[0:04] Good evening everyone and welcome to the

[0:06] Brea City Council meeting, Tuesday,

[0:08] August the 18th, 2026. I'll call the

[0:11] meeting to order. Madam Clerk, please

[0:13] let the record reflect that a quorum is

[0:14] present. This time I'll call on Teresa

[0:17] Sanders to lead us in the invocation and

[0:19] pledge of allegiance. Teresa.

[0:21] >> If you'd like to bow with me.

[0:23] Father God, we thank you for

[0:25] bringing us here tonight to do the

[0:27] business of this city.

[0:29] We pray for your guidance

[0:32] as we

[0:33] make decisions that we feel are right

[0:35] for

[0:36] the residents and the staff and the

[0:38] employees of our city and we pray for

[0:40] protection on all of them. We ask it in

[0:43] Jesus' name. Amen.

[0:44] >> Amen.

[0:48] » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

[0:51] United States of America

[0:53] and to the republic for which it stands,

[0:56] one nation under God, indivisible, with

[1:00] liberty and justice for all.

[1:07] » Thank you, Teresa. The next item on the

[1:10] agenda is approval of the agenda. Is

[1:12] there a motion to approve? Seconded by

[1:14] Barry Poyner.

[1:15] Is there any discussion?

[1:17] >> Uh I'd like to make an

[1:19] amendment to the agenda.

[1:20] >> All right, Steve. Go right ahead.

[1:21] >> I'd like to add municipal order number

[1:23] 05-2026,

[1:25] standing legislative committees of the

[1:26] city council.

[1:28] >> All right. There's a motion to add

[1:31] municipal order number 05-2026

[1:33] to the

[1:34] agenda. Steve, you want to do that at uh

[1:37] 8.1?

[1:41] » Yes, sir.

[1:41] >> Okay. Is there a second? John Payne. Any

[1:45] discussion on the motion to amend the

[1:46] agenda?

[1:48] Seeing none, I'll request a voice vote.

[1:49] All in favor of the motion to amend the

[1:51] agenda to add municipal order number

[1:53] 05-2026,

[1:55] please say I.

[1:56] >> I.

[1:56] >> All opposed, please say no.

[1:58] The motion carries and the motion to

[2:00] amend is approved. We're back to the

[2:03] original motion to approve the agenda as

[2:05] amended. Is there any other discussion?

[2:08] Seeing none, I'll request a voice vote.

[2:10] All in favor of the motion to amend to

[2:12] approve the agenda as amended, please

[2:13] say I.

[2:14] >> I.

[2:15] >> All opposed, please say no. The motion

[2:17] carries and the agenda is approved.

[2:19] Thank Steve.

[2:21] Next item on the agenda is approval of

[2:22] the minutes from our August 4th, 2026

[2:25] meeting. Is there a motion to approve?

[2:27] >> So moved.

[2:27] >> By Steve Cottrell, is there a second by

[2:29] Teresa Centers? Any discussion, changes,

[2:32] or corrections?

[2:34] Seeing none, I'll request a voice vote.

[2:36] All in favor of the motion to approve

[2:37] the minutes from August 4th, please say

[2:39] I.

[2:40] >> I.

[2:40] >> All opposed, please say no.

[2:42] The motion carries and the agenda is

[2:44] approved. The on the agenda is public

[2:46] comment.

[2:47] And we do not have anyone signed up

[2:49] tonight. Thank you, Robin.

[2:50] And the next item on the agenda is a job

[2:53] shadowing report, and I'm happy to

[2:54] introduce all of you to Jackson Shiel. I mistakenly referred to him as a rising

[3:00] senior. He is a senior now. The school

[3:02] started back at Berea Community, and

[3:04] just as a way of background, Jackson had

[3:07] reached out about internships, which we

[3:09] really don't have internships, but when

[3:11] I kind of talked to him about what he

[3:13] was looking to get, some job shadowing

[3:15] experiences seemed to be in order, and

[3:17] we kind of made a list, worked on that

[3:19] together, and it turned out to be a good

[3:20] thing. So, Jackson's here to share his

[3:22] experience. Jackson, you have the floor.

[3:24] Welcome.

[3:26] >> All right. Uh thank you, Mayor Fraley.

[3:28] Uh as he already said, uh my name is

[3:30] Jackson Shiel. I'm 17 years old, and

[3:33] this year I am a senior at Berea

[3:34] Community High School.

