Georgetown council adopts annexation, zoning change, Columbia Gas franchise and amends open-burning permit fee
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Summary
At its Sept. 8 meeting the Georgetown City Council approved annexation and rezoning of two Frankfort Road parcels, awarded a nonexclusive gas franchise to Columbia Gas and amended the city's open-burning permit fee to allow up to four annual waivers for 501(c)(3) organizations.
The Georgetown City Council on Monday adopted four ordinances affecting land use, utilities and open-burning rules.
The council voted to annex two parcels at or around 1938 and 2020 Frankfort Road into city limits and to change their zoning from A-1 agricultural to B-2 highway commercial. The council also approved a 10-year, nonexclusive gas franchise agreement with Columbia Gas that allows up to two five-year extensions and preserves the city's right to impose a franchise fee of up to 5 percent of gross annual revenues. Separately, the council amended the city code to allow the fee for open-burning permits to be waived for local 501(c)(3) organizations up to four times per calendar year.
Why it matters: The annexation and zone change clear the way for commercial development on two small Frankfort Road parcels held in the county's PVA records; the gas franchise formalizes the utility's relationship with the city for placing gas facilities in public rights-of-way; and the open-burning amendment changes how the city manages and charges for residential and community burning events.
Details, roll calls and motions - Annexation ordinance (1938 & 2020 Frankfort Road): Summary language read publicly; motion to adopt moved by Tammy Lusby Mitchell and seconded by Kim Minkie. Roll call votes recorded as Yes from Tingle Sames, Lehi Mitchell, Kim Minkie, Craig Hampton, Crisp, and Wilkins Brent; motion passed 6-0. The annexation was introduced Aug. 25 and read a second time Sept. 8. The ordinance referenced KRS 81A.412 for annexation by written consent of property owners.
- Zoning ordinance (1938 & 2020 Frankfort Road): Contingent on annexation, the council approved changing the parcels from A-1 agricultural to B-2 highway commercial. The motion was made by Kim Minkie, seconded by Tammy Lusby Mitchell. Roll call recorded six yes votes; motion passed 6-0.
- Gas franchise ordinance (Columbia Gas): The council awarded a nonexclusive franchise to Columbia Gas for an initial 10-year period with two optional five-year extensions and retained the right to impose a franchise fee not to exceed 5 percent of franchisee gross revenues from gas sales within the city. Motion to adopt was made by Craig Hampton and seconded by Wilkins Brent; roll call recorded all members present voting yes.
- Open-burning permit fee amendment: The council amended section 16-1(b) of the Georgetown Code to allow fee waivers for local 501(c)(3) organizations up to four times per calendar year. Council members discussed the intent to limit open burning and noted the public works program that offers free pickup and chipping as an alternative. The motion was made by Tingle Sames and seconded by Tammy Lusby Mitchell. The roll call showed five yes votes and one no; the motion passed 5-1. One council member expressed concern that repeated fee waivers could increase open burning incidents and staff workload.
What the ordinances referenced - The annexation reading cited KRS 81A.412 (annexation by written consent of property owners). - The gas franchise references the city's authority to award nonexclusive franchises and cited a prior ordinance (2014-017) in summary materials; the full agreement will be executed by the mayor.
What's next: The full ordinance texts are available at the city clerk's office and on the city website per the clerk's statement at the meeting. Implementation steps such as franchise agreement execution, permitting for development of the Frankfort Road parcels, or administrative rules for the permit fee waiver will proceed under city staff oversight.
