Council approves festival dates, pavilion concerts and adopts municipal orders; Southern Knights car cruise tabled

The Georgetown City Council on Feb. 10 approved a package of event actions and several municipal orders, and continued work on a new special-events ordinance.

Events and permits - Best of the Bluegrass Festival of the Horse (street and parade permits): Council approved closure of Main Street for the festival from Sept. 2–4 (with vendor/carnival set-up beginning earlier) and approved the parade route and related vendor areas. The motion was made by Miss Sams and seconded by Miss Mitchell; the motion passed by voice vote. - Party at the Pavilion (concert series): Council approved request dates for the concert series, with tourism staff to confirm whether two dates will be held on the square; motion made by Mr. Hampton and seconded by Mr. Minky; motion passed by voice vote. - Home for the Holidays Parade: Council approved the annual Christmas parade (first Saturday in December) and associated square closure beginning at 2 p.m. for vendor set-up; motion made by Miss Brent and seconded by Miss Mitchell; motion passed by voice vote. - Southern Knights of Central Kentucky car cruise: The council voted to table the request until the city’s special-events ordinance is in place and clarified date discrepancies and insurance documentation with the applicant. Motion to table by Mr. Stone, seconded by Mr. Hampton; motion passed by voice vote.

Municipal orders and administrative actions - Kroger statewide opioid settlement opt-in: The council approved a municipal order authorizing participation in the Kroger portion of the statewide opioid settlement and authorized the mayor to accept settlement funds and execute required documents. - Surplus vehicle donation: The council approved a municipal order to surplus and donate a 1991 armored bank vehicle the police department no longer uses.

Banners and downtown marketing The council also heard a request from Barry Tilford and partners to hang a temporary banner series tied to an Echoes of Ancestry / Kingland exhibit. Tourism staff explained a longstanding policy limiting downtown banner rotations to tourism-sponsored or city/county events; the council voted to adhere to that policy for the current year while encouraging the museum to display the exhibit onsite. A motion to stay with current tourism banner policy and encourage museum-hosted displays was made and approved.

Special-events ordinance Council members described draft ordinance language and asked staff to prepare a formal ordinance for the next meeting. Key items councilors want addressed include: proof of insurance and a $50 processing fee on applications, giving primary access priority to civic- or city-sponsored events, limits on frequency of Main Street closures, earlier notice to downtown businesses and residents, and guidelines about food trucks and placement relative to brick-and-mortar restaurants.

Votes at a glance (voice votes recorded unless stated) - Best of the Bluegrass Festival of the Horse (parade and Main Street closure): approved (mover: Miss Sams; second: Miss Mitchell) - Party at the Pavilion (concert dates): approved (mover: Mr. Hampton; second: Mr. Minky) - Home for the Holidays Parade (annual parade; square closure): approved (mover: Miss Brent; second: Miss Mitchell) - Southern Knights car cruise: tabled (mover: Mr. Stone; second: Mr. Hampton) - Municipal order: Kroger opioid settlement opt-in: approved (mover: Miss Hambrick; second: Mr. Minky) - Municipal order: surplus vehicle donation (1991 armored vehicle): approved (mover: Miss Sams; second: Mr. Crisp) - Motion to adhere to tourism banner policy for current year (encourage museum-hosted displays): approved (mover: Miss Sams; second: Miss Brent)

Council and staff said they will return with a draft special-events ordinance for a first reading at the next council meeting; staff and tourism representatives will continue to coordinate on dates, insurance documentation and downtown business notice.