[3:36] This summer I had the opportunity to

[3:37] spend the day with every city

[3:38] department, see how the city works, and

[3:40] what each department's responsibilities

[3:42] are, and what the department's future

[3:44] goals are, as well as the city's.

[3:47] Before I get started, I would like to

[3:48] say a huge thank you to Mayor Fraley, uh

[3:50] City Administrator Sam Lain, and

[3:52] everyone else uh who took time out of

[3:54] their busy days this summer to let me

[3:56] see and experience what the work of a

[3:57] city employee is actually like.

[4:00] Now, during my time with the city, I

[4:02] learned how the municipal department

[4:03] manages essential services like water

[4:05] treatment and electricity.

[4:07] I learned how the city administrator uh

[4:09] oversees public projects and purchases

[4:11] for the city.

[4:12] And I also learned how every department

[4:14] has to work together to build a better

[4:15] Berea for tomorrow.

[4:18] >> [clears throat]

[4:19] >> By being able to see and experience the

[4:20] daily work the city does made me realize

[4:22] how truly valuable this experience was

[4:24] for me.

[4:25] Especially for someone who is my age

[4:27] still trying to figure out how the city

[4:28] works for me.

[4:30] Before the summer, I had no idea how

[4:32] businesses came to Berea, and I had no

[4:34] idea how our uh roads got paved.

[4:37] >> [clears throat]

[4:37] >> But there's spending time with Donna

[4:39] Angel and Roy uh in public works,

[4:43] I learned how these things happened, and

[4:44] I grew an immense respect for the work

[4:46] that they do on a daily basis. And I can

[4:48] say the same thing for every department

[4:50] that I spent time with this summer.

[4:52] But the reason I'm here today is not

[4:54] just to talk about what I did this

[4:55] summer,

[4:56] but to ask the council to expand and

[4:58] create new opportunities for young kids

[5:01] in Berea to get the same experience I

[5:03] did.

[5:05] » [clears throat]

[5:07] >> A program similar to the one I

[5:09] participated in this summer would give a

[5:10] city a perfect opportunity to expand the

[5:14] uh

[5:15] to expand this great opportunity to the

[5:17] next generation of Bereans.

[5:19] This would lead to them wanting to step

[5:21] up and lead in our community today.

[5:23] This summer shadowing program will not

[5:25] just benefit those wanting and willing

[5:26] to learn about the city. But this

[5:28] program will also be very beneficial to

[5:30] the city itself.

[5:31] In my experiences this summer, by

[5:33] letting me see the long phone calls, the

[5:35] long meetings, the deep dedication and

[5:37] detailed thinking that is required each

[5:39] and every day to work for the city, was

[5:41] an extremely eye-opening experience.

[5:43] And I would love for others to get to

[5:45] see this as well.

[5:47] But what I'm really here asking you to

[5:48] do today is to invest in today's youth.

[5:51] A summer shadow program would be more

[5:53] than just getting young people to be

[5:54] active in our community.

[5:56] It would be giving tomorrow's leaders

[5:58] the insight and training on how to lead

[6:00] and care for their community.

[6:02] This program would be a fantastic start.

[6:05] But I think the city of Berea can and

[6:06] should strive for more.

[6:08] Berea has an opportunity to be a

[6:10] trailblazer and innovator in civic

[6:12] engagement.

[6:14] And when given the chance to lead, I

[6:15] know that young, responsible applicants

[6:17] will jump at the opportunity to be able

[6:19] to learn and lead.

[6:21] I have a few of these young leaders here

[6:22] today, who if

[6:24] >> [clears throat]

[6:26] >> who if given the chance would happily

[6:27] take part in a similar project.

[6:30] By taking this opportunity to invest in Berea's young leaders, you

[6:34] will be therefore shaping tomorrow's

[6:36] future, ensuring that Berea will thrive

[6:38] for generations to come.

[6:40] Thank you all for letting me speak here

[6:41] today, and I appreciate you guys giving

[6:43] me this opportunity this summer. I'd

[6:45] like to say a quick thank you to the

[6:46] guys who came here from my school, and

[6:48] also Miss Caldwell, my principal, and

[6:50] Luke Seals, uh our PR director at the

[6:52] school. And I would love to hear uh your

[6:54] opinions on my idea, and also I'd be

[6:56] happy to answer any questions for you

[6:57] guys.

