REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
JUNE 1, 2026 – 6:00 PM
1843 BRISTOW DRIVE
UNION, KY 41091
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Solomon called the Regular Commission Meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Solomon led all attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mayor Solomon asked for approval of May 4, 2026, Regular Commission Meeting minutes. Commissioner Eldridge made a motion and Commissioner Tuyn seconded the motion.
Motion approved 5-0
Mayor Solomon asked for approval of May 13, 2026, Caucus Meeting minutes. Commissioner Bine made a motion and Commissioner Mefford seconded the motion.
Motion approved 5-0
Mayor Solomon asked for approval of May 18, 2026, Special Meeting minutes. Commissioner Mefford made a motion and Commissioner Tuyn seconded the motion.
Motion approved 5-0
GUESTS
Mayor Solomon issued an Oath of Office to Karen O’Sullivan who will be serving as a member on the Board of Adjustment on behalf of the citizens of Union.
Union Acres
Matt Mains, Development Manager with Drees Homes, gave a presentation to the Commission for a proposed 22.2-acre development, Union Acres located between Hathaway Road and Old Union Road. The developer is requesting re-zoning for the property from A-2 RS and RSE to SR-3 with the Union Town Overlay. The Boone County Planning Commission (BCPC) gave a recommendation for approval with conditions. The Boone County Comprehensive Plan describes the property as high suburban density residential which is single family or attached residential homes up to eight units per acre. Drees Homes is requesting six units per acre maximum. The proposed project will consist of 135 total units, 29 Townhomes, and 106 condominiums, all will be for sale units.
The Homeowners Association (HOA) will maintain all the building exteriors. The developer has proposed that the city maintains all the streets, and the HOA snow plows.
Mr. Maines explained that a traffic impact study has been conducted. Even though the traffic study indicated that a left turn lane was not warranted, one of the stipulations from the BCPC was that a left turn lane into the community would be added as part of the approval process.
Mayor Solomon asked what percentage of the development will be available for rent when purchased by someone else.
Mr. Maines explained that only 10% of the development will be available as a rental unit. The HOA will be responsible for monitoring and managing how many units are available for rent. The developer can include language in the HOA documents that will give them the authority to manage how many units are rented.
After the presentation and discussion Mayor Solomon asked the Commission to give their opinion on the project. Commissioner Tuyn, Commissioner Eldridge, Commissioner Mefford were all in support of the development, Commissioner Bine wanted to reserve his opinion until he had more time to review.
City Attorney Greg Voss was directed to prepare an ordinance. The first reading will be on July 6, 2026, at the Regular Commission meeting, and the second reading will be on July 20, 2026, at the Caucus meeting.
MAYOR/COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Mayor Solomon read a letter from Bill and Sharon Bellan, residents who live on Union School Road. They thanked the city for the recent work completed on Union School Road to correct a drainage issue. The Bellan’s were pleased with Lonkard Construction, the company hired by the city to complete the project. They mentioned that they arrived each day with all the machinery and materials needed to do the job, used teamwork to maximize efficiency, and were very attuned to the property owners. They gave a special thank you to Public Works Director Paul Kremer and Public Works employee Mark Griffith for their direct efforts, and for being exemplary examples of small-town government caring for its citizens.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Commissioner Mefford provided an update to the Commission on the month of May financial report which includes the “bills to be paid” and the balance sheet. He mentioned that there were no noticeable changes in the profit and loss report from the month of April. The larger bills paid during the month of May were related to the Union Town Square project.
The interest earned from Heritage Bank has been consistent for the past year. The total interest earned will exceed $500,000 for the fiscal year 2025-2026.
Mayor Solomon asked for a motion to approve the financial report that includes the monthly bills, and the profit and loss versus actual report for the month of May. Commissioner Bine made a motion and Commissioner Eldridge seconded the motion. Motion approved 5-0
UNION TOWN SQUARE UPDATES
Public Works Director Paul Kremer mentioned that Old Union Road will close at 7:00 AM. on Tuesday June 2, 2026, to allow for repairs on stormwater pipes that do not align. The project is expected to be completed the same day. The city has notified businesses on Old Union Road and posted notices on social media.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT
Commissioner Bine mentioned that the city received a quote from Lonkard Construction for $6,300 to pave an area in the Union Rice Cemetery near the privacy fence. The pavement will eliminate mud from accumulating in that area. Commissioner Bine gave approval to move forward with the work.
