Council approves package of budget, contract and capital items; several change orders and grants cleared

Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council on April 17 approved a series of ordinances and resolutions covering budget adjustments, contract awards, construction change orders and grant acceptances.

The council unanimously approved an ordinance updating portions of the FY2025 budget (Schedule No. 20) and then, after suspending the rules, gave second reading and final approval to a group of resolutions and contract actions including a detention center remediation contract, an HVAC replacement, public-art funding and multiple construction change orders and design contracts.

Why it matters: The actions allocate or authorize the use of hundreds of thousands of dollars in local and grant funding for capital projects, facility repairs and vendor procurements. Several items affect city-owned buildings and utilities, and one item asks the mayor’s office to seek up to $10 million in federal community project funding on behalf of a regional business park authority.

Key items approved • Ordinance (FY2025, Schedule No. 20): Amendments to municipal budgets and appropriations — approved by roll call. • Resolution accepting bid and authorizing agreement with BMI LLC (DBA BMI Builds LLC) for Lexington Detention Center SFRM remediation — award amount read as $1,711,368 and authorized by the council. • Resolution accepting bid from Comfort and Process Solutions for Tate’s Creek HVAC replacement — $149,460.72. • Resolution authorizing an agreement with Lexington Freedom Train/LexArts (public art project) using Percent-for-Art funds — amount not to exceed $245,000. • Change orders and contract increases: Valley Park building renovation (+$25,000 to Johnson Early Architects), new senior therapeutic center (+$42,000 to Champlin Haught/OP Architects), Kelly’s Landing Phase 0 (change order +$27,900 to Gresham Smith), and other amendments read into the record and approved. • Design services: Professional design services for roof replacement at the Robert F. Stevens district and circuit courthouses — $150,000. • Resolution expressing support for seeking up to $10,000,000 in federal community project funding for the Central Kentucky Regional Business Park Authority and authorizing the mayor or designee to submit related documents. • Other procurement and grant items read and approved on the consent/agenda list, including multiple awarded bids, appointments, and a small-series of grants and sole-source approvals.

How the votes went: The council took roll-call votes on the FY2025 ordinance and later on the package of items for second reading. The roll-call recorded affirmative votes from the mayor and council members present, after which the mayor declared the items passed.

What the council did not do here: There was no extended debate recorded on the floor on these items during the meeting; several items were advanced on motions to suspend the rules and expedited to second reading and approval.

For more details: The council packet and procurement documents list the full contract documents, RFP numbers and vendor submittals for each awarded contract and change order noted above.