LOUISA CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO ADD KATE CECIL TO THE LC TOURISM BOARD…
By Susan Salyer
The Louisa City Council had a Regular Meeting at Louisa City Hall, 215 N. Main Cross Street, Louisa, Kentucky 41230 on Tuesday April 14, 2026 at 6PM. City of Louisa Mayor Harold Slone was in attendance along with all the Louisa City Council including Joey McClanahan, Kala Brown, Caleb Farley, Rose Lester, Coty Roe and Keith Chaffin.
APPOINT MEMBER TO LC TOURISM BOARD – KATE CECIL
Kate Cecil was appointed to the LC Tourism Board with a positive recommendation from LC Tourism Commissioner Wes Kingsmore. Kingsmore said, “Kate is a very active member of the LC Tourism and is young and youthful. Cecil is a 5th grade teacher in the Lawrence County School System, and covers the IT Position for the Tourism Board.” The LC Tourism Board is a non-paid position. Mayor Harold Slone said, “I would like to add Kate Cecil to the LC Tourism Board.”
Motion by Joey McClanahan and seconded by Coty Roe. None Opposed.
MAYOR HAROLD SLONE COMMENTS
Slone said, “The Pike Street Project is ready, materials and funding are in place. The contractor will probably start next week.”
Slone said, “The Sewer Plant Project, We have hit a serious snag with the $5 Million FEMA Award. FEMA is at a dead standstill. No projects have been released last year or this year. If we ever get the Federal Government to move in Atlanta, we are ready to move, here’s the plans, So we are waiting on the FEMA Funds to be released.
APPROVE MINUTES
The Council unanimously approved the Minutes for March 12, 2026 Special Meeting with a Motion by Caleb Farley and seconded by Joey McClanahan.
APPROVE LC TOURISM BUDGET
The LC Tourism Budget was unanimously approved with a Motion by Rose Lester and second by Keith Chaffin.
APPROVE LOUISA FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING EXERCISE
Mayor Slone said, “The City of Louisa will be burning Louisa City property, at a newer site for Fire Dept Training here in Louisa.” The agenda item was unanimously passed with a Motion by Joey McClanahan and seconded by Coty Roe.
APPROVE MOU WITH KENTUCKY STATE POLICE
The Council tabled the MOU with Kentucky State Police until next meeting. Motion was unanimously approved to table the agenda item by Caleb Farley and seconded by Joey McClanahan.
REVIEW LOUISA CITY POOL PRICES FOR 2026 SEASON
The Council all agreed that the prices at the Louisa City Pool should remain the same. Councilwoman Rose Lester said, “I would like for this to stay the same, this is the only thing a lot of kids have in the summertime. I feel like we have excess somewhere in the budget to cover it. And for the community I personally would not want to raise it and be the cause for no pool. You can take my money from city council.” (Chuckles)
Councilman Joey McClanahan said, “How much are we short for the year?
Mayor Slone said, “$2,000”
So the Council had discussion and no changes were made to the Louisa City Pool over the 2026 Season.
SCHEDULE BUDGET PLANNING MEETING FOR FY 2027
Mayor Slone said, “We are having a Budget Workshop. This will not be a city Council Meeting and no decisions will be made. We are just reviewing the Budget.”
The Council unanimously approved a Budget Meeting on Thursday April 30th 2026 at 5:30PM.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Council member Lester said, “I’ve had a couple concerns about the number of cats roaming the city streets. Do we not have Animal Control? Chief of Police Steven Wilburn said, “We rely on the County’s Animal Control.” Mayor Slone added, “I don’t know the answer.”
Lester said, “The other 5 complaints I have is, Meadowbrook golf carts are still being driven by kids that are 10 & 11 yrs old. We don’t have enough Police, so I believe it falls back on the parents. It has to get back to parent responsibility. So do we send a letter to people in Meadowbrook and say this is what the law says. You have to be 16 yrs old. It’s gonna happen, some kid could be playing in the street and they will get run over by a golf cart. People have called me. Somebody is going to have to take responsibility before someone gets killed.”
Chief Wilburn said, “They need to call in dispatch when it happens so we can go to the area and address it then.”
Then Lester said, “The only other complaint I had was, In our front yard again, we have a big hole coming back. So be careful, I don’t know if it’s sewer or water, which ever one.
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Councilman Keith Chaffin said, “Harold, I have been asked a question about Clay Street, if they will be cutting the grass down in the areas that didn’t get cut last year. I think it’s the Britton house, and there’s cats too. I was asked to find out.”
