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The Nicholasville City Commission formalized its departmental responsibilities Monday night, which shuffled all four commissioners.

Each of the four city commissioners acts as the commissioner over departments within the city. Traditionally, those have been selected following an election in order of the vote totals.

In December, Commissioner Betty Black balked when incoming commissioner Bethany Brown chose the police and fire departments. Black had been the commissioner for those departments for eight years. Brown said she did not want to be over the street department because her father works in that department.

Monday, the commissioners unanimously approved the appointments for the next two years. Commissioner Patty Teater, who received the most votes, will be mayor pro tem and over the meter department. Commissioner Alex Carter will supervise the water and sewer departments, Brown will be over police and fire and Black will be the commissioner for the street and cemetery departments.

Nicholasville Mayor Pete Sutherland will be over the administrative department.

“I accept the department I’ve got,” Black said. “I think it’s time to move forward. I’ll do what I can to help.”

Previously, she said the police and fire departments traditionally went to whoever placed fourth in the election because no one else wanted them.

The commissioners also approved the first readings of amendments to several city ordinances, including how raises are calculated for city commissioners. Carter said the current ordinance says commissioners would receive a raise based on the consumer price index.

Carter said the language should be changed from “shall receive” to “may receive,” especially since the commissioners’ pay has not changed since 2007.

There was no proposal to increase the commissioners’ salaries.

City Attorney Darren Sammons said the language could be changed in time for a second reading and requested additional time to read through it again.

Nicholasville Fire Chief Mark Case also announced his retirement from the department, effective Feb. 1.

“It’s been a good run and it’s time to move on,” Case said. “I really enjoyed working for y’all.”

“You’re going to leave us in great shape,” Sutherland said.