Corbin City Council hears from concerned residents

Robert Halcomb, The Times-Tribune, Corbin, Ky.
·3 min read

May 23—CORBIN — The Corbin City Council heard from multiple residents at Monday's regular meeting regarding the state of Hawe Street and a dispute with Code Enforcement.

First, Corbin residents Beth and Blaine Kretzer spoke to the Corbin City Council in regard to the condition of the road near their property on Hawe Street.

According to the Kretzers and photographic evidence, the condition of Hawe Street, in addition to other factors, has contributed significantly to severe flooding of their property that occurs "five to six times annually" since 2009.

The circumstances surrounding the flooding of their property have been further complicated by the fact that their property rests along the Corbin City Limits and the Knox County line.

According to the Kretzers, the Knox County government has advised them to seek help from the Corbin City Government and vice versa, which has led to almost 15 years of strife.

The flooding has been, in part, caused by the dilapidated condition of Hawe Street. The road has been repaved several times with blacktop, but this has not improved the issue.

The Kretzers, along with former City Manager Marlon Sams, agreed that slanting the road to the opposite side of the street would likely alleviate at least some of the issue. However, this work was never completed.

Corbin Mayor Suzie Razmus was sympathetic to their plight; and City Manager Scott Williamson offered the couple his phone number and said that he would come by the property soon to examine the situation.

Additionally, the council also heard from attorney Hank Grady of W.H. Grady and Associates of Versailles to discuss a dispute involving the Code Enforcement Board and Dr. Christopher Stokes.

Grady stood before the commission and argued that his client, Dr. Stokes, had been wrongfully cited by the Code Enforcement Board.

Grady did not deny that the practice was indeed being operated out of Stokes' home, but rather argued that no violation occurred based upon the wording of the relevant Corbin City Ordinance.

The Home Occupation Ordinance for the city of Corbin is as follows:

* "Professional offices, workshops, studios, and personal services maintained or conducted within a dwelling. Neither the selling of any merchandise nor processing of any product shall qualify as a home occupation. Home occupation includes only those which meet the following: (a) Home occupations shall be incidental to the principal residential use and shall not occupy more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the floor area of the dwelling unit; (b) Home occupations shall result in no exterior evidence, excepting a permitted sign, that the dwelling is used for a non-residential use; © Home occupations shall not generate any atmospheric pollution, light flashes, glare, odors, noise, vibration, or truck or other heavy traffic; (d) No more than one (1) person not a member of the occupant family may be employed in a home occupation.NOTE: On-Line or telecommunication Businesses that produce no exterior sign of a commercial business being conducted, including no permitted sign, and meets the other guidelines is exempt."

Due to a conflict of interest, City Attorney Bob Hammons recused himself from the discussion, prompting Attorney Seth Reeves to speak on behalf on the Code Enforcement board.

According to Reeves, Code Enforcement received various complaints about traffic congestion in a residential area due to the presence of Dr. Stokes business, Kentucky Family Medicine LLC. Upon further inspection, the business was cited.

Dr. Stokes was issued a physicians permit by the City of Corbin in 2020 which allowed him to operate his business. However, according to Reeves, this was issued as an exception and was thought to have been primarily for tele-health.

The permit, according to Grady, does not specify that the practice must be telehealth.

Grady further noted that they will be appealing the decision of the Code Enforcement board and will pursue legal action if the appeal process does not favor them.

The Corbin City Council did not take any formal action regarding this matter.