tonight. It looks like we have a a full house for this uh evening meeting. It's wonderful to see the Southern Hills Gardening Club here tonight and and uh thank you for your work that you've done around Central Park and around our community to make our community uh very aesthetically pleasing and beautiful. So, thank you for that. Commissioner Martin, welcome. You finished the park. You finished the Paramount. Great work. We appreciate everything you do. Thanks for everybody being here. It's going to be a long meeting. Thanks.

Yes. Uh and I'll try to be brief also. Um it is police week and I do have a proclamation that um uh the chief would like for me to read, but I'll do that just in a second. Well, we had a a great lady, FaZe Sansom, just retired and I gave her a proclamation uh the other day on her last day. Repair Fair is uh coming up this weekend also with Makers Market coming up. So, we've got a a big long weekend coming up. Um I want everybody to uh participate. We had a great person that uh worked in Ashlin for a long time. Tyson Compton just passed away. Um yeah, and matter of fact, I think he just recently retired. Uh so we want to send out prayers to him and his family. Um and let me read this proclamation. Chief, if you will,

as representative for police week, whereas there are more than 800,000 work uh law enforcement communities across the United States, including the dedicated members of the Ashlin Police Department, whereas since the first recorded death in 1786, there are currently more than 24,500 law enforcement officers in the United States have made the ultimate sacrifice, have been killed in the line of duty, including including six members of the Ashlin Police Department. Whereas the names of these dedicated public servants are engraved in the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. Whereas the service and sacrifice of all of our officers killed in the line of duty were honored during the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial uh funds 38th candlelight and vision uh visual on the evening of May 13, 2026. Whereas the candlelight visual is part of the national police week which will be observed this year May 11th through the 16th. Whereas May 15th is dedicated to the police officers memorial day and are honor all foreign uh fallen officers and their families and the US flags should be flown at half staff tomorrow. Therefore, be it resolved that the city of Ashlin will observe May 11th through the 16th, 2026 as police week in Ashlin, Kentucky, and publicly salutes their service of law enforcement officers in the community and their communities across the nation.

Thank you. Yes, sir. And we'll put that off to Yes, sir. City manager. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Our presenter tonight is police chief uh Todd Kelly.

Thank you, city manager, mayor and commissioners. Thank you for the opportunity to make a few comments during this police week about our past, present, and future of the police department. Uh I will recognize the names of the six officers you referred to in uh the document there as a roll call of our heroes here at the National Police Department. Uh, Patrolman James Lane, he was killed end of watch October 8th, 1937. Uh, patrolman Lon Castle, uh, he was killed on May 9th, 1925. Patrolman William Johnson, killed on July 19th, 1923. Uh, patrolman Doc Leler, July 4th, 1921. Patrolman Charles Hatfield, March 31st, 1919. And Lieutenant Conrad Frank, June 29th, 1910. all succumb to death by gunfire. At this time, I'd like to acknowledge a thank you to all the residents who will be displaying the US flag at half staff tomorrow in honor of the police memorial day and to our city streets division. Thank them for the installation you'll see tomorrow of the flags that are uh put every year on our streets on May 15th. Um they do a great job on that. Also want to thank uh Community Trust Bank, Allison Christie at the tower building and uh Delta Hotel for their consideration uh starting tonight with community trust their building and their new lighting system. They'll be blue all around it tonight and tomorrow night. Um the Christy building has been uh blue all week. So is the Delta Hotel. So, uh, hopefully we can get into practice with them to, uh, uh, put that up for all week as we go along. So, uh, a shout out and thanks to them. As we honored our heroes that have given their life in our great city, we also must honor our respect and our respect to our current

men and women of the Ashlin Police Department. The hard work they put out every day to protect and serve our community goes with some challenges. These challenges create an enormous amount of mental and physical wear on our officers. We not only have to remember those heroes we lost, but we must also care for our heroes that are with us today. Those under our watch now must have the opportunities to deal with the up and down of law enforcement that a lot of vet veterans did not have access to. I'm here today to discuss a topic of paramount importance to the well-being of our officers and the effectiveness of our entire city workforce, mental health. The demanding nature of law enforcement work and indeed public service in general can take a significant toll. We ask our officers to run towards danger, to witness traumatic events, and to make split-seconds decisions that can have lifealtering consequences. It's imperative that we provide them with the support they need to navigate these challenges. That's why I'm incredibly proud to announce that our plans to utilize grant funding that you all are going to review this evening of the municipal order near the end of the meeting uh for a grant uh applying for from the Kentucky Attorney General. So, it's specifically dedicated to enhancing mental wellness with our police department. Our primary focus will be on establishing a robust peer support program. The city officers re the city offers resources now, but we want to go further. This isn't just about offering a listening ear. It's about empowering our officers to become trained peer support personnel who understand the unique pressures of the job. They'll be equipped with the skills to provide crucial support to their colleagues during or after critical incidents, fostering a culture of camaraderie and well-being from within. Furthermore, these trained peer support

officers will be available or will be a valuable regional resource. We see this peer team of officers being available to assist other law enforcement agencies in our area, strengthening our collective ability to respond to and recover from critical incidents. But the impact of this initiative won't be limited to the police department. Recognizing that the need for mental wellness supports extends across our city, we plan to make these peer support personnel available to our city employee workforce. This includes our dedicated fire department personnel and employees and other departments citywide. By having a network of trained peer supporters, we can proactively address the mental health needs of all those who serve our community. This project has been a collaborative effort developed locally and in close partnership with the Department of Criminal Justice Training. Their expertise has been instrumental in shaping a program that we believe will be truly impactful and sustainable. Investing in mental wellness is not a luxury. It's a necessity. It leads to healthier employees, stronger departments, and ultimately a more resilient and effective public service for the citizens we serve. And I'm confident that this funding will allow us to create a supportive environment where every employee feels valued and has access to the resources they need to thrive. So hopefully after you review that, we can make application and get that ball rolling. And uh it's estimated that that's a $5,000 uh amount that we can put forth to training um and uh establishing that. I already have a model policy ready to go.

What what kind of uh training is involved? Well, it's it's some of us have already had training as a results to uh recognizing u situations the officers are in. maybe having personal problems, wanting to communicate or talk, uh, or if an officer sees someone, uh, having difficulty or whatever, uh, just trained in in what to look for, but at the same time, is it done on the job here or Okay. Yes. So, um, uh, Department of Criminal Justice training does offer some training for peer support. Uh, they bring people here.

Yeah. Yeah. So we're um we have used those services uh it's called PCIS postcritical incident stress and uh um we feel like as a large agency that we are um we we need to have a peer team in place and have that ability to get it started uh during a critical incident and then we can pull them in for assistance.

But we really already have one. We're really enhancing the program that we have. Yeah, we have just the beginning phases of it where just recognized on one side. Now, now now we can um we'll be able to address things such as uh officer involved shootings um uh death scenes, tragic uh very sensitive situations, those kind of things. So, uh it does take a toll on the officers. We've seen it in person and u it it's time we move forward with with getting that training so we can get something going on immediately rather than days after.

Chief, I think that's a great idea. Uh it's great opportunity through the grant to do this and to open it up to our public safety, our police, uh fire, and our city employees. So, I support this. Could Could that someday be offered to retired officers? Absolutely. And and that's I'm I'm glad you asked that because I could relate that to that. Uh even the PCIs uh that's available through the Department of Criminal Justice training is available to retired officers at no cost. Um and also once an officer goes through the training and they retire, they could still be utilized as a uh PCIS support peer. Correct.

Yeah, that's correct. and they can become a peer team member at the state level um if uh if if if if they wish. Excellent. Thanks, Chief. Thanks, Chief. That's all I have. All right, we'll move into our public uh participation. This is an opportunity for individuals to speak to the commission. If it's not on the the uh agenda, if you would like to address the commission, you can come to the podium and state your name and your address, and you'll be allowed five minutes. Yes, ma'am. Hi there. I recognize the green.

Thanks. I'm Mary Beth Rees, uh 25501 Hampton Street, Ashlin, Kentucky. Um, I'm here to um to offer a request uh for a Port of Ashlin beautifification project. Our Southern Hills Garden Club respectfully request consideration and approval of a beautiful beautifification project for the Port of Ashland, a planter area, a space our organization has proudly planted, maintained, and cared for over many years. This project is designed to enhance one of Ashland's most visible gateways while creating a cleaner, more attractive and welcoming appearance for residents and visitors alike. Um, we have this proposal marked out in stages. We really are interested in stage one um because we have the monies um already available for it. Uh stage one is install a permanent solar lit hardscape feature within the a planter and incorporate blue star or other perennial ground cover excuse me to provide year-round beauty texture and visual interest. Stage two would be to resurface the curb and concrete sidewalk in front of the A using decorative colored and stamped concrete including a compass design with the latitude and longitude of Ashlin at the bottom. I think you all hopefully have a picture of what we're talking about there. Um it will be centered in the sidewalk to reflect the port's identity and character. Stage three would be to construct a low decorative wall along the base of the A to further elevate the appearance and create a more finished intentional design. All phases of this project are dependent upon private donations and/or grant funding. No financial obligation or

expense would be assumed by the city of Ashlin. Our organization has already secured donations sufficient to cover the hardscape feature and installation cost of stage one. A little uh background is that in early February of 26, one of our members learned of the grant opportunity through the foundation of the tri-state intended to support community enhancement projects. For years, our club has discussed ways to improve the Port of Ashlin planter with a permanent feature that would provide beauty and interest throughout all seasons. After identifying this grant opportunity, we developed a plan, contact uh contacted city leadership for guidance regarding the proper approval process and any necessary communication with city commission, park board, or other entities prior to submission of the application. We are encouraged to move forward and thank for our continued efforts to improve the city. Although the timeline has extremely limited, our members work diligently over the past three plus months to complete the grant application, gather estimates, consult with the professionals, and thoughtfully develop a project that reflects pride in our community. The foundation informed us that our proposal was considered a strong contender for funding pending confirmation of city support for the project, ensuring it would be shovel ready. And we're told the city would facilitate the project, excuse me, to begin promptly if funding was reviewed um from the foundation. After sever several discussions, it was decided our best path forward would be to appear before the commission. We expected to be on the agenda, but unfortunately that didn't happen. Despite these delays and problems, our

commitment to this project has not changed. The beautifification effort represents a partnership between community volunteers, private donors, and local leadership for further enhancement uh to further enhance one of Ashlin's important public spaces at no cost to the city. We respectfully ask for your support and approval today as we continue working to make the Port of Ashlin destination our a comm community our community can take pride in um and visitors will remember. Thank you for your consideration. Do you all have any questions? Has this been reviewed by our different departments? They um the solar parts or I know we had questions about batteries and I mean how's that going to work?

