Last week’s City Commission meeting focused on four major areas: public safety, sanitation, infrastructure, and public health. It was a productive session that shows how your Commission is making thoughtful, consequential decisions for Frankfort’s future.
Fire Station 1
We voted to move forward with building a new Fire Station 1, a project first discussed in 2016. This new facility will:
- Provide our firefighters with a safe and modern work environment
- Maintain fast response times and our Insurance Services Office (ISO) 2 rating. An ISO rating measures how well a community can respond to fires on a scale from 1 to 10, with one being the best. A lower score means better fire protection, which can also lead to lower insurance costs for city homeowners and businesses
- Activate the former Pic Pac location, which has been mostly unused for over five years. As I mentioned in my last newsletter, keeping the fire station in South Frankfort was imperative, and this site was chosen by consultants as the best fit.
This investment will be funded entirely by dedicated insurance premium tax dollars that were previously set aside. It will have no impact on the general fund. Public safety is one of my top priorities, and this station will serve Frankfort for many decades to come.
Sanitation and Recycling
The Commission also discussed sanitation and recycling services. We postponed a decision on purchasing new side-loader garbage trucks to allow staff time to develop a comprehensive plan to restore curbside recycling, which remains an urgent goal.
Frankfort is one of the few cities in Kentucky that provides trash and recycling at no cost to residents. Most communities either charge a separate fee or outsource the service to private providers. Waste management is budgeted at $2.1 million this fiscal year, and we need to ensure our budget can sustain reliable service while also funding other priorities.
With this in mind, the Commission may need to consider reinstating a waste management fee, which a previous commission rescinded. Nearly every city in the state charges such a fee, or they outsource the service entirely to a third party. My preference is to keep this essential service under city control rather than turn it over to a private company, but we must ensure the service is reliable and financially sustainable.
Sewer Service
We also began updating how the city handles sewer expansion requests. For decades, Frankfort has been required to accept sewer projects outside city limits whenever we have the capacity. This stems from a 1991 consent judgment with the EPA, which we have long since satisfied. Our Commission has now taken the first step to regain control of how we expand our sewer infrastructure.
By modernizing our approach, we can ensure future expansions are strategic and that city resources, including staff time, are properly compensated.
Opioid Settlement Funds
The City of Frankfort awarded $195,000 in opioid settlement grants to five local nonprofit organizations. These funds will support programs that focus on opioid reduction and the broader fight against substance abuse in our community.
This funding will help local partners provide critical resources for prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts. Addressing the opioid crisis remains a priority, and these grants ensure settlement funds are directly supporting those doing the hard work on the front lines.
East Frankfort Park Improvements
Exciting progress is underway at East Frankfort Park. On Monday, the commission voted to move forward with major upgrades, including:
- Six brand-new pickleball courts
- One renovated tennis court
- A new basketball court
- Installation of modern LED sports lighting to illuminate the courts for evening play
The sports lighting project, totaling $171,900, will be funded entirely through Downtown and Parks Master Plan Insurance Premium Tax funds. No general budget funds will be used.
These upgrades are part of our larger East Frankfort Park improvement plan and reflect our commitment to expand recreational opportunities and improve quality of life for our residents.
Looking Ahead
This week’s meeting may have been a bit technical, but it reflects the hard work required to strengthen Frankfort’s foundation. Every decision we make is focused on building a city that is more efficient, more resilient, and more livable.
Thank you for staying engaged and supporting our efforts. Together, we are shaping a Frankfort that is ready to seize the opportunities ahead.
All the best,