[6:58] >> Okay, Jackson. Thank you for the great

[7:00] report and for the suggestion. I think

[7:02] that's one that we can certainly work

[7:04] out. Based on the experience with you, I

[7:06] can see where that would uh

[7:08] would be a a great experience for

[7:09] anyone. And I'm glad that you enjoyed it

[7:11] and uh took so much pride in what you

[7:13] were doing with learning about the city.

[7:16] Uh we'll open it up to the council for

[7:17] any questions for

[7:19] Jackson or comments.

[7:22] Teresa.

[7:23] >> No questions, but uh young man, uh you

[7:25] are going to be quite a leader. I can't

[7:27] wait to see where you go. I feel like

[7:29] the future's in good hands.

[7:30] >> Thank you very much.

[7:33] >> Steve.

[7:34] >> I think so. What you propose is a really

[7:35] good idea and and

[7:37] um

[7:38] I look [clears throat] forward to being

[7:39] able to have conversations among the

[7:40] council and uh with the uh city

[7:43] leadership to find a way to to find

[7:47] opportunities to have mentorship

[7:49] programs for

[7:51] up and coming seniors or

[7:53] juniors. We have lots of really talented

[7:56] people and you're evidence of that um

[8:00] and I hope that in four or five years

[8:03] when you graduate college you decide to

[8:04] run for council. So

[8:06] >> [laughter]

[8:06] >> No pressure Jackson.

[8:10] » Yeah, I just wanted to say sort of the

[8:11] same thing. I don't see any reason why

[8:13] we couldn't do do a few more of these.

[8:15] You know, we can work on it and and see

[8:17] what we come up with. I know that the

[8:20] fire the fire department has got a an

[8:22] internship mentor we learned about that

[8:24] a little while back too. So

[8:26] we're already doing it other places. It

[8:27] seems like and and you've really

[8:30] impressive good work.

[8:33] >> Virgil?

[8:34] >> Yeah, I I think it's a great idea as

[8:35] well. I think

[8:37] be interested in working with the

[8:38] council and how you structure that.

[8:41] Sound like you had a really intense

[8:42] summer and it seems to me like it may be

[8:44] advantages if you had two summers of it.

[8:47] So you can really cover the departments

[8:48] and spend some time thinking about that.

[8:50] So just thinking that way and then the

[8:52] number of students that case. And I'd

[8:54] also say

[8:55] don't just run for city council, run for

[8:57] mayor.

[8:58] >> Absolutely.

[8:59] >> Thank you Virgil.

[9:01] Anybody else?

[9:02] >> Sean?

[9:03] >> Mayor if I may.

[9:03] >> Sure.

[9:04] >> Um I would like to thank Jackson for his

[9:06] time with us. It was a it was a great

[9:08] opportunity for us to um

[9:11] give him a little more in-depth in how

[9:14] to each department works obviously, but

[9:16] what we get from him and and his the way

[9:19] he

[9:20] interjected in all the ideas and stuff

[9:23] that we had and what things are moving

[9:25] and it was great to have him here, but I

[9:28] think he's got a really good point and

[9:29] much like we do the citizen police

[9:31] academy, we could also do a a city

[9:33] academy maybe and work that through

[9:35] departments a couple hours a

[9:38] uh you know for a period of time. So, I

[9:40] think it's a good idea. We'll probably

[9:41] look into that pretty pretty quickly,

[9:42] Jackson.

[9:44] >> Yeah.

[9:44] >> [snorts]

[9:45] >> Mayor, just one more point too is I

[9:46] think it's important to include Jackson

[9:49] in our conversation and the time that we

[9:51] would structure that program. So, we

[9:52] wouldn't want to forget that as well.

[9:55] >> You're willing to serve, right, on the

[9:57] work group? I know you would be.

[9:59] Other uh questions?

