The Versailles City Council was informed at last week’s regular meeting
by Mayor Brian Traugott that it could lose $14,000 as a result of the
failure of H&N Lights (H&N) to complete a contracted lighting project.
H&N is the business the city contracted with for the installation of
roofline lighting on Main Street as part of the revitalization plan.
Several businesses, including The Woodford Sun, had agreed to permit the
installation of the lights along the street-facing top of their facades.
The roofline lighting project was budgeted by the council for this
fiscal year. H&N quoted a cost of about half of the budgeted amount and
so the city entered into an agreement with it. The $24,000 total cost
was split between the city and the Woodford County Tourism Commission,
with the city contributing $14,000 and the commission $10,000. H&N had
previously installed the roofline lights at the courthouse and Amsden
building.
Traugott advised that no action needed to be taken (at the meeting) but
said, “At the risk of slander, I think we have been scammed, perhaps.”
Bill Moore, the city attorney, said that “truth is a defense to slander.”
In a follow-up interview, Traugott said, “It wasn’t so much a scam as
perhaps Holzman having problems, it’s just too early to tell.”
The possible financial loss came to light when Traugott said he had
grown “frustrated” with the lack of communication and performance by
H&N. On the recommendation of Moore, Traugott demanded the company
return the money. Hannah Holzman, the contact for H&N, told him that she
would “love to (give a refund) but the lights had been purchased, sized,
cut and solar boxes ordered.” Traugott requested Emily Downey, executive
director of the Tourism Commission, to follow up with Holzman to request
H&N turn over the materials that had arrived and to tell her that the
city would do the installation. Traugott said since leaving the message,
“Emily has been ghosted.”
Councilmember Laura Dake said she understood that Holtzman had left
Kentucky, and Traugott said, “That is the rumor.”
Versailles Police Chief Mike Murray advised the council that his
department would open an investigation and do all they could if
requested. Several council members expressed their support for an
investigation. Murray said the crime of theft of services could possibly
be used.
Traugott said, “This is a little embarrassing . . . we will get (the
lighting project) done eventually.”
Traugott confirmed that the city had formally turned the matter over to
the Versailles Police Department and that a detective was already
investigating.
In a separate interview, Traugott said the original deal was entered
into in good faith, but at this point the city would make every effort
to retrieve the taxpayer’s money.
“We’re not taking lightly that there’s taxpayer money that’s been
expended – either ours or tourism’s, which is an entity of ours,” he
said. “We’re not taking that lightly. We’re going to pursue every effort
to recover what we can.”
Deputy Chief Rob Young did not return a call for comment. Lee Howard,
the chairman of the Tourism Commission, did not respond to messages for
comment.
Technical difficulties
Versailles City Council live streams its council meetings on its
Facebook page. However, according to that site, technical difficulties
prevented the meeting from being shown live. However, the meeting was
video-recorded and is now on its Facebook page, “City of Versailles,
Ky”. The link to video recordings of council meetings can be found at
https://versailles.klc.org/Blog/43/city-council-meeting-videos-and-minutes.
However, it does not appear to have any recorded meetings since August
15, 2023, so a Facebook account is necessary to view the Nov. 21 meeting.
Downtown Revitalization
Ken Kerkhoff, the chair of the Versailles Downtown Revitalization
committee provided an update on the progress of the project. Kerkhoff
said he was very excited about the schedule as construction has
progressed ahead of schedule with the good weather and they were looking
at newer monetization and marketing possibilities. He said that nearly
all of the underground work had been completed with a few setbacks –
digging led to the discovery of an old dump and its removal necessitated
backfill.
Kerkhoff said that construction on the pavilion structure will soon
start and that “people will really get excited when they start seeing
the above-ground happening.” He also said that any additional costs that
have been incurred due to the need for backfill will be offset with
other savings. He also showed the council a slide of a mock-up of the
main entry which will be at Main and Court Streets and have large
columns supporting an arch-type structure spanning Court. Kerkhoff
described this as “Versailles’ front door”. He hopes to have a more
detailed rendering to show council in December.
Parts of the project will necessitate obtaining easements from the
Fiscal Court, Kerkhoff said, and he plans to go before the court soon to
work that out.
Special Projects
Coordinator
Traugott presented the council with a revised position description for
the newly created Special Projects Coordinator or Main Street Manager –
Councilmember Lisa Johnson pointed out that the position may need to be
re-named the latter title if the city chooses to seek grant funds from
the Kentucky Main Street Program. The position will be responsible for a
cornucopia of duties related to the ongoing revitalization project,
downtown events such as parades and markets, serving on the tourism
commission, event planning at the farmers market and stage, and “other
duties that may be assigned by the mayor.” The position will require a
high school diploma or equivalent plus five years’ experience in either
or both event planning or communications/marketing.
The position will be at the level of other department heads on the
organizational chart. Traugott said he would post the position shortly
after Thanksgiving.
Shire Village road
The homeowner’s association (HOA) of Shire Village, a development off
Beasley Road, following a vigorous debate and close vote according to
Traugott, has requested the city accept Rumsley Circle as a city road.
Rumsley Circle is the only road in the development. Traugott advised
that in anticipation of the city’s requirements for acceptance, the HOA
had the street paved last year, which should mean no repaving will be
needed for 20 years according to Bart Miller, the Public Works director.
The city is already providing emergency services to the neighborhood. By
accepting, the city would plow the road and be responsible for general
maintenance, but it would be owned by taxpayers and no longer private.
The HOA would also have to agree to no on-street parking due to the
width of the road.
Traugott said that before the road, which is now private, could even be
considered for full acceptance the Planning Commission would need to
approve an amended plat and various deed issues resolved. Given the
legal costs of the new plat and deed fixes, Traugott said it was
appropriate, if the council agreed, to give conditional approval now and
then once the amended plat is approved by the commission and the deed
issues are resolved to then formally accept the street. The council
unanimously approved the conditional acceptance.
Board appointments
Council approved the reappointment of Tony Hardin to the Joint Board of
Ethics, Cathy Weil to the Code Enforcement Board and Rev. Tony Wilson to
the Versailles Housing Authority.