2026-08-24 - Board of Commissioners

Summary

Built from the official minutes. No video is posted, so there is no transcript or timing.

Regular meeting; all five members present: Richardson, Unger, May, Smith-Willis and Mayor Wilkerson.
Mayor Wilkerson read a thank-you letter from the Versailles mayor to the Frankfort Fire Department for help at a downtown Versailles fire.
Unger (second May) moved Consent Item 11 (Parcel C Linear Park) to Action Items and tabled Item 7 (TOLEMI agreement, Planning); voice vote.
Consent calendar adopted 5-0 (Unger, second Smith-Willis).
Appointment of Dawn Hale to the Board of Zoning Adjustment passed 5-0.
First reading of the pedestrian access ordinance on arterial roadways (sponsor May).
Holmes Street right-of-way donation resolution adopted 5-0 (Resolution No. 13).
Parcel C Linear Park 30% design agreements ($75,920 Sasaki, $15,000 Strand Associates) approved 5-0.
Executive session on property 6:01 to 6:38 PM; then $854,900 purchase for sewer plant expansion and a 117 Leonardwood Drive option contract both passed 5-0. Adjourned 6:41 PM.

Katrisha Waldridge explained her earlier yes vote on the Flock cameras; the funding came from Police Department asset forfeiture and the General Fund budget vote.
Colten of Walk/Bike Frankfort and the South Frankfort Neighborhood Association raised the dangerous curve at Logan and Todd Streets and short-term rentals taking from the neighborhood.

Consent: furniture package from Kentucky Correctional Industries, $138,346.60 (about half the second bid, state contract), paid from Station 1 insurance premium tax.

Consent: one Horton Type I ambulance, $318,173 plus $74,100 Stryker stretcher system, $392,273 total in FY 2026-27; an additional ambulance to be budgeted for FY 2027-28. Fleet grows from nine to ten.

Consent: 2027 Ford F-350 utility truck, $74,214.79 through the state contract, $5,785.21 under the $80,000 budget.

Consent: Skyjack aerial lift from Equipment Depot, $82,220.50 via Sourcewell; $76,000 budgeted, so a $6,220.50 budget amendment (steel tariff surcharge) will follow.

Consent: authorizes a grant application for resurfacing Kings Daughters Drive, Galbraith Drive, Leonardwood Drive and Schenkel Lane; estimated $1,130,437.21 with a 20 percent match of $226,087.44.

Consent: $200,000 professional services contract with Wheeler Emergency Management Consulting for BRIC grant assistance; not budgeted in FY 26-27, and the sewer department does not plan to apply this cycle.

Consent: QK4, Inc. construction administration, $44,100 plus $10,000 contingency, $54,100 total. A second void was found in the 36-inch brick sewer in July 2026.

Consent: Mayor authorized to sign the memorandum of understanding with Bluegrass Community Action Partnership for transportation under the Franklin County Opioid Abatement Alliance.

Board of Zoning Adjustment: Dawn Hale (replacing Jeremy Richerson, term to 7-01-30) accepted on May's motion, second Richardson, 5-0.

First reading, sponsored by May: bans standing or occupying listed arterial roadways and state-maintained rights-of-way (KRS 189.572), with exceptions and a civil fine of $20 to $100.

Owner of Parcel 87 offered to donate it for the High/Holmes corridor Phase 1; resolution moved by May, second Richardson, adopted 5-0.

Discussion with Eric Cockley: agreements with Sasaki ($75,920) and Strand Associates ($15,000) for 30 percent plans to support an ORLP grant application in October 2026. Moved by Unger, second Smith-Willis, adopted 5-0. See Riverfront Development Plan.

May asked for an update; Jason Monroe said the item is earmarked and will be combined with the 911 agreement in talks with the County Judge Executive. Update and new quote expected at the next work session.

Unger said the State could work with the City on a four-way stop; Richardson said he raised the intersection with KYTC months ago.

Unger noted the contract renewal will have to come up for a vote; Smith-Willis spoke on public participation.

Mayor Wilkerson asked about extra trash at short-term rentals (staff to explore options); Unger suggested an audit of solid waste services.

Mayor Wilkerson proposed extending the fare suspension from Labor Day to December. After discussion the Board held off and will review Transit data.

After executive session, purchase of the property at 856 Kentucky Avenue for $854,900 from the sewer fund; moved by Smith-Willis, second May, 5-0.

Option contract for 117 Leonardwood Drive from the City to McMills Ventures, LLC; moved by Smith-Willis, second May, adopted 5-0 (Order No. 12).

Personnel items on the consent calendar: five appointments and one termination in Public Works, City Manager, Police, Solid Waste and Sewer. Unger also asked about a private driveway for Second Street School.