Jenkins council adopts cable franchise, approves FEMA grant administration contract and keeps tax rate unchanged

The Jenkins City Council on Aug. 5 adopted a cable franchise ordinance and approved a contract resolution to administer FEMA grant funds, while voting to keep the city's property tax rate unchanged.

Daniel, who identified himself to the meeting as Daniel and presided as chair, opened the meeting and led approvals of the July minutes and financial report before the council moved to the second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 263. Presenter read the ordinance language describing a nonexclusive cable franchise in Jenkins covering pole use, construction standards, subscriber protections and government access channels. "This is the 2nd reading of ordinance number 263," the presenter said. Chair Daniel moved to approve; the motion was seconded and adopted by voice vote.

The council also completed a second reading of an amendment to the city's ABC ordinance (chapter 115) that, according to the reading, responds to a change at the state level removing an exemption for certain private or social clubs; the council approved the amendment on voice vote.

On finance matters, presenter read the first reading of budget amendment 2-60-A, which lists nonbudgeted receipts including a Division of Forestry grant ($1,998.87), vehicle lease funds ($36,900), a Phase 1 dam project appropriation ($172,271), ADF grant funds ($1,321.86), a storm gauge project ($42,500), opioid funds (about $12,527.20) and a FEMA award ($1,587,627.44). The full text of the amendment was made available for public inspection at the city clerk's office.

Council then considered and approved a resolution authorizing the city to sign a contract for administrative services to manage FEMA funds. The resolution notes the city lacks trained personnel to administer KY EM/FEMA funds and seeks to contract with the district for grant administration; the resolution text includes a signature block referencing "Todd DePries, mayor" as part of the document. The council moved, seconded and adopted the resolution by voice vote.

Council members voted to maintain the current property tax and motor-vehicle rates rather than increase or decrease them. A council member said they would have preferred lowering the rate, but the official motion to maintain the rate carried on a voice vote.

Other administrative actions approved included opening a dedicated Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) bank account at Community Trust Bank and an AML account for the wastewater treatment plant project (staff noted federal programs require separate checking accounts), surplusing an older fire truck and authorizing staff to negotiate its transfer, and approving requests to host a middle-school football game on Sept. 7 and a high-school football game on Oct. 5.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance No. 263 (cable franchise): approved (second reading, voice vote) - ABC ordinance amendment (chapter 115): approved (second reading, voice vote) - Budget amendment 2-60-A: presented (first reading; full text available at the clerk's office) - Resolution to sign FEMA grant administration contract: approved (voice vote) - Property tax and motor-vehicle rates: motion to maintain rates approved (voice vote) - Open CDBG and AML accounts: approved (voice votes) - Surplus fire truck: approved (voice vote) - School football events (Sept. 7 and Oct. 5): approved (voice votes)

What happens next The budget amendment was read for the first time and will return for further reading or action according to the city's ordinance schedule; the FEMA contract and other administrative approvals allow staff to move forward with grant administration and required banking arrangements.