BY KATLAN THOMERSON
Glasgow News 1
The Cave City Council met for its regularly scheduled meeting on the second Monday of the month at 5 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, during which all members of the Council were present except for Councilman Steve Pedigo. The agenda for this meeting can be viewed at the bottom of this story.
After calling the meeting to order, Mayor Dwayne Hatcher asked those in attendance to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a prayer. After everyone was seated, Hatcher welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending the meeting, then gave the floor to City Clerk Bonita Hendren who performed a roll call.
Moving forward, the council approved the minutes for the special meeting that occurred in March and the presentations of financials read by Hendren.
Because there was not any unfinished business items, Hatcher directed everyone’s attention to Planning Director Kevin Myatt who gave a speech focused on two topics: future land use maps and medical cannabis.
“Your future land use maps are what dictates how we grow, how we see things happening within our city limits, and where we see those things happening. And it’s what guides your every zone change or map amendment that comes before you before it goes to the Planning Commission where we make our recommendations that we submit to you,” Myatt said. “What we are typically seeing across that region that you all are probably seeing is that of housing shortage, whether it be single housing or multi-family housing.
On March 31, 2023, Governor Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 47 (SB 47) into law, legalizing medical cannabis for Kentuckians beginning Jan. 1, 2025. Cannabis consumption outside of the medical cannabis program remains illegal in Kentucky. According to Planning Director Myatt, the Cave City Council can choose to “opt in or opt out” of the program that is set to begin next year.
“We had our first public meeting on medical cannabis while we had our comprehensive planning meeting. It’s coming January 1st. It’s implemented. If you don’t have something on your files, you’re automatically in with no regulations. Local governments can regulate medical cannabis business. Local governments may restrict or entirely prohibit licensed cannabis business within their jurisdiction. So, you have that availability to say, ‘we don’t want it, period. We’re just eliminating it here.’ If you do want to opt in, then we need to write it into our zoning regs to help regulate it. There are some minimum rules where the state has already come down and said that it can’t be within 1,000 feet from boundary to boundary of any school ,whether it’s private or public, or any daycare.”
Listen to Planning Director Myatt’s explanation of Senate Bill 47 below.
Councilman Brandon Wright made a motion to opt in, seconded by Clifton Parsley.
“By that motion we are opting in to proceed with, opting in,” Hatcher said after the council’s vote.
Next, City Attorney Bobby Richardson read a City Zoning Ordinance that rezones the property located at 103 North Dixie Highway from R-2 to B-2 classification. The council unanimously voted to approve the rezoning.
Hatcher presented the I-65 Interchange Mowing Project that is set to start in the fiscal year 2025.
“It includes eight extra mowings. Our portion starting with the next fiscal cycle would be $10,800 per year,” Hatcher said.
Councilwoman Beverly Ford recommended that the council waits until they review their proposed budget before voting on the mowing project. A motion was made by Councilman Denny Doyle to postpone voting on the project, seconded by Ford and unanimously approved by the council.
Hatcher read a flyer for the upcoming Cave City Surplus Auction that is scheduled for Saturday, April 20, at 10 a.m.
After discussing the auction, Hatcher announced that Councilman Steve Pedigo sent an email, resigning from his position as a councilman for Cave City.
“I want to read a letter that I received from Steve Pedigo. A long-time council member. ‘Cave City Council and Mayor, this letter represents my official notice of resignation from my position as a council member for the city of Cave City which will be made final on the 29th day of March 2024. It’s been a great pleasure to be alongside the individuals in the City of Cave City Kentucky and I will always appreciate the experience and knowledge that I gained here. I hope that the notice period is enough for you to be able to find a replacement. Please let me know if I can be of any help,” Hatcher read.
After a brief discussion, the council voted to postpone filling the vacancy until their next special called meeting on April 22 at 5 p.m.
Fire Department Chief Kevin Jandt and Police Department Major Paul Reynolds didn’t present activity reports.
Hatcher gave an update on Chief Butler stating that he’s at home doing rehab, recovering from heart surgery.
During other reports, Councilwoman Ford informed the council that she’s received several complaints from the elderly regarding a recent increase in rent fees for an apartment and townhouse unit bought by Broken Fork Property.
“I’ve received several calls from the elderly population in the apartments behind public works. The man who bought them has increased the rent substantially and that seems to be a problem for the people who live there. They’re asking if there’s anything that council can do. I explained to them that we don’t have the authority to state how much someone can charge for rent. The owner Danny Strong did reach out and wanted to know if the city would do a tax abatement on their complex to offset rent for the elderly. My concern with this coming on so quickly for people, I believe that we should at least have a conversation to see how he is talking about offsetting rent and for how long,” Ford said.
The council agreed that they can’t provide a tax abatement. Richardson said he would look into other options.
Before adjourning the meeting, Hatcher reminded the council members of the CEDS Summit hosted by BRADD.
CITY OF CAVE CITY
REGULARL SESSION COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBERS-CITY HALL
APRIL 8, 2024, 5:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER
A. Pledge of Allegiance
B. Invocation of prayer
C. Welcome Guests
ROLL CALL
APPROVE MARCH SPECIAL SESSION MEETING MINUTES
FINANCIAL
A. Restaurant & Transient Room Tax Collection for MARCH
1. Restaurant Tax $ 47,537.38
2. Transient Room Tax $ 20,104.48
3. Transferred to Tourism Commission $ 67,641.86
B. Cash Analysis for MARCH
1. Fire Dept. Checking $ 117,666
2. Fire Dept. Savings $ 1,353
3. Police Dept. Savings $ 25,309
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
Kevin Myatt Planning Commissioner
Highway 31W Zoneing Change
I-65 Interchange Mowing
Surplus Items
Annexation
Police Body and Dash Cams
Councilman Resignation
DEPARTMENT ACTIVITY REPORTS -February
1. Fire Dept – Chief Kevin Jandt
2. Police Dept – Major Paul Reynolds
OTHER REPORTS
1. City Council Committee Reports
MAYOR’S REPORT
ADJOURN
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