Commissioner Bine asked for Commission approval to advertise a job position for a new Public Works Director. The Commission agreed to move forward with the advertisement for the position.
PWD Director Kremer mentioned that the new software program iWorQ that the city started using recently for the Public Works Department is working out very well.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
City Administrator Amy Safran mentioned that city staff completed training for the new Employee Handbook with Michael Simon, Attorney with Kentucky League of Cities (KLC).
CAO Safran and PWD Kremer will be meeting this week with Gary Musgrave, Senior Loss Control Consultant with KLC to discuss the implementation of a safety handbook/policy for staff.
CAO Safran and PWD Kremer met with City Attorney Greg Voss to discuss changes to the nuisance ordinance based on comments made by the Commission. There will be a draft for review and further discussion on the nuisance ordinance at an upcoming meeting.
CAO Safran mentioned that the City of Union will have a booth at the Boone County 250th celebration on June 20, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The event will be at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Burlington.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Commissioner Tuyn mentioned that the Boone County Planning Commission posted a survey link for the draft Union Town Plan update. The link will be available for thirty-days to provide citizens with the opportunity to give feedback on the updated plan. The city plans to host a Town Hall meeting to give citizens the opportunity to meet in person to ask questions.
Commissioner Tuyn mentioned there will be a new restaurant, Hokkaido Ramen House going into the old 1883 restaurant location next to Kroger. They plan to open mid-summer.
Penn Station in Union Promenade will have a ribbon cutting on June 6, 2026, at 10:30 AM.
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT
Commissioner Eldridge mentioned that Union Celebrates America will be on June 26, at Larry A. Ryle High School.
Commissioner Eldridge mentioned that the Health and Wellness Fair scheduled for May 16, 2026, was cancelled due to weather. There were forty-five vendors registered to participate in the event and have asked if the event will be rescheduled. After discussion, the Commission agreed to issue refunds to all the registered vendors and sponsors. The plan will be to reschedule a smaller Health and Wellness Fair sometime after July of this year.
BOONE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION UPDATE
Steve Harper, Boone County Planning Commission Board Member discussed current projects within Boone County. He gave an update on projects that he reviewed when he was at the January Commission meeting.
- A residential development of thirty-three detached single-family homes on 4.2 acres located on Weaver Road was withdrawn.
- A development next to Ballyshannon consisting of 882 various type dwellings on seventy-eight acres was denied by the committee, then the developer withdrew before it went to the full Commission.
- A car wash at the old Frisch’s location on Burlington Pike was approved.
- A jewelry store at the current location of Redman Chiropractic on Burlington Pike was approved.
- Corporex Residential Project off Mineola Pike had a tie vote. The project will now go to the Boone County Fiscal Court.
- Quick Trip Convenience Store at Burlington Pike and Turfway Road was approved by the Planning Commission, there was a parking issue, and the developer withdrew prior to the decision.
- Aero Parkway parking lot for an industrial building was approved.
Mr. Harper reviewed sixteen new projects that have come to the Planning Commission.
- Burlington Pike there will be a new business that will sell sheds and playground equipment in the former Bark and Patio location.
- On the East side of Chambers Road, a contractor’s office was approved.
- Realignment of two out lots next to Drury Inn in Florence were approved to make them better for development.
- Planet Fitness between Calvary Drive and Richmond Road was approved.
- A landscape contractor on Verona Mudlick Road has been approved.
- A parking lot for trucks and cars on Tanners Lane has been approved.
- Four new commercial buildings on Houston Road including a two-story office building, restaurant, and two seven-story hotels have been approved.
- Fifty-eight new detached-single family homes by Arlinghaus Builders on Utz Lane in Boone County.
- Graves Road, a proposal of 365 dwelling units, was withdrawn by the developer. The developer will present a new proposal at the Boone County Planning Commission.
- West side of US Highway 42 between Rice Pike and Blue Yacht Lane a proposed development of 377 homes was withdrawn by the developer.
