Florence City Council September 23
All City Council members and Mayor Julie Aubuchon were present except Councilwoman Angie Cable.
Numbers correspond to the published agenda numbering.
#5 – FLORENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECOGNITION: Certificate of Commendation awarded to Officer Michael Stanaland for exemplary service. Officer Stanaland was called to a foster care situation for a child. While on site, Officer Stanaland and his family decided to become a foster family for this child. Now, nearly a year later, Officer Stanaland and his family are still foster parents to the child and now consider the child to be a valuable addition to their family.
#6 – SECOND READING ORDINANCE O-19-2025: An Ordinance Creating and Establishing for bid a non-exclusive Electric Franchise for the Placement of Facilities for the Transmission, Distribution, and Sale of Electrical Energy within the Public Right-of-Way of the City of Florence for a twenty (20) year duration, reserving the right to impose a franchise fee in an amount up to five percent (5%) of franchisee’s gross receipts per year from the franchisee’s sale of electricity to electric-consuming entities inside the City of Florence’s corporate limits and further providing for compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and standards; indemnification; insurance; cancellation or termination; and bid requirements; all effective on date of passage. PASSED 5-0
• 20-year term with a potential franchise fee of up to 5% of gross receipts.
• Requirements for compliance with laws, indemnification, and insurance.
• Discussion included concerns about ensuring costs are not passed to residents, with no specific council members’ comments noted in the agenda.
• Councilwoman Whalen requested City Director Josh Hunt to restate what passing meant for the public.
• Per the current city council, no fees will be passed on to residents in the city.
• Councilwoman Wingo explained, in her words, the rebid process for the city. Ms. Wingo pointed out there were already contracts in place with the city. The city is required to renew and rebid the contracts every twenty years and this is part of that process.
#7 – SECOND READING ORDINANCE O-20-2025: An Ordinance Relating to the levying of a Tax Upon Real Estate and Personal Property in the City of Florence; Levying a tax on all franchises taxable within the City of Florence, Kentucky; Specifying payment dates, discounts, and penalties for the franchise tax on financial institutions measured by the deposits in the institutions located within the city; and levying a special tax for the payment of current service costs for police and firemen in the County Employees Retirement System. PASSED 5-0
• Payment deadlines, early-payment discounts, and penalties for late payments.
• Franchise taxes on financial institutions based on deposit values.
• Special levy for police and firefighters’ pension costs under the County Employees Retirement System.
Taxes would be as follows:
- $0.187 per hundred dollars on Real Property
- $0.044 per hundred dollars on Real Property for Police and Fire
- Total Real Property Tax $.231 per hundred
- $0.239 per hundred dollars on Personal Property
- $0.025 per hundred dollars on Financial Institutions measured by deposits
Exceptions were discussed for motor property. Discounts for early payment and penalties for late payment were mentioned. Mayor Aubuchon mentioned this would be a three (3%) reduction for residents of the city. PASSED 5-0
#8 – FIRST READING ORDINANCE O-21-2025: An Ordinance Adopting and Approving a Change of Concept Development Plan in a Commercial Two/Planned Development (C-2/PD) Zone for an approximate 1.0 acre site located at 8748 US 42 and being located at the northeast corner of the intersection of US Highway 42 with Farmview Drive, Florence, to allow modifications to conditions imposed with the previous Concept Development Plan. (Bank of America). PASSED 5-0
#9 – MUNICIPAL ORDER MO-12-2025: A Municipal Order Approving the Reappointment of Jeffrey P. Koenig to the Boone-Florence Water Commission as an Appointee of the City of Florence, for a four (4) year term. (Please note Mr. Koenig is not a resident of Florence.) PASSED 5-0
#10 – DISCUSSION RESOLUTION R-25-021-A OF THE BOONE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION: Consideration of Resolution R-25-021-A of the Boone County Planning Commission recommending approval, with conditions for a request of CESCO Inc. (Applicant) for The Deters Company (Owner) and Vuong Xuan Nguyen (Owner) for a Change of Concept Development Plan in a Commercial Two/Planned Development (C-2/PD) District, for an approximate 3.8 acre area located at 8540 US Highway 42 and including the property having a Parcel Identification Number (PIDN) of 062.00-00-039.00, and being located at the northeast corner of the intersection of US Highway 42 with Hopeful Church, Florence, and providing the recommendation be forwarded to the City of Florence. DISCUSSION ONLY.
• A Wawa Gas Station and Convenience Store will replace the current structures: gas station, Lita’s Tacos and Snappy Tomato Pizza
• Located at the northeast corner of US Highway 42 and Hopeful Church
• A significant redesign of on/off driveways into the store should make the intersection safer once the Wawa store is complete (projected 2027).
• The biggest issue seemed to be micromanaging by KYTC of the corner since US Highway 42 is a state highway.
• Per Wawa’s presentation, there will not be a significant change in traffic going in and out of the site from the existing businesses.
• Wawa gas pumps will feature audio advertising at the pumps from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
• The store would employ 40 people from the area.
#11 – MAYOR’S REPORT: The mayor provided updates and reports on various city matters.
• October 9 – Community Blood Drive by Hoxworth
• October 13 – Safe Sitter Course
• October 28 – City Halloween at the Stadium
#12 – OTHER: Any additional items not specifically listed on the agenda.
• Councilwoman Whalen brought up the City Insurance Tax needed some review. Any changes would not take effect till 1 July 2026. Mayor Aubuchon mentioned the City Insurance Tax would have to be thoroughly reviewed as the tax was approximately 10% of the city’s annual tax revenues
• Resident Joe Berkshire spoke about issues that concern him. He said:
- The city needs to do a better job of clearing out brush so deer have no convenient habitat in the city. Director Hunt stated he would take a look at the issue.
- The library is being run by “granola, tofu, and kale people,” Florence is not getting the service it deserves from the library with Sunday closures, and he visited the library board to give them a physical award for being “a worst neighbor.”
- Mr. Berkshire’s comments can be seen and heard at approximately 1:22:30 in the city video of meeting on YouTube.
• Resident Robert Sargent stated he was glad the issue of public safety was being addressed with new bollards and driveways around the future Wawa store site.