[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6678260,"mediaKeyId","2112814-e2edba1371b602b56cad4db40102b0f8","parentId",2112814,"title","Council reassigns $1.25M in surplus, approves $500K for road salt as city continues storm response","audioSeconds",3829,"startMs",339000,"endMs",4168000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112814-e2edba1371b602b56cad4db40102b0f8&start=339&end=4168","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112814-e2edba1371b602b56cad4db40102b0f8/thumbnail_339000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6678260/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Council-reassigns-125M-in-surplus-approves-500K-for-road-salt-as-city-continues-storm-response","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678260-6517a5a3f8d62a005c2b15f9af34665d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193481&Signature=f22s35A2Rb9NXp-Rg-qQiiwV5J9LP2BE656zLAIbiSwCeFHs4BxHs4rJIXSDcolt~US1ZLyjaIdCee~-3TMbqKzUu25zkxWHl76Z2rOz41Dn7qGcis-zWokc9-fV~XDNZKug3zsFqySS9H9PHb3Z8KV1EmoeVPLrsDeR-27n6vGTENIIXDa~fjzbD~uDgLr1hIg6VYY2JVt2Ouu~p-JtDcpfY6bpvdDmI4vZsoXvtPrNF59u--9wh9-JJEPFZMnWXXg9A~Rn2HCci8oa-f86~tJahSaB8vgcEz2ZAOUlgBCky5ZHo~qPQS8EqS~cc-GDgzr5MsoCv~EEa3y7-YTH4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lexington","date","2025-01-14T00:00:00Z","article","Lexington officials told the Urban County Council on Jan. 14 that crews remain active clearing streets after an “unusual” winter event, and the council approved a $500,000 budget amendment to buy additional road salt and other budget reallocations to cover storm and infrastructure needs.

Storm response and operations: Mayor and city staff described the storm as a multi‑phase event that began with roughly seven inches of snow, was followed by an icing event, then more snow. Nancy Albright, commissioner of Environmental Services and Public Works, said crews continued treating roads and working from lists of Fayette County Schools’ bus routes to prioritize clearing those corridors. “We have treated almost 200 miles of unranked roads so far since Thursday of last week,” Albright said, and she told council staff had received nearly 200 tree‑removal calls that temporarily pulled crews off snow operations.

City staff emphasized the limits of plows on hard ice and the need for temperatures to rise before some surfaces will clear. Albright also said the new salt storage dome at Old Frankfort Pike will substantially increase under‑roof salt capacity at that campus and is in the final punch‑list stage.

Council budget actions: Council member James Brown moved to add a budget amendment to pages 5–7 of the work session packet to authorize $500,000 for additional salt deliveries through the remainder of the fiscal year; Council member Reynolds seconded the motion and the council approved it. Separately, Commissioner Ford told the council staff had identified about $1,400,000 in surplus from a Police Headquarters HVAC capital project; the council agreed to reallocate $1,250,000 of that surplus to several needs:

- $500,000 for the fire training site development project
- $200,000 to cover contingencies on the police west roll‑call envelope project
- $300,000 to replace overhead doors at the fleet maintenance garage
- $250,000 to support relocation and build‑out costs for the community paramedicine program to the HANDS Annex

Commissioner Ford said the city hopes to avoid borrowing or new lease costs by using existing city facilities and that the $250,000 for paramedicine may not be fully expended. He added that the reallocation allows the administration to move quickly to bid and start projects.

Community paramedicine and facilities: Council member Reynolds asked about the space for the paramedicine program. Commissioner Ford described changes to the Family Care Center and said that, as a result, the HANDS Annex is available for paramedicine. Ford said the HANDS Annex is “about 23,100 square feet” as stated in the meeting and that staff and paramedicine leaders had toured the site and supported the move. Ford and other staff described the paramedicine unit as largely mobile and said the annex space will be sufficient for the program’s needs while avoiding new lease costs.

Salt and equipment: Council members and staff also discussed salt inventories and storage. Commissioner Albright said the new dome at Old Frankfort Pike will nearly triple the amount of salt stored under roof at that campus and that the facility is in the final punch‑list stage; she said the city continued to receive deliveries and had enough salt on hand for the next storm event or two while deliveries continue.

Other operational notes: Council members asked for an after‑action briefing and public explanation of how the city handled the multi‑phase event. Council members requested a work‑session presentation next week to review operational decisions, shift patterns, how unranked roads were added to treatment plans and how the city communicates with Fayette County Public Schools about bus routes.