[10:02] All right. And again, Jackson, thank

[10:04] you. I think I was going to have this in

[10:06] my mayor's comments, but I'll say it now

[10:08] and a lot of times you feel like you're

[10:10] teaching somebody something, but a lot

[10:12] of times you learn from the student. And

[10:14] I think I learned from you how important

[10:15] it is to get people engaged and how

[10:18] sometimes we think people know certain

[10:20] things and how they work when they

[10:21] really don't and it's good to be able to

[10:23] share those. So, I'll look forward to

[10:25] working with you and I'm sure Shawn and

[10:27] we'll probably have a council member

[10:28] looking at that trying to figure out how

[10:29] to structure something like that for a

[10:31] larger group and maybe for a longer

[10:33] period of time. But again, thank you and

[10:35] I want to acknowledge your family that's

[10:36] here as well. So, seeing some some

[10:38] friends there and the students and and

[10:41] principal. It's really nice to have you

[10:43] all in the council chambers and for you

[10:45] all to be engaged as well. So, Jackson,

[10:47] thank you and we'll look forward to

[10:48] talking to you more down the road.

[10:50] All right, thank you.

[10:55] » [applause]

[11:00] » Those are the things that make it fun.

[11:02] Thank you, Jackson.

[11:04] All right, the next item on the agenda

[11:06] is resolution number 04-2026

[11:10] grant program funding for Appalachian

[11:12] Regional Commission application off JC

[11:16] Chambers Road. Mr. Gilbert.

[11:18] >> I'll summarize the resolution as

[11:20] follows. A resolution of the city

[11:23] council of the city of Berea, Kentucky

[11:25] authorizing the completion and filing of

[11:27] a government resources accelerating need

[11:31] transformation grant program of 2026

[11:35] project application for up to $135,000

[11:40] in grant program of 2026 funds with the

[11:44] cabinet for economic development

[11:46] authorizing and directing the mayor of

[11:48] the city of Berea, Kentucky

[11:50] as the authorized representative to

[11:52] execute any documents which are deemed

[11:55] necessary by the

[11:57] CED to carry out this project and

[12:00] authorizing the authorized representative to act as

[12:04] the authorized correspondent for this

[12:06] project permitting review and execution

[12:10] of all agreements and requests of all

[12:12] disbursements related to the grant

[12:14] program of 2026.

[12:17] >> Is there a motion to approve and adopt

[12:19] resolution number 04-2026

[12:21] by Steve Cottrell? Is there a second?

[12:23] >> Second.

[12:23] >> John Payne. Is there any Is there any

[12:25] discussion?

[12:27] Seeing none, I'll

[12:28] request a voice vote. All in favor of

[12:30] the motion to approve and adopt

[12:32] resolution number 04-2026,

[12:35] please say I.

[12:36] >> I.

[12:37] >> All opposed, please say no. Motion

[12:38] carries and the resolution is approved.

[12:41] Thank you all.

[12:43] And the next item on the agenda is the

[12:45] amended item which we're calling uh A uh eight A

[12:51] and this is municipal order number

[12:52] 05-2026.

[12:55] Um

[12:57] Mr. Gilbert, I don't think you saw this

[12:58] one, did you? With that objection, I'll

[13:00] go ahead and read this one. This is a

[13:02] municipal order of the city council of

[13:04] the city of Berea establishing the

[13:06] standing legislative committees of the

[13:07] council their member members and a

[13:10] chairperson. Whereas the city council of

[13:13] the city of Berea has designated

[13:14] standing legislative committees of the

[13:16] city council and whereas pursuant to the

[13:19] provisions of section 20-202

[13:22] of the Berea city code, the council must

[13:24] select a chair and members for each of

[13:26] the standing legislative committees and

[13:28] whereas the council has organized the

[13:30] standing committees as set out herein.

[13:33] Now, therefore, it's ordered by the city

[13:35] council of the city of Berea, Kentucky

[13:37] as follows. The standing legislative

[13:39] committees for 2026-2027

[13:41] shall be staffed as follows.

[13:43] Audit and finance committee, Steve

[13:45] Cottrell, Katie Startzman, Teresa

[13:48] Centers, Barry Poynter.

[13:50] Public Works Committee, Jerry Little,

[13:52] Steve Cottrell,

[13:54] John Payne, Virgil Burnside.

[13:56] Parks Committee, Katie Startzman, John

[13:58] Payne, Virgil Burnside, and Mike

[14:01] Barnett. Personnel Committee, Barry

[14:03] Poynter, Jerry Little, Katie Startzman,

[14:06] and Teresa Centers.

[14:08] And that is the municipal order. Is

[14:11] there a motion to approve and adopt

[14:13] municipal order number 05-2026?

