Latest news with #LondonCityCouncil
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City Council reviews proposed $24.6M budget, tables tornado-related loan decision
London City Council conducted a first reading of its proposed $24.6 million budget for fiscal year 2025–26 during a special-called meeting Monday evening. The proposed appropriations include: — General Fund: $16,181,500 — Garbage Fund: $7,043,000 — Municipal Aid Program: $177,000 — Alcohol Fund: $1,225,000 — LGEA Funds: None. At the start of Monday's meeting, Council Member Judd Weaver announced that fellow councilperson Anthony Ortega was absent due to his father's passing. Stacy Benge made a motion to approve the first reading of the discussed budget — Ordinance 2025-08 — which was seconded by Council Member Justin Young and unanimously approved. The second reading and final adoption of the budget is scheduled for a special-called meeting at 4:30 p.m. Monday, June 16. The budget ordinance is the only item planned for that meeting's agenda. Benge requested that the proposed ordinance be posted to the city's website in advance so the public can view it, to which Mayor Randall Weddle agreed. During the discussion, Benge said he had previously asked about a new $60,000 line in the clerk's department labeled 'payroll.' He confirmed with Mayor Weddle that the line reflects a new payroll processing system (BambooHR) and is not tied to additional staffing as he originally thought. Benge also questioned the city fire department's salary increase from $875,000 last year to $1.18 million. Weddle said the fire department had been understaffed and underpaid, and that two part-time firefighters were added this year, along with raises and budget flexibility to cover growing manpower needs for community events. Fire Chief Donnie Hale confirmed the department remains below staffing standards at this time. 'According to NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards, we're supposed to have seven people per shift. We only have five,' Hale said. 'When I came in, there were three.' Chief Hale added that while the department has about 25 volunteers on the roster, only a few regularly respond. He said incentives are not currently offered due to budget limitations. Young went on to ask how the city handles unplanned costs for events, to which Mayor Weddle said such expenses are addressed through contingency funds. Weddle also confirmed that the city has enough funding to operate through the end of the current fiscal year. The budget includes adjustments for current staffing and anticipated operational needs. The council went on to discuss a proposed loan to cover approximately $350,000 in tornado-related payroll expenses. Weddle said that while the city technically has the funds to cover the cost, the loan would help ensure that critical infrastructure projects, such as road paving and bridge repairs, could proceed without being affected. 'It's a $100,000 to $130,000 project every time we touch one of these bridges,' Weddle said. Council members expressed concerns about interest costs and public opposition. Particularly, Jim Baker questioned borrowing when funds are available, and Weaver said residents had raised concerns to him. Benge moved to table the loan discussion until the council's regular meeting in August. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The council's upcoming meeting will take place next Monday. To watch the livestream, visit The City of London Facebook page.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ethics Board member resigns, accepts vacant City Council seat
London City Council appointed a new council member at a brief special-called meeting Friday morning. In light of former councilperson Holly Little's resignation earlier this month, the council selected Jim Baker to fill the vacant seat. The motion to nominate Baker came from Council Member Justin Young. "He's been a lifelong resident and currently [serves] on the Ethics Board," said Young. Council Member Anthony Ortega seconded the motion, which councilpersons Kelly Greene, Stacy Benge, and Judd Weaver also supported. Baker turned his Ethics Board resignation in to Mayor Randall Weddle following the council's unanimous vote. The resignation was effective Friday. The former Ethics Board member will be sworn in by Laurel Circuit Judge Gregory A. Lay Tuesday. Although a first reading of Ordnance 2025-08 — a budget ordinance for the upcoming fiscal year — was on the agenda, Council Member Greene made a motion to table the matter. Greene's motion was seconded by Council Member Young and received majority support. Acting City Clerk Ashley Taylor then conducted the second reading of Ordinance 2025-07. The ordinance rezones property owned by Todd and Diana Lee White from Residential R1 to Commercial C2. Weaver made a motion to approve the ordinance, seconded by Greene. The motion passed, followed by another to adjourn. London City Council will meet in special session again next week, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 22, to discuss the tabled budget ordinance.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Altercation between council member, fire chief ensues following council meeting
Ongoing communication struggles between London City Council members and city employees resulted in a heated confrontation between a council member and the London Fire Chief following the council's Monday, May 5 meeting. London Police body camera footage of the conversation has been circulating, having been posted to the "I Support Randall Weddle" Facebook page. The video has quickly gained attention, with just over 100,000 views at this time. Mayor Weddle told The Sentinel-Echo that the footage was released through an open records request. According to Councilperson Kelly Greene, the verbal altercation took place when London Fire Chief Donnie Hale approached her. She said she then asked him to step aside with her, away from others at the London Community Center to "get out of their way." The footage initially posted begins with Greene telling Hale that Mayor Weddle will eventually "be gone" and "won't be here forever." She later clarified that this was not a threat, but rather, she was referring to his term as mayor. "Well, I've got his back. He's my boss," Hale responded. "If somebody else was in the same situation, I'd have their back." "Hey, I didn't tell you not to have his back. I told you to stay out of politics. Stay out of politics. Do your job and stay out of politics." "I do my job." "That doesn't mean you can't have the mayor's back; he is your boss." "That's exactly right, he's my boss and I'm going to do it." As the altercation continues, Greene reiterates that Hale became involved in politics when he "should've done his job." "Are you saying I'm not doing my job?" "Well, I wonder about it." The altercation comes to an end once the unknown officer filming and London Tourism Chair Phil Smith step in to de-escalate the situation. Among the items on the meeting's agenda was a "fire department discussion," during which Greene posed questions regarding the London City Fire Department's pursuit of a certificate of need (CON) for critical care services. Weddle said the CON request comes following uncertainty surrounding the city's mutual aid agreement. According to Greene, her and Chief Hale's argument stemmed from Hale's concern that the majority of council members had not responded to his emails questioning the fire department agenda item. "I did not know who the council person was that put me on the agenda until she was called upon to ask questions," Hale told The Sentinel-Echo. Greene commented that she has been "pretty disappointed" in Hale since he participated in "rallies that the mayor held outside the council chambers, cheering him on before [last year's] election about not voting for some of the council members." She cited such involvement in politics as why she opted out of responding to Hale. At Monday's meeting, Greene inquired about the $50,000 already spent on medical equipment, application fees, and legal counsel — noting that the expenses accrued without the council's approval. She also stated that the fire department had joined a union — the union number being 5534. After Greene finished sharing her concerns, including how this CON could impact Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County, she asked Chief Hale: "Do you want to answer to any of this, or I can go on?" Mayor Weddle agreed to answer, stating that it is not the city's intention to "put anybody out of business." He also said the city is not seeking to operate an ambulance service but rather to enhance responses by providing critical care support before ambulance crews arrive. "If you're having a heart attack or stroke, I suggest that you look at the response times [of] the ambulance service and then our city fire department," Weddle stated. "These things matter." Councilperson Anthony Ortega inquired if Saint Joseph London had made any reports indicating that "the ambulance service is lacking." "I think that there is a spreadsheet of things between the two entities that has been given to us showing that there is a need," Weddle responded. Chief Hale chimed in that Councilperson Stacy Benge had seen the department's "guys in work," recalling that they had saved a man's life at a restaurant. "I don't want this to become political because it seems like it has," Weddle said after. "This is only about our guys who love this community trying to respond." Councilperson Greene went on to ask how many people would need to be hired. Mayor Weddle clarified that no new hires are necessary. As the discussion progressed, Councilperson Judd Weaver asked if prescription medication was being administered. Weddle and Hale both told him "no." Hale said there had been access to a medical director until the mutual aid agreement ceased. "What did we administer before?" Weaver asked. Chief Hale nodded his head, stating, "If you all had answered your emails today and let me prepare for this just a little bit more, I could've had some more answers." "I answered," said Benge. Chief Hale would later clarify that Ortega had responded directly, whereas Benge responded through the city clerk. Mayor Weddle was not aware of the altercation between Greene and Hale until the following day. When asked what he thought sparked the heated conversation, Weddle commented, "Frustrations that department heads have tried to engage via email with a few council members and they refuse to ask questions or address concerns they have except on the camera." "Trying to embarrass department heads with false information is the biggest problem," Weddle continued. "Heads try to communicate with them but they try to spin everything to get at me. Some on this council will not stop until they have me out of office." Greene issued an apology to London residents regarding the recent controversy. "I'm sorry to the public that sometimes these meetings seem to get out of hand," Greene stated. "My actions are just because of my love for London and my years of experience." In light of recent events, Mayor Weddle encourages residents to not allow the negativity to define London. "Remember this is a beautiful city that is moving forward. Great things are happening in London and we need to stay focused on the positivity," Weddle stated. "We were elected to serve the people of London my hope as a government we can get back to that."
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Yahoo
London police chief and city council member tender resignations
The chief of the London Police Department and a member of London's city council have resigned. Police Chief Jerry Hollon has resigned from his position, the London Police Department confirmed on Friday night. Assistant Police Chief Bobby Day has been named acting chief, according to the department's public affairs officer, Hobie Daugherty. 'We have no further comment on the matter at this time,' Daugherty said in an email. London City Council member Holly Little resigned on Friday as well, London Mayor Randall Weddle confirmed. The London Sentinel-Echo also reported on Friday that the city clerk, Katelin McPeek, is resigning to take a position as county treasurer. Weddle did not immediately respond to a request for a comment on the resignations. Hollon was named London's police chief last summer. The police department said in an announcement on Aug. 1 that Hollon had worked as a 911 dispatcher, deputy sheriff, patrolman, detective, sergeant, captain and communications director during his career. 'Chief Hollon has also served as a Task Force Officer assigned to a Federal Drug Task Force and served as the Assistant Commander of the Special Operations Team,' according to the statement. Day joined the London Police Department as assistant chief in January 2023, according to an announcement shared on the London Police Department's Facebook page at the time. He has been in law enforcement for more than 30 years, having previously worked for the Kentucky State Police and served as chief of police for the Laurel County School System, the police department said in the 2023 social media post. The London Police Department has been subject to scrutiny in recent months, after officers attempting to serve a search warrant just before midnight on Dec. 23 shot and killed a Laurel County man, Douglas Harless, at his home in Lily. The officers, who were investigating a case involving stolen lawn equipment, apparently intended to go to a different address nearby. They said Harless pointed a gun at them when they breached his door. Soon after the incident, the city announced that its officers would begin wearing body cameras. How London, KY police killed an uninvolved man while trying to serve a warrant London man: 911 officials tampered with package containing records tied to police shooting Election finance records give inside look of donations from KY mayor to Gov. Andy Beshear KY man updates defamation suit after London mayor doubles down on claim he's in 'pedo clan'
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
This Kentucky city could recognize bullying as a misdemeanor
LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Within the city limits of London, bullying could soon be considered a Class A misdemeanor. Mayor Randall Weddle said on Monday, April 14, that he will ask the city council to pass ordinance 2025-05 in May's city council meeting. The ordinance aims to recognize 'bullying' as a punishable crime. Read more of the latest Kentucky news According to KRS 532.090, a class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to 12 months of imprisonment. 'Bullying is more than 'kids being kids' it is a serious, harmful behavior that has devastating consequences for our youth and their families,' Weddle wrote. 'This ordinance is not just about punishment; it's about sending a clear message: London stands with our kids and families. We will not tolerate bullying in our community.' Weddle pointed to the following statistics as proof: Nationally, 1 in 5 middle and high school students report being bullied each year. In Kentucky, 41% of middle school students have experienced in-person bullying; 29% have been cyberbullied. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents in the U.S. In Kentucky, 15% of high school and 17.4% of middle school students have seriously considered suicide. Bullied teens are 2x more likely to consider suicide and 2.5x more likely to attempt it compared to their non-bullied peers. 'These aren't just numbers. These are lives. Futures lost. Families devastated,' he emphasized. Weddle urged that passing the ordinance would make London a city that leads with 'heart, courage, and action.' London man accused of drunkenly shooting several times before passing out This Kentucky city could recognize bullying as a misdemeanor Pineville homeowner finds alleged burglars hiding in cupboard, holds them at gunpoint 'With the passage of Ordinance No. 2025-05, we take a bold, compassionate step forward. We give our schools, law enforcement, and families a tool to say, 'Enough.' We show our children that we will fight for them, that their safety matters, and that our city is committed to standing up not standing by,' Weddle wrote. City Council meetings are held on the first Monday of each month. The next London City Council meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. on May 5. Click here to watch Weddle's video on the ordinance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
