Heroes and horn-locking

Local hero saves man, Council can't agree on when to allow public comment

Asst. Fire Chief Charlie Russell congratulates Waylon Clemens (l.) on becoming a department lieutenant, and Derek Abney (r.) for heroic action in saving life of car accident victim, as Police Chief Jason Hays looks on. Photo credits: Whitney McKnight

Council Briefs

March is Children’s Champions of Madison County Month

Children’s Champions of Madison County were recognized with a proclamation by Mayor Bruce Fraley for their efforts to elevate and protect the joys of childhood in our region with drug and alcohol awareness programs. The winning poster art for the organization’s spring campaign was unveiled by Phyllis Adams.

Phyllis Adams and David Olinger display poster art for Children's Champions; receiving their proclamation from Mayor Bruce Fraley. Photo credit: Whitney McKnight

Public comment ‘inconvenient’ for some Councilmembers

A municipal order (02-2025) put forth by Councilmember John Payne to move the public comment section of the meeting to before Council business at each meeting, rather than after, was null and void because Council did not produce a majority roll call vote in favor.

Payne put forth the measure to help foster public engagement by moving the public comment section of the meeting from after the business section of the meeting, to before it. He said this would provide the time necessary for residents to research and understand any ordinances presented in a first reading before speaking their mind to Council.

Currently, when an ordinance is first read, for a member of the public to speak out about it, that person must be prepared to do so moments later during the public comment section in the same meeting when the ordinance is presented. Payne said this makes it nearly impossible for thoughtful discourse, since it is typically the first time the public is actually hearing about the ordinance.

If the public attends a Council meeting when the ordinance is given its second reading, and wants to speak out about it, they have no option to because the ordinance will have been passed before the public comment section.

Ronnie Terrill, Cora Jane Wilson, Jerry Little, and Teresa Scenters voted no on the order, with Steve Caudill, Katie Startzman, Steve Davis, and Payne in favor. Ordinances must have a majority to pass. Fraley expressed his disappointment in our legislative body and suggested they, "figure out how to achieve a consensus. I don’t like seeing a divide on this,” he said.

Wilson said she didn’t want disruptions at the start of the meeting, to which Payne responded she should develop a “thick skin” and listen to the public.

Payne said that the message to the public with the current meeting structure is that their voice is unwelcome. “We need to meet our community where they are rather than where we prefer that they be,” he said.

Addendum for airport infrastructure approved

Council approved by roll call vote an amendment to the memorandum of understanding for the interlocal agreement between Berea, Madison County Fiscal, the City of Richmond, and Eastern Kentucky University, to guarantee the loan from the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA) of $256,000 made to the City of Berea to help cover the costs of infrastructure improvements at the Central Kentucky Regional Airport.

Last month, Council unanimously agreed to an assistance agreement with the KIA, that in addition to the loan, allows the City to pass through the loan of $1,173,800 to pay for water and sewer improvements at the Central Kentucky Regional Airport on Madison Airport Rd.

Fraley said the Madison Airport Board earlier voted to award the construction contract to Berea-based Chasteen Enterprises. The Airport Board will be the client.

Amended budget approved

A second reading of Ordinance 02-2025 to amend the City’s fiscal year 2025 budget to reflect amendments made in 2024 was approved by a 6 to 1 vote, with Terrill opposed. A copy of the amended budget for FY24-25 can be read here.

Zone change approved

A second reading for a zone change from residential to commercial for 599 Richmond Rd. N. was approved by all members except Little, who abstained because he owns the property in question.

Department heads report

Utilities

Kevin Howard, general manager of the Berea Municipal Utilities (BMU), told Council that an upcoming water and electric meter change-out program is underway, and that BMU is currently vetting vendors.

The change should streamline meter-reading via digitization. Work on the project is anticipated to begin by early summer. Details for an ordinance authorizing a utility rate review will be submitted to Council by March 27.

Regarding improvements at Owsley Fork dam, because the Federal Emergency Management Agency has determined land surrounding the dam is in a flood plain, requiring a revision of the map of the area to help address flood insurance issues.

All necessary properties for a 60-foot wide easement for the dam expansion have been completed, according to Howard, and all necessary road closures have been vetted with the County and affected property owners there. A secluded grave site will be relocated from it currently sits within the boundaries of the dam’s planned expansion.

When the work on the dam begins later this year, water levels will be kept at seven feet, Howard said, noting that there is concern about what might happen if there is a water shortage, as there was last year when the dam fell below seven feet. if that occurs, there will be a voluntary water conservation campaign at the least.

Approval on dam project plans is expected by the end of this month.

Howard also said that the BMU wastewater treatment plant was chosen as the treatment plant of the year by the Kentucky Wastewater Operator Association.

Fire Department

Asst. Fire Chief Charlie Russell commended Waylon Clemens for becoming a lieutenant in the department and Derek Ashby for saving a man trapped in a burning vehicle. Ashby told how he was off-duty but received an alert on his radio and realized the incident was near his home. He sped to the scene and found a man trapped in a flaming car. Ashby said he was unable not extract the man due to his injuries, but that he was able to put out the fire using a case of water bottles in the back of his pick-up truck.

Ashby said he punctured the bottles with his pocket knife to create a sprinkler that he shook on the fire until he’d emptied all the bottles and the fire was put out. When the first responders arrived, they were confused by the “empty water bottles lying around everywhere”, Clemens said, but that because the fire was out, they were able to extract the victim safely and transport him to the hospital.

Public comments

A citizen who identified as a “dance mom” requested that more lighting be installed near the Gen Z dance school, near the railroad tracks, on N. Broadway after an accident occurred because the driver could not see for the darkness. No one was hurt in the accident.

City administrator report

Shawn Sandlin, the City’s interim city administrator, clarified that the new contract now in effect with Waste Connections for trash removal has increased from $11.50 per month to $17.20, but that seniors aged 65 years and older can receive a discounted rate of $13.50 per month.

Mayor/Council comments

Mayor

Fraley reinforced his enthusiasm for Children’s Champions, complimented the finance department’s Susan Hilton for her ‘excellent” work on the budget, and also thanked Howard, praising his “competence” and “professionalism”.

Council comments of note

Davis: Referred to the defeated municipal order, said “Either you want to make it easier for the public to comment, or you don’t.”

Payne: Commented that a survey of the general public in Berea would likely find “overwhelming” support for moving the public comment section to the beginning of each meeting.

Startzman: Commented on how easy the new Codes Department’s online application service is to use, after having experienced it for herself while applying for Codes approval on a new structure on her property.

Little: Suggested that transparency of Council could be enhanced by televising work sessions, which currently are not streamed on the City’s Youtube channel.

The next regularly scheduled Council meeting is Tuesday, March 18, 6:30pm. Meetings are held at the City Building Annex at 304 Chestnut Street. You can watch regularly scheduled meetings on the City’s YouTube channel under the “Live” tab.

Update: On Wed., March 5, 2025 art 2:45pm, David Olinger’s name was added to the photo gallery for Children’s Champions.