[14:17] By Teresa Centers. Is there a second? By

[14:20] Virgil Burnside.

[14:21] Is there any discussion on the motion to

[14:23] approve municipal order number 05-2026?

[14:27] Seeing none, I request a voice vote. All

[14:29] in favor of the motion, please say aye.

[14:31] >> Aye.

[14:31] >> All opposed, please say no.

[14:33] The motion carries and municipal order

[14:35] number 05-2026

[14:37] is approved. Thank you all.

[14:39] Next item on the agenda is ordinance

[14:41] number 12-2026,

[14:44] solid waste franchise contract

[14:46] amendment, first reading. Mr. Gilbert.

[14:48] >> Whereas in ordinance 20-2024,

[14:52] the city council awarded a franchise to

[14:55] Waste Connections of Kentucky

[14:56] Incorporated for the collection and

[14:59] disposal of solid waste in the city of

[15:01] Berea, Kentucky.

[15:02] And whereas in ordinance

[15:05] number 07-2025,

[15:08] the provisions of the that ordinance

[15:10] were amended to provide for for the

[15:13] correct franchise fee.

[15:15] And whereas ordinance number 20-2024

[15:19] provided for a franchise contract with

[15:21] the city incorporating the terms of the

[15:24] ordinance, the request for proposals for

[15:27] residential and commercial waste

[15:28] collection and disposal, and addendum

[15:31] number one both dated July 2nd, 2024,

[15:35] and Waste Connections bid form and

[15:37] proposal, the basic service proposal

[15:40] dated August the 5th, 2024

[15:43] was accomplished and on January 20 and

[15:46] on January 8th, 2025.

[15:50] And whereas the parties desire to amend

[15:52] the contract to provide for overfill

[15:54] containers and overfill charges to

[15:57] customers. Now, therefore, be it

[16:00] ordained by the city council of the city

[16:01] of Berea, Kentucky as follows. One, the

[16:05] franchise contract for solid waste

[16:07] collection and disposal between the city

[16:09] of Berea and Waste Connections of

[16:11] Kentucky, Incorporated dated January the

[16:14] 8th, 2025 is hereby amended by the

[16:18] attached first amendment of solid waste

[16:20] contract. Two,

[16:22] all other items and conditions of of the

[16:25] ordinance

[16:26] and the contract between the city of

[16:29] Berea and Waste Connections of Kentucky,

[16:31] Incorporated

[16:33] dated January the 8th, 2025

[16:36] remain in full force and effect.

[16:39] All right, this is a first reading with

[16:41] the second reading and enactment

[16:42] scheduled for September 1 at our next

[16:44] meeting.

[16:45] Per past practice, I'll open the floor

[16:47] for any discussion on the first reading

[16:50] of ordinance number 12-2026,

[16:52] and I'll note that this was subject to a

[16:55] work session earlier this evening.

[16:57] Discussion, John, and then Teresa.

[17:00] >> I just wanted to say this is a long time in coming.

[17:04] I I know uh members of council such as

[17:06] myself have

[17:07] sent um

[17:09] information from many members of the

[17:10] community to our city administrator, as well as uh

[17:15] people have sent direct messages to the

[17:17] mayor and city administrator

[17:19] um,

[17:20] of the difficulties that they've had as

[17:23] the, uh,

[17:24] contract was being played out and the

[17:26] improvements that need to be made. And I

[17:28] know

[17:29] Shawn has worked really, really hard for

[17:31] several months to

[17:34] uh, not only reduce the cost of the

[17:37] overage fee, which went from $100 to

[17:39] $25,

[17:41] but, you know, just trying to get

[17:43] everything lined out, tees crossed, eyes

[17:46] dotted,

[17:47] and deliver something that's going to be

[17:49] beneficial to the community.

[17:51] And advocate for the community.

[17:54] >> Thank you, John. Teresa?

[17:55] >> That's pretty much what I was going to

[17:56] say, too. But, I also want to thank

[17:58] Shawn for, uh, getting all those folks

[17:59] that were charged before we actually got

[18:02] a chance to look at this reimbursed. And

[18:04] I understand they're all reimbursed at

[18:06] this point.

[18:07] >> To my understanding, they're all

[18:09] reimbursed

[18:09] >> 100%

[18:10] >> Good job, you. And I'm sorry it took you

[18:12] so long, but but thank you.