Um are uh the parks board has taken a look at some of the renderings that had been proposed. Uh I think they wanted some more information. Um um it's my understanding and Dave Young there's some there's also some items that Young Science had brought today. I believe Young Signs had been contacted to help with

Young Science has already prepared and they were ready to fabricate uh when we discovered that maybe we should take a step back and come to talk to you guys. So our proposal is um that Young signs would fabricate the AKY and install it in the A planter. Uh it would be um ready for um solar is what we wanted. We didn't want any further cost to the city. So, uh, in speaking to a fellow from Studo, who does lighting for several places, uh, he suggested a battery pack that would be large enough to, uh, light this area and it would really look great, especially at night, you know, uh, especially during wintertime when it gets dark early. We'd still have a a nice looking uh, planter area down there. So that is um Young signs was only going to have it prepared and he said it could be prepared for uh electricity also but we have never thought to go that direction. Uh we didn't want to um tear up any spaces. We just wanted to enhance them. Surface King was going to do the the surfacing of the area. that's not digging up any concrete or in fact some of the concrete is crumbling. We were hoping to the wall would be that was kind of a late stage third stage area but some of the end of the A is actually crumbling and we were hoping to improve that the look there as is the concrete on the walkway. We were only going to do the walkway area with the service king and enhance that with the compass design

in the middle. Um so there's nothing that we're going to tear down. Um it's always it's all just an enhancement and you know I think it's a great project. I think as long as we our departments are involved to um make sure that it it fits our specifications. But can we uh have a motion to approve the concept subject to final approval of the design by the park board? Yes, we can. Is that a motion? I'll second.

Excuse me. I was under the understanding that the uh park board didn't actually do anything but make suggestions. So in in doing that, what does that exactly mean? Well, the departments Well, you want to explain your department? It's not necessarily the park board, I'm sure. But well, what I I I think the B park board said they wanted to see the final design before they conceptually said I was hoping that they had seen a picture of that final design, but we can get that to them, whoever. I don't think it's it's going to be any kind of time delay. Okay. I mean, the park board is working with you, not against you.

Yeah. Right. That's awesome because we're our mission is leave it better and that's what a lot of work. You put a lot of work into it and the city appreciates everything that you're doing. Thank you so much. The urgency is we want to support the work. The 250th Celebration of America and that's that's our urgency in getting this. Yeah. I I don't know that it'll get there but you know we'll see. Okay. Okay. Well, we were told that it would take three weeks. Um, I in talking to Brian, I work closely with Brian. Brian Young.

Yes. And Dan, and I won't even try to say his last name. Um, but I've worked closely with them. And actually, they had told us, and we were ready to hand over the check um, just hours before we discovered we needed to do this one last step, and um, he had told me that he could have that completed in three weeks and installed. We were not planning to have the lighting done. you know, the light it's light ready, but we were not going to do anything. We just wanted the design in there and so that we could get the plantings in um while planting season. You know, if we wait long um our plants won't survive. The only thing I regret is there won't have all those flowers that have been

Well, we will have we plan to have some flowers. Yes, we do have planned. We haven't completely come up with that design yet because we were waiting on the AKY um to to make our final design um for the flowers. Sean, how soon can we get this design to the park board? If I don't have the latest transition, which I thought I did, then I either 72 hours business days and get it right back. Good. But good, but halo lighting. It'll have halo lighting, so it'll show up nicely at night or after dark. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you so much. So, we have a motion on the floor. Um, we have a second. Uh, any discussion? I'd just encourage the park board to have a special meeting, get it in as soon as they can. That would be awesome. We greatly appreciate you all and all the work that you do. Um, and are glad glad that we appreciate you guys. Okay. Thank you so much. You're helping the city in so many different ways. Well, we've been around for a long time and there's been a lot of us. And I understand you're also kind of go along with that. Well, let's do this first. Uh we have a motion on the floor. So all in favor say I. All opposed.

Um let me move to the blue star rem memorial. A lot of people have misconception about this that and I passed this around a couple of months ago. This is going to be installed um in the 1600 block of Carter Avenue in the rightway or rightway beside the um uh matter of fact, I think I printed that out beside the parking garage. And the only thing that the the city would do would be actually to install it into the ground. Uh matter of fact, I talked to Mr. Murray. Um, and that would be no problem to do that for Flag Day, which uh we would unveil this uh um beautiful manufacturer's already done.

It's done in here. And um we can thank Susan and Kathy for heading up that committee and working diligently to get that done.

Um we're going to have speaker. It's going to be a great reception uh dedication. Uh we're going to have bagpipe speakers, you know, u music or a singer. Um we've got people coming from around our state uh guard club are going to be here. Our state representatives. Um we were hoping to have I think we're going to have you maybe say some words, too. So, it's going to be a really really nice um dedication. So, I would entertain a motion that we install the um the Blue Star Memorial in the 1600 block of of Carter Avenue. I'll move.

Second. Any discussion? All in favor say I. All opposed. Thank you all. Thank you so much. We really appreciate you all. All right. Thank you guys. I'm sorry to hold you up and I apologize. I had a second to look at it. This is the rendition that the park board did take a look at and did say, "Hey, okay, we need to the concept, the commission approves the concept or not. So, they actually met and said, "Hey, okay, concepts." And so, they were looking for input. We're ready to move. Yep. Great. Thank you. All right. Anyone else would like to address the commission, sisters? Sisters.

Say this is a tag team effort by the Brown family, also known as Perkins and Re. I'm Anne Perkins. I'm the executive director of Safe Harbor, 2603 Cumberland Avenue. I'm just here to say thank you to the ch to the chamber to the commission for the support that you have given Safe Harbor over the last 42 years. We're coming into our 42nd year on the property. And most of you, I think, know that we're at the old TB hospital. For those of who are uh on my town TV and may not know that our services are 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We cover Boyd, Greenup, Carter, Lawrence, and Elliot County. We have served, we have housed over 20,000 individuals in the last 42 years on our property. And that was before we were ever uh the size that we are today. We we actually uh house right around 150 people per day on the property. We have 60 beds for emergency. We have 30 beds for our transitional and we have 34 section 8 projectbased apartments that the city of Ashlin partners with us and we're so very very grateful for. We have been cut $500,000 from our last year's budget. This is the first time in our history in our history that we have experienced the kinds of cuts that we have. It's on the state level and it's on the federal level. The um House and Senate, the governor put us in for $2 million in the budget uh that we had previously asked for and the House and Senate both denied that extra $2 million. So, I'm going to be short a

half a million dollars for the first time in 42 years of operation. That's a huge huge factor for us. And I just want you to let you all know that that because we serve so many people, you know, our our budget is right around $2.7 million. This year it'll be about 2.5 million. That's 30 employees that are full-time at this in uh safe harbor. And we need the support of the city more than ever before. And we've appreciated everything that you all have done for us in the past. But we also are going to have to be looking for cuts just like everybody else in the state. You know, our state has more money today than we've ever had in the history of the state of Kentucky. And almost every agency, especially nonprofits or anybody that has a um contract with the state of Kentucky in the nonprofit arena is being cut this year. So Medicaid's going to be cut for us significance significantly. We already know that we have clients who have been cut. We also know that the SNAP benefits are going to be cut. Everybody knows what grocery prices is are that that live in our country today. Everybody knows what gasoline prices are today. We transport people all across Eastern Kentucky for doctor's appointments, court appointments, school appointments, whatever. So, this is going to be a really, very challenging year for everybody, not just Safe Harbor, but for every single nonprofit. And if we thought homelessness was a problem today, I can't imagine what it's going to be in a year from now if things go the way I think they're going to go. I think we need to be ready. I think we need to be

willing. I don't think the churches or any one entity is going to make up the difference for the losses that are going to be across the state. Right now, all of our federal funding is still at risk. We just met with lawyers out of Washington, DC. We were given notices last January that all the federal grants in the United States for domestic violence, sexual assault, children advocacy were all going to be terminated. Well, we put a stay on all those grants. VOCA, VAWA, Tannif, family violence, all of those HUD, there is all a stay right this minute. Well, if those stays do not hold up, if those stays do not hold up, everybody in the United States will be affected because all of those monies go go across the entire country. So, I'm telling everybody today to be prepared to think ahead to how we're going to combat and manage ourselves as we move forward with all those families. And most of them, you all know this, are working poor. That means they all go to work every day, but they do not make basically above the poverty level in their jobs to maintain their families and their households. So, we've got to be thinking of that. I think as a city, we have to be thinking about that as a community and be prepared for those families. The last three employees at King's Daughters Hospital that were recognized for outstanding service were Safe Harbor former Safe Harbor victims. The last three outstanding employees that they recognized. So, we serve all people, whether they're rich or poor, black or white or whatever, but we also serve the most at

risk. And those are the families who need us the most, are the ones who are most at risk. I can't thank the city enough for all that you do. I appreciate it very much. And I just want you all to keep us in mind and keep us in prayer because and I'm having an asthma attack today because the pollen's killing me. But I want us to be prepared to address these issues as they come up. And I want to thank you all. We appreciate everything you do and we would be a far worse place if you weren't in our community.

Well, I will say this on a very sad last note. The last three women that were found dead at the flood wall in Grayson and up in Floyd County were all former safe harbor women. So domestic violence leads the nation in how women are murdered and killed. Homelessness, 80% of all women who are homeless are domestic violence victims. and women and children are the leading reason for increasing homelessness in the United States. So, let's do something about it and let's make a plan to end homelessness and domestic violence and the only way we can do it is all of us together. Thank you all.

Thank you. Thank you. Anyone other like to address the commission? Mike Mayor with Hill Crispers Mission 1819 Eloise Street and uh I didn't intend to kind of tail off of that's a hard act to follow it.