Chief Wilburn said, “We had a concern about that awhile back. If anyone was going to mow the grass and keep up the property. We reached out to the brother but with Summer the grass will be growing.”
Councilman Coty Roe said, “It’s knee high now.”
Wilburn said, “We may have to send the brother a letter.”
Slone said, “ The way it works now…We did form a Code Enforcement Board that meets quarterly. The Board answers appeals if the property owner appeals the decision. The board is for the people who get warnings and citations.
Councilwoman Lester said, “Can’t we get a report about the warnings and citations.”
Slone said, “Yes, we can from Teddy, he has a report of every warning and citation given and can give us an update every month.”
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
Local businessman Billy Marcum was in the audience.
Mr. Marcum had been given a citation for $100 because of the cars sitting behind D & J Tobacco. Mr. Marcum explained he was going to open 2 car lots and one would be behind D &J Tobacco. He was at the City Council Meetimg to find out why he was cited.
Mr. Billy Marcum said, “The cars have been moved and line up in rows and the lot is clean and looks good. Do I need to move them all or what do I need to do?
Mayor Slone said, “There are a few things here we need to address. One, if you go through the state and get your licenses, and you have land on it, then we are happy about that. We want to give you a business license to do business in Louisa.”
Lester said,”I don’t think people want to see another junk yard is my point.”
Marcum said,”That ain’t a junkyard honey, That’s all nice cars.”
Lester said, “ Do you guarantee that the cars are going to run?”
Marcum said,”Yes, as long as they run and drive, you are not allowed to have trash, junk cars and dilapidated vehicles, the State of Kentucky will not put up with that.”
Lester said, “And neither will the Council.”
Marcum said, “Well we know that, I’ve been here twice.”
Slone said,”Would you help us with that mess over there? You haven’t been reasonable, we can work with you on the car lots. I believe you could help us.”
Marcum said, “You look at stuff like it’s junk, I look at stuff like it’s money.”
Slone said, “If I could finish, more people complained about the fence than the cars. Last thing on Code Enforcement Board. You can’t write people a city ticket then not have a court for them to go to. So you need to go to Code Enforcement law, then the officer will write it in district court. That is the best way to handle it legally. We can get you set up with that. It was my understanding that this one over here bothers me more than the car lot.”
Marcum said, “I’m cleaning up.”
Lester said, “Mr. Marcum I think we can work with you, ok? and I’m glad you came because you’re not as mean as I heard you are.”
Marcum said,” I can be a Very Big Asshole, but I come in peace to talk to you.”
Chief Wilburn said, “Back in October 2025, Mr. Marcum was cited. People didn’t notice a change so they went back to the officer in March 2026. One car had been moved, and some cars were moved and replaced with other cars. That’s why you have been cited.”
Slone said, “Since the Code Enforcement Board meets quarterly, we will have to call a Special Meeting. Code Enforcement Board is for the People. Then if it’s not solved it will go to District Court.”
Last Audience Comment was Kim Willard from MoMo Theater in Louisa, Kentucky.
Willard said, “There will be a talent show tomorrow night, the cost is $5 to get in, the last talent show had 100 people and John Thornsberry was the Winner.
Also, Footloose Opens May 14th, 2026
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- Call to Order
Old Business
- Approve Minutes for March 12, 2026 Special Meeting – Motion by Caleb Farley 2nd by Joey McClanahan. None Opposed.
New Business
- Appoint Member to Tourism Board – Kate Cecil was unanimously appointed to LC Tourism Board. Motion by Joey McClanahan 2nd by Coty Roe.
- Approve Tourism Budget – Motion by Rose Lester 2nd by Keith Chaffin. None Opposed.
- Approve Fire dept. to burn house at new sewer site for training exercise – Motion by Joey McClanahan 2nd by Coty Roe. None Opposed.
- Approve MOU with Kentucky State Police – Tabled till next meeting. Motion by Caleb Farley and 2nd by Joey McClanahan. None Opposed.
- Review Louisa City Pool pricing for 2026 season – Discussion.
- The March 2026 Budget Tracking Report – Information about the Budget.
- Schedule Budget Planning Meeting for FY 2027 – Thursday, April 30th at 5:30PM
- Council Comments – See Above
- Audience Comments – See Above
- Executive Session – None
- Adjourn – Motion by Joey McClanahan and 2nd by Caleb Farley.
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The next Regular Scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday May 12th, 2026 at 6PM.
