Goble selected as Mayor Pro-tem by city commission

Blake Vickers, Richmond Register, Ky.
Updated ·5 min read

Jan. 12—Blake Vickers

Newly elected Richmond City Commissioner Mendi Goble was selected as Mayor Pro-Tem in the first Richmond City Commission meeting of the year.

Due to Goble receiving the highest number of votes in the election, she was nominated and elected as Mayor Pro-Tem by the other members of the commission.

In the first reading of Ordinance 23-03, the commission weighed annexing a tract of a 96.66 acre property on Goggins Lane between the Rose Hill and Hickory Hill developments into the city limits and passing that annexation to the Planning and Zoning Commission for recommendation on zoning.

The property is owned by UMA Investments LLC. UMA consented to the voluntary annexation of the land into the city. Current zoning for the land is R1A Residential, single family home.

Several members of the audience were critical of further zoning changes around Goggins Lane, citing heavy traffic conditions.

Alan Douglas Gay and Daniel Toth were promoted to the level of master patrol officer in a pinning ceremony. Emily Faulkner, who was previously promoted, was also pinned in the ceremony.

The commission read the first reading of Ordinance 23-01, which would amend the boundaries of the mill district in the downtown area. The mill district was first established alongside Millstone Park. According to City Manager Rob Minerich, the boundaries of the mill district are larger than those of the entertainment district. The ordinance would resize those boundaries of the mill district to be the same size of those of the entertainment district.

In the first reading of ordinance 23-02, the commission pondered an amendment that would allow funds collected from water meter surcharges to be used for the frequent storm water projects created in the city.

"I want to emphasize that this is not a new tax or fee on water meters. It's an existing $2.10 fee that has always been there. Richmond Utilities charges that per meter and it passes into the city of Richmond and normally goes into our general fund," Minerich said. "In order for us to dedicate funds towards our stormwater projects and also clean up some of these retention and detention ponds, initially HOA funds were to be established to maintain those. This fund will go towards those stormwater projects and maintaining those facilities."

A task order for the Armory Park project was passed by the commission. It will be for a retaining wall and grade at the property line of the project at a cost of $46,754.40.

"The property line that runs at, what I call the back of the property where the houses are, when we removed the fencing we ran into a retaining wall that we didn't know was there. In order for us to have water flow off the property correctly we've got to remove that retaining wall, re-slope the property, and replace three trees," Minerich said. "Just so everyone knows, we're replacing eight trees... It's necessary for the stonework on the back of the property... It's something we didn't expect that turned up when we started the grading, and now we have to fix it."

In Order 23-09, the city officially authorized the use of ARPA funding to assist with the construction of the Enrich Program, matching the non-profit with a donation of $100,000

Enrich is a planned downtown restaurant from Dan and India Kirstein that will employ those in substance use recovery, the homeless, and others deemed "too difficult" to employ.

"As you know we had a presentation in our workshop session from the Enrich Program. We were trying to determine how to support that project. We actually had this idea. We can qualify the ARPA funds for this program," Minerich said in a previous meeting. "What we proposed is putting $100,000 of the ARPA money in the budget for the Enrich program. The idea is, if they can match that $100,000, we'll give them that (ARPA funding) to support the program."

Minerich said another change order has also come in at $6,500 for fencing around the playground. According to Minerich, the skate plaza at the park must be fenced in and locked up at night by state law.

"We're looking at the option of fencing in the perimeter and leaving the memorial in the front open... then we can remove the fencing around the skate plaza and playground," Minerich said.

Other business:

President's Day was added as a holiday for city employees.

Virgil Gardner was appointed to the Richmond Housing Authority Board to a term that will expire in 2027.

A new job description was added to the Codes, Planning, Safety, and Risk Management Department. The description is Codes, Planning, Safety, and Risk Management Department Electrical Inspector.

The city approved of the purchase of a truck for the public works department. It is a 2023 Chevrolet 3500 cab truck priced valued at $90,000. Funds from the contingency account will be used for the purchase. It will be used for a sidewalk crew. The vehicle is on state contract, and if not purchased now, will be unavailable until July 2024 due to supply chain issues. Through the state contract, it will be purchased for roughly $40,000. A bed will be purchased for it at a cost of $16,000.