Well, it's a perfect leadin to what I'm going to talk about. Um, and so a lot of the things that she talked about, you know, we have different types of vulnerable populations. And so, you know, I sit on the homeless committee, you know, with the mayor that's here. And so, um, you know, for folks that are unsheltered homeless, um, we have Welcome House, an organization that helps folks with second chance vouchers get into HUD type housing and provide some case management. Um, and but one thing we've been missing for quite a while has been that active case management for those folks. And um and so we had that somewhat with Shelter of Hope when they were here and that capability has been missing for quite a while. And so House of Grace has been working uh through their outreach uh to develop a dream center type project and they have those in um Charlotte out in California. And so it's kind of been uh Gerardo's dream to to bring that kind of capability.

They gave a presentation to us during our one of our work sessions.

Great. And so so that agency can help the homeless. You know, you have ANS agency that deals with folks that are dealing with domestic violence and are experiencing homelessness. And so that's another niche uh that we focus on. Um and then you've got the mission who will take folks who maybe they've gotten into that first level of stability. They've gotten into stable housing. Well, now they can start focusing on education and transportation and child care and all those things that are going to help them get into those first jobs. We have the Love Well Center that's on 29th Street that works with folks that are on fixed incomes and just don't make enough. And so they help with clothing and food. So they help that demographic. And then we have CARES that once people get housed and maybe they struggle with meeting full rent or full utilities, CARES can help with those two things to help prevent homelessness. And so, as Ann mentioned, what we've been missing for a long time is once we get people into initial jobs, as with most of us who started jobs, you just struggle pay paycheck to paycheck until you get further education or skills or been in your job longer to get increased pay. And so, that's really been the what we've been missing is how do we help those folks um who are working? And so United Way um nationally and more focused as a state and here locally now they've developed a program that is focused on working with folks who have jobs but are just struggling paycheck to paycheck. And so um right now they've got about 20 different organizations from finance and and wealth and health and education and training from the whole community.

That's the Alice program, right?

Yes, that is the Alice program. And so, and it is focused on helping people with education and training to help get them to the point where they're not struggling paycheck to paycheck. And so, it's just it's a proud moment within the community to see that from unsheltered homeless to folks uh dealing with fixed incomes to domestic violence to people who are trying and gotten those first jobs, we have organizations now in our community that can help people at every stage of where they're at. And so it's just exciting uh to see the community come together and to put this last piece in place with United Way to help those folks that have went through all these other agencies to get help and do the work and now we're going to be able to help them. So just just for for your information and uh just uh just really proud of the whole community that's come together to help

what you have said and what Miss Perkins has said. It takes all of the community and that's why with the the homeless committee is kind of bringing all those people together. So we do know what each other is doing and work together to to try to help. And I think the programs that everyone does has its own valid, you know, use, but bringing them all together really kind of makes it home. Y Yeah. Thanks. Thank you. Thanks, Mike. Thanks, Mike. Any others? Yes, sir. Hello. My name is Jeffrey Lester. I live at 4605 Royal Court, Ashlin, Kentucky. Mhm.

Um I think the the work that these ladies have done is amazing. They've done a really good job. I've seen all of it and it looks fabulous. Uh I was sitting here I came here to complain about some damage to my property and I sat here and I started looking at this paper here and there's millions of dollars for this and 800 for that and 12,000 for this and so on and so forth. and you guys destroyed my driveway and you destroyed my concrete and I've been told that there's nothing that the city will do about it. I have the person from the road department. Uh I record all my phone calls and it's not because I'm trying to catch anybody up in anything like some people have uh insinuated. Uh, I do it because I have TBI and if I don't record them, I won't I may not remember what was said. So, I record all my phone calls, especially if they're important. Um, and I've been met with roadblock after roadblock. Every time I try to talk to somebody, I get sent somewhere else. Every time I talk to that person, they send me somewhere else. I've been on the phone for probably about two hours today between AE, between uh 811, between water, between sewer, and between the road department trying to figure out why people are coming on my property and painting lines and putting flags in my yard when I am the only one in the neighborhood that has that has had that done to them. And this was just a day after Mr. Wheeler told me that he was not going to fix my road. I'm not happy.

Well, first of all, how did the city destroy your driveway? They run a plow over it. Do what? They ran a snow plow over it in your driveway? Yes, sir. Well, we'll have to we'll have to investigate that. I We You're hitting it with us. We haven't don't have any background information. Um

I've spoken with Mr. Lester a couple times since I believe Tuesday. Um when when I spoke to him, I hadn't seen any claims filed or information or anything like that, but since Tuesday, I've uh looked at the claims file. There was a claim, a damage loss report and a claim made to Kentucky League of Cities. Uh public works was contacted. Director Murray uh reviewed his department. They've I believe has been out to your house and reviewed something with you at some point. No. Nobody's come to my home. No one's come to your house. Nobody has come to my home and looked at anything.

Okay. I I thought you I apologize. I thought you said they had I did drive by I believe yesterday morning Wednesday morning early. You said very clearly you didn't want anybody to come on your property. So I didn't come on your property. Stood at the uh roadway uh reviewed map photos from Google and and whatever other sources that were provided to me from December. You said this indicated you indicated this happened in February. I believe during the ice storm. Yes, it did. That you had called out for a plow cuz they were having I think trouble getting mail. I hadn't gotten mail in uh it was 12 or 14 days. Okay. And so you had called and asked for someone to come out and and plow the road. And

uh you believe the city had had done that.

Um I came out, looked at it. You know, just from my, you know, I'm not a concrete expert, but from my analysis and review, I didn't see anything that really looked different from December. I told you that today in the photos that I saw and that were provided from me to me. I believe some of those might have even been from you through the claims process. I'm not 100% sure though because again, I just got into this on Tuesday. Uh but from my review since Tuesday um and again I was also preparing for the agenda and the budget session and some other stuff. So I did have other stuff going on since then. Um I did not see any reason to disturb the Kentucky League of Cities decision or what public works found and I understand that you disagree.

Yes, I do. Um, and the great thing about our country is we have a place that you can go when you disagree, when somebody that you have business with or engagement with, and that's the court system. And I, that's not me saying, you know, I'm a lawyer. I'll see you in court. That's me saying it upon our review, the staff's review, we we see things differently than what you saw. Okay. How did you see my concrete? If you didn't walk on my property, how did you see my concrete?

When I reviewed it with staff and when I reviewed the file, I don't see how our snow plow caused the damage that you claimed. I'm not the the And also the way you described the plow to me, I I couldn't match that up with one of our plows. I that doesn't make any sense to me, sir. I can't I can't tell you what a snow plow looks like from six, eight months ago. All I know is it was a snow plow.

I I understand. And I'm and I'm sorry that when I looked at the set of facts that I was provided, I see them differently from you. But the only place that I know to take you is either to this commission or which is I assume why you're here today because I told you you could come and address the commission. If you didn't like what staff had told you and that if you didn't agree with them or if you didn't agree with me or if you didn't agree with anything that our insurance company told you, you could file a lawsuit and that's where the facts could be determined. There's a there's an issue of fact here. The city sees it one way. The staff sees it one way. You happen to see it different. And I I don't know how to resolve that for you. I

I understand that you're a taxpayer, but so are other folks. And

so so a man who spends his own money to beautify his home and his property to take care of it, to make his neighborhood look nice and to make his community look nice and somebody comes and tears it up, there's no recourse because you think I I'm on a I'm on a fixed income, buddy. I I can't afford a lawyer. I'm I'm I'm physically disabled from the military. I make about $50,000 a year. And you expect me to go out and and pay for a lawyer after I just spent a ton of money getting that stuff done? It's not right. What you guys are doing is not right. If it was your property, your property, your property, yours, or yours, I guarantee it it would be fixed. And Mr. Wheeler, I promise you, if it was yours, it wouldn't have probably even happened. You guys need to fix this. I will move out of this city. This is a hill I'm willing to die on. I spent 20 almost 20 years in the military. I spent 15 years working at the VA. All I have done my entire adult life is try to help people and do the right thing. And what are we told when we are young and we are growing up? Tell the truth. Do the right thing. Everything will work out fine.

Mr. Mr. Lester, thanks for meeting me earlier before the meeting and having a conversation with me about this issue. This is the first that this commission and the mayor uh have heard about this issue. Uh we're going to encourage staff to continue to look at this issue, take a second look. Uh you know, what whatever resources they may need to do to do that. Uh because if this is a city issue, you know, we want to get it resolved on our end. I can I can send somebody over and I'll show them exactly where the snowplow dug into the black top. So, you'll allow them to come on your property? If I'm there, all they got to do is call. All they tell me when you'll be there. I'll make sure I'm there. Unless I'm at a doctor's appointment.

Okay. I encourage the city manager to to get with department heads and staff and to take a second look at this and see if this is something that we feel that was um done by the city. Uh and if it was, how we can remedy. And and if I could make one more statement, this is part of that review process. I mean, you've you've come you've Yes, sir. spoken your piece. We'll look at it. Yes, sir. And if I can make one more comment before I leave,

whoever runs the road department when I talked to him on the phone said that they were putting a sign up so nobody would come back down there on my property. Now, how did they come back down there if they've never been back down if they've never been down there before? He said it twice on the phone. I have it recorded. We're not hearing all that twice, but thank you for coming. Gotcha. Thank you. That's it. Huh? All right. Anyone else like to address the commission? Where's my five minute? I don't I'm not allowed five minutes. No, you're not. At a cost of $1,35354. So move. Second.

Discussion. All in favor say I. All opposed. Item B,

second reading and final adoption of an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, authorizing and approving change order number one between the city of Ashlin, Kentucky and southern Ohio trenching. second reading that will we'll start on that. We're excited.

Absolutely. All right. All in favor and say I I also Yes, sir. Item D. Second reading and final adoption of an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, authorizing and directing the mayor to execute an agreement between the city of Ashlin, Kentucky and MyTown TV to record, broadcast, and post meetings of the Ashlin City Commission for a period of one year in the amount of $12,000. So move second discussion. All in favor say I. All opposed. Our consent agenda,

a resolution of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, adopting, authorizing, and approving the course of action presented by the city manager on the items appearing on the consent agenda for the regular meeting of the board of city commissioners of May 14th, 2026. Some move second. Yeah. Second. All right. Uh, any questions? Could um I got a question? Yeah, I've got some questions. Jacob, how many demos have we completed this this year or in this current fiscal year? Seven, but there are five on here. So, I guess that'll get it up to 12.

There's currently seven completed. I actually just got an invoice for number eight. Uh, and then there's four more right there. That'll get us up to 12. 126. 12. Okay. Any other questions? Yeah, I've got some. Yes, sir. Uh, and what's this thing on Safe Harbor? Do you know what is on here? Safe Harbor Northeast Emergency Solutions Grant must be approved.

