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By Gillian Stawiszynski

Contributing Writer

The Nicholasville City Commission met on Monday, September 26, for its regular commission meeting at the Nicholasville Police Department.

Since the city had not gotten many applications for the Small Business Property Incentive Grant, the commission voted to extend the deadline to apply to Monday, October 1.

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds this grant. A business must own or lease a brick-and-mortar location in the Downtown Nicholasville Business District, it must be zoned DB, B-1, or I-1, and it must be up to date on all tax payments to be eligible.

Applicable businesses can use this grant money on cosmetic improvements, like exterior lighting and signage, structural improvements, and any other projects approved by the city of Nicholasville.

There has been an update on the Comprehensive Plan Committee selection. While Commissioner Betty Black has already been chosen to represent the city commission, the commission still needs to select an at-large member to represent the city.

Commissioner Alex Carter suggested Jason Banks with Banks Engineering and Christopher Horn with Horn Engineering. These engineers were on the last Comprehensive Plan Committee in 2017. The commission agreed that either of them would be appropriate for the position. The commission chose Jason Banks as the at-large member of the committee.

The commission also passed a motion to accept the purchase of a new fire engine for the Nicholasville Fire Department. The new engine will be finished in 2024. By then, the vehicle this new engine replaces will be 22 years old.

The fire department’s last truck was built in 2018. It was a “fast track vehicle,” pre-built with hardly any customization. It cost $529,000. The current cost for one fire engine without a ladder is $944,296. The commission accepted this new vehicle because of its uncertainty of further inflation and supply chain issues.

Watch commission meetings in person on the first, second, and fourth Mondays of the month at 5 p.m. in the community room of the Nicholasville Police Department or after the meeting on Vimeo.