Cave City Attorney Bobby Richardson (GN1 file photo)
By GAGE WILSON
For GlasgowNews1
At its special called meeting Wednesday, the Cave City Council approved amendments to the city’s 2025-26 budget as well as the city’s 2026-27 budget, though the item that drew the most discussion stemmed from city attorney Bobby Richardson’s response to recent accusations regarding his role in facilitating development on the former Branstetter property and the relocation of graves located there.
The remarks come amid ongoing litigation between the city and the Kentucky Industrial Alliance, which filed suit following Cave City’s decision to impose a 12-month moratorium on data processing center development. As previously reported, the lawsuit alleges the moratorium unlawfully interfered with plans to develop a large-scale data center in the Mid-South Industrial Park, land that includes the former Branstetter property. In recent public discussion surrounding the suit, questions have also been raised regarding what city officials knew about the proposed development and when they knew it.
Beginning at 5 p.m., the meeting centered on a handful of agenda items, with a closed session to discuss pending litigation standing out. Before entering closed session, Richardson delivered a prepared statement addressing what he described as implied accusations of a conflict of interest.
“At the end of this year, I will have been the city attorney here for 57 years, and I’m not planning to resign before the end of my term,” Richardson said. “I have always given the advice that I thought was based on the law, now everybody’s not always been happy with that, but I advised what I thought was best. We’ve never been sued because I gave wrong advice…but I’ve never been, impliedly accused of having a conflict of interest with the city of Cave City. It makes me absolutely angry to have that said.”
Richardson said city officials were initially enthusiastic when they learned the Branstetter property had been sold and could be developed.
“After many years, we heard that the Branstetter property had sold and was going to be available for development, and everybody was tickled to death,” he said. “I was enthusiastic about it and they asked to be annexed into the city, and the city council unanimously, gladly accepted them into the city. They went before the Planning Commission and they had a public hearing and were awarded an I-2 zone…Nobody knew what they were going to do with the property.”
Richardson then outlined the zoning process, emphasizing that zoning changes begin with the planning commission rather than the city council.
“If there is a change in the zoning regulations, or if someone requests a change in zoning regulations, they apply to the Planning Commission, not the city council,” he said. “They then hold a public hearing…after they have that hearing the planning commission makes a decision and they put it in writing.”
He explained that his role as city attorney is limited to drafting ordinances based on the planning commission’s recommendations, which are then sent to the city council for approval or denial.
“I prepare the ordinance, I send it back to the planning commission, is it right? Is this what you are ordering us to do based on your hearing? And if it’s not I’ll repair it or change it,” he said. “And that’s exactly how all of the zoning in Cave City has taken place.”
Refuting claims of a conflict of interest, Richardson said that to his knowledge no one in city government knew what type of development would ultimately be pursued at the Mid-South Industrial Park.
He also addressed his involvement after a cemetery was discovered on the property and the developer requested the graves be relocated. The relocation was unanimously approved by the Barren County Fiscal Court in June 2025. Richardson said he assisted with that process, noting the cemetery site itself was legally entitled to a one-tenth-acre parcel during relocation.
“I agreed to do the cemetery relocation and quite entitled to one-tenth of an acre of land,” he said.
Cave City Mayor Dwayne Hatcher complemented city attorney Bobby Richardson on his services, noting his experience with seven mayors as well as a host of council members. (Photo by Gage Wilson for GlasgowNews1)
Following Richardson’s statement, the council entered closed session to discuss the city’s legal dispute with KIA over the moratorium. The moratorium, approved in May, temporarily halted new data processing center projects while city leaders reviewed potential impacts on infrastructure, utilities and long-term planning. KIA has argued the action effectively blocked its proposed project and caused financial harm.
The closed session lasted roughly 20 minutes, with attendees asked to step outside during deliberations.
Upon returning to open session, the only action taken by council members was to approve English, Lucas, Priest and Owsley, LLP as the city’s legal representation moving forward.
KEY FACTS
• Cave City Attorney Bobby Richardson used a special council meeting to address implied conflict-of-interest accusations.
• The concerns are tied to development at the Mid-South Industrial Park and a cemetery relocation on the former Branstetter property.
• Richardson said zoning decisions start with the planning commission, and he only drafts ordinances based on their recommendations.
• He said no one in city government knew what kind of project would be built on the industrial park site.
• The Barren County Fiscal Court unanimously approved relocating graves from the property in June 2025.
• Cave City faces a lawsuit from the Kentucky Industrial Alliance over a 12-month moratorium on data processing centers.
• After a closed session, the council hired English, Lucas, Priest and Owsley as outside counsel for the case.
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