Every year I apply for HUD money. It's called emergency shelter grant and the city of Ashland has to approve me applying for that grant. So, I'm writing it and it's due tomorrow. So, you need to have the approval tonight. Yeah. But it'll allow me to apply. Gotcha. It won't cost you a dime. I hear you. I hope it'll bring me some money. Hope so, too. Any other questions? Yeah, I'd have a couple more.

Uh, on item G, uh, Mr. city manager. Um you've got that there's um in fiscal year 26 there's uh $620,000. How much of that remains? Do you have any idea? I think uh she may have the number for him or Barry may one of the tank the 620,000. We also have a contract with wiser coatings. Do you have that?

Oh, this is where Yeah, they got to the bottom of it.

Do you know about what the contract is? Uh, I want to say the contract is $5 and some odd thousand dollar. I don't know the exact, but we can we can definitely So, we gotund and some thousand left. Is that what you're saying? Yes. Um, so this was actually a PO that we carried out instead of um he's he's taking the contract minus this PO and what we have left with the budgeted amount. Oh, okay. He's correct. I'm sorry. You're correct. Oh, 100,000. Gotcha. Yeah, this was the one where they started working on it and discovered

Yes. And it would have took them um it would have been an additional $100,000 cost if they mobilized and come back. You got to let them come back. Let them do it now. We we used our small purchasing to do that. And you might not be able to answer this one. On item J, it's uh waterline budget. Uh the 26 budget was a million bucks. Do we know how much we've got left in that? No, I do not. It that's usually something ballpark. Yeah. Um we we reconcile that at the end of the year because they're working on several these repair works are going on. Yes. Gotcha. We'll actually go back and figure stuff out.

Six weeks enough to uh do the work Barry on um item K

street paving the carryover from last year and um okay this year's street caving or street $884,000. This actually goes into two fiscal years. He he will spend all his budget. Well, it says it's going to be finished by June 30th, 2026. That's what I'm just asking. Is this going to be done within 6 weeks?

So, the original contract amount that we have for this current fiscal year is $937,000 and we will have that all complete um by June 30th for the start of next fiscal year. Yes, sir. I know crews have been working really hard um me milling and repaving streets around the community and and I've received several phone calls from uh neighbors in on those streets and they've been really appreciative of this. So, we appreciate your work. And Barry's already working on um the bid packet to get it out for next year soon as we can due to oil prices. Yeah, I understand that. Good job.

All right. Any others? All right, we have a um a first and a second. All in favor say I. All opposed. All right, we'll move into our old business. New business. Item A, new business. New business. First reading and approval of an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, authorizing and directing the mayor to execute contract with Lights Enterprises, Inc. for the purchase of all labor, materials, equipment, and services for the demolition and removal of all debris at 2014 Street in the amount of $3,000 for the Department of Community and Economic Development to be paid from the general fund. Some move.

Second discussion. All in favor say I. I. All opposed. Item B, first reading and approval of an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, authorizing and directing the mayor to execute a contract with Lights Enterprises, Inc. for the purchase of all labor materials, equipment, and services for the demolition and removal of all debris at 50844 Street in the amount of $12,000 for the Department of Community Economic Development to be paid from the general fund. So move second. Discussion.

All in favor say I. I all opposed. Item C, first reading and approval of an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, authorizing and directing the mayor to execute a contract with Tri-State Construction for the purchase of all labor materials, equipment, and services for the demolition and removal of all debris of 107729 Street in the amount of $6,200 for the Department of Community and Economic Development to be paid from the general fund. So move second discussion. All in favor say I.

I. All opposed. Item D. First reading and approval of an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, authorizing and directing the mayor to execute a contract with Tri-State Construction for the purchase of all labor materials, equipment, and services for the demolition and removal of all debris at 5337 Valley View Drive in the amount of $6,600 for the Department of Community Economic Development to be paid from the general fund. So move second. Second discussion. All in favor say I. I. All opposed. Item E.

First reading an approval of an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky fixing the tax levy for the year 2026 payable in the year 2027 on the bank deposits franchise tax for revenue purposes by the city of Ashlin. So move. Second discussion. Is there any change in the tax rate? No sir. No, no increase. That's pretty much every year. It is. It's the same rate each year. All in favor say I. I. All opposed.

Item F. First reading and approval of an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, fixing the regulatory license fee at 4% of the gross receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages within said city during the fiscal year July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 as authorized and imposed by section 24 of ordinance number 8 series of 2021 as amended known and cited as the alcoholic beverage control ordinance for the city of Ashlin. such proceeds to be used to reimburse the city for expenses related to the sale of alcoholic beverages therein. So move second. Discussion. All in favor say I. I. All opposed.

Item G. First reading and approval of an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, authorizing and directing the mayor to execute an agreement between the Commonwealth of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in the city of Ashland for a federal grant in an amount up to $120,000 which will require a match in an amount up to $30,000 by the city of Ashland for the Mayo Plaza streetscape project planning study and preliminary engineering. So moved. Second second discussion.

Yeah. Um, do we really need a study to tell us what we're going to do with uh Mayo Plaza? I mean, hasn't our engineering department come up with a plan?

Um, this is one of the items that last year when you all took office, we were cutting things out of the budget to save us money. We had it money ba budgeted to pay even do sidewalk work. Erica worked with me and she was able to obtain a federal grant to do so. To spend the federal grant, they require you to use their planning and go through the planning stage. The city obtaining the grant will do the planning, then we'll reapply for money to actually pave, do sidewalks, lighting, and storm sewer. And we're about $300,000 to the good due to her grant application with us just doing it ourselves. Go ahead.

So, this is just a study for study and then we will apply for the grant funding to do the work between and once they approve you for the planning um it's 99% you always get the we got more studies going on in this town and spending more money on studies of consultants and for federal transportation they require it. I agree with you. I get it. I'm not this isn't criticism of you. It's just do we I mean my god is there no end to hiring consultants to tell us what we need to do. We could scratch it I guess. I mean that's just that's just me. Well then you won't get the grant either.

We will not get the grant and then we'd have to pay for it with our paving funds. Sidewalk funds. I'm not but aesthetically my piece aesthetically I I think it'll look so much better in that area. Also, my my concern is the lighting and the uh wheelchair ADA accessibility of the sidewalks through there. You you really can't The sidewalks are not the thing. It's a mess. It's a mess. It's a mess. There's no doubt. I mean, they've cut all the trees down and it look it's an eyesore. The and the sidewalk is crumbled. The where there was floral stuff, it's all gone. I mean, it's a mess. I concur. You just did the study, didn't you? Yeah. And with the study, we will have public hearings for everybody to um

you know, come in and uh give their input. All right, we have a first and a second. All in favor say I. I. I. All opposed. Item H. First reading and approval of an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, adopting by reference updated procurement regulations for the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, July 2026 and repealing ordinance number 8 series of 2026. So move second discussion. All in favor say I.

All opposed item I. First reading and approval of an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, authorizing and directing the mayor to submit program year 2026 annual action plan for a community development block grant to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and upon acceptance of set application from HUD to execute on behalf of the city an agreement with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to enable the city to undertake these activities and/or any and all documents associated with said grant submitt. So moved. Second. Second. All in favor say I. I. All opposed. Item J.

First reading and approval of an ordinance entitled an ordinance to the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, approving a renewal with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Company for administrative fees to administer the city's health insurance coverage, vision insurance, and stop-loss coverage for a plan year July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. So move Second second. Second discussion.

Yeah. On the aggregate stop loss, I'm not a mathematician. Didn't go through core math, but $12.90 I guess a month for 277 employees is 42,8.95. How can $12.52 for an employee, 277 of them, 12 months be more? 46,616. I'm I'm confused on that.

So was the person that made the calculation noted. That's obviously an error. Okay. still is talking about the 12% or 12.8% decrease. Looks like the administrative fees decreased by 12.8%. That's good. I I apologize for that error. That was u Samantha Sers did a wonderful job. You'll notice an administrative fee decrease of 12.8 uh%. She did a great job working with Anthem to do that. When she sent those up, uh I calculated those to put in the fiscal note. So,

may uh my my apologies to the commission. Sorry. I would point out that's a very modest increase. The net increase is 109 184. Will our staff see any increase in their insurance premium and their No, not any to do that. Okay. Okay. the city's portion about $500 per employee. So that will cover any cost. Okay. All right. Uh so all in favor say I.

I. All opposed. Item K. Reading an adoption of a municipal order entitled the municipal order of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, authorizing and directing the mayor to execute a subawward agreement between the city of Ashlin Ashlin police department and the financial commission for Appalachia highintensity drug trafficking area Haida accepting funds in the amount of $58,000 from the United States Office of National Drug Control Policy and authorizing and directing the mayor to execute any and all other documents related just said grant move second

second discussion I guess basically this just a pass through right reimbursement okay yes all right in favor say I all opposed it I'm L reading and adoption of a municipal order entitled a municipal order of the city of Ashlin Kentucky establishing a finance committee to provide oversight review and guidance on the city's financial matters. So move second discussion. Yeah. What's uh what's the plan for the finance committee? I mean what's what what's the makeup going to be? That was a question that I had too. Are we going to put two commissioners on it and then

for sure two commissioners? I thought that we had talked about at the budget work session was to I think they set the mayor and a commissioner on it. um be Tony the myself, Barry, and Robin and Samantha.

Okay. Now, would for instance, let's say we have um a major purchase of a million dollars or something that's going to come forth to the commission. Would that purchase the initiation of that purchase, would that go to the finance committee first? The finance committee then review and then would they make a recommendation to the board of commission? I think a purchase of that size would be planned well ahead and you all would deal with it during the budget process. My whole body for an example would purchase would go to them and then it would be you would have updates of the capital purchases during this meeting. I probably don't have it really flushed out in terms of the total use of it. Do you at this point? No. It's a conceptual. It's conceptual. We will learn and better it as we go along.

Like the capital project deal. Yes. Okay. You know, this will all wrap into one. Yeah. Okay. Yes. Instead of multi can be used lots of ways. Yes. Absolutely. Okay. All right. All in favor say I. All opposed. Item M. Reading and adoption of municipal order entitled a municipal order of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, authorizing and directing the mayor to execute an application for the Kentucky Fire Commission training facility grant in the amount of $19,95357 for a search and rescue training prop for the Ashlin Fire Department. So moved.

