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The City Commission of Nicholasville met for the first time this year, discussing ideas to assist youth in joining local sports, transfers, rate changes and approving ordinances and municipal orders.

Commissioner Bethany Brown started a conversation around the Jessamine County Youth Baseball (JCYB) membership prices announced this past weekend. The group raised their prices and caused a ruckus on social media, with residents complaining about the increased prices.

Prices have gone from $175 for a season membership to $200 for tee ball and softball. However, the discount for each sibling after the first child has gone from $15 to a $50 discount. According to Commissioner Patty Teater, this means the prices has actually decreased for families looking to enter more than one child into the sports program.

Still, Brown says she would like to see the commission find a way to bring back a scholarship fund so that the parks and recreation department can help subsidize the youth sports memberships of children unable to pay otherwise.

Empathizing with the increase in the cost of living for everyone, including the prices of organizing and upkeep youth sports teams and their equipment, Brown still wants to find a solution to help the county’s youth.

“I 100 percent understand that everything has gotten expensive. I know the things in my life have gotten expensive, and I don’t have a lot of expenses. I’m just thinking about how we can better help our community and the kids,” Brown said.

Mayor Alex Carter stated that the commission will have discussions with city staff in between meetings to figure out their next steps on this plan.

In other news:

• The cemetery department set effective date of transfer as Dec. 19, 2023 for Natalie Durham, cemetery administrative assistant, previously approved at the Sept. 25 commission meeting.

• Rate changes due to compression in the cemetery department include Jason Davis, hourly rate of $38.68; Glenden Lay, hourly rate of $27.16; Kevin Donahue, hourly rate of $24.09; and John Black, hourly rate of $24.09.

• Rate changes due to compression In the garage include Charlie Faylin, hourly rate $39.06, and Leon Hong, hourly rate $28.

Approved second readings

Ordinance 137-2023

An ordinance amending the code of ordinances for the city of Nicholasville, Chapter 19. Streets, sidewalks, and other public places, Article I in General, adopting Section 19-13. Obstruction of or interference with public rights-of-way and/or other public property prohibited.

Ordinance 138-2023

An ordinance amending the official zoning map for the city of Nicholasville from B-2 (Highway Business District) to I-1 (Light Industrial district) for approximately 8.02 acres of property located on US 27/Nicholasville bypass, south of the intersection with Shun Pike & Short Shun Road and North of the intersection with South MainStreet, PVA Parcel #047-00-00-035.01. (For a new industrial park along the bypass).

Ordinance 139-2023

An ordinance amending the official zoning map for the city of Nicholasville from A-1 (County) Central Agriculture to R-1E (City) Fingle family Residential District for approximately 22.39 acres of property located on Ashgrove Road between Bethel Harvest Drive and Lee Burton Lane, PVA Parcel #067-00-00-019.02. (Next phase of Fairview Development).

Ordinance 140-2023

An ordinance, pursuant to Nicholasville, Kentucky Code of Ordinances, Chapter 25, Section 25-1, various amendments to the Nicholasville zoning ordinance.

First reading, needs to have a second, final reading before approved:

Ordinance 141-2024

An ordinance amending the official zoning map for the city of Nicholasville from A-1 (County) Central Agriculture to B-1 (City) Central Business District for approximately 21.62 acres of property located at 1281 Keene Road, PVA Parcel #057-00-00-003.00.

Ordinance 142-2024

An ordinance amending the code of ordinances for the city of Nicholasville, Chapter 2. Administration, Article XI. City Policies, Division 2. Cemetery regulation, section 2-1201. Charges for opening, closing grave and section 2-1202. Charges for cemetery lots. (This ordinance updates the charges for the opening and closing cost for graves and the cost of cemetery lots in Maple Grove Cemetery.)