Richmond City Commission adopts vacant-property, tobacco and multiple administrative orders; holds first reading on recovery-residence rules

At a Richmond City Board of Commissioners meeting, the commission approved a package of ordinances, personnel actions, contracts and purchases affecting downtown property maintenance, public health policy and municipal operations.

The commission voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 25-12, which establishes an abandoned-and-vacant property registration program for the Richmond Historic District. The ordinance requires owners to register vacant properties (residential registration carries no fee; commercial vacancies in the historical district face graduated fees up to $3,500 for five to nine years vacant), requires visible contact postings and establishes maintenance standards for exterior and structural safety. City staff told commissioners the ordinance is intended to discourage long-term blight and encourage re-use.

The commission also adopted Ordinance 25-13, an amendment to the city’s smoking ordinance that adds an exemption for a qualifying “retail tobacco store.” The ordinance defines a retail tobacco store as an establishment that generates greater than 40% of annual local gross sales from the sale of leaf tobacco products and accessories, excludes online sales from that calculation, and permits random city audits of qualifying businesses. Commissioners said the change is intended to allow cigar bars and similar specialty retailers while ensuring consumer disclosure.

Commissioners held a first reading of Ordinance 25-14, a proposed regulatory framework requiring certification and operational standards for recovery residences (sober living). The ordinance references state certification models (Oxford House, National Alliance for Recovery Residences) and cites Kentucky home-rule authority and recently enacted state rules (KRS 222 provisions cited by the city attorney). The measure was introduced and will return for second reading at the next regular meeting; no adoption vote occurred at this meeting.

Votes at a glance (selected items): - Ordinance 25-12 (abandoned/vacant property registration) — outcome: approved (5–0). Commissioners who voted yes: Commissioner Goble; Commissioner Newby; Commissioner Brewer; Commissioner Cole; Mayor Blythe. - Ordinance 25-13 (amend smoking ordinance: retail tobacco store exemption) — outcome: approved (5–0). - Ordinance 25-14 (recovery residences certification) — outcome: first reading (no final vote; second reading scheduled at next regular meeting).

Personnel, contracts and operational orders approved (all recorded as adopted unless noted): hires and transfers for administration, police, public works and parks (Orders 25-70 through 25-73); municipal road aid co-op contract acceptance (Order 25-74); change order No. 4 on the Richmond Regional Sports Complex Phase 1 to add concrete approach aprons at a creek bridge ($28,700) (Order 25-75); an interlocal agreement to establish a consolidated emergency management agency with Madison County and Berea (Order 25-76); vehicle purchases for parks and grounds (truck and ATV, Orders 25-77); personnel reclassifications and promotions (Order 25-78); a residential lease with a city employee for property at 976 Battlefield Memorial Highway (monthly rent $500; city stated fair-market rent $1,000; the rent difference was described in the order as a taxable benefit) (Order 25-79); surplus property disposition via govdeals.com (Order 25-80); an additional codes-enforcement hire (Order 25-81); appointment of Peggy Brooks Thompson to the Madison County Ambulance Board as the city’s representative (Order 25-82); and an employment termination for an employee in the Section 8 department, Angela Causey (Order 25-83).

On the municipal road-aid contract (Order 25-74), the written order text references a figure of $2,025.26 as part of the order packet; during discussion the mayor stated the municipal-aid funds due the city this year total $808,515.90 and described the typical three-payment schedule (60%/30%/10%). The transcript contains both figures; the commission adopted the order. Commissioners said the municipal-aid funding will be used for paving, sidewalks and related street work and that councilmembers should forward suggested streets for consideration later in the summer.

All adoption votes recorded in the meeting for ordinances and orders listed above were recorded as unanimous in the transcript. Where an item was only introduced for first reading (Ordinance 25-14), the commission did not vote to adopt that ordinance at this meeting.