Second discussion. I guess this will will we be able to train others with this now too? Yeah, this is going to be a mobile prop. We'll keep our grill tire. We'll be able to teach fire behavior with it, smoke behavior. It can be used for our firefighters training as well as public events. It's basically a a steel two-story house with a garage attached to it. So, we can show fire behavior, why you should close your door, how things are going to work. So, it's good for us and the public. Excellent. It's a very small house. Yeah. Very small house. It's like a small house. Yeah. All right. All in favor say I. I. All opposed. Item N,

reading an adoption of municipal order entitled the municipal order of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, authorizing and directing the mayor to execute and submit a grant application through the Kentucky office of the attorney general for a funding in maximum amount of $5,000 on behalf of the Ashlin Police Department for a peer support program for law enforcement and if awarded authorizing acceptance of the grant and further authorizing and directing the mayor and/or chief of police to execute any and all other documents regarding said grant. So move second discussion. All in favor say I. I. All opposed.

Item O, reading an adoption of a municipal order entitled a municipal order of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, authorizing and directing the mayor to execute three temporary construction easements between the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, and Jennifer C. Jackson and Monica Cameron, Raymond H. and Susan M. Lions, and Erica and Sarah Clark. regarding the Beachwood Forest and Woodland Avenue storm sewer project. So moved. Second

discussion. I I was through there earlier today. I actually live in that that area. Um looks like a lot of work has already been completed. So obviously not these, but other work has been uh completed in the neighborhood. So all in favor say I. All opposed. All right. Um I did have one other and I've talked to you all about this before. Um the 250 um committee would like to do a mural. I think I've passed this around to you guys before. um on the flood wall and as long as there's no cost to city except for prepping I think we have to actually prep the flood wall that we could move forward on this as long as we get all of it you know grant wise

you're talking about just pressure washing it or something well I think they prep pressure wash it then put a coat of some sealant on there yes sir we'll wait we'll work with uh the existing the artist. Okay. All right. Can I get a motion then to do that? Second. So move. Second. Second. All in favor say I. I. All opposed. All right. Let's um want to take a executive session. Uh well, I don't Do we need any executive session? Anybody? No.

All right. So, let's move into our um budget session. want to take a um five or 10 minute break and we'll want to recess. I'll change it around.

Okay, we're we're back in session for our work session on our

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think uh the last time uh we met, I think the department of finance uh was complete with presenting the budget. However, I think there was a few loose ends that we needed to tidy up. I think since that time, you should have got an email from Robin uh that list those items. And with that, I'll turn it over to either Robin or Miss V, and we can go through those. I think it's seven items that we need to tidy up. The first item that we never made a final decision on was the dues and fees.

What? dues and fees would be um Ashlin emotion and visit aky. We we still haven't received anything formally from Ashlin emotion. So in the activities with visit aky some of those were just concepts. Our suggestion is you all keep the money in there for them and as they have an event they come to you all and you all approve it with their budget and what items they were doing. I know you all support downtown and I know you all support events. So you all leave the money there and as they come up with an event or need funding they come to you all and as a body you all approve it out of that contingency amount. that way either visit Ashlin or Ashlin in a motion whichever is doing the event makes the the budget and then we grant that money.

I think that would be our recommendation at this point. So does that mean uh the how you feel about it? First Friday and everything is on for the summer. Well, what's the number? No. What how much is in the What's the number? So last one. Do you have like a like a number? I had a question. Everything on for the summer with all the activities. Well, I think what she's saying, you know, depending on what the Yeah. As you explain your activities or you know what you're going to do, if you come to us with a budget, we will approve it and then release the funding to you or uh Ashlin.

I think what she wants to know is what's what's the fund that we're creating? How much are we putting into a fund? That was the idea just so that I could write a budget for July 1st that for my fiscal year. But if that isn't how it works and it's just that I have to come and come before you and ask yes or no because the budget is going to be for actually activities and events not to fund your daily operations. Got so any events that you have planned and I know you all plan months out. If you would um you could meet with me and then show which ones you have planned and we could go take them in front of the board the next meeting. Okay. and then we we could go from there.

Okay. So, I'll go ahead and make it in our budget and it can also be like, you know, something that says in our budget for the board, this is privy to the and as you all do in the future, as you all do the special events request, we'll send the special events request to the board to approve the budget for it. That way, it's funded way in advance of your actual event. So, are we going to fund a an like a dollar amount, a set dollar amount, and then they're going to budget off that? It wouldn't be a set. It would be what they would request if it was three or 4,000. Yes. I I guess how much are we putting aside? We have 117 that we have in contingency.

That helps a lot be able to understand. Is that a total of something that was already budgeted? Yes. What's it Ashlin motion? Yes, but the problem with Ashlin emotion, they've budgeted for the same thing she budgeted for when she submitted the 117. Right. Well, I think that will work. Should I? So, are you doing first Fridays from here out or how's this working?

Well, as of right now, we do the one in June. Um, our board, we're having a a reallocation of the board to get it all together and then we'll have a meeting on June 1st that'll No. Um, Ashlin motion. We've been in contact with them on how they want to do it. Not 100% sure on on what that is. We're perfectly happy with doing whatever. Like, we're happy with taking it on. And obviously, you all don't make a dime off first Friday. No. I mean, that's quite obvious. It's an expenditure, right?

Yes, it is. I mean, as far as right now's concerned, we're doing the one in June, which is going to be the America 250 on the big car show. Um, and then past that, we have them planned. We have them either planned that we can execute or planned and we can help somebody from Ashlin in motion come and ask for the money and execute because they're already planned. So, it's more of a here's how this works if they're going to if that's how they feel that they would like to continue to do those without. You typically don't do one in July because of summer motion. Correct. And to be clear, the funding that you're all setting aside is three times what you normally have.

You normally have always set aside 35,000. Her budget that she requested for, you know, both of to the events, whoever they decide going to do them, you all are contributing three times what you normally have contributed to downtown and events. But that's the fund there. If they don't do it, they're not going to draw it out of there, right? Yes. And the the best part as accountable to the taxpayers, you all know what the money's being spent on because right now we know up front. We have no idea what the money's been spent on. She's never asked for money before, but with Ashlin motion, we have no idea. We've never budgets audits. The criticisms are not of visit a

No, no. That's what I said. She's never asked for money before. They're kind of at the mercy. Yes. Actually motion. I mean, so it shows the commission is supporting downtown events, whoever they choose to have them. And then you all know what your taxpayer money has been spent on. And you're all doing that three times what you've done in the past. Um, in the pod, who advertised for this past first Friday? I encourage moving forward we add the city logo to that. Okay. Yes. I saw that and I thought surprised the city logo wasn't on there. Well, Amanda did it before she left and we don't have a third person. Okay.

So, it's just she and I um so going forward the ones that you see will be and you both are doing a great job by the way.

Well, thank you. And it's hard to do with just two. I mean, there's a lot of things tourism wise and we don't want community events to fall. We want to we want to find that balance and that momentum is so great right now in the city. like it's everything's moving forward. We've got all the cool things that are happening and we feel we feel led to make it as good as we possibly can. So, we're appreciative of any way that we can make a relationship and be able to help grow and grow events in the downtown. We appreciate it however we get it. That's for sure. I'll make sure that that's done. Appreciate that.

Okay. The next item is um ta attached are various options for a cost of a living adjustment for city employees. That's this sheet that you've given us. Yes. Does everyone and Robin I think is provided with different. Well, I think we need to do it. I think our employees do an outstanding job and to be compensated for it, especially with all the uh the rising cost of everything. Um I'd like to see us do something for our employees.

And this is a cost of living increase. What um finance recommendation was 2% which is below the CPI. The CPI is 2.7. And we need to take in account that our employees did not get the cost of living last year which was 2.9. So their buying power would decrease 5.6%. So what I'm encouraged is uh thank you Robin uh and the work from finance staff for putting these um numbers on paper for us. Um and I appreciate that it's not going to um that we're going to be able to do this without making any significant cuts uh in in different areas across the city. Uh we did not touch the economic stabilization fund to do this. Um

funds funds. We also um did it with the general fund with the garbage truck will not be delivered for 14 months. So we're putting it out. I mean we kicked it down the road to August, September, but we would pay for it next year's budget and go ahead and order it. So these are the practical um kind of scenarios that we could potentially look at that were drafted by the finance department. Yes.

My thoughts are this. A high paid city employee making $150,000 a year gets a 2% raise. He gets $3,000. a worker that makes $40,000 a year. 2% raise it gets 800. My proposal was 2% or a minimum of a thousand. And that was that's what the thousand or 2%.

Yeah. That keeps the pay scale relevant without messing it up too bad. It it gives a it gives a compromise and it helps um the employees that are paid less and it still does the cost of living for someone that you know makes more. Well, if if we did a thousand across the board Mhm.

how would that affect the pay scale? Obviously, it would increase each um each uh rank in the pay scale by $1,000, but how would that off I mean, how would that be an issue to the pay scale? Well, when you look at what employees actually make, when you start to get into mid-level supervision where they're overtime exempt, you currently I Tony and I went through some of the 2025 W2s where they get overtime, they actually make more than their supervisors. The pay scale when it was done was compromised. You actually have uh supervisors and employees sometimes in the same grade. So you have a an exempt employee who is still working overtime but does not get compensated for it. It's figured in their salary when they did the market study.

When an employee gets overtime still some of our higher paid employees are someone's that their base scale is on the lower end. And then when you do a fixed amount, you also have to take in account a firefighter or a police officer that has built-in overtime. You're actually giving them more with them out actually working an hour of unscheduled overtime. So that's why the hybrid was my recommendation. A firefighter on their base pay gets 832 hours of overtime. So they automatically make more than your street worker would.

What about the police department? Police department work 12-hour shifts. I know. What have you calculated? It's 208 hours, I think, of unscheduled overtime, Robin. I mean, it's been a while since I've done those. Is that the the fire? Police and fire probably do the most overtime. Is that correct? They have it scheduled in their work shift.

It's built into their the shift. So when you give a $1,000 raise, you automatically give a firefighter almost 1,700 without them working a day of overtime. And then when you start to look at some of the supervisors, like in the police department, the people in the 12-hour shifts are making more than their captains, lieutenants, and are making more their captains and majors. So, because lieutenants get overtime and they're making more than the people that do not, you know, we have That's why you like the hybrid. That's why I like the hybrid. Yes.