[18:15] >> Any other comments on the first reading?

[18:17] All right. Seeing none, we'll move

[18:18] forward to

[18:20] ordinance number 13-2026,

[18:23] 150 and 171 76 Boulevard, right-of-way

[18:28] release. And this is the second reading.

[18:30] Mr. Gilbert.

[18:31] >> Having read ordinance number 13-2026

[18:34] in its in its entirety at the first

[18:36] reading, I'll summarize the ordinance by

[18:40] heading.

[18:41] An ordinance of the city of Berea,

[18:42] Kentucky, vacating and closing a portion

[18:45] of a certain platted right-of-way within

[18:48] the city of Berea, Kentucky, known as 76

[18:52] Boulevard.

[18:54] >> And I'll note that this was subject to a

[18:55] work session on first, uh, on August the

[18:59] 4th prior to the first reading. Is there

[19:01] a motion to approve and adopt ordinance

[19:03] number 13-2026?

[19:07] Yes. I might have

[19:08] >> So moved.

[19:09] >> And a second by Virgil Burnside. Is

[19:11] there any discussion on the motion to

[19:14] approve and adopt ordinance number

[19:15] 13-2026?

[19:18] Are you ready for the question?

[19:20] All right, we'll begin with a we'll do a

[19:21] roll call vote and begin with Virgil

[19:23] Burnside.

[19:24] >> I.

[19:25] >> Barry Poynter.

[19:26] >> I.

[19:26] >> Steve Cottle.

[19:27] >> I.

[19:27] >> Teresa Senters.

[19:28] >> I.

[19:29] >> John Payne.

[19:30] >> I.

[19:30] >> Michael Barnett.

[19:31] >> I.

[19:32] >> Motion carries and ordinance number

[19:34] 13-2026

[19:36] is approved and adopted. Thank you all.

[19:39] The next item on the agenda is ordinance

[19:41] number 14-2026,

[19:44] ad valorem tax first reading, Mr.

[19:46] Gilbert.

[19:47] >> I will read and summarize ordinance

[19:49] number 14-2026

[19:52] as follows.

[19:54] An ordinance of the city of Berea,

[19:55] Kentucky providing for the levy of ad

[19:57] valorem taxes for city purposes upon all

[20:00] property not otherwise exempt in the

[20:02] city of Berea, Kentucky.

[20:04] Be it ordained by the city council of

[20:07] the city of Berea, Kentucky as follows,

[20:09] section one.

[20:11] That an annual ad ad valorem tax for

[20:13] city purposes in the general fund of

[20:16] said city in the sum of 8.9 cents being

[20:20] 0.089

[20:23] upon each $100 of assessed value of all

[20:27] real and personal property within the

[20:28] city of Berea, Kentucky not otherwise

[20:31] exempt is hereby levied and imposed upon

[20:34] the owners of said property

[20:36] persons person or persons assessed

[20:39] therefore for the calendar year 2026.

[20:43] Section two. That pursuant to Kentucky

[20:46] law an annual franchise tax levy for the

[20:48] city purposes in the general fund of

[20:51] said city in the amount equal to 0.25%

[20:55] of all deposits of all financial

[20:57] institutions located within the

[20:59] jurisdiction of the city

[21:01] is hereby levied and imposed on each

[21:04] such financial institution.

[21:07] The remaining portions of section two,

[21:09] along with sections three through seven,

[21:12] are standard provisions

[21:14] providing for providing for methods to

[21:17] collect the taxes and enforce the

[21:19] collection of unpaid taxes.

[21:21] Section eight, all ordinances or parts

[21:25] of ordinances in conflict herewith are

[21:27] hereby repealed. This ordinance shall be

[21:29] published according to law.

[21:31] >> This is the first reading with the

[21:33] second reading scheduled for our next

[21:35] meeting September 1. Um and this was

[21:37] subject to a work session uh prior to

[21:40] this meeting.

[21:42] Um per past practice, I'll open the

[21:44] floor for any discussion on the first

[21:46] reading of ordinance number 14-2026.

[21:51] Any discussion?

[21:53] All right, seeing none, we'll move

[21:54] forward. Teresa. Yes, Teresa.

