CITY OF ST. MATTHEWS
Council Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2026
A meeting of the St. Matthews City Council was held in-person on Tuesday, September 8, 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 Councilmember Tim Holland
Councilmember Sarah Landes Councilmember Mary Jo Nay
Councilmember Frank Flynn Councilmember Amy Olson
Councilmember Nathan Hernandez Councilmember Jackie Vanetti
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 and Zoning Officer
OTHER ATTENDEES
Alison Brotzge-Elder – Candidate for Metro Council District 9
Mike Herrington, Stites & Harbison
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was accomplished followed by the roll call of attendance. All members were present.
A motion was made by Councilmember Nay to approve the minutes of the August 25, 2026, council meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bowling. Upon Voice Vote: (8-0) the motion carried.
PUBLIC MEETING COMMENTS
Alison Brotzge-Elder, Candidate for Metro Council District 9, was glad to hear the Green Committee is active.
PENDING BUSINESS
Ordinance 26-05 Related to Establishing a Tree Board 2nd Reading
Mr. Singler summarized the updated ordinance with minor changes made from the last meeting. Councilmember Nay made a motion to accept the amended ordinance. Councilmember Olson seconded the motion. Per roll call vote 8-0, the motion passed.
Ordinance 26-06 Related to the Property Tax Rate for 2026 2nd Reading
Mr. Singler summarized the ordinance. The Public Hearing Notice was posted. There were no comments. Councilmember Nay made a motion to accept the ordinance. Councilmember Bowling seconded the motion. Per roll call vote 8-0, the motion passed.
Ordinance 26-07 Related to the Street Closure of N Sherrin Ave 2nd Reading
Mr. Singler summarized the ordinance. Councilmember Holland made a motion to accept the ordinance. Councilmember Nay seconded the motion. Per roll call vote 8-0, the motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS
Municipal Order 26-18 Related to Bond for Sacred Heart Academy
Councilmember Olson recused herself from the discussion by leaving the room at 7:08 p.m. because Sacred Heart Academy is her employer.
Mr. Herrington explained the bond. Sacred Heart Academy is building a new building, kitchen, and dining hall with the borrowed money. Independence Bank is the lender.
Councilmember Nay made a motion to accept the municipal order. Councilmember Bowling seconded the motion. Per voice vote 7-0, the motion passed. Councilmember Olson rejoined the council at 7:13 p.m.
Mayor Tonini announced that several council members would not be available for the scheduled September 22 due to the KLC Conference and some council members working out of town. Councilmember Bowling made a motion to cancel the meeting. Councilmember Nay seconded the motion. Per voice vote 8-0, the motion passed. There will be no meeting September 22, 2026.
EXPENDITURES
Councilmember Bowling made a motion to approve the expenditures listed and have checks drawn on the city’s treasury in the amount of $221,028.74. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Olson. Upon Roll Call Vote: (8-0) the motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
· Councilmember Vanetti would like a proclamation for the tree planting during Halloween in Brown Park. The committee is working on the application for Tree City USA. The next Green Committee meeting with be October 13.
· Councilmember Hernandez reached out to the home school co-op in the region wanting to use the council room to simulate the Nuremberg trials. The ages of the children are 13-15 years old. They are interested in having the mayor or council serve as a judge during their mock trials. The Mayor agreed to let them use the council room and asked they coordinate with the Clerk for a date and time.
· Councilmember Olson asked if the EV chargers were installed yet. They are not. The Outstanding neighbor for this quarter