SALYERSVILLE – The Salyersville City Council met in regular session on Monday, July 20, discussing the budget, tax rates and ongoing projects.
Before the meeting began, David Gardner addressed the Mayor Stanley Howard, asking about an action listed in the minutes from a May 2025 city council meeting, that seemingly set the time limit for public comments to 3 minutes, but Monday’s meeting agenda noted no public comments would be allowed. He asked the council to resolve the issue by setting a new policy or to enforce the rule.
Councilman Paul Montgomery asked that everyone “keep it civil” and the meeting was called to order.
The council approved to pay the city’s and Water Works’ bills.
The council held the first reading of the budget proposal for the current fiscal year, with a budget total of $3,908,390, which includes the water and sewer department. The city’s proposed revenue total is $1,949,849, Mayor Howard said, but the rest of the budget wasn’t detailed during the meeting.
Howard proposed setting the property tax rates to stay the same, which the council approved unanimously for the first reading.
The council approved a resolution with the Local Assistance Road Program (LARP) through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, which includes the funding the city received to pave five city roads.
Howard said they had to pass a resolution and approve the memorandum of agreement, then the state has to approve the paper work before they can get the approval to start work on those roads.
Eric Ratliff with Big Sandy Area Development District (BSADD) explained the payment requested for Bell Engineering for inspection observation for $3,250, and for CPR Construction for $16,340, noting those were both for the Mountain Parkway Beautification Project. The council approved to pay those invoices.
A representative with Bell Engineering said they opened bids a couple of months ago and, since the project includes a lot of landscaping and way-finding signage, they are waiting until this fall for ideal landscaping conditions. As far as the signage, they’re working to make upgrades to their gateway signage area since they are currently well under budget for the project. He said they’ve added trees and upgraded many of the trees, with plants chosen to come back each year and grow well in Kentucky soil.
Excavation on the masonry wall at Parkway Drive will begin in late summer and landscaping will begin in October.
On the generator project, Howard said they have the generator in, but still have to put up a fence, run gas to it, etc., and the council approved to make a payment on the project.
As far the design bills for Summit Engineering, one for $10,000 and another for $45,500, Ratliff explained those are for the grinder pumps, and the council approved to pay those bills. Ratliff noted they will be opening bids on June 29. Howard explained Summit and BSADD will go over the bids and they will have to have a special meeting with the council when they have determined what the best options are for the project before they can hire a contractor and get started. Montgomery asked they be required to mobilize quickly and to train staff on how to rebuild the grinder pumps for repairs.
Montgomery said this weekend is the annual Masonic Lodge meeting, with a large crowd expected to be in town. He asked about a feasibility study in order to get a hotel or motel in town, noting this weekend alone roughly 300 people will be staying in other places for a meeting here.
City Attorney Jeff Lovely and Council Member Patricia Frazier were not in attendance at Monday’s meeting.
Due to public comments not being allowed during the meeting, a group held a peaceful protest outside of city hall, which could be heard throughout the meeting.
The next regularly scheduled Salyersville City Council meeting is tentatively slated for August 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Salyersville City Hall.
