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Erlanger council approves $10,000 matching grant for property owned by councilmember's LLC after disclosure
Summary
Council approved a matching small-business grant (up to $10,000) for Lillian Rentals LLC (property at 3412 Baker Street), disclosing that the mayor is a lessee of the property and following the city's ethics-code disclosure procedure before voting.
The Erlanger City Council voted on Sept. 3 to approve a matching small-business grant for Lillian Rentals LLC, the business owned by Tyson and Julie Hermes, for improvements to a building at 3412 Baker Street.
City staff told the council the owners estimated roughly $61,000 in improvements (solar-panel replacement, new aluminum storefront paneling, roof, gutters, soffits and trim) and requested the maximum matching reimbursement available under the city's program, $10,000.
City Attorney Jack Gatlin reviewed the city's ethics-code requirements on contracts involving officers or employees with a city-related interest and confirmed the statute permits an exception when (1) the contract and officer's interest are publicly disclosed at a meeting, (2) the disclosure is entered into the official record, (3) the governing body finds the contract is in the public interest, and (4) that finding is included in the record. Council placed the interest on the record (the mayor is a tenant of the property) and voted to approve the grant.
Council members discussed program budgeting and noted the small-business grant pool typically is not fully exhausted in a fiscal year; staff said last year the program's total incentives were about $60,000. The motion to approve carried after council members voiced their assent.
Next steps: city staff will record the disclosure in the official minutes and proceed with the grant reimbursement process per program procedures.