Ending: The budget motions passed at the Jan. 14 session; the city will continue road treatments while crews finish tree removals and finalize work on the salt dome and other facilities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lexington - Council Work Session - Jan 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After an unusual winter storm, Lexington officials described continued road treatments, tree‑removal work and equipment needs. The council approved a $500,000 budget amendment for additional road salt and reallocated $1.25 million in surplus to several public‑safety and capital projects, including funding for a community paramedicine relocation.","taxTitle","Lexington City, Fayette County, Kentucky","taxId",5707,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6678264,"Residents urge hearing on Transylvania ballfield zoning; council sets Feb. 25 public hearing",3162,640000,3802000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112814-e2edba1371b602b56cad4db40102b0f8&start=640&end=3802","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112814-e2edba1371b602b56cad4db40102b0f8/thumbnail_640000.jpg","/articles/6678264/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Residents-urge-hearing-on-Transylvania-ballfield-zoning-council-sets-Feb-25-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678264-95178699edb56252d407711bf7c7b0ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193481&Signature=PRdhC6GLSMefCvzp5vBrYkYYt-0lavW4L49MSQV9e94pDs-9MdH7bpLuuPMi0PINr3cFt2p3-xa4ifKCG7A2GJf8uH5S-YZ3yrmjLj76eAk2yFUKh7upWbJ66yv0BJcGnHtjWNxpWjPxK6OP--CXo0hhjZWbBeNj0cCDdc5Bs~cokR4RiW-MI9Ca~drOnCjEOGy2npApjJlRWZ4aC5aBaLZy-OqTGs6qadNiaqDbHmL55WN6elK2Lto1VuYR8SLvPnse~siD3bPheZk6662sEua5MqvI2x9AnRmGAZL7zCuV14aLJ~wXI-E5IFv3kMb8~TBYlU9cE5SKfGdF0Gv5GA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of residents of the Radcliffe‑Marlborough neighborhood asked the Lexington‑Fayette Urban County Council on Jan. 14 to oppose a proposed zone change that would allow housing on Transylvania University’s former baseball field and asked the council to hold a public hearing so neighbors’ concerns can be heard.

Neighborhood speakers urged the council to pause the zoning change over traffic, drainage and density worries. “Why is everything looked upon that’s less desirable located or relocated on the north side of town?” resident Michelle Hutchinson said, asking for a public hearing. Scott Sloan and Rachel Sloan, both longtime neighbors, said existing sewer and stormwater problems on Haggard Lane and surrounding streets would be worsened by the proposal and asked the council to delay action until officials study traffic and infrastructure impacts.

Neighbors reiterated several recurring concerns: traffic congestion at the Haggard Lane/North Broadway corridor and nearby interstate ramps; aging sewer and stormwater systems that residents say already cause basement flooding; on‑street parking pressures if the multifamily portion is built; and loss of roughly 13 acres of green space. “The neighborhood was not designed to accommodate the development being proposed … without significant investment in our road and sewer infrastructure,” Scott Sloan said. Tim Mitchell told the council residents estimate the development could add “468 cars” if two cars were parked per dwelling.

Why it matters: Planning staff recommended approval of the zone change, and the Lexington planning commission voted 10–0 to recommend approval on Dec. 12, 2024. The council’s decision whether to hold a full public hearing was framed by those prior, unanimous endorsements and by residents’ demands to examine infrastructure and safety impacts before zoning changes move forward.

Council action and debate: Council member Tyler Morton moved to place the zone map amendment (PLNMA r24‑18) for Transy Property Owners LLC — parcels at Haggard Lane and Radcliffe Road — on the council docket with a public hearing. Council member Gray seconded the motion. Council members debated whether the council should re‑hear a matter after unanimous planning commission approval; Council member Wu said staff recommendation and the commission’s 10–0 vote counseled against duplicative hearings, while Morton and several other members said the community should be allowed to speak to the full council.

Council member Ellinger proposed an amended start time so the hearing could begin at 5:30 p.m. instead of 6 p.m.; the amendment was adopted. Council member Lynch announced a recusal from the later electronic vote because of a conflict stated on the record. The council recorded the result as “yeas 9 to 5” with one recusal; the mayor directed staff to schedule the hearing for Feb. 25 at 5:30 p.m.

Planning and legal context: Planning staff and the planning commission’s unanimous recommendation were cited several times during the debate. Planning staff and Director Duncan also told the council that state legislation (House Bill 443) will change how final development plans are reviewed in the future, noting that a final development plan approved after a zone change may become a ministerial review rather than requiring another public hearing. Director Duncan and planning staff also explained that the council’s legal authority at a zone‑change hearing is limited to deciding whether the proposed zoning is appropriate; detailed elements of a development plan typically return to the planning commission.

What neighbors asked for: Neighbors asked the council to (1) oppose the zone change, (2) require an independent study of traffic and stormwater impacts before zoning is approved, (3) prioritize homeownership over rental apartments in the proposal and (4) preserve more green space. Developers and several council members noted the stated city need for affordable housing and said the development team had met multiple times with neighbors, though neighbors said those meetings felt perfunctory.

Next steps: The council set a public hearing for Feb. 25 at 5:30 p.m. Staff told the council they will continue to work with the applicant, the neighborhood, and relevant city departments — including traffic engineering and the Division of Water Quality — ahead of that hearing.

Ending: The Feb. 25 hearing will be held in the council chamber; members of the public may register to speak and the planning commission record and staff reports will be part of the hearing packet.","Dozens of Radcliffe‑Marlborough residents pressed the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council to oppose a zone change for a Transylvania University ballfield redevelopment, citing traffic, flooding and density concerns. Planning staff and the planning commission recommended approval; the council scheduled a public hearing for Feb. 25 at 5:30 p.m.","actionData","errors"]

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Council reassigns $1.25M in surplus, approves $500K for road salt as city continues storm response

Residents urge hearing on Transylvania ballfield zoning; council sets Feb. 25 public hearing