Frankfort‑Franklin County corridor project advances as court approves surplus declaration and sale of small county parcel

City and county staff told Franklin County Fiscal Court on Wednesday that the High Street/Home Street corridor reconstruction will require acquisition of rights‑of‑way affecting roughly 90 parcels and that phase 1 construction funding has been disrupted by the loss of a federal grant.

Chuck Nalls, project manager for the City of Frankfort, said Strand Associates is finishing design and that the right‑of‑way acquisition process for phase 1 (Muro to Henry Street) is federally mandated. He told the court the county owns a small parcel that the project will need at the corner of Mayer and Holmes Street. "This project design impacts 90 parcels," Nalls said, describing the right‑of‑way acquisition process as "sticky" and subject to federal rules. (Chuck Nalls, presentation.)

Matt McCracken, project engineer with Strand, said city and state partners are working to replace construction funding after congressional action rescinded a grant and the project lost about $16,000,000; staff said they have applied to the transportation alternatives (TAP) program and plan to apply for a USDOT BUILD grant. Final design and right‑of‑way acquisition were described as on a schedule that must be "buttoned up by 2026" to keep the bid and construction timeline intact.

The court discussed whether the county should transfer a fee simple interest (not an easement) in a 2,433 sq ft strip needed for the project. Several court members asked the county to seek a reversion clause so that if the roadway is not built within a set period the county could get the land back and the purchase money returned. Staff said the city and the transportation cabinet typically want fee simple title without strings, and staff would inquire whether a reversion condition would be acceptable.

Autumn (county staff) told the court that an appraisal supports a sale price of $10,500 for that portion of 501 Home Street and presented two agenda requests at the work session: to declare 2,433 sq ft surplus and to authorize sale to the City of Frankfort for $10,500. Both items were taken up during the voting session. The clerk recorded the surplus declaration vote as approved; the sale vote was taken by voice and an audible 'nay' was recorded, but the clerk confirmed the vote was called.

Why it matters: The corridor is a multi‑phase reconstruction intended to create a "complete street" with sidewalks, a 10‑foot multiuse path and intermittent medians to slow traffic at transitions from a 55 mph approach into residential areas. The county expressed concern about giving away road frontage while an adjacent county development (a housing project) is underway. Commissioners asked staff to add protections in the contract if feasible.

What they said: "We're taking, I don't know, maybe how much, 10, 12 feet..." Chuck Nalls said of the parcel impact at Mayer and Holmes, describing it as a narrow strip needed for the median and pedestrian path. (Chuck Nalls, presentation.)

Status and next steps: The court declared the 2,433 sq ft surplus at the meeting and authorized the sale to the City of Frankfort for $10,500 in the same session (voice vote). Staff said they will pursue whether the city and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will accept a reversion clause; if not, staff will report back and implement closing procedures with required deeds once the project moves forward and the city processes acquisition paperwork.

Provenance: The corridor presentation and right‑of‑way discussion were heard in detail from SEG 1201 onward; the surplus and sale were presented by county staff at SEG 3189 and voted in the session at SEG 3431–3449.