Frye out as Russell attorney

RUSSELL Tracy Frye has resigned as Russell’s city attorney, citing the mayor and at least one city employee negatively targeting one of her businesses. She also wants to speak freely as a Russell native and business owner.

Mitch Hall has replaced her as Russell’s attorney. He participated in his first council meeting on Thursday night.

Frye served in the position from November 2020 through the end of April 2024.

Frye has had a law practice in Russell for more than 20 years. She also co-owns The Nest Day Spa and Aesthetics Center and The Nest House.

She is one of the central figures in Revitalize Russell and is the registered agent of Nestled In Properties, LLC.

Frye said she was “completely blindsided” when she received a certified letter from the city threatening to take her to court regarding The Nest House — an Airbnb.

“A dear friend of mine owns multiple Airbnbs on the exact same street and he has never been interrogated or questioned,” Frye said.

Also in April, a city worker had posted a “stop work” order on The Nest House — a $300,000 house on Riverside Drive — on the same day that Frye’s daughter was giving birth to her first granddaughter, she said.

“I actually thought I had a great working relationship with everybody at the city until this started,” Frye said.

Ultimately, the city council went into executive session to discuss the business and if it was in violation of any ordinances. “They unanimously voted to take no further negative action toward my Airbnb,” Frye said.

However, in her eyes, the damage was irreparable.

After Frye witnessed from the crowd a Russell regular council meeting in which Mayor Ron Simpson did not allow public comment Thursday, she couldn’t contain her frustration and made a Facebook post.

“This is a dangerous precedent to set,” she wrote, in part.

“I had enough,” she said in a phone interview Friday. “I employ over 40 people, I have three real estate holding companies and own two businesses, yet I’m not allowed to speak at a regular meeting. I’ve never seen that happen.”

Simpson claimed he shut down public comment in order for the council to solely focus on “budget workshopping.” Frye contended that two city employees and a county employee were permitted to speak, but her sister in-law, Susan Callihan — a business owner in Russell — was not granted permission to approach the podium.

Frye hoped the council could hear from Callihan about an idea a group of business owners planned to pitch to city officials.

“We would love for the city to hire a part-time person like Brandy Clark (Ashland’s VisitAKY tourism director) for Russell who could plan events and have a role in economic development. It would more than pay for itself. We wanted to be heard on that,” Frye said.

Frye said she’s heard from a number of business owners in Russell who feel like they’re repeatedly hitting a metaphorical brick wall.

Frye said a few main players are impeding progress.

“Sarah Gabbard, Kristie Patterson and I started Revitalize Russell as a non-profit, and every single penny has been put into projects in the city — murals are up, a park is across the street (from her law office). There’s beautiful momentum with a lot of people working together. … I want that momentum to continue,” she said.

Frye does not intend to relocate her businesses, but she said she has plans for more that are currently on hold.

Can that momentum be rediscovered?

“… It’s going to depend,” she said. “We’re waiting to see the results of the next council election.”

According to the Greenup County Clerk’s Office, the following are running for Russell council in November: Don Fraley (incumbent), Alice Kay Thompson (incumbent), Butch Meadows (incumbent), Vincenzo Fressola (incumbent), Roy Parsons (incumbent), former councilman Ryan Biederman, Steven Hines and Bill Renzi. The mayor’s seat is not up for grabs. Simpson has been the mayor since January 2019.

Frye said what initially led to her becoming city attorney is “I truly, truly love the city of Russell. … My dad lives there — downtown where my great grandmother lived. I saw an opportunity to make it even better.

“When I opened my law office over 20 years ago (on Ferry Street), it was a ghost town. It was a drab place.”

Frye said the situation can be rectified, but it will require an open-for-business approach and strong communication.

“I’m wishing and hoping for good things for my city,” Frye said. “Everybody needs to get on the same page.”

Simpson could not be reached for comment as of press time Friday.