15-04-2025
Somerset to receive $278,000 in road funds; approves zone change for Thurman Road property
The City of Somerset will be getting more than $278,000 in Municipal Road Aid funds to help with improving city streets this year.
City Council approved a Municipal Road Aid Cooperative Agreement during Monday's meeting, which detailed what funds the city will receive from the state.
City Attorney John Adams said the total would be $278,755.05, with Mayor Alan Keck saying that amount would likely aid in blacktopping three or four streets.
In discussing those funds, Mayor Keck also said that the council will discuss in future budget workshops the possibility of purchasing technology that can help 'measure' roads to show the city which ones might be in most need of repair.
'With that said, if you've got a road that is, for lack of a better metric, a 5-out-of-10, but 10,000 people traverse it, versus a 4-out-of-10 and five people traverse it, you still might have to make a judgement call. But at least it will give us some data,' Keck said.
The technology could be mounted to city vehicles, such as emergency vehicles, he said.
The council held two second readings on zone changes, both of which passed, although one brought up a discussion on the planned usage of the property.
That property, located in the 400 block of Thurman Road, was recently annexed into the city limits. Its owner, MENLO Farms, doing business as Somerset Kentucky Distillery Gift Shop, has declared an intent to apply for a retail alcohol license and off-premise retail sales outlet license.
That information caused Councilor Jim Mitchell to ask Keck how much alcohol the owners planned on selling, to which Keck answered that he didn't know.
'I know (the owners) got a contract with Kroger, I think it is, to sell (alcohol).' Mitchell said.
'He's already been selling, I understand, according to the information I hear,' said Councilor Jimmy Eastham, just not as a retail establishment.
The council's vote was to change the property's zone from residential to business (B-3). All councilors but Mitchell voted 'yes' to the measure, while Mitchell opted to 'pass.'
The second rezone request, which was passed unanimously, was for property on Monticello road near Somerset Community College.
That was changed from a single-family residential area (R-1) to a multi-family residential area (R-3).
In the council's previous meeting, Keck said the owner's plan was to build apartments on that property.
During Monday's meeting, the council also discussed updating wording in the 2013 tourism ordinance to include short-term rentals, such as Airbnb and Vrbo, to the transient room tax requirements.
That change would bring those types of rentals under the same rules as hotels and motels, which are subject to a 4% transient tax.
Keck explained that when the original ordinance was passed, brand-name house rental services weren't as prevalent in the market as they are now, and therefore weren't covered in the language used in that 2013 ordinance.
A first reading on those changes took place Monday, with a second reading and vote to take place at a later date.
The council also approved the appointment of retired Col. Travis Rogers to the city's Ethics Board.
