Richmond commissioners approve tax rates, zoning changes, procurement and 911 interlocal update

Richmond commissioners met in a special-call session Sept. 23 and adopted a package of ordinances and orders affecting city taxes, zoning, procurement and public safety. The board voted unanimously on the measures that required final action and authorized several administrative hires and contracts.

The commission adopted Ordinance 25-22 setting the city's 2025 ad valorem tax rates. The ordinance sets the general-fund personal-property rate at 13.7 cents per $100 of assessed value, the real-property rate at 11.1 cents per $100, and the motor-vehicle rate to be collected by the Madison County court clerk at 28.7 cents per $100 of assessment. The ordinance includes a 2 percent discount for taxes paid before Nov. 1, 2025; the face amount is due Nov. 1'Dec. 31, 2025; a 10 percent penalty applies to unpaid taxes after Jan. 1, 2026, and unpaid balances will accrue interest at 15 percent per year from Jan. 1, 2026. At the meeting the city manager noted the commission took the compensating rate and pointed out the city's taxable base has grown to approximately $396,000,000.

Ordinance 25-23, a zoning map amendment for a 0.289-acre parcel at the corner of Heath Street and Estill Avenue (165 S. Estill Ave., deed book 867 page 598), passed on second reading to change the property from B-1 (neighborhood business) to I-1 (light industry). The Richmond Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended approval after a public hearing on Aug. 20, 2025.

Ordinance 25-24, amendments to the city's zoning and development ordinance, was approved on second reading. The ordinance adds "social assembly" as a conditional use in multiple residential and business zones (R-1A, R-1B, R-1C, R-2, R-3, R-E, P-SP, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4) and lists indoor shooting ranges as conditional uses in AG, B-3, I-1 and I-2 zones. Commissioners asked staff to closely monitor how conditional uses such as wedding venues are permitted in residential neighborhoods, and discussed placement and indoor-only limitations for shooting ranges.

Ordinance 25-25, a lengthy revision of the city's alcoholic-beverage licensing code to align with state processes, was read for the first time. The reading described updated application procedures, references to Kentucky statutes, fees and license types, and penalties. The commission moved the ordinance to the floor for discussion; a second reading and final action will occur at the next regular meeting, per the city clerk.

The commission approved a set of administrative orders and contract actions including: - Order 25-140: Accepted the resignation of Gary Lockhart from the recycling department effective Sept. 26, 2025. - Order 25-141: Hired Jason Lewis as a Labor 1 in the recycling department at $15.75 per hour, effective payroll Oct. 3, 2025, contingent on preemployment requirements. - Order 25-142: Awarded a four-year lease for 64 gasoline Club Car Tempo golf carts for Gibson Bay Golf Course to a bidder from Memphis, Tenn.; the mayor is authorized to sign the lease. - Order 25-143: Approved an updated interlocal agreement among the city of Richmond, Madison County Fiscal Court and the city of Berea to operate a unified Madison County Emergency 9-1-1 Communication Center. During discussion the commission removed a sentence referencing cost sharing by population; staff confirmed cost shares are based on prior-year call volume (commissioners noted current approximate shares: Richmond 56%, Madison County 24%, Berea 20%). - Order 25-144: Approved Change Order No. 1 for Phase 1A of the Richmond Regional Sports Complex, a regrading and slope adjustment and drainage work in the amount of $396,396. Staff said the changes were owner-requested for safety, sightlines, field drainage and pedestrian/maintenance access; the manager said the project contingency and bond funding cover the change and that a prior change order included a $200,000 credit.

On personnel matters, the board accepted the recycling-department resignation and approved the new hire by unanimous roll call. Procurement and construction-related orders, including the golf-cart lease and the sports-complex change order, were approved by the full commission. The interlocal 9-1-1 agreement passed with edits clarifying cost-sharing methodology.

Mayor Rosalind Blythe and the commissioners took public comments at the end of the meeting. Speakers raised local concerns ranging from a damaged drain near CVS, a request to broadcast Planning & Zoning meetings, questions about recycling practices (the city provides free curbside recycling; glass is not accepted), and questions about how the 9-1-1 costs will be applied after the initial year.

Votes at a glance (roll-call tallies shown when recorded): - Ordinance 25-22 (2025 ad valorem tax) — Approved. Votes recorded: Commissioner Newby: Yes; Commissioner Brewer: Yes; Commissioner Cole: Yes; Commissioner Goebel: Yes; Mayor Blythe: Yes. - Ordinance 25-23 (zoning map amendment, 165 S. Estill Ave.) — Approved. Votes recorded: Newby: Yes; Brewer: Yes; Cole: Yes; Goebel: Yes; Mayor Blythe: Yes. - Ordinance 25-24 (zoning & development ordinance amendments) — Approved. Votes recorded: Cole: Yes (with comments); Goebel: Yes; Newby: Yes; Brewer: Yes; Mayor Blythe: Yes. - Ordinance 25-25 (alcohol licensing code, first reading) — Read and moved for discussion; second reading scheduled (no final vote at this meeting). - Order 25-140 (resignation, Recycling Dept.) — Approved. Vote recorded: unanimous yes. - Order 25-141 (hire, Recycling Dept., Jason Lewis) — Approved. Vote recorded: unanimous yes. - Order 25-142 (golf cart lease, Gibson Bay) — Approved. Vote recorded: unanimous yes. Contract: 64 gasoline Club Car Tempo carts, four-year lease. - Order 25-143 (updated Madison County Emergency 9-1-1 interlocal agreement) — Approved with removal of language that had referenced population-based cost sharing; cost-sharing will be based on prior-year call volumes. - Order 25-144 (Change Order No.1, Richmond Regional Sports Complex Phase 1A) — Approved. Change order amount: $396,396; mayor authorized to sign.

The commission adjourned after routine announcements and scheduling; second readings or further action on Ordinance 25-25 and other items will be on the regular meeting schedule.