11/02/2024
As we mentioned at the debate, Dexter Knight was not able to attend due to a surgical procedure he was having that day. He has submitted his responses. You can find those below:
*Introduce yourselves, tell us how long you have lived in Nicholasville and briefly describe your 2-year term goals if you're elected commissioner.
My name is Dexter Knight, I have lived in Jessamine County all my life and in the city of Nicholasville since 1987 (37 years).
My 2-year term goals are to continue to serve on the Destination Development committee to work to revitalize downtown. I will continue to work to improve and support our infrastructure and services to our community (necessary services such as police, water, sewer, and fire). I look forward to seeing the finalized East/West walking trail come to fruition and improve experiences for our families through additional green spaces and our planned community center.
*Name 3 key issues you believe our city is struggling with and how would you go about fixing them if you are elected?
Drugs, Unhoused individuals, and affordable housing.
I would continue to support City police and sheriff’s offices initiatives relating to drug enforcement.
Unhoused individuals and affordable housing go hand in hand. We as a community (several agencies) need to “get down in the weeds” and address each homeless person (one by one) and attempt to tailor a program including housing and a job (possibly additional training and education) to help them meet their needs. Also, officials are constantly considering affordable housing as building projects are presented to planning and zoning and the commission for approval.
*Do you believe that all meeting’s, agendas and minutes (even if under 50% of commissioners are not in attendance dealing with city business) recorded and made public?
All meetings except for work sessions are recorded and available. Unless there is a quorum of the commission (3 of the 5 including the mayor) a meeting cannot be held(50% attendance is below the amount needed for a meeting). If citizens have ideas for more transparency or ways to inform the community regarding city government meetings, please share them.
*The city of Wilmore has 6 city council members, the city of Nicholasville has 4 commissioners. Would you be in favor of increasing the number of commissioners in the city of Nicholasville? - yes or no, why?
The Commonwealth of Kentucky sets the commissioner form of government for ALL commissions at 4 members plus the mayor. This form of government is the most effective in my opinion at allowing all members (including the mayor) to have a vote in all the city’s business matters. https://www.klc.org/LegalFAQ
*How would you attract new businesses to Nicholasville while supporting existing local businesses and creating job opportunities?
a. Many residents feel that Nicholasville’s downtown lacks diverse, income-generating businesses, with numerous vacant or cluttered storefronts and an overabundance of government buildings and law offices. Given this, what specific initiatives would you propose to attract businesses to the area to create a vibrant downtown?
I grew visiting Nicholasville (on Saturdays from my home in the county) in the 1960’s and 70’s so I remember a very vibrant downtown with many small businesses.
I would allow a second round of Small Business property funding to incentivize businesses to come to downtown with reduced rent for a time period. The Destination Development is working diligently to change ordinances and provide grants for improved signage (blade signs), improving the downtown experience through additional dining options as well as shops who are open past 6 p.m., and encourage building owners to make better use of buildings they own. Downtown MUST be a destination with “things to do” in mind. The Jessamine County Tourism group is working to improve signage across downtown to direct visitors to our local venues as well as promoting existing businesses in our city and county.
b. Additionally, what ordinances or programs would you support to ensure that neglected properties are maintained
Enact any ordinance providing penalties for buildings used for storage, etc. Also work with building owners to improve the appearance of any building that might need improvements through any grants that may be available or from additional private business owners who may be interested in purchasing and improving the property for the downtown revitalization project.
c. Additionally, public records indicate that the City of Nicholasville's Small Business Property Incentive Grant for the downtown business district had remaining funds after the first round of funding. Do you support a second round of funding towards downtown business revitalization with those funds? Yes
*How do you plan to increase transparency in city government and ensure that residents are well-informed and engaged in decision-making?
I encourage anyone who is interested in staying in the know to attend any of our meetings or viewing them on our website. If citizens would like to speak to commissioners regarding any matter, they may attend the meeting and speak or contact us through email. The City of Nicholasville webpage is a great resource to stay informed on the business of the city.
*What specific strategies would you implement to address homelessness and enhance support services for unhoused individuals in Nicholasville?
Please see my response to the “3 keys issues” question our city is facing for my response.
*For the sitting current commissioners - Recent Purchase of Lone Oak Golf Course - Per the Jessamine County PVA, Tall Oak LLC owned by Clay Corman and William Hayden purchased Lone Oak golf course for 2 Million dollars in 2019. 5 years later in July of this year after a failed attempt to develop the property the city purchased the land from the developer for 3.9 million dollars giving the developer a 1.9 million dollar profit from the City of Nicholasville taxpayers. Please explain if you would have been or were in favor or against this decision to purchase this property.
I was in favor of the purchase of Lone Oak to provide additional green space for our citizens and another venue they may rent out for private events. I am confident the land would appraise for the purchase price of 3.9 million dollars as it was purchased at or slightly below fair market value. ARPA monies had to be allocated by the end of 2024. The community center project will continue as funds are already allocated. If additional funds are required our city has an excellent rating for bonded funds.
Community Center project - could you provide an update on the project's progress? The community center project will continue as funds are already allocated. If additional funds are required our city has an excellent rating for bonding. We are committed to making this project a success soon.
*There has been growing interest in merging the City of Nicholasville and Jessamine County local governments into a single governing entity. Would you support such a merger?
No - Jessamine County and Nicholasville have very different needs, and agencies that work together on some projects and independently on others. I don’t feel that forming a merged government currently is in the community’s best interest.
FINAL QUESTION:
If you are elected, give us 3 of your most important priorities that you want to accomplish under your term as commissioner that we can judge you by come the next election if you run again.
-Improving our Downtown Nicholasville “experience”
-Continuing to address the problems of drug use and unhoused persons in our city
-Finalizing the community center details and implementing work on that project as soon as possible (along with other projects such as the park/green space at Lone Oak).
