Four Ordinances Approved

By PJ Martin

Editor

The Herald-News

 

The Edmonton City Council met in regular session on Monday, February 2^nd, at the Edmonton City Hall. Those in attendance were Mayor Doug Smith, Councilmembers Teresa Hamlett, Curt Estes, Faye Word, Tommy England, and City Attorney Brian Pack.

Others in attendance were City Clerk/Administrator Dawn Devore, Public Works Superintendent Moe Hensley, Police Chief David Robertson, 911 Director Jordan Crump, ABC Administrator Fred Ray, Park & Recreation Director Brian Garrett, and for the Herald-News PJ Martin.

The remodeling of the Edmonton City Hall has been completed. The employees will be using access cards to enter once the doors are all activated.

Two of the regular attendees were absent: Councilmember Cathy Nunn and Edmonton Fire Chief Jerry Clemmons.

The minutes from the last meeting held on January 5 were approved as written.

Ordinance Number 2025-26-004, creating a shift differential for the 911 dispatchers working night shift, was approved for its second reading after motions to approve were made by Beard and Hamlett.

The dispatchers working from 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. will receive a shift premium of $1 pers hour for regular hours and $1.5 for overtime hours.

Ordinance Number 2025-06-05 to raise the pay for the elected mayor to $30,000 per year, divided into 52-week installments effective January 1, 2027, was approved after motions were made by Beard and Estes.

Also, effective January 1, 2027, is Ordinance Number 2025-26-06 to raise the pay of the elected council members to $3,600 per year paid in 12 monthly installments. The motion was made by Hamlett and seconded by Estes, and approved.

Ordinance Number 2025-26 07, which amends Section 20 (B) of the City of Edmonton Ethics Ordinance by decreasing the number of members on the Board of Ethics from five to three. The members will be appointed by the mayor within 60 days of the passing of this ordinance. Appointments are for a 3-year term. The ordinance passed with no discussion.

Ordinance Number 2025-26-08 was presented for its first reading. The ordinance amends the City’s Alcohol Beverage Control ordinance # 2016-17-02. Article II, Section 2 (g) was amended for a Special Temporary License under KRS 243.260, which can be issued for any regularly organized fair, exposition, racing association, or other organization listed under the KRS.

The ordinance was approved after motions by Hamlett and Beard.

Each department head presented their monthly events in turn.

Director Crump presented the 911 Dispatch Center’s January report: Edmonton PD -172, Emergency Mgmt. – 7, KSP – 19, Coroner – 1, School Police – 2, Sheriff’s Dept. – 242, Edmonton Fire Dept. – 86 NM Fire Dept. – 38, and SS Fire Dept. – 69, of those 27.04% were city, and 69.49% were county.

Crump added,” Our call volume during those three days (ice storm) were at least triple what it usually is. And for the numbers, the instances where we actually sent somebody to trees down, we had 36 calls for service lines down, specifically in the roadway, 13 calls, and 17 welfare checks.”

“I really want to brag on all the responders that helped during this some of those calls for trees down, we would make one call for an entire roadway, and somebody would have to cut trees down the entire roadway. So, I’m sure we have 50 to 100 trees down in this county. One of our deputies had to cut his way into work from one end, and the fire department had to help cut him out. Also, the fire departments cut routes into people’s homes for medical calls. So that’s great. Fire departments were great.”

Next, Smith said, “Included in your packet are some policy updates for the 911 department. We’ll need a motion to approve these updates.”

The motion was made by Hamlett, seconded by Estes, and approved.

Police Chief Robertson presented the department’s January activity report as: 8 arrests, 4 non-injury accidents, 7 alarms, 3 animal complaints, 1 domestic violence, 1 EPO, 2 incomplete 911 calls, 1 new investigation opened, 3 motorist assists, 12 medical calls, 16 traffic stops, 4 warrants, 1 escort, there were 45 complaints and 12 citations written. The department patrolled 4,312 miles.

Edmonton Fire Chief Jerry Clemmons was absent, and it was said he suffered a fall during the snow and icy weather.

Mayor Smith then asked if Attorney Pack had anything to discuss, and he replied, “Everything’s going well, no issues.”

In other news, the mayor gave an update on the possibility of getting a grocery store in Edmonton. “I talked to Tracy (Worley) this morning, and just asked if he had an update for the council, and he said none at this time, having a cost feasibility done, we’ll reach out when concluded.”

“And I think that’s the same thing we got last month. So, you know, it’s not saying they’re not going to come, but they’re doing a cost. But just in case that doesn’t work, Dawn’s been working on some other things…We have been in contact with the Department for Local Government and the BRADD office about some possible grants that would be available to the city that could assist with a grocery store locating here. There is a community development block grant the city can apply for, but we need a letter of commitment from the store that they are willing to locate in Edmonton…”

“This grant would be to the city and would be used as a loan and 2% interest to the business. Since they are a for-profit business, we have also inquired about an Appalachian Regional Commission.

Devore explained, “So the ARC grant is a little different. I’ve talked to the Bradd office that’s helping me with that one, and I’m still trying to figure out what it can be used for to make sure I understand it completely.”

Mayor Smith stated, “Well, I think I speak for all of us. We’re determined to try to get a grocery in our community…obviously, cities are not in the grocery store business, so there’s only certain things that you can do, because it’s a, it’s a for-profit business.”

The motion was made to adjourn.

The ordinances listed are published in this newspaper in full.