We have a lot of employees here and and uh we have a lot of positions here that are probably overpaid. Um and that I think that when we look at um doing a pay scale in the future, pay adjustments, we need to look at certain positions. We also have a lot of folks here that work really hard that don't get what they deserve. Um, on that end, I think that my opinion would be the thousand flat rate across the board.

Well, I I just hate to see the gap between the people that make the good money and the people that don't keep getting wider and wider and wider. But at 2% it it stays the same because you at $1,000 you're actually giving them more of a raise than you would someone else. And a firefighter gets more raise than someone else. Um it's tricky because you look at the actual W2s.

It's really difficult. I'll give you an example like uh there's only seven employees that make under 40,000 in the city. The bulk of those are in finance and public services. We have 53,000 or I'm sorry 53 people that make under 50k. So 19% uh of the city employees make 50 or less. So that'd be 81% of the city employees that would be getting less than 2%.

That's based on 305 employees. And this is not a raise. It it's a cost of living adjustment. And a cost of living adjustment is usually a percent on someone's salary because that is the buying power that they're losing when they go out in the market and buy goods. But I think I speak for every employee. I mean, we're all very appreciative. Uh the city is a great place to work. It's been a great place to work for me. So, but I'm telling you these numbers. I don't I don't want you think anybody think I think longevity anymore. We do not. And that and that's part of the thing that was a real benefit to me. It was

that was part of the thing with the comp study. You know, they did a experience factor and it messed up a lot of people in the scale. You have a lot of people that are supervising others that their employees make 10 15,000 more than they do. We have an issue currently just frankly right now that's in the police department. Can I Is this a good time to talk about it? But

say it again. if you don't care. I was talking about compression, salary compression and we actually we actually have an issue in the police department now where our employees it's difficult time to get them to move up because they actually lose money. Is that am I saying that correctly? We we just uh we just felt that pressure in the last promotional process where and I know I'm talking probably a little bit too soon. That's something that's going to come to you all but

with the FOP contract because what the FOP has uh requested will actually make them make more than the people in supervision. And we we had it in the fire department too where you had two people take demotions to get the overtime back. Constant struggle. Oh yes. Now, will will the the hybrid help that issue then? Yes, the hybrid will not make that issue worse because you'll get the people will get 2% of their cost of living. That won't go away though. No, it will.

We will have to probably when we negotiate the FOP contract, we will have to probably look at some of the management salaries because you cannot get anybody to take the test for Okay. Test for what? Lieutenant Lieutenant Nobody. Yeah. Nobody signed up to take a lieutenant test. What's What does that pay here? Um that's Well, that's one of the things when I was a sergeant, I asked that and nobody could tell me. That's why I didn't take it because nobody could tell me what it started.

I remember you. I remember you could not tell me that. since then there there is a bottom baseline that we we worked on that extensively.

And here's something else has messed it up is the holidays, the extra holidays that we got. When you have management that gets the eight hours and you get the patrolman and the sergeant that's making the working and lieutenant working the 12-h hour shifts, they got like a $2,400 benefit and management got a $800 benefit from it, which it's made the whole scale out of whack. We fixed it where there was a 15% difference between some of them because of the amount of overtime. And these these management people in police and fire are working just as much as the people out in the street. That's individual people. Okay.

Are management employees compensated uh for their overtime hours? They don't get obviously overtime, right? They don't get comp time. They don't get nothing. They don't get to leave early on the day or Nope. They do not. We need to address that. Well, I understand I understand Commissioner Euro's point of view on it, but also trying to rectify this overtime and balance. To me, I you know, it seems like the hybrid is the better choice to go with. I, you know,

Well, to me, it sounds like we need to look at the entire scale again. Oh, yeah. And it needs to be reviewed. Not by anybody from Louisville or Cincinnati or wherever they were at before, but from our in-house folks. Yeah. I I mean, and comparable confident enough to do that. And comparable not to private sector jobs, but to public sector jobs. And that ought to be compared to cities with equal size. Yeah. Our city pays more than Iron for sure. Huntington, Charleston, West Virginia. Uh our wages are comparable to Lexington. Well, that sounds like a job in the finance committee. We do what's been done correct talked about

and and and some things with our city that you'll find is not many comparable cities of our size actually own their own utility company anymore. And that made that made a little difference. Um so when you compare a city, you actually have to not only compare their size, you have to compare what kind their employees what they manage. I would propose the hybrid, but we certainly don't respect anything that that you're all into. Again, approve the the hybrid would give the 2% to 19% 82% of the employees would get less than 19%. Or 2%. Okay.

Which would be the thousand. Yes. So what percentage they'd still be making more money. The raise would be more. the raise would not be more. No, they're they're raised when you're you're the 2% which is not even CPI. And I mean I I know I'm sitting here and it benefits me, but if you all want to take me out of it, that's fine. I'm just trying to do what's best for the pay cap scale in the city. But that only 18% of the employees, what he said, the 53 and the seven would get 2%. Every other employee would get less than 2%.

Well, all right. Let's say an employee is making $100,000 a year. Kind of raise they going to get on your on your suggestion. They'd get 2,000. Okay. What would the employee get in 40,000 making 40,000? What would he get? Thousand,000. 50,000 is is a,000. 50,000. Yeah. So, the $100,000 employees gets a $2,000 raise. the $50,000 employee gets a $1,000 raise. That That's what I don't agree with because the $100,000 employee doesn't need that raise as much as the $50,000 employee. And I understand cost of living obviously cost of living. Cost of living, yes,

has increased it. But buying power for someone who makes $100,000 a year is a hell of a lot more than somebody making $50,000 a year. But when these jobs and these people went to market with these jobs, they they took in account education, whether they got paid overtime, if they're required certifications to them. And when you get to the point, if you continue to do this with that, the market will not longer be valid for your water plant operators, your policemen, your firemen, because this study, when you placed them in these salary grades, I know some of them may be wrong, but when you placed them in these salary grades, this study put the water plant operator at what market makes. If you give someone at a lesser grade than that and they get less than the 2% in the market, you do that for two or three years, you're they're American Water and people are going to be paying more of a salary than the city.

We paid a lot of money for that study. That's the longevity pay. Longevity. Taking longevity out was a big loss. Mhm. You had two payments a year, Christmas and vacation time. Yeah. You were rewarded people that stayed longer. There were a lot of benefits. Do we remember what the cost of the longevity was? Don't obviously it's been several years. Yeah, it has. I want to think right around 80 or 90,000. When did it go out? Sir, I'm I'm getting older and I don't really I do because that was that was asked several times. It's right around 85 to 90,000. Would be more than that. Now,

right. Yeah. From what you said of that, what if we gave a flat thousand across the board and then went back to review how this pay scale is is administered. Your thoughts on reviewing the pay scale? I'll do whatever the commission tells me to. That was like a two-year long process last time. I don't I don't know that we have the internal that's a painful damn thing to put the city through. Again,

I don't want to put anybody on the spot, but let me ask Mr. Murray something. So, Mr. Murray was our HR director here for a long time. Um and and you actually your staff undertook a uh pay classification study. What are uh And you were able to do it inhouse. What was the timeline on that when you didn't do it in house? Oh, contracted it out. I think maybe I'll just mention to your point is typically use percentage because of relativity, right? So that's that's what I think Michelle is speaking to. Class column typ

it's always predominantly on a percent where she's talking about compression and how that expands over years. Yeah. to create but now we have to do an understate or you can't create that scenario but like it'll all work but the 2% is usually what HR will or percentage I should say whatever that what I like about the flat thousand versus the the th000 or 2% is it saves us roughly aboutund 106,000 and some and some dollars versus the th000 flat versus a,000 or 2% I think we save that and then we come back and look at the pay and classification scale, but you know, we're we're saving that, but we're giving it to our employees.

Correct. Yes. You you I think the paying classification study 100,000 would be cheap for one. Let's do another study. We could probably do it in house. If you're unhappy with the one that was made and you go back to the drawing board in house, the last study actually brought the lower level employees up by 15 or 20%. It benefited them greatly. And there were some errors that that finance staff had to go back and and and take care of, too. Sean and I have had this conversation before. We were on the opposite side of the fence, too. So

friendly. Yeah.

Socialist dog, I guess. No, because it it gives the unions much more money than the other employees. The the easily pro union. I mean, yeah, it you know, you're looking at they like a percent. Um but

best the best research I could come up with was uh w with with some margin of errors um using some AI research was I I don't know if this matters to anyone but in terms of percent in our country it's about 60 to 80% flats 20 10 to 20 and a hybrid about 10 to 20 with some margins of error. Um something else I need. All of your major unions are on percents. Uh American Federation of State, County, City Employees, Service Employees, International Union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, International Association of Firefighters.

Due respect, well, you got two welders working on the job. They're making the same amount of money. Yeah. Whether he's been there three years or 15 years. Oh, I'm with you. They're and so percent means well they want to keep I mean the supply and demand of labor they when you're in your union you want to keep those rates high and they they took a good favor of percent but I'm not going a bit too too far on that

and there's another legislation that come back with the KRS will have 48 of our employees either have to pay 1% % or 2% more to Kentucky retirement. So most employees with the percent or 2% at this will actually end up with a smaller paycheck. I want to convolute issue that that's why it was my suggestion the 2% because at least the people that were doing the 2% would come back to zero. So you you'll have a lot of employees their paycheck will go down in January in July because they got a $1,000 rate. No, no, no. Cuz Kentucky retirement is taking more than that. Where did I get off track here?

Kentucky retirement is taking more than that. And they even go back and they're hitting tier one employees. Only to a certain date. Yes.

You guys like to kick it around further or come back later? I think we've kind of hit a wall. I don't know that we're Yeah, we need to to um have time to kind of let that sink in and Yeah, we're I'm all for doing something. Oh, I think all of us are.

I think I think I'm stuck at a flat rate because when I was an employee here, uh I saw making $42,000 a year. I saw the folks making $100,000 a year. And when we got raises, I always felt like it was insignificant for me to get a 3% raise and for someone else to get a 3% raise. And and their raise was more than my paycheck every two weeks. So that's that's why I've always enjoyed the or thought the best rate would be a flat rate across the board,

but it won't it won't be the same across the board because police and fire due to their scheduling will make more than the sanitation worker, the street work. That's why I'm focusing on the the 2% and the thousand. A fireman would make 1600. Listen to it. I mean, listen to everyone. Didn't you hear the disparity between 100,000 and 50,000 is double the amount? Yeah. Right. Right. I mean, that's a that's a consequential difference. But I'm not I I think we need to think about it. I do too. What would it cost if we brought longevity back?

