CITY OF ST. MATTHEWS
Council Meeting Minutes
June 23, 2026
A meeting of the St. Matthews City Council was held in-person on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at City Hall. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. EST by Mayor Tonini. The following people were present:
MAYOR
Richard J. Tonini
CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Bernie Bowling (absent) Councilmember Tim Holland (absent)
Councilmember Sarah Landes Councilmember Mary Jo Nay
Councilmember Frank Flynn Councilmember Amy Olson
Councilmember Nathan Hernandez Councilmember Jackie Vanetti (absent)
OTHER OFFICIALS
John Singler – St. Matthews City Attorney
Judi Kassebaum – St. Matthews City Clerk
Chief Barry Wilkerson – St. Matthews Police Department
Jack Ruf – St. Matthews Planning Officer
Kenan Stratman – St. Matthews Public Works Director
OTHER ATTENDEES
Kate Leitner – Manger, Eline Library
Catherine Timmerman – District 7 Metro Councilmember Candidate
Allison Tyler – Walden School
Jeff Hamilton – Walden School
John Baggett – Tree City USA
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was accomplished followed by the roll call of attendance. Councilmembers Bowling, Holland, and Vanetti were absent.
A motion was made by Councilmember Olson to approve the minutes of the June 9, 2026, council meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Nay. Upon Voice Vote: (5-0) the motion carried.
A motion was made by Councilmember Nay to approve the minutes of the June 16, 2026, caucus meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Hernandez. Upon Voice Vote: (5-0) the motion carried.
PUBLIC MEETING COMMENTS
Catherine Timmerman, District 7 Metro Councilmember Candidate, told the council the infrastructure in this area has been neglected and underserved. She is a JCPS teacher who is about to retire and lives in Lyndon.
Kate Leitner, Manager of the Eline/St. Matthews Branch of the Library gave the following report:
· KHEAA Will be in the large meeting room from 1:00 pm – 3 pm EST on Wednesday June 23, in case any adults are interested in learning more about returning to school, the FAFSA (Free application for Federal Student Aid) or KEES (Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship.)
· LGBTQ+ Book Tasting: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm EST
· Adult Board Game Night: Thursday, July 2, 2026, from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm EST
· Stephen King Book Discussion Group: Wednesday, July 8, 2026, from 6:00 pm –7:00 pm EST· English Conversation Club Every Monday at 6:00 pm EST
· Computer Help by Appointment: Call 574-1771 to set up an appointment with a library staff member
· All Library Locations will be closed on Saturday July 4 for Independence Day
· Boys, Books & Ballet: Thursday, June 25, 2026, from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm EST
· The Pigeon Bookmobile goes on Tour: Friday, June 26, 2026, from 10:00 am –11:00 am EST
· Louisville Folk School: Skylark Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 10:30 am – 11:30 am EST
· Music Together® BABIES Pop-Up with UpBeat Louisville! Tuesday, June 30, 2026, from 10:30 am – 11:30 am EST
· Jamaka’s Jungle: Tuesday, July 7, 2026, from 2:00 pm–3:00 pm EST
· Rose Flowers: Face Painting and Pint-Size Playdate: Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 10:30 am–12:30 pm EST
· OutLoud Louisville: Instrument Petting Zoo: Tuesday, July 14, 2026, from 10:30 am –11:30 am EST
· Storytimes: Wednesdays 10:15 am EST Baby & 11:15 am EST Toddler; Thursdays10:15 am EST Preschool & 11:15 am EST Family
PENDING BUSINESS
Ordinance 26-04 Approval of 2026-2027 Budget 2nd Reading Richard Tonini, Mayor
Mr. Singler summarized the ordinance. Councilmember Hernandez gave the council a handout summarizing changes in the budget.
A motion was made by Councilmember Hernandez to approve Ordinance 26-04. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Nay. Upon Roll Call Vote: (5-0) the motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Walden School Signage Allison Tyler and Jeff Hamilton
Mr. Hamilton informed the council that in February he was informed a complaint had been made regarding the signage at Walden School athletic fields. When he was notified, he had the temporary banner removed and is removing a tall sign. The signage on the fence has been there for 13 years, and the school would like to keep that signage as there are no other identifying markers on campus. He gave the council handouts with pictures of the signage on campus currently and that portion of the signs that have been removed. Sign #1 on the handout is of the fence with metal letters spelling Walden Wolverines and their logo. The sign is too large and to comply with St. Matthews standards, either Walden and the logo can remain or the logo and wolverines can remain. The school asks if it is reasonable to leave the sign as is, since it has been there for 13 years. The current ordinances prevent the council from issuing a variance to allow Walden School’s sign to remain as is. To keep the current sign, Walden would have to apply for a zoning change. Waggener High School is allowed to have a large sign because JCPS is considered an instrumentality of the state and not subject to zoning laws. Walden School has never applied for a sign permit. The school can either comply with the ordinances or apply for a zoning change. The school accepted the council’s position.
Tree City USA John Baggett
The Mayor met Mr. Baggett at a KLC meeting and invited him to a council meeting. Mr. Baggett is an Urban and Community Forestry Partnering Coordinator. The City plants approximately 125 trees a year. By becoming a Tree City USA member, the City will get recognition for what is already being done. In Jefferson County, 11 cities have the Tree City USA designation. There are no costs associated with the program, and in addition to community recognition and pride the City will be eligible for grants. There are four steps to getting this designation, and the City is already doing 3 of the steps.
