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The Nicholasville City Commission had first readings for its 2023-2024 fiscal year budget and its 2024-2025 fiscal year budget. The Commission will have its second reading for the fiscal year budgets on Monday, June 24. 

Each week, the commission reads ordinances that must receive two readings before they are approved. 

One ordinance this week, however, is different, and Commissioner Patty Teater required  Nicholasville Director of General Government Doug Blackford to work on applying for an Entertainment Destination Center license for the city as soon as possible. 

This request comes following the downtown live music celebrations in Nicholasville.

 “We’ve had some struggles when we do our concerts downtown,” Blackford said. 

Because the event is downtown, part of the fun is visitors being able to stop inside one of the nearby local businesses for a snack or a drink. However, it’s illegal throughout the country to walk around town with an open alcoholic beverage container. After applying for the Entertainment Destination Center, local businesses can sell special open alcoholic container beverages specially marked to be recognized by law enforcement. The city can designate specific areas and times when people can use these special cups consequence-free.

Businesses will have a 30-day notice period after applying for the license before participating. 

The Commission also approved bid requests, including awarding a $49,139 bid to SBR Machinery Movers LLC to clean up the John Preece Building site (the future site of the community center).

The Commission also approved a bid for road salt, a purchase the city makes yearly in preparation for winter snow. Blackford recommended Morton for 300 tons of salt at a total cost of $33,180. 

The final bid the city approved was for cleaning city buildings—this is also a yearly bid the Commission must approve. Blackford recommended Blanton’s Cleaning Service at $12,900. The Commission approved all of Blackford’s recommendations. 

The commission also approved a request to authorize the mayor to sign an agreement by and between the city of Nicholasville and Jessamine South Elkhorn Water District.

Deputy utilities and finance director Bob Amato explained that in 2019, the city and the South Elkhorn Water District agreed on which areas in the north end each entity would serve. Due to development in the north end of town, the current agreement was proposed to make things easier for the South Elkhorn Water District. 

“We’re gonna serve the parcel just north of Kohl’s and then on the southside of Ashgrove, which is right across the street from the Lexington Wastewater Plant,” Amato said. 

The Commission approved an encroachment agreement for 113 Waller Court. According to city engineer Brian Claar, the homeowners of the previously mentioned property want to put a fence up for their pets and new children.

 “I went up to talk to the property owners, and he was easy to work with. His neighbors have a fence like this, and I did not see any drainage issues or potential impacts.” Claar said. 

With the help of human resources director Kathy Rhineheimer, the Commission approved several new hires.

• Melissa Wade has been hired as an Administrative Assistant at City Hall grade 22 pending the results of a background check, physical, and drug and alcohol test at the hourly rate of $19.75, effective June 25, 2024. 
• Roman Walker and Kevin Dotson have been hired as seasonal maintenance workers with no benefits, effective June 12, 2024. 
• Caleb Burrows, Michael Quarry, Jackson Johnston, Jacob Madden, Bailey Pittman, Chas Row, and Andre Wozniak have been hired as police officer recruits grade P1 pending the results of physical, drug, and alcohol tests at the rate of $22.23 effective July 2, 2024. 

The following are the first readings of ordinances:

Ordinance 152-2024

An ordinance amending the official zoning map for the city of Nicholasville from A-1 (County) Central Agriculture to R-1D (City) Single Family Residential for approximately 24.95 acres of property located at 2045 Shun Pike, Portion of PVA Parcel #047-00-00-022.00

Ordinance 153-2024 

An ordinance amending the official zoning map for the city of Nicholasville from R-1B (Residential Single Family District) to B-2 (Highway Business District) for approximately 4.0 acres of property located at 1300 Hoover Pike (PVA Parcel #060-00-00-005.01).

Ordinance 154-2024

An ordinance establishing the rate for the regulatory license fee upon the gross receipts of the sale of alcoholic beverages for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. It establishes a regulatory license fee upon the gross receipts of the sale of alcoholic beverages of each license issued by the City ABC Administrator for the Fiscal Year 2025 in the amount of five percent of gross retail sales of all alcoholic beverages sold by the drink, package distilled spirits and wine, and package malt beverages. 

Ordinance 155-2024

An ordinance amending the city of Nicholasville, Kentucky, annual budget for the general government for the fiscal year July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, by estimating revenues and resources and appropriating funds for the operation of city government. 

Ordinance 156-2023

An ordinance adopting the city of Nicholasville, Kentucky, annual budget for the general government for the fiscal year July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, by estimating revenues and resources and appropriating funds for the operation of city government. 

Ordinance 157-2024

An ordinance amending the city of Nicholasville, Kentucky, annual budget for the utility government for the fiscal year July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, by estimating revenues, resources, and appropriating funds for the operation of utilities. 

Ordinance 158-2024

An ordinance amending the city of Nicholasville, Kentucky, annual budget for the utility government for the fiscal year July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, by estimating revenues, resources, and appropriating funds for the operation of utilities.