City Commission passes mailbox ordinance, awards several bids

Blake Vickers, Richmond Register, Ky.
Updated ·3 min read

Mar. 2—Blake Vickers

In their Feb. 28 meeting, the Richmond City Commission officially passed an ordinance requiring cluster-style mailboxes at certain new developments and awarded several bids.

Ordinance 23-09 had its first reading during the previous commission meeting on Feb. 14. As required by the United States Postal Services (USPS), new city developments will be required to have cluster-style mailboxes as a matter of public safety.

"Moving forward, if this is voted in, it would be in effect in any of the properties that were just before you. Before they had a development plan approved in construction documents, they would have to comply with this," City Attorney Tyler Frazier said of the ordinance during the previous commission meeting.

Any developments approved before the passing of Ordinance 23-09 will not need to go back through planning and zoning to add the cluster mailboxes, but they will be required to work with the department for future placement of the mailboxes.

Equipment was purchased to help maintain Battlefield Park, which will be officially taken over by the city on the estimated date of Apr. 1, 2023.

That equipment includes two zero-turn Kawasaki mowers, two steel trimmers, and two steel hand blowers.

The commission approved the purchase of the machinery from Central Equipment of Lexington for the price of $31,053.96. The money will be taken from the city's fiscal year 2022-2023 budget.

"Initially the thought was to contract this mowing out. But looking at the acreage and the cost, it's better for us to purchase our own equipment and stage it out on site and use seasonal help to maintain it," City Manager Rob Minerich said.

A bid to replace the emergency staircase on the Best Lovell Building was approved by the city commission. Central Kentucky Industrial will take on the project for a price of $43,168, paid for out of the city's contingency fund.

"The Best Lovell Building that's right out here on North Second Street, the back of it is our parking lot (behind Richmond City Hall). It's the metal stairs on the back of that building. It is an emergency staircase and it has become deteriorated. The new (stairs) we are installing is hot dipped and galvanized and should last 30 years," Minerich said.

Kona Ice of the Blue Grass will provide frozen treats at Lake Reba during upcoming events this year. The city will take a $15,000 commission or 30% of sales made by the vendor, whichever is the higher of the two numbers.

A bid was awarded for fleet fuel services. As part of a two-year contract with the city, the Riley Oil Company will handle a vehicle fleet card program, access locations, bulk delivery, tracking, and reporting.

Jacob Cannon was hired as a full-time environmental technician for the city's Recycling Department. It is a Paygrade I position. According to Minerich, the Recycling Department is now fully staffed with this hiring.

The city commission was the second government meeting of the day for Phillis Adams, president of Children's Champions of Madison County. Adams spent the morning in Richmond City Hall for Madison County Fiscal Court, where Judge Executive Reagan Taylor read a proclamation announcing March as Children's Champion's Month in Madison County.

In the evening of that same day, Mayor Robert Blythe read a proclamation naming March Children's Champions Month in the city of Richmond as well.

"I'm very thankful to be here to be able to do the best that we can for children. It's one time a year and it has been going on since 1999. We want to encourage all adults to help all children," Adams said.

Each year, Children's Champions holds a contest for elementary school students to draw a picture showing the importance of protecting and ensuring the success of children. That drawing will then be displayed on several billboards in the county. This year's winner is Emerson Radcliffe of Glenn Marshall Elementary.