Richmond City Commission strikes down potential annexing

Jul. 1—The Richmond City Commission met Tuesday to discuss the city's budget for the upcoming year, several employee resignations, and the approval of an employment contract for Richmond City Manager Rob Minerich.

The meeting was held at 4 p.m. instead of the usual 6 p.m. due to former commissioner Kay Jones' visitation. Jones, who served on the commission for 21 years, passed away on June 21.

Commissioners heard the second reading of the fiscal year 2022-23 budget for the city, which includes line items for several new city employees, new playground equipment and new equipment for several city departments. The commission voted unanimously in favor.

Budget specifics include:

Increases revenues by 15% which brings total revenues to approximately $35,828,000. It includes 260 employees with eight new positions and a 5% cost of living adjustment for all full-time employees. With the $1,000 Pandemic Premium Pay, the $4,160 per employee pay increase approved in the FY22 budget amendment; and "this 5% COLA we feel employee's wages have been adjusted to meet current inflation. We also saw a 5.56% increase in Health Insurance Premiums but we chose to absorb that cost instead of passing it on to the employees," the budget summary said.

The second reading of ordinance 22-23 focused on establishing a local development area for economic development purposes to be called "Goggins Lane Local Development Area." The entire commission voted in favor of the ordinance for the development area.

This development area would allow the city to capture all the tax money which comes from that development, rather than the money going back into the general fund.

A second reading of ordinance 22-24 — which would declare the city's intent to "annex a tract of property into city limits," according to the agenda.

"Whereas new idea construction and homes LLC on behalf of Arlington farm, the owner of the property described below has consented to the voluntary annexation into the city limits tract hereinafter the property and whereas the property is contiguous to the city's boundaries in this urban and character and whereas no part of the property proposed to the annex is included within the boundary boundary of another incorporated city. And whereas the city of Richmond is capable of dividing city services to the property, and whereas the board commissioners of the city of Richmond Kentucky finds it to be in the public interest that the property be annexed into city limits now therefore be ordained as follows. Section one in accordance with the provisions of chapter 81 A of the Kentucky Revised Statutes, the city of Richmond, Kentucky does hereby express its intent to annex into the city limits those certain tracks and property. Were particularly described as follows: To wit, Arlington farm total 118.65 acres, a certain tract of land located at the northeast intersection of Tates Creek Road and Goggins Lane in Madison County, Richmond, Kentucky," the ordinance read.

Commissioner Krystin Arnold shared that several residents have concerns about annexing the property — specifically if the space is used for apartments.

"I'd like to see Planning and Zoning take a strong look at considering some land use restrictions in this area, so that everything makes good sense," Arnold said. "There's a lot of residential single family homes back there. I would like to see maybe some good flow."

Commissioner Jim Newby requested for ordinances like this that there be a visual aid to help everyone understand the specific area that is being discussed.

The entire commission voted against the ordinance. When asked what they would need to consider voting yes, Newby said he would like more information and a visual layout.

Commissioner Ed McDaniels shared his concerns about adding 180 acres to Goggins Lane. He said it would increase traffic which could impact residents.

A second reading of ordinance 22-25 to repeal partitions of chapters 150 and 156 of the Kentucky Code of Ordinances and adopting updated codes took place.

The updated codes will be:

Section 150.106 — certificates of occupancy. Certificates of occupancy for unoccupied existing residential structures shall be issued by the director of codes in accordance with the most recent edition of the 2021 International Property Maintenance code.Section 156.21 — abandoned residential properties, definitions dangerous building, any building structure that is in violation of any condition records 2021 International Property Maintenance code.Both of these codes will follow more recent maintenance codes after a second reading in the next meeting.

The first reading of ordinance 22-26 revises the fee schedule set in chapter 150 of Kentucky Code of Ordinances "applicable to the Code Enforcement Department, and further amending the said chapter to reflect current Codes presently in effect in the city," according to the agenda.

"In summary whereas the fee schedule applicable to the various reviews and inspections performed by the city's codes enforcement department is outdated and should be revised in order to reflect the current expense or by the department as it performs the various plan reviews and site inspections required by the city's ordinances and by the requirements of the statutes and regulations promulgated by the Commonwealth of Kentucky And whereas the director of codes enforcement has suggested that revisions be made in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth And whereas the city has adopted state building codes, which replace certain codes formally in effect in the city and the city's ordinances should be amended to reflect the adoption of these replacement codes. Now therefore be it ordained that the codes enforcement fee schedule be revised," the ordinance said.

The first reading of ordinance 22-27 which will amend the city's development ordinance relating to appendix A.

"Whereas the city's existing development ordinance contains a checklist for the evaluation of its middle plans and zoning slash codes Department documents and whereas the city's Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended the existing checklist of Appendix A BM in the new poll. And whereas the Board of Commissioners findings in the public interest that the recommendations of the Planning and Zoning Commission in these regards be enacted. Now, therefore, be it ordained that the city's ordinance be and hereby is modified in the particulars noted on the attachments to this ordinance and the same are incorporated in this ordinance, as though here set forth in this ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its enactment following the second reading," the ordinance reads.

Order 22-63 awarding a salt bid was approved. The cost per ton is 99.39 from the municipal aid budget.

Order 22-64 authorizing the purchase of a recycling bin truck for the recycling department.

The renewal contract between the city and Minerich was approved by commissioners.

"I do love what I do. And I enjoy the leadership we have in place right now," Minerich said. "I enjoy the leadership we have in place right now. I think that over the past four years, we've created a team concept here with the City of Richmond with department heads and employees. No one person can do this job. It's a team of people throughout the city and we lean on each other on a daily basis to get the work done."

Several resignations were approved including a member of the Board of Adjustments and two police department employees.

Jamie Ford of the Codes Enforcement Board resigned. Ford has allegedly been attempting to purchase a home that the city had planned to destroy, as previously reported by The Register.

Commissioners approved the hiring of a senior police officer and an evidence custodian/crime scene technician for the police department. An employee in the codes department was promoted as well as an employee of the planning and zoning department.

The commission also approved the hiring of Jacob Sparks as an environmental technician with pay of $13.70 an hour in the recycling department.