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The Nicholasville City Commission met on the last Monday of February and heard a presentation about the design of the new city hall and a 2024 financial audit. The commission also approved the construction company to manage the upcoming community center and HR changes.

City hall presentation

As part of the Brandstetter Carroll firm with architects, designers, and engineers, Monica Sumner has been meeting with Mayor Alex Carter, General Government Director Doug Blackford, and Public Utilities Director on the design of the new city hall building. The building will include offices for Nicholasville City Government employees and a community room for the city commission meetings and public events. Sumner previously presented the building’s floor plan and 3D model to the commission in early November 2024. 

“Notice the title of the presentation is Exterior Design Options because we are gonna give you some choices. And so you’ll have an opportunity to voice your preferences there,” Sumner said to the commission, who hasn’t been a part of the design of the building but made their opinions on the outside visuals heard in this meeting. 

The building will be over 31,000 square feet, although Sumner said she and Carter, Amato, and Blackford have “gone through many attempts to make it smaller,” but many elements didn’t work in those attempts. 

Commissioners provided their opinion on visuals of the building but did not make any motions. 

Fiscal Year 2024 audit presentation 

The 2024 Fiscal Year Audit presentation by Baldwin CPA PLLC’s Drew Ulmer and Zach Hardin did not find any non-compliance with laws, regulations, or agreements by the Nicholasville government in any part of its financial statements provided by the Nicholasville Financial Department. 

According to Ulmer, Nicholasville saw a $10 million increase in net position. As part of its net position, the city is required to report its net pension liability and net OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefits) liability. Over the years, these liabilities have increased, but this year, they decreased. 

“Most of your assets are in cash, investments, and receivables,” Ulmer said. He added, “Streets, water, and sewer infrastructure is the city’s largest asset.”

The audit is only about 95 percent finished, but the commission approved the “clean audit,” as reported by Ulmer and Hardin, since, according to City Clerk Kathy Walker, the city must report the audit to municipal bondholders by March 1, 2024. 

“As expected, we have a stable financial status here at the City of Nicholasville and [Finance Officer] Laurie Young and the finance department…appreciate you guys and all that you do. Being understaffed in the financial department makes it difficult as well,” said Mayor Carter. 

Construction manager for community center

The city sent out a request for a quotation to solicit bids for this project and originally received four responses. When the deadline came, however, the city only received two proposals. The commission approved Brett Construction Company in Lexington to manage the community center construction project. 

“It’s been a long time coming, but we’re here finally, and we’re getting really close to seeing some dirt turn. We’re really close to announcing a groundbreaking,” Blackford said. 

This item, a Nicholasville-Jessamine County joint project, will be heard by the Fiscal Court and its magistrates on Tuesday, March 4. 

Ordinance & resolution

The commission approved the following ordinance for a first reading:

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF NICHOLASVILLE TO ENTER

INTO A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH CMN-RUS, LLC (“METRONET”),

GRANTING A TEN (10) YEAR, NON-EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE FOR A

TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF

NICHOLASVILLE, KENTUCKY. (This Ordinance will allow MetroNet to offer telecommunications services in the City of Nicholasville, Kentucky.)

According to Clerk Walker, this ordinance concerns Metronet’s desire to discontinue its cable franchise since “it isn’t making any money” but continue providing internet service and fiber [telecommunications] in the city through an updated franchise. 

The Commission also approved the following resolution:

Request to authorize the Mayor to sign RESOLUTION 2025-002:

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN A SETTLEMENT

AGREEMENT (“AGREEMENT”) BY AND BETWEEN CMN-RUS, LLC

(“METROLNET”) AND THE CITY OF NICHOLASVILLE, KENTUCKY (“NICHOLASVILLE”)

This resolution would also help Metronet and the City of Nicholasville terminate their shared cable franchise agreement, at a settlement cost to the City of Nicholasville of $10,000. 

The Commission also approved a request for the Mayor to sign a lien release for 220 Normandy Court.

HR

The Commission approved the following staff changes:

• Hire Barry Waldrop as a seasonal auxiliary police officer for a city park patrol assignment grade 20 at the rate of$23.91. Effective March 4, 2025. 
• Hire Jeremy Miller as a temporary part-time officer at his current hourly rate.
• Approve rate increase in administration for a 5 percent rate increase for Raven Warren for completion of certification. 
• Approve rate increase in administration for a 5 percent rate increase for Kathy Teater for completion of certification for municipal clerks.

Lastly, the Commission approved its accounts payable from the last month at $2,928.192.76.