- Union Acres on Hathaway, Drees Homes proposed development of Townhomes, and Condominiums.
- North Bend Road between Overlook Drive and Barbara Drive 212 Townhomes proposed by Drees Homes.
- East Bend Road homeowner wants a five-acre lot subdivided into two lots.
- Dutch Bros. Coffee on Mall Road.
- BIBIBOP Asian Grill on Houston Road approval for a screen around a CO2 tank.
- Commonwealth Autism on Ewing Boulevard approval for a fence around a playground.
LEGISLATION/ATTORNEY’S REPORT
Duke Energy Franchise
City Attorney Greg Voss discussed the current Duke Energy Franchise Agreement. He explained that the current agreement includes a three-year extension option which would allow the city to renew the agreement with the same terms. The current agreement expires in October of this year. If the Commission agrees to extending the agreement, Attorney Voss will prepare legislation.
Mayor Solomon asked the Commission for approval to have City Attorney prepare legislation to extend the agreement. Commissioner Tuyn, Commissioner Mefford, Commissioner Eldridge, and Mayor Solomon agreed to have Attorney Voss prepare legislation. Commissioner Bine mentioned that he had proposed previously to lower the 3% franchise agreement to 2%.
Municipal Orders
MUNICIPAL ORDER NO. 2026-13 A MUNICIPAL ORDER REAPPOINTING KAREN O’SULLIVAN TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF UNION, KENTUCKY
Mayor Solomon asked for a motion to approve Municipal Order 2026-13. Commissioner Eldridge made a motion to approve, and Commissioner Tuyn seconded the motion.
Motion approved 5-0
Ordinances
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-07 AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING AN ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2026, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2027, BY ESTIMATING REVENUES AND RESOURCES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF CITY GOVERNMENT FOR THE CITY OF UNION, KENTUCKY (SECOND READING)
City Attorney Voss mentioned that there was one change made in the budget summary since the first reading due to an overestimate of compensation of Commission salaries.
Mayor Solomon asked for a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-07. Commissioner Eldridge made a motion to approve, and Commissioner Mefford seconded the motion. Commissioner Tuyn voted yes, Commissioner Eldridge voted yes, Commissioner Bine voted no, Commissioner Mefford voted yes, and Mayor Solomon voted yes.
Motion approved 4-1
VISITORS WISHING TO SPEAK
Larry Klein, resident of Union addressed the Commission regarding the proposed development of Union Acres. He mentioned that he was neither for nor against the property. He mentioned it is important for safety reasons that there is a left turn lane into the property. He suggested that an overnight parking ban would prevent multiple people living from living in one unit because they would not have a place to park. He mentioned that the City of Park Hills has a parking ordinance to ban overnight parking and he will get a copy to CAO Safran, and PWD Kremer to review.
Ralph Shey, resident of Villas of Fowlers Creek, addressed the Commission regarding a sign on the side of one of the apartments in the Union Promenade. He also said that there are no stop signs installed on the streets in the development. He mentioned that young people riding their electric bikes through the Promenade development was also a concern.
Patrina Hensley, Union resident, addressed the Commission about Union Acres and asked if they knew why Drees Homes did not propose to build any single-family homes in the development.
Mayor Solomon explained that the proposal development will have six units per acre with a total of 135 units which falls within the Union Town Plan regulations.
Mrs. Hensley also asked about the vacancies in the Union Promenade that occurred when two restaurants closed recently. She asked what the city can do to encourage the developer to bring in restaurants that are not fast food.
Mayor Solomon explained that it will be easier for restaurants to go into a building that already has the required equipment. He mentioned that the city has always encouraged and pressed for higher end restaurants.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Solomon mentioned the Caucus Meeting will be on Monday June 15, 2026, at
6:00 PM. The next Regular Commission Meeting will be held on Monday July 6, 2026, at
6:00 PM. Both meetings will be at the Union City Building 1843 Bristow Drive Union, Kentucky.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Solomon asked for a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Bine made a motion and Commissioner Eldridge seconded that motion. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM.
Motion approved 5-0.
Approved:
_________________________
Hon. Larry Solomon, Mayor
Attest:
_____________________________
Tammy Wilhoite, City Clerk
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