By Carolyn Reid
FALMOUTH — Retired Falmouth Maintenance Director Gary Lea was honored for his 44 years of service to the city at the beginning of the city council meeting last Thursday night. Lea, who retired as of Aug. 1, received a locally-crafted metal sign that reads, “Gary Lea’s Garage.”
In Lea’s time working for the city, he was the go-to for everything from changing lightbulbs to managing electrical outages across the city.
He and his crew answered calls in the middle of the night, on holidays, and any time it was needed.
Lea was appreciative of the recognition, and thanked the city while they thanked him for still being available to answer questions and to guide the process as new Falmouth Maintenance Director Richard Courtney has taken over.
CANNABIS UPDATE
Brian Thompson of Falmouth Planning and Zoning presented his opinions on zoning for the proposed medical cannabis facility should that be voted in and should Falmouth be chosen as a venue for a dispensary. Mayor Luke Price said he wants to have everything in place because of the possibilities that are in play come the November election.
Medical cannabis is legal in Kentucky as of January 1, 2025, less than two months after the vote that could possibly put at least dispensaries within the city limits.
Thompson told council regulations could be put in place by ordinance or by zoning, and he suggested putting it into the downtown area to help build up the surrounding businesses and increase potential for others.
He said the stores in Hamilton County, the area of Cincinnati where he works and where they are now selling both medical and recreational marijuana, are discreet, and he expects the same low-key style in Kentucky when they are put in place, wherever they are placed.
The new law allows for 48 dispensaries, 10 processors, and 16 cultivators throughout the state. No dispensary will be allowed within 1,000 feet of any type of school or daycare, and they can be further restricted as needed by the local government.
The law also restricts the conditions eligible for medical cannabis as well as where it can be consumed. No person using medical cannabis may operate machinery of any sort or have it within arm’s reach during that operation. These restrictions, and others, will be considered by council and by law enforcement as the law takes effect.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Price informed council he was requesting bids to grind down and blacktop the Cardinal Ridge subdivision streets. The streets there have been neglected since the area was annexed, according to residents who spoke with the Falmouth Outlook when street conditions were last discussed by council over a year ago, even when the promise was made to fix them upon the annexation.
The city is also waiting on applications for the Wilson Lane sewer project so it can be put out to bid. Price also informed council the Kentucky Public Service Commission stopped the rate increase for wholesale water, as was expected, and documentation would be sent to them to show justification for the raises.
Continuing the infrastructure updates, Price said Precision Concrete Placement offered to evaluate all sidewalks with the plan to level out the areas where the concrete is good but not level, and to repair the segments in need of full repair.
The evaluation cost is $7,000, but that fee would be applied to repairs if the contract is awarded. Overall, Price said, this plan could save the city quite a bit of money.
The city is looking to install new lights on the ballfield at the corner of Chapel and Main. The price given by the company who sold the bridge lights to Falmouth is $20,000. That cost is for the lights alone. Price said he had requested two other bids, and Councilman Dave Klaber said he was concerned about the $20,000 cost. Price did say the pole with the transformer needs to be replaced along with four lights.
OTHER BUSINESS
Before the meeting ended, Corey Eimer, the new Associate Director of Workforce Development for Northern Kentucky Area Development District, introduced himself and the role of NKADD in the area.
Large garbage pickup is Aug. 26, and all city residents need to do is set out their large garbage for pickup. No notification is needed. The next meeting of Falmouth City Council is Sept. 5.