Much of Tuesday’s meeting of the Versailles City Council was devoted to a debate over who will serve on a reconstituted committee charged with overseeing the council’s $3.68 million downtown revitalization plan. In the end, the municipal order establishing the committee passed 3 to 2, with council members Lisa Johnson and Laura Dake voting no and Mayor Brian Traugott casting his second tie-breaking vote since taking office in 2013. Council members Aaron Smither and Mary Bradley were absent. Traugott introduced the municipal order establishing the committee, which includes the language “… the downtown revitalization project has reached a point where time is of the essence and decisions must be streamlined” and “this involves a dedicated Ad-Hoc Committee focused solely on this project.” Councilmember Lisa Johnson noted she’s a member of the present downtown subcommittee and took exception to being excluded from the new one. “I’ve been on this committee for two years, since I started on council and my name is not on here as a member. I’d like to be a member,” she said. She also asked that either the new committee not be formed until the beginning of next year or that she be added to it. Councilmember Ken Kerkhoff, who will chair the new committee, said the committee will have several subcommittees and Johnson would be welcome to serve on them. He saidhe was satisfied with the list of committee members, which includes Tourism Committee Executive Director Emily Downey, Maria Bohanan, Sharon Hughes and 5th District Magistrate William Downey. Kerkhoff didn’t run for reelection and Johnson questioned whether the committee should be chaired by a non-council member. Traugott said he’d like a buffer so the chair wouldn’t necessarily be speaking for the city. Johnson said she was the only member of the subcommittee who wasn’t named to the new committee; Traugott responded that Smither, who chairs the subcommittee but didn’t run for reelection, also wasn’t reappointed. Johnson called her exclusion a punitive measure and spoke of her committee work. “I have also been a chair of committees where I have taken minutes, I have taken good records, I have submitted approved minutes to the clerk and this hasn’t always been the case for committees,” Johnson said, referring to Smither not producing subcommittee meeting minutes or notifying the Sun in advance of several of its meetings. Traugott responded, “I’ll speak candidly. There was a lot of friction, and both of the sources of that friction are not on this membership list. The work you’ve done on the BSDDC (Building Standards and Downtown Development Committee) has been fantastic … and I told you earlier today (that) I think you’re a workhorse …” Springs of Versailles Council chambers were filled with residents of the Adena Woods and Adena Trace neighborhoods. Hank Graddy, the attorney hired by “Adena Neighbors” to represent them in their battle against the proposed Springs of Versailles subdivision, spoke briefly and presented a short letter to the council. The letter referred to the Versailles-Midway-Woodford County Planning and Zoning Commission Nov. 10 decision to recommend rezoning land between Adena Woods and Adena Trace for the new subdivision. (See story on front page.) The letter states the developer’s drainage study introduced at last week’s public hearing was not made available for review in advance and suggests the commission’s record is incomplete. It notes council’s options include holding its own public hearing or an “argument-style” hearing based on the commission’s record. Attorney Robert Stilz, Jr., who represents Springs of Versailles, said there were two P&Z public hearings and at least three TRC meetings on the subject. VPD victim’s advocate The council voted 4 to 0 to establish a new victim advocate’s position in the Versailles Police Department. Pay for the job was not included in the municipal order. Restaurant tax At the request of Kerkhoff, a special work session will be held Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the proposed “restaurant tax,” which proved controversial during a public hearing in April 2021. Then, backers said proceeds from the tax added to customers’ bills would benefit restaurants and other tourism-related businesses. Christmas events Katie Cooley, the city’s event coordinator, gave a preview of Christmas-related public events, which will begin with the tree-lighting ceremony Friday, Dec. 2, at 5:30 p.m. and the Christmas parade at 5 p.m. the following day. The Kentucky State University marching band will again take part in the parade. Further details can be found at wonderfulwoodfordchristmas.com.
Johnson objects to new downtown committee lineup
