Lexington City Council choose development as priority during budget summit

It seems the Lexington City Council had development on their minds during its recent city budget summit on Feb. 1 and 2.

During the summit, they discussed priorities for the city in the next year, and some the top topics were development of its facilities, development of the passenger rail project, development of its workforce and community development through addressing homelessness and housing.

Two of the biggest potential projects the city council and staff discussed was the need for a new recreational center and a new police station.

Laura Duran, director of Lexington Parks and Recreation, informed the board that although the Tri-Distributors building on South Main Street was originally slated as the site for a new rec center, a recent feasibly study concluded it was not an optimal site.

“The community wants more than what would fit in that space,” said Duran. “It also has almost no parking and it's not a great road to turn in and out of. It may not be an ideal location.”

She gave a presentation on alternatives including building a new recreation center with a range of possible amenities. The choices ranged from a 58,000 square-foot space that included a gymnasium with six basketball courts, turf practice field, indoor track, multipurpose rooms, indoor playground, fitness area, locker rooms, classroom and administrative offices for $27 million to a 30,000 square foot building with only a gymnasium, locker rooms, turf practice field and administrative offices for $10 million.

Council discussed the importance of the city providing recreational activities and having the adequate space to include more programs. They decided members needed to tour facilities similar to the proposed buildings in the future before making any decisions.

Lexington Police Chief Robby Rummage gave a presentation about the need to build a new police station or add a second floor to the existing building.  He said the department has outgrown the building which was built in 1980 and it has created safety and health concerns, such as a lack of secured interview rooms and evidence storage and poor ventilation

“The issue we have today will do nothing but compound,” said Rummage.

The council was shown three options for addressing the needs of the police department, ranging from a $31 million new building to $27 millions to add space to the existing building.

“We don’t want to let the community down,” said Lexington City Manager Terra Greene. “We need to manage expectations and build for the future needs of this community.”

Tammy Absher, director of the Lexington Business and Community Development, updated the council on the progress of the passenger rail project in the Depot District.

The city is currently in the preliminary engineering phase of the project to build a passenger station, two new boarding platforms and other amenities in the Depot District. Due to the current economy and increases in construction labor and materials, the project will cost approximately 40%, or $16 million, more to build than projected by the 2019 budget estimates. The current cost of the project is now $56 million.

The City is responsible for covering the balance of all other funds not obtained from outside sources. Absher said the city will seek additional sources for additional cost, including various grants.

Another topic discussed during the summit was the need to attract new employees as well as keep the current employees that have.

Kemberly Ewing, director of the City of Lexington Human Resources, told city council that the workforce turnover rate has increased from 13% in 2021 to 13.9% in 2022. There city currently has a 9.8% vacancy rate. She said it has difficult to get candidates to apply, so they have tried alternative tactics, such as more diverse advertising, increasing pay grade ceilings and additional benefits for employees.

The city has also been implementing more diversity, equity and inclusion in its hiring, as well as, in its workforce development. Dr. Patricia Smyer, DEI officer for the City of Lexington, told council it is not good enough just to hire more diverse employees, they have to feel comfortable and accepted at work.

The City Council had an in-depth conversation about the recent increase in homeless citizens and how the city can address “tent cities” which continue to appear in wooded areas throughout the area.

Absher said the city’s role is from a regulation standpoint, which mostly includes health issues such as sanitation and trash, and they can only go through the property owner. Rummage said law enforcement has to respond to these locations when they receive a compliant from the property owner or if they are investigating a reported crime.

Ashley Phillips, director of Davidson County First Hope Ministries, said as the only homeless shelter currently in the county, they organization does as much as they can to provide services and support for those staying at the shelter, as well as those living on the street or in tents. She said the biggest issue is many of these people don't realize there is a shelter in Lexington or the services they can provide.

Lexington Mayor Jason Hayes said that the issue of homelessness is becoming increasingly important and a topic that city council must address.

“We need to ask ourselves, what is being done, what as a municipality is our responsibility. It is a growing issue that we are going to have to grapple with and determine what is our role,” said Hayes.

This article originally appeared on The Dispatch: Lexington Council choose development as priority during budget summit