[21:57] >> just just to point out that will be the

[22:00] same rate as is current. There will be

[22:02] no raise in in the rate. It will have

[22:04] the same property tax rate as we did

[22:07] last year and as a matter of fact in '24

[22:09] as well.

[22:11] >> Thank you, Teresa. Any further

[22:12] discussion before we move forward?

[22:15] All right, seeing none, we'll move

[22:17] forward to um

[22:20] department head reports. Would any

[22:21] department heads like to address the

[22:23] council this evening?

[22:25] All right, seeing none, Sean, I know

[22:26] that you sent a uh

[22:28] report out, department report, and uh

[22:30] we'll move forward to the city

[22:31] administrator's report, Sean.

[22:33] >> Thank you, Mayor, city council. I just

[22:35] wanted to speak really quickly. Uh

[22:38] we've identified about nine major

[22:42] drainage issues citywide with all of the

[22:45] rain that we've had. Um we obviously

[22:47] have just got to two of those and

[22:49] replacing

[22:51] large culverts uh throughout uh Misty

[22:53] Drive, uh Ginger Drive. Uh we've just

[22:56] got the two of those. Uh we do plan on

[22:58] bidding some of those out just uh so we

[22:59] can get caught up. Uh we can't do them

[23:01] all in house, so just wanted you to know

[23:03] what we have identified some, but if you

[23:05] run across some others that you hear

[23:07] from from your constituents, then just

[23:09] let us know.

[23:10] We'll put it on the list, but we're

[23:12] trying to get to those before winter, so

[23:14] it's coming on quick though.

[23:17] I'll take any questions that you might

[23:18] have.

[23:19] >> Questions for Sean?

[23:20] >> Sean, in the same vein, can you talk a

[23:23] little bit about uh exit 77? And I know

[23:26] there's probably been a million people

[23:28] ask you about it and call.

[23:31] It feels like there is a sewer break on

[23:33] exit 77, and there is in fact not. Can

[23:35] you talk a little bit about that and

[23:36] what the solution is going to be?

[23:38] >> Yeah, you're exactly right. There is not

[23:40] a sewer break or leak in that area. Uh

[23:43] what we believe uh right now currently

[23:46] there is a low area that is holding

[23:48] water. Uh the ditch is not draining out

[23:51] properly as well.

[23:52] Uh so we're working with KYTC. We met

[23:54] with them today. We also met with uh

[23:56] Ecotech, which is a hazmat team, uh just

[24:00] to test the water to make sure

[24:02] everybody that we've talked to today

[24:03] feels like it's just organic material

[24:05] that's laying in low land areas. And you

[24:07] can see the cattails and things like

[24:09] that is growing up in that areas, which

[24:11] indicates that everything is proper.

[24:13] It's nothing dead in the area, so you're

[24:14] not getting any petroleums, we believe,

[24:16] in that to kill the grass and that kind

[24:18] of thing. So we believe it's all

[24:20] natural, uh but we do have KYTC has

[24:22] agreed to come in and reditch that area

[24:25] along with all the rest of 595 cuz we

[24:27] have major flooding down there uh all the time.

[24:30] Uh so they're going to look at cleaning

[24:32] out all of their ditches and then

[24:33] reditching that area where we believe is

[24:34] on the southbound on-ramp is where we're

[24:37] having the smell issue. So we're doing

[24:39] some testing just to cover our bases,

[24:41] but we'll follow up with that. I think

[24:43] it's going to be like 10 days before we

[24:45] So next council meeting, hopefully I'll

[24:46] have some more information.

[24:50] » Other questions for Sean? Virgil?

[24:52] [clears throat]

[24:53] >> Yeah, Sean, it looked like there was an

[24:54] email from uh one of our

[24:57] real constituents about water city and

[25:00] the his yard in the subdivision. Have we

[25:02] followed up with that?

[25:04] I just saw the email, so maybe you

[25:06] haven't had a chance, but

[25:07] >> Can you remind me the address?

[25:10] >> Uh yeah, I don't have I'll I'll pull it

[25:12] I'll talk to you about it later because

[25:14] I think

[25:14] >> up with everybody. We might not have

[25:16] solved the problem.

[25:17] >> Yeah, well well yeah, well it's it's you

[25:19] know, having served on this before

[25:21] that's always been an ongoing issue and

[25:22] you never get the problem solved, but at least following up and and

[25:26] talking about what the process and what can be done cannot be done. And I

[25:29] that was my question primarily cuz it

[25:31] makes sense. So I'll talk to you after

[25:33] the meeting, but

[25:34] >> Okay.

[25:34] thank you.

[25:35] >> Other questions or comments for Sean?

[25:38] John?

[25:39] >> Um I just want to see where we are on

[25:41] our uh

[25:43] our bathroom renovations at the park

[25:46] and where that puts us in a timeline to

[25:49] begin

[25:50] um the Logston Lane uh shared use path.

[25:53] >> Yeah, so uh the trailhead restroom is

[25:56] 95% done. Uh we're waiting on the

[26:00] decorative wall is what I'll call it. Uh

[26:02] we was

[26:03] hesitant on what type of material we

[26:05] wanted to use on that. We had an option

[26:07] in the bid. Uh we chose not to go with

[26:09] the option, so we're going to go with a

[26:10] treated wood and have that uh painted uh

[26:13] to match exactly what was in the

[26:15] original bid. Uh we looked at some

[26:16] composites, but we couldn't really get a

[26:18] good composite to match up and and work

[26:21] right there. So

[26:24] we're looking at probably 6 weeks, John,

[26:25] be honest with you. And then once we

[26:27] close out that project, which will

[26:28] probably take another

[26:30] two or three weeks. Uh at that point

[26:32] that we can go to uh construction or at

[26:35] least RFP on uh the Scaffle Cane Trail.

[26:38] Uh and that's all tied to two different

[26:40] grants of the same magnitude for RTP

[26:42] grants, so

[26:43] >> Excellent. And that street that was

[26:45] mentioned earlier was around Terry

[26:47] Avenue that the drainage issue.

[26:50] Okay.

[26:53] All right, Any other questions or

[26:54] comments for Sean?

[26:57] >> [snorts]

[26:57] >> Thank you.

[26:58] >> All right. Thank you, Sean.

[27:00] Uh on Mayor's comments, I kind of

[27:01] spilled the beans earlier. I was going

[27:03] to thank Jackson uh for um kind of

[27:05] teaching us a little something and help

[27:07] us to see city services and

[27:10] education and information through the

[27:13] eyes of a senior coming up in the high

[27:14] school. Um but I do again, Jackson, want

[27:17] to compliment you for reaching out and

[27:20] uh for working with me just to kind of

[27:21] figure out what would be something that

[27:23] would be meaningful and manageable. So,

[27:25] I look forward to working with you, of

[27:27] course, and we'll have others that will

[27:29] work through to to open that opportunity

[27:31] to other people. I think it's a

[27:32] wonderful idea and and uh you you

[27:34] charted the course for that. So,

[27:37] appreciate your work and uh good luck to

[27:39] you and to all the students this summer.

[27:40] Or I'm sorry, this this fall as you

[27:42] begin the new school year. So, thank you

[27:44] again. Uh we'll next move into council

[27:47] comments and we'll begin with Virgil

[27:49] Burnside.

[27:51] >> No comment. Thank you.

[27:52] >> Thank you, Virgil. Next, move to Barry

[27:54] Pointer.

[27:55] >> Uh no comment from me. Thank you.

[27:56] >> Thank you, Barry. Steve Cottle?

[27:58] >> No comment as well.

[28:00] >> All right. Teresa Senters?

[28:02] >> I happen to comment either.

[28:03] >> All right. John Payne?

[28:05] >> Well, I'll break I'll break the streak

[28:07] there. Um as y'all had mentioned about other

[28:12] programs um in the community, the

[28:15] Madison County Citizens Police Academy,

[28:18] it's a free 11-week interactive program

[28:21] that runs from September 14th to

[28:23] November 23rd.

[28:25] I have taken part of that program and

[28:27] it's a very good program. You learn a

[28:29] lot.

[28:31] Um I would encourage anyone to look into

[28:34] it and

[28:35] uh take part.

[28:37] >> Thank you, John. Next, we'll have the

[28:39] last word, Michael Barnett.

[28:41] >> No comment.

[28:41] >> All right, Mike. Thank you. That brings

[28:43] us to the end of our agenda.

[28:45] >> So moved.

[28:47] >> But motion to adjourn from Steve Cottle

[28:48] and a second from Virgil Burnside. All

[28:51] in favor?

City Council 8/18/26

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