At Monday night’s Leitchfield City Council meeting — the first-ever live broadcast of the meeting — Mayor Rick Embry, Councilmen Harold Miller and Kelly Stevenson had a spirited exchange about the city’s purchase of the old Rite Aid building, with Embry accusing the city council (which he was a member of until December 31) of spending money “like drunken sailors.”
In September, the city council approved the $2.85 million purchase of the 14,500 square foot building to be used for a new City Hall and Leitchfield Police Department headquarters. In November, the council, including Embry, approved the issuance of $5 million in General Obligation Bonds to purchase and renovate the property.
On Monday night, after a proposal that would place $1.6 million left over from the purchase of the building into a Treasury Bill, which would tie-up that money for at least six months, not allowing the money to be used to renovate the interior of the building so it may be used for its intended purpose, Embry and Miller commenced a debate that resulted in no vote being taken on the matter because of a lack of a second.
Miller said upon introduction of the proposal to place the money into a Treasury Bill (at 2.8 percent), that the city council had “previously voted to approve the purchase of the Rite Aid building” and use it for the new police department and City Hall.
In response to Embry saying on multiple occasions that he has met with an architect (without city council members present), who said a suitable building could be constructed for considerably less than what was paid for the Rite Aid building, Miller said that “the council needs to be involved” in those discussions, and that, “We’re all doing this together.”
Embry responded by stating that, “We’re underfunded for the building,” with Miller countering, “I don’t know that,” and that he’s had “no conversations” with anyone who claims the city is underfunded. Miller then said, “Mayor, I think you’re on an island by yourself” regarding this matter, with an agitated Embry declaring, “I’m in authority 24/7.”
Councilman Kelly Stevenson then said that, “We need more transparency … You’ve (Embry) had discussions (with an architect and possibly a bond manager) without city council present.”
Although Embry voted to approve the bond measure, he accused the city council of financial mismanagement by saying, “You’re so accustomed to spending money without looking into it.”
“All I’m saying is, as an elected official, you need to be transparent enough to include the city council in the discussions” with bond managers and architects, Miller told Embry.
Embry responded, “I’m not doing anything offhanded,” with Miller countering that Embry has secretly met with a bond manager and architect regarding the Rite Aid building, and that he, Miller, has “not been apprised of any meetings,” and that Embry has been given numbers by the architect that “were pulled out of the air.”
Embry then accused Miller of consorting with former Mayor William Thomason in an attempt to undermine Embry’s agenda (to not use the Rite Aid building as the new PD and City Hall), with Miller emphatically stating, “You’re making a false statement on live TV … You just made a false statement. How do you have any idea what I’m thinking.”
“This is not a kingship,” Miller added.
“The old mayor is giving you your marching papers … You’ve been down to Farm Bureau (Thomason’s business) …,” Embry said to Miller, adding that Miller “should have run for mayor if you wanted to run the show.” Miller strongly denied he had met with Thomason, later noting that he had not been to Thomason’s office in about four months.
At this point, the council asked City Attorney Dennis Fentress if Embry could “cancel” a contract approved by a previous City Council and signed by Thomason, with Fentress responding that no, he could not execute such a move.
Councilman Billy Dallas, who earlier in the meeting chastised Embry because as a councilmember, Embry did not vote to approve the purchase of the Rite Aid building, but later voted to approve the bond measure needed to purchase the property, made a motion to vote on the proposal to place $1.6 million in a Treasury Bill. The motion died for a lack of a second.
Dallas noted that he did not want to place the money in a Treasury Bill, but did want the council to vote on the matter.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
