Richmond commissioners approve street rename, zoning change, hires and contracts; several items set for later votes

The Richmond City Board of Commissioners on Jan. 28 approved a package of ordinances and orders, including renaming a street in the Richmond Industrial Park, adopting a large residential rezoning, hiring firefighters and police officers, and awarding contracts for GIS hosting, architecture services for a recovery housing project and tree removal at Gibson Bay Golf Course.

The board voted unanimously on two second-reading ordinances: renaming Micron Way to Maverick Way and changing zoning for a 55.95-acre tract on Berea Road from agriculture to R-1C single-family residential. The meeting also included final votes to hire three firefighters and three police officers and to approve a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Madison County Fiscal Court to host city GIS services.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 25-O-1 (street rename: Micron Way → Maverick Way): Adopted (5–0). The ordinance directs city staff to notify property owners and replace signage; council discussion noted that the new company has retained many Micron employees. - Ordinance 25-O-2 (rezoning, Berea Road / Carriage Place, ~55.95 acres to R-1C): Adopted (5–0). The board adopted the Planning & Zoning Commission’s written findings and directed staff to update the official map. - Order 25-Dash16 (hires — firefighters Colby Rogers, Joshua Ebert, Jalen Lamb): Approved (5–0); hires contingent on background checks and pre-employment requirements; effective 02/10/2025 with a 12-month probationary period. - Order 25-Dash17 (hires — police officers River Farrell, James Beasley, Alejandro Najera): Approved (5–0); contingent on background checks and DOCJT academy slots; 18-month probationary period. - Order 25-Dash18 (MOA with Madison County Fiscal Court for GIS hosting): Approved (5–0). City will pay a one-time startup cost and annual fee from the Planning & Zoning budget rather than purchasing new software. - Order 25-Dash20 (award to Integrity Architecture for Phase I design of New Vista recovery housing at 300 Bellevue Drive): Approved (5–0); Phase I paid from EDA grant reimbursement funds. - Order 25-Dash21 (award to ABC Tree Service for Gibson Bay Golf Course tree removal): Approved (5–0); contract price $29,900 charged to non-departmental contingency and to be reflected in a future budget amendment. - Order 25-Dash22 (personnel policy amendment regarding medicinal cannabis, pursuant to KRS 218B.0.04): Approved (5–0); the order inserts language prohibiting use of medicinal cannabis by city employees while employed by the city. - Several items received first readings (no votes tonight): Ordinance 25-O-3 (Spirit Drive rezoning, R3 multifamily — first reading), Ordinance 25-O-4 (budget amendment adding $200,000 in CDBG funds for Liberty Place — first reading), Ordinance 25-O-5 and 25-O-6 (short-term rental ordinance and zoning amendments — first readings).

Key details and context - Street rename and local jobs: During discussion of Ordinance 25-O-1, Commissioner Cole noted the incoming company had already hired “over half of the employees from Micron,” and said retaining workers locally was positive for the city.

- Rezoning specifics: Ordinance 25-O-2 applies to a parcel identified in deed book references and changes the official zoning map from AG to R-1C; the board accepted the Planning & Zoning Commission’s findings and directed the planning director to update the map.

- GIS MOA costs and rationale: The city manager reported the county will host the shared GIS system (at the Emergency Operations Center). The city compared options: purchasing new software had an estimated initial cost of about $30,000 and an annual licensing fee of about $15,000; joining the county-hosted arrangement requires about $2,200 in startup costs and roughly $6,000 per year, funded from the Planning & Zoning department budget. Commissioners described the MOA as a cost-saving collaboration that improves mapping consistency across jurisdictions.

- Hiring and staffing: Chief Richardson introduced the three police hires and said the new hires move the department toward full staffing. The approved firefighter hires were similarly approved and will enter service contingent on standard background checks. Promotions and retirements approved at the meeting include promotion of Dylan Rogers to Firefighter 3 and acceptance of the retirement of Vicky Pickens from Section 8 effective 12/31/24.

- Contracts and grants: The architecture contract for the New Vista (recovery housing) Phase I design was awarded to Integrity Architecture of Lexington; the city said Phase I work will be reimbursed through an EDA grant. The Gibson Bay tree removal contract was awarded to ABC Tree Service for $29,900 and paid from contingency with a planned budget amendment.

- Personnel policy on medicinal cannabis: The board adopted an amendment, citing KRS 218B.0.04, to explicitly prohibit use of medicinal cannabis by city employees while employed by the city; staff noted federal funding compliance as a reason for retaining a drug-free workplace policy.

Next steps and items for future meetings - Second readings and final votes are scheduled for the next regular meeting on items that received first readings (including the short-term rental fee schedule update and the CDBG budget amendment). - The city manager said a phase-two feasibility study for the Glendon Hotel will be on the February work session agenda.

Speakers (identified in meeting record) - Robert Blythe, Mayor (City of Richmond) - Commissioner Cole (Richmond City Commissioner) - Commissioner Goebel (Richmond City Commissioner) - Commissioner Newby (Richmond City Commissioner) - Commissioner Brewer (Richmond City Commissioner) - Chief Richardson (Police Chief, City of Richmond Police Department) - City Manager (unnamed in transcript) - City Attorney (unnamed in transcript) - Madam Clerk (City Clerk, unnamed in transcript) - Vicky Pickens (Section 8 inspector, retiree) - Colby Rogers (new firefighter hire) - Joshua Ebert (new firefighter hire) - Jalen Lamb (new firefighter hire) - River Farrell (new police hire) - James Beasley (new police hire) - Alejandro Najera (new police hire) - Integrity Architecture (Architecture firm awarded Phase I design) - ABC Tree Service (contractor awarded Gibson Bay tree removal)

Authorities and references cited in meeting record - Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) cited: KRS 218B.0.04 (referenced in discussion of medicinal cannabis and personnel policy) - Trafficking Victims Protection Act (referenced in separate proclamation) - Kentucky Department for Local Government (source of CDBG funds referenced)

Discussion-versus-decision notes - Decisions: The items listed in the Votes at a glance were formally approved by roll-call votes shown in the meeting record and therefore are described as approved actions. - Discussion-only items: Ordinance 25-O-3, 25-O-4, 25-O-5 and 25-O-6 were presented and discussed in first reading and will be subject to vote at a future meeting; staff and commissioners discussed fee levels for short-term rental registration and noted a planned adjustment to $250 initial and $100 annual fees for the second reading.

Clarifying details extracted from the meeting - GIS hosting costs compared: new-software estimate $30,000 initial + $15,000 annual vs. county MOA ~$2,200 startup + ~$6,000/year (city share). - Gibson Bay tree-removal contract amount: $29,900 (scope: remove trees, grind stumps, remove wood chips). - CDBG budget amendment: $200,000 in unanticipated revenue; $190,000 public services, $10,000 admin (first reading). - Short-term rental proposed fees (pending second reading): proposed change to $250 initial registration and $100 annual renewal.

Searchable tags:["street-rename","rezoning","public-safety-hiring","GIS","contracts","CDBG","short-term-rentals","medicinal-cannabis-policy"]

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