It'd be hard to recreate it. Yeah. that I would. Yes, for sure. Because it's a it's a thing that you start with somebody's employment. It took five years. You didn't get longevity until you worked five years. And um we and that's how with this study where it was incorporated into it for years of service. That's how some of these salaries we really are getting compensated for years of service just not the traditional way that we used to. But also so when they done that study a weight was assigned to the number of years. Yes.

But you also had previous management that you had to have years of experience in the same position. We literally had equipment operators that worked in the sanitation department for 14 years. They went to the streets a month before this study was done and previous management would not give them the 14 years experience even though they were in the same grade, the same experience in the same department. But but a lot of the employees a lot of the employees did not get their longevity pay or any experience in their salaries because of that. So you

I'd have a little hard time understanding how you could really work longevity into it. I mean I I don't doubt that there was some experience factor put into it but all that longevity was a major benefit to the employees. It really was. Um you know I would say you know the budget that you have in front of you no matter which way we go it is a responsible budget especially for the two primary funds where we're building back our our you know balances. Um uh so well let's you know that Commissioner Martin just said you know let's um let's sleep on that and

and and I I would like to say this when they've done that study I mean it's it's my opinion just my opinion there is no really bad paying jobs in the city. I mean the city is a wonderful it's a great place to work 100%. I I don't think there's a better place in in Ashland to work than the city. 100%. I just want to get that out. I don't I mean it's I mean um there's a lot of benefits and particularly the the feeling that the workers had toward each other. I mean it really ends up being more of a a family relationship. I mean, I don't think that exists in a lot of employments.

And the pride the the pride and professionalism that our that our staff pride absolutely pride in their work first class. All right. You all agree. Let's let's move forward. Okay. Um the capital purchase improvement fund, we deleted the 350 for the police building edition on on that issue. Can we can we factor in uh some amount for for Brownstead and uh Bradstead and Carol to do a cost estimate of uh what that would be? I we we can and

I mean that way you know you could you could have the work done in the future and it would be a a major step toward getting that done. We we move the money to build the building for the city building because this HVA system really needs um done. Um when we go to do the bond issue and we reconcile what we're going to do, we can make sure that that is in there. Well, I think it needs it's clear that the police department has made an argument for the need of the of the additional uh space, but we're not where we could start construction. And 350 is not the number. No,

we need to figure out what a real number is. And we uh the architect that did the work is the same architect that's on our other projects. So we will get that done. I think they could could uh give us some priority consideration. Do a study. That's not a study. That's a plan plan stud.

We we changed the CDBG budget to match the action plan of 8.87 is a $12,000 difference from what the committee met, but that's Jacob didn't know when the committee met what the funds would be. So there's a $12,000 variance. I do a construction of this nature, you have to have the architectural work done.

Flood wall, we added the cost of the generator. Um, as we discussed, there's 410,000. Uh, we utilized the fund balance of 375517 and we decreased the contingency of 34483. This will actually allow the operation of the flood wall during power outages. Can I ask a question now that's on my mind? With the governor possibly lowering the gas tax, gasoline tax, how will that affect our getting money to pave streets or the road tax? Yes.

Yeah, it'll it'll obviously lower it to you. Um but we will obviously adjust it based on what the income coming in is. You know, we never know what 3 months or 6 months will bring, but we'll make sure that we adjust whatever the lower is. Do we have you budgeted so much? Yes. So, are you going to have to go back and revisit that? Is the governor lower the state portion of that for Yes. the excise tax for the city? The M because there's I don't they they said our road funds would be less, but I don't know what percent I thought was what they had they had requested. It's a double-edged sword. Yes. You know, the money's not there then to pave the streets. you sort of back and forth.

Well, I didn't want to get into the we budgeted X amount of money and then all of a sudden, oh, we're not getting that anymore and revisit. Yeah. Yeah. You know, when you go fuel up on a gallon of gas, there's actually several taxes on it. But, uh, yeah, it does appear that it will affect the map.

I'm not fill up, but I'll take your word for that. utility fund. We um the capital asset request of 500,000 for the 24-inch waterline replacement was decreased to 75,000. Barry and I met and with Mark and we think that engineering only will be completed in that fiscal year. The capital asset of 1.5 million for rehab at 26 Street was decreased to 250 for engineering only in fiscal year 27. The engineering only will be completed next fiscal year for the 26 station. And that is the last of the changes. All right. So now what the ones that you've given us out here um

replace the pages that you had in your book. Okay. So we'll have to go back and well I'd like to revisit the capital fund um capital expenditures and the utility fund capital expenditures. I don't know where we are in those two numbers now. Okay. Um for the utility I mean you you pulled numbers out and adjusted some the utility fund we we lowered it about 1.7 million. Oh was it $18 million was it? Yes. But a lot of that when we when we backed out the cso for the sewer plant. We backed out the projects that we already have contracts for. We were at three

that we already have contract like um we have a water tank that won't be finished to next year. So there might be 3400,000 in the budget, but we already have a contract signed for it. And then we backed out um the 10 million for the waterline replacement. We're we were at 3 million of projects. And out of that three million, we backed out the one,250,000 for 26th Street and we backed out 425,000 for the water plant. If you look at what I mean without the page in front of me,

Robin gave you all one. You have an occurred one. Yes. We can go through them one by one if you like. That might be good. Water production. We have a new roof for 200,000. We have motorized gate openers and closers for 40. Everybody find the page.

Yeah. The 24 in or foot or whatever water line replacement for the it basically replaces the piping in the basement of the water plant. We're doing engineering only now. So we reduce that from 500,000 to 75,000. Sludge pumps um 60,000 control panels for sludge tanks 50 some UV 254 equipment for treatment for 30,000 and water softener for 10 that is

there no that's everything at the um water production water distribution the LSD program is part of the KIA uh agreement that we have now for 325,000. The tank repairs for High Knob at 387500. I think we've already bid that out. Um tank repairs for 55th Street uh is 550,000. Why did we reduce that? I think it's the actual bid. I think they actually Okay. Well, that's

the tank cleaning um is 120,000. And we need uh this is prior year. We have tank inspections for the tanks that we haven't already done. And we're finding when we get into these tanks that you know like the 10,000 you all approved this year. We've got things on here like we got generators, we've got excavators, we got trucks. um you know all of these items um I don't know are we replacing them or what the excavator and trucks on that new possibly new yes crew for the new water crew last time

the only issue I have with those have not been approved because we hope to do them okay the only issue I have with the $10 million waterline deal is that's that's a great start and I'm I'm all for doing a a waterline replacement program, but that's $10 million one year. What are we doing the next year? And what are we doing? I mean, are we going to sell $10 million in bonds every year?

The 10 million will be over about a three-year period because we're doing all the work in the engineering in house. So therefore, we can come out with more lines done. The first year we already have engineering done on the shelf. So they're out doing that right now. The second year that we have, Barry will will do the engineering of the ones that are not engineered. Well, we've talked about the million dollars that we've been budgeting every year. It's been basically used for repair work rather than replacement. It is it has been used for replacement

because we have a repair line item of about $400,000 we've done these repairs for. Well, so we did take out the $10 million B. I think that's your question. I after the three years it's going to be re-evaluated. Yes. Again, I mean, so that million dollars that he's talking about previous commissions has started, you know, we've continued that on. We will not take that million dollars and invest that on top of the $10 million. Correct. Not unless you all want to. Okay. So, that would be basically if we continued the forecast the $3 million over that three years that could be put in other utility water utility projects.

Yes. And and here here's a benefit of doing the 3 million or getting 3 million accomplished next year. Your repair budget will go down significantly because these lines that we chose in the water loss team are the worst lines. Yeah,

this water loss team has been it's actually been a good experience for me and I've I've learned a lot. Um and you know and and Davey has been amazing resource with it. He set up the plan with with me with the lines and when he set it up, he set it up with the worst lines first. And this list is fluid because we may find a place in the system that's worse than somewhere else and we'll bump it up to where well we've got a a several page list that is the priority uh line replacement and they've got it down to a science right now because what was the estimated cost for that list? Oh, you're probably

20 30 million. Very high. And and yeah, 20 30 maybe more. But the this idea the the genesis of this idea um in the discussions that I was part of was trying to get around that curve is is provide some and figure out a way and a plan to provide a long-term investment that would allow you to start turning that tide more and more to decrease the repair costs

make significant impact. And the only and the only way that we when when management looked at that, the only way really from Mark and Barry and Dave to finance and city manager um and the input that I had too was the only way you could really do that is if you had an initial level of investment in that program and you you prioritize what lines you needed to prioritize that, you know, whether whether it be and part of that was prioritize the ones that are already engineered. because they're ready to go. And the engineering cost on that you're saving because it's going to cost more now obviously with inflation to engineer those than it would have.

And this is what the committee did for the water loss committee. Yes, that was our ultimate goal is to reduce the water loss, right? And and we we've got a two fe two goal thing. We're doing replacing meters and we're replacing the water lines that are bursting. So we hope to lower our cost on manufacturing cost, cost of goods sold, the raw water, plus reduce our repairs. That's and I and I think it's a good idea to continue that water loss team. Yes. Because it is going to be fluid and as you come up with different areas that might have a need that they might change in that priority list slightly. Yes, you have a list,

you make a plan, you try to follow the plan as best you can, but if it needs to be addressed as you go, you can make changes. And we're also getting to the point where we're 20 our water meters are 20 years old. So, we're getting to the point in the next couple years, we're going to have to change out all these water meters again. So, there's there's a lot of challenges with the utility and this infrastructure that we've just we've kind of kicked the can down the road. I can continue. $31 million. $32 million.

32 million. And with the water line replacement and the sewer plant, that's like 27 and a half. And another replacement after the pump station. This the 400,000. It's a pump station. We already have contracts for that 400,000 and we have grant money to pay for that one. The next one is fire hydrants. We have a significant amount amount of fire hydrants in our system that are broken. Fire hydrant the the cost of those are going up significantly. So that's why we chose 600,000 for fire when it was Yes. instead of 150

because we were we were surprised when we did the budget the amount of fire hydrants that needed replaced. So we wanted to put an influx of that in place a lot in Callisburg. Yes. And and the only reason we were able to do so is we replaced the water lines because the water lines had to be I don't know they were 4 foot. It has to be 6t or more. So we had to put it that kind of line in to actually replace the um fire hydrants. I think there's like nine and they actually put not only replaced in Kixburg, they were able to put new ones in.

