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The Jessamine County Fiscal Court met on Tuesday, Jan. 17, for its regular meeting. 

The most contentious issue to be discussed at this meeting was a public hearing on the Oprah Hicks zone change amendment at 6035 Ashgrove Road. This zone change is being requested by developer Tom Kelley Homes to develop a neighborhood on the Oprah Hicks Farm. 

The farm is 70 acres and is currently an A-1 zone, which restricts the land to agricultural uses only. The Developer is requesting a zone change to R-1 for 65 of the 70 acres, which would allow the construction of a residential neighborhood. This neighborhood would consist of 46 lots ranging from 1 acre to 5.43 acres. 

According to District 2 Magistrate Terry Meckstroth, developer Tom Kelly Homes requested a zone change with the Jessamine County Planning and Zoning department within the past year. In that hearing, three department members were for the zone change, and five voted against it. 

Now, developer Tom Kelley Homes is back to request a zone change, but this time with the Jessamine County Fiscal Court. A spokesperson and a few other residents who live in the Ashgrove neighborhood were in attendance to oppose the zone change. The planning and zoning attorney also attended the meeting and notified the court of the department’s opposition. 

Because Judge-Executive David West could not attend this meeting, leaving only six voting members present, this public hearing was postponed to Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 4 p.m.

In other fiscal court news:

• Director of Planning and Zoning, Tim Cross, was reappointed to his position. 
• The lead principal of the Jessamine County and Career and Technology Center, Christi Hack, was reappointed to her position.
• The Fiscal Court approved an invoice for $89,000 for Bluegrass Recreation Sales and Installation. This invoice will go towards the splash pad equipment and its installation at Riney B. Aquatic Center. The city of Nicholasville will also receive an invoice and pay for the other $89,000 for this joint parks and recreation project. The invoice for the pump station has yet to come.