1. Have a tree board made up with citizens – the Green Committee fulfills the requirement
2. Have a tree ordinance – the City does not currently have one, but a sample ordinance can be provided
3. Spend at least $2 per capita per year on tree related initiatives – this is being met by salaries for leaf collection and buying trees
4. Have a tree event – this is met by the trees planted in the right-of-way each at the request of citizens. Applications for the program are accepted each year in September through December.
EXPENDITURES
Councilmember Nay made a motion to approve the expenditures listed and have checks drawn on the city’s treasury in the amount of $153,941.07. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Olson. Upon Roll Call Vote: (5-0) the motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
· Councilmember Hernandez is working with the Chamber St Matthews and Friends School on finding a joint property.
MAYOR’S REPORT
There was no Mayor’s report.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Nay made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Flynn. Upon Voice Vote: (5-0) the motion carried, and the meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m. EST.
Respectfully submitted,
Richard Tonini, Mayor
Judi Kassebaum, City Clerk
| June 23, 2026 | |||
| BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR DRAW WARRANTS on the City Treasury, | |||
| counter-signed by the City Clerk or Assistant City Clerk authorizing payment of the below listed invoices: | |||
| All About You Heating & Air | Parks – Repairs & Maintenance – Building | $530.00 | |
| Altec Industries, Inc. | Works – Repairs & Maintenance – Equipment | $562.02 | |
| AT&T Telephone | Works – Telephone | $3,083.15 | |
| Awards Center | Police – Miscellaneous | $61.95 | |
| BMS, LLC | All – Insurance Addendum | $173.25 | |
| CDW Government | IT – Supplies & Materials | $321.04 | |
| Chris Bradley Electric | Rental Property – 201 Thierman Lane | $260.00 | |
| Cintas | Works – Supplies & Materials | $639.36 | |
| Clifford Distributing Co., Inc. | Works – Supplies & Materials | $1,198.40 | |
| Derby Fire Services | Parks – Repairs & Maintenance – Equipment | $359.00 | |
| Diversity IT, LLC | IT – Capital Project – Network Equipment Installation | $19,560.00 | |
| Farley Printing | Parks – Music in Brown Park | $217.80 | |
| First Financial Bank | All – Multiple | $13,158.81 | |
| Galls | Police -Uniforms | $165.24 | |
| Guardian Insurance Company | All – Long/Short/Life Insurance | $10,513.35 | |
| HDR Engineering, Inc. | Works – Walkability Study | $17,268.48 | |
| Integrity Auto Repairs | Works – Repairs & Maintenance – Vehicles | $959.95 | |
| Kentucky Shakespeare | Admin. – Program Support | $1,500.00 | |
| Lewis Seed Company | Works – Supplies & Materials | $51.00 | |
| Louisville Gas & Electric Co. | Works – Electric/Gas Services | $157.62 | |
| Louisville Mulch & Stone | Works – Mulch | $262.08 | |
| Louisville Water Company | Works – Water Services | $3,696.61 | |
| Media Events, inc. | Parks – Music in Brown Park | $10,500.00 | |
| Miller Company | Police – Service Contract – Copies | $50.15 | |
| NAPA Auto Parts | Works – Repairs & Maintenance – Equipment | $176.81 | |
| Norton Healthcare | Police/Works-Contract Services-Medical/Drug Screens | $156.00 | |
| Occupational Medicine Phys. | Police – Contract Services – Medical | $935.00 | |
| Schiller | IT – Repairs & Maintenance – Dispatch Equipment | $4,618.39 | |
| Security Systems, Inc | Works – Monitoring | $38.00 | |
| Site One Landscape Supply | Works – Supplies & Materials/Mulch & Plantings | $369.05 | |
| St. Matthews Area Chamber | Admin. – 4th Quarter Program Support | $18,750.00 | |
| St. Matthews Area Ministries | Admin. – 4th Quarter Program Support | $7,500.00 | |
| St. Matthews Exterminating | Parks – Pest Control – Brown Park | $190.00 | |
| Stephens & Lawson | Admin. – May, 2026 Services | $3,465.00 | |
| The Drala Project, Inc. | IT – Capital Project – Cell Antenna System – City Hall | $24,750.00 | |
| The KY Local Issues Conference | Admin. – Training & Travel | $375.00 | |
| Tires Plus Total Car Care | Police -Vehicle Main.-Routine & Mechanical | $2,602.91 | |
| Tony’s Wrecker Service | Police – Towing | $342.50 | |
| Total Office Products & Service | Police – Office Supplies | $81.95 | |
| Trugreen | Parks – Lawn Treatment | $214.03 | |
| Valvoline | Police – Vehicle Main.-Preventative | $269.54 | |
| Verizon Wireless | All – Telephone | $3,127.32 | |
| Willis Klein | Works – Supplies & Materials | $76.65 | |
| Willis Klein Commercial Sales | Works – Supplies & Materials | $55.90 | |
| MAPS | |||
| Flynn Brothers | Works – Street Repairs – Cold Patch | $128.80 | |
| Reimbursements and Payments | |||
| Cheser, Matt | Police – Reimbursement Uniform Allowance | $338.96 | |
| Richardson, Mark | Police – Reimbursement Per Diem Training Expenses | $130.00 | |
| TOTAL | $153,941.07 | ||
