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Richmond commissioners approve hiring, promotions, contract and incentive; several orders adopted
Summary
At its Jan. 14 meeting the Richmond City Board of Commissioners approved a package of orders including personnel hires and promotions, a $2.125 million security camera contract for Armory Park, and a conditional 1% tax incentive for a prospective manufacturer labeled Project Dark Horse.
The Richmond City Board of Commissioners adopted multiple orders on Jan. 14 covering personnel actions, contracts and economic incentives, and scheduled votes on two ordinances for a later meeting.
The commission voted to appoint Commissioner Tammy Cole as mayor pro tem (order 25DashO1), approved the hiring of two police officers contingent on background checks (order 25DashO2), promoted a police officer to sergeant (order 25DashO4), and approved other personnel and administrative orders including promotion of Althea Kazi to Human Resources director (order 25DashO9) and a reclassification in codes enforcement for Rachel Pingleton (order 25DashO13). The clerk recorded roll call votes for each adopted order.
The commission awarded a contract to Integrated Security Solutions of Nicholasville for a security camera system at Armory Park for $2,125,213.89 (order 25DashO10). The city manager said the purchase will be funded from the non‑departmental contingency budget and reallocated during upcoming budget amendments.
On economic development, commissioners approved a conditional local participation in the Kentucky Business Investment (KBI) program for a potential manufacturer identified in the agenda as Project Dark Horse. Under order 25DashO5 the city agrees to forfeit 1% of the occupational license tax on approximately 50 new jobs for a period not longer than 10 years, conditioned on the company’s KBI approval by the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. “We’re one of the few communities in Kentucky that’s actually having employees that are laid off due to the Bluegrass Army Depot,” a commissioner said when explaining support for the incentive; the order specifies the city’s obligation is contingent on state approval.
Other personnel and administrative orders adopted included declaring January 2025 fire department items surplus to be sold via govdeals.com (25DashO6); appointment of Ken DeGrama to the Richmond Planning and Zoning Commission for a four‑year term (25DashO7); renewal of the lease with the Madison County Veterans Committee Inc. for 1215 West Main Street (25DashO8); acceptance of resignations from a tourism department employee (David Jones, 25DashO11) and a public works employee (Mark Brumbaugh, 25DashO12); and the termination of a public works employee, Randall Matthews (25DashO14). The commission approved an order to hire two police officer candidates — Christopher Sullivan and Tatiano Gragik — contingent on background checks and DOCJT training slots (25DashO2); the order specifies a 20‑week DOCJT training course and an 18‑month probationary period.
Two ordinances received first readings and were set for a future vote: Ordinance 25‑o1 would rename Micron Way in Richmond Industrial Park 1 to Maverick Way at the company’s request; Ordinance 25‑o2 is a zoning map amendment for about 55.95 acres on Berea Road from agricultural to R1C single‑family residential, which the planning and zoning commission previously recommended. Both were read for the first time and will be voted on at the board’s next meeting.
Commissioners also publicly thanked the public works, parks and vehicle maintenance crews for snow removal after a recent storm; the city manager said roughly 950 tons of salt were used. Public commenter Ed Brown thanked the commission and city staff for their work in a growing community.
Votes at a glance (selected): - Mayor pro tem (order 25DashO1): Tammy Cole appointed; recorded vote 3–2 in favor. - Police hires (order 25DashO2): Christopher Sullivan and Tatiano Gragik hired contingent on background checks; adopted (recorded unanimous votes by present commissioners). - Armory Park security camera contract (order 25DashO10): Awarded to Integrated Security Solutions for $2,125,213.89; adopted unanimous. - Project Dark Horse tax incentive (order 25DashO5): City agreed to a conditional 1% occupational license tax for approximately 50 jobs, pending state KBI approval; adopted unanimous. - Termination (order 25DashO14): Employment of Randall Matthews terminated effective Jan. 14, 2025; adopted by recorded vote.