That's very important and and I encourage us to keep that $600,000 figure in there if we can. Uh water valves. Water valves is another problem with our system. We've not maintained our water valves like we should and we don't have enough in there or we don't have the people that know where they are. With this, it'll it allow like when there's an outage or a leak, it'll allow the distribution crew to tidy that off to a smaller area. In terms of uh the utility capital expenditures last year, if you take out the wastewater treatment and the water line replacement, it gets it down to to uh what 4 million or five, whatever it is. What What was the capital expenditure last year?

I can't tell you the exact number, but I did compare the two and they were very similar. It was a couple hundred,000 off. Then the next item is collectors. Um we actually just put another one in Catwixburg and this actually collector a collector will actually um like citizens house in Ashland. If you have a water leak I can get the reading through the internet and my customer service staff can actually call up and tell you why your bill's so high. It'll show a daily usage. It'll it'll actually collect all the reads. So they don't have to drive by them. And that's an accountant's version. So it's an electronic system.

Yes. So like if we had a leak in Kixburg, we actually had to send a meter reader up, put the little thing on the meter and get the report and it would take a day or two to get back to them. And then the cost of us going back and forth. So we're we're looking at those to put them in some other areas of our system to make it more efficient for meter services. That's critical, too. That's I think so, too. Well, I'm, you know, if we're consistent with last year and we're I mean, I'm I'm okay.

In the wastewater treatment plan, I think they had 50,000 for an aiator refur refurbishment just to try to keep it going till we get the construction done. In wastewater collection, they're doing a lot of valve works and pumps. Um, meeting with Mark. We have pump stations that require five pumps. We have three working. So these are things that could not be put off to next year. It doesn't look excessive at all. No, it does not. So we went through this twice with Mark and once with Barry because we wanted to make sure that we weren't overwhelming the engineering department because they already have a lot on their plate.

How come the rehab on the 26th street went down so much? We took it down because when I spoke to Barry, he went through all the capital items after you all had that concern last time. We went through every capital item again. I asked him what he thought would get finished if we started July one. And he he said that the engineering work would probably be everything that was finished. So that's more realistic. The cost of it will be the when they do construction will be more a million and a half. And that's not fixing the whole station. to fix the station like it should and probably 10 to 12 million. We're just doing the million and half to rehab it.

Anything else? Would you all like to go over the capital purchase improvement fund capital? Sure. Just by the way, the capital purchase improvement fund purchases capital general fund

9 million4. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. We took um the city building HVAC, we made it 1.1 million. We will adjust some back to the police building for design. The city building windows, we have 125,000. the public works building. We have um there we may come to you soon with an idea about that as far as um where that would physically be built. So, okay.

Um maybe the 7 million is a placeholder until we do the actual bond issue and we'll have more idea where we're going and what our cost will be. That was an estimate. Uh so that could go down significantly if um I think Mr. Corbett and Barry I think you all think that might be a high number. Yeah. At this but that number the bond issue will be based on what the number of the building is based on what we actually need not what's Yes. Yeah. Totally forecasted.

Patrol vehicles we have three in there at 266,000. We have a storage facility for the fire department at 350. Chief Ally spoke to you all last time on that. And then we have 450 for an aerial truck payment that we already have a contract for. And that's what's due next year then. He Yes. He thinks that these may come in. One was coming in August. I think one come in October. They seem to change when the build will be complete. is chief is is uh was three three vehicles what you need?

Yes, that would give us back to the where we're supposed to be in the in the purchasing plan and uh the two that are totaled out that we're in litigation with and it it should come out as that assisting to pay for that. Okay. What what's the lead time on those? Say you ordered them July one. the window of opportunity for the last contract just ended. So, uh, we have to wait for four to open that back up again. So, I'm not sure what the the timeline is on that yet. Okay. But it will be a I guess it'll be a 27 model. Okay.

There are items that we need to deal with as part of the budget. We obviously can't do the budget ordinance, but um we have consideration for the police and fire and utility pension fund employees. The normally we've done CPI or what the employees got on that CPI would be 2.7%. Um what's the total number of members of the of all of them combined? You know it it is it 30ome 40? It's significantly dry. I think there's seven in police and fire. 12. I had that number at the first meeting. I I think it was 30 something. I think I think so.

So So would you all like to read an ordinance? Do you or is it an ordinance or resolution? A resolution. No, I'm not ready to read an ordinance yet for pension fund. Oh, yeah. Yeah, that' be on the pension fund. Yes, because we usually send a letter to them. um uh police and fire pension funds, seven retirees and uh utility 22. Um I would recommend the CPI for them. We usually we usually send them a letter 29. Is that what you said? Uh 32 total both funds.

Seven police and fire and 25 utility. We usually ask to read those. So, we usually send them a letter with their first pension check uh in June to let them know what their salary is going to be for the next fiscal year. You want to read the

a resolution of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, authorizing a 2.7% increase for all members of the utility pension fund to be paid from the utility fund. That's the city utility fund. Is that right? Yes, sir. Motion. But we're not doing a cost of living increase for the police and fire. That's next. We are. I thought you said we weren't. No, he said he recommended that. I recommend a CPI, a COLA increase for the utility pension fund and the police fire pension fund 2.7. I'll make that motion. Second discussion. All in favor say I.

All opposed. All right. And the next one will be police and fire. A resolution of the city of Ashlin, Kentucky, authorizing a 2.7% increase for all members of the policeman's and firefighters pension fund to be paid from the general fund. So move second. Discussion. All in favor say I. All opposed. Okay. When was the last time you gave him a increase? Oh, we gave him one last year. Last year? Yeah, last year. Yeah. Always try to take care of these people.

When would you all like to deal with the utility bonds for the 10 million? Well, we have to approve the budget first before we approve to no authorize those because it takes like 60 days to probably get those issued. Do we foresee the rate increasing or decreasing? I say it'll be a stable. Joe said he didn't see any major change when I did it. I think when I talked to you all previously, I think the Fed had stayed. So they didn't raise the rate of the Fed prime rate up or down. So uh my guesstimation would be the bond rate will probably stay the same too.

Normally normally if the Fed rate goes up, the bond bond market will will soften up. It'll go down. It's It'll be a serial bond. It's It's probably close to 4% if you averaged every year. Every year will be have a different interest rate. We We do have a bond ordinance if you all would like to do that. You all want copies? Yeah, I'm okay with it. It's been in It's been in your packet before. I know it's for the 10 million Give me I I I don't know that I'm ready to do that.

Okay. Fine to look at it. Does everybody have a copy? I just do it when we do the the budget. When would be a good time to get back with the budget? Well, the next meeting I think we were going to go to the wastewater treatment plan. Yes. Yeah. I mean, does anybody have an issue with having a meeting next week? No. As long as I'd like to kind of get this behind us because we're, you know, we're we're coming up on the end of May. Yeah. Our finance department work in this. We have to

I know. We're Okay. What's What's good for everybody next week? Uh, is it next week? Yeah. After Tuesday. After Tuesday. After Tuesday. Wednesday's Dean. I was 2021 or 22. Have we um with the interlocal meeting we Wednesday's the 20th? We were talking about that at the on the 20th. We're not doing that, right? That was for the I think there was a date proposed in June, but there was some uh some other events going on the week that it was proposed that Oh, okay.

Uh probably uh needed to steer. What about Wednesday? in the 20th. Okay, looks good. 20th or the 20th? Yes, we can recess this meeting until next the 20th at noon. At noon or one driving back from Louisville. So, Oh, okay. You want to put it later on in the afternoon? A little later on the afternoon. What would be okay with you, Sunny? If you're driving back for a little, why don't we just push it to Thursday? Pardon me. If you're driving back from Louisville, why don't we just push it to Thursday? Either way. Will you be here Thursday? Yeah, that'll be better.

How about I go to wrestling match with my daughter and have 500? I'm good. Either way, we do Thursday. No, Thursday. Uh, possibly. I might possibly I might be taking off Wednesday at two. So, let's Wednesday at 3. That give you enough time. Yeah. Okay. So on on it, we'll we have to address the salary chart, the budget ordinance. We'll have to address the bond issue. Susan, what else is on our list? Second reading of the of the two pension funds.

And and then we'll have we'll have to deal with those things. We're going to have to adopt them all. I mean, we got to do do the adoptions soon. I mean, but it doesn't have to be done on Well, I mean, ultimately, we got June the 30th. to to get the budget done. So, I'm just a planner, sir. I got a lot to calculate.

I would like to see, you know, once we adopt a budget, I would like to see if our staff could put together a projected three, four, maybe even as far as if you could at least a three-year uh forecasted budget for the city. Kind of like borrow our expenses for three or four years. department heads actually uh we've actually got a three-year capital plan. Okay. Yeah, absolutely. Uh operational expenses wise, that's that's a little bit tough, but uh we can certainly look at historical data and try to get you something out. Yeah, I have auditors starting June one.

How close are the revenue projections to the actual receipts to date for the current budget? Well, historically we've done we've done pretty good. Um I mean I would guess I I know we tracked that metric years ago but it was within 95 to 105%. Normally on the revenues when we look at this stuff we'll look at we'll look at five year and we'll look at threeear and we'll do a weighted average. We'll get a little bit more weight to the three years because it's more current. Uh and then we'll discount it a little bit a conservative because we always want to come in a little bit over on the revenue obviously and under on expense,

right? So we've normally hit the revenue target, sir. So we're in line. Yes. With a 26year budget. Yes. Good. And and we have some budget adjustments that we'll need to adopt before the end of the year, too. We're we're waiting. We were just waiting on the fire department. They had a for the good or bad. There's both. We've received grants. And then there's um our fire truck. The engine just had issues. 20 grand so far. New or old truck? Engine. Three. Old

Yeah. Still new for a firet truck, I guess. All right. So, uh, no other discussion. Then we'll recess till, uh, the 20th. Is that right? At 2 p.m. Wednesday, whatever that 2 p.m. 2 p.m. Yes. If you all have any questions in the meantime, reach out to finance. Oh, you know, we will. We're good. Thank you all for your time. Thank you, sir. Good job, guys.