Votes at a glance: Elizabethtown council adopts $47 million bond for music venue, approves annexations, bids and grants

Elizabethtown9s City Council at its April 7 regular meeting adopted an ordinance authorizing the issuance of up to $47,000,000 in general obligation bonds to finance acquisition, construction and equipping of a new outdoor music venue.

The bond ordinance (Ordinance No. 6-20-25, second reading and adoption) passed after a motion to adopt and a roll-call vote in which all council members present voted yes. The ordinance authorizes a sinking fund and a bond tax to be levied only if other revenues are insufficient to meet debt service obligations, and contemplates a public competitive sale with a maturity not to exceed 30 years.

The council also approved multiple annexations and other agenda items during a meeting that included first readings of additional ordinances. Actions approved included annexations of property at 204 Jackie Street (Ordinance No. 7-20-25), 320 Pear Orchard Road Northwest (Ordinance No. 8-20-25) and 77019 South Wilson Road (Ordinance No. 9-20-25). Each annexation was presented as a second reading by summary with owner consent noted and the required 45-day notice to Hardin County reported; each was adopted without recorded opposition.

A second-reading ordinance repealing and replacing the 2014 sewer-rate ordinance (Ordinance No. 10-20-25) was also adopted. That ordinance sets a schedule of monthly base sewer charges and other fees (details discussed in a separate item). The sewer-rate ordinance passed on a roll-call vote in which Council Member Fulkerson recorded a 9no9 vote and other members voted yes; the motion carried.

The council accepted competitive and sole-source bids on municipal projects and authorized contract awards: a low bid from Dirt Works Unlimited for the French Street sanitary sewer upgrade in an amount not to exceed $1,180,400 (Municipal Order No. 14-20-25), and a contract with Walters Cabinets Inc. for a council chamber dais project in an amount not to exceed $79,748 (Municipal Order No. 15-20-25). The mayor or designee was authorized to execute contracts and approve change orders up to stated aggregate caps.

The council authorized continuing an expanded plan-review agreement with the Commonwealth of Kentucky under which the city performs plan review under the Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code (Municipal Order No. 16-20-25). It also approved two downtown redevelopment grants: up to $87,098.08 for 201 North Main Street (Elizabethtown Renaissance Associates LLC, Municipal Order No. 17-20-25) and up to $5,019.46 for 218 South Mulberry Street (Flywheel Brewing Properties LLC, Municipal Order No. 18-20-25).

Most of the municipal orders and annexations were adopted by voice vote with no recorded opposition; where a roll call was requested the clerk read votes aloud. Where full text or further details were not read into the record the council indicated copies were available from the city clerk9s office.

The meeting moved into closed session under Kentucky Revised Statute KRS 61.810(1) to discuss personnel matters that might lead to discipline or dismissal and specific economic development proposals; the council said it would take no action on items announced for closed session upon return to open session.

Votes at a glance (items adopted or authorized April 7, 2025): - Ordinance No. 6-20-25, general obligation bonds (outdoor music venue): adopted (roll-call; unanimous of members present). Key detail: authorizes issuance up to $47,000,000; bonds to mature within 30 years; bond tax levied only if other revenues are insufficient. - Ordinance No. 7-20-25, annexation of 204 Jackie Street (approx. 0.807 acres): adopted (roll-call; unanimous). - Ordinance No. 8-20-25, annexation of 320 Pear Orchard Road NW (approx. 25.8 acres): adopted (voice vote). - Ordinance No. 9-20-25, annexation of 77019 South Wilson Road (approx. 1.1 acres): adopted (roll-call; unanimous where recorded). - Ordinance No. 10-20-25, repeal/replace sewer-rate ordinance (new rates and fees): adopted (roll-call; one no vote recorded). - Municipal Order No. 14-20-25, accept bid for French Street sanitary sewer (Dirt Works Unlimited): approved (voice vote). - Municipal Order No. 15-20-25, accept bid for council chamber dais (Walters Cabinets Inc.): approved (voice vote). - Municipal Order No. 16-20-25, agreement with Commonwealth of Kentucky for expanded plan review responsibilities: approved (voice vote). - Municipal Order No. 17-20-25, downtown redevelopment grant for 201 N. Main Street (Elizabethtown Renaissance Associates LLC), up to $87,098.08: approved (voice vote). - Municipal Order No. 18-20-25, downtown redevelopment grant for 218 S. Mulberry St. (Flywheel Brewing Properties LLC), up to $5,019.46: approved (voice vote).

Copies of ordinances and municipal orders cited are available in the city clerk9s office, and the council indicated the full ordinance texts and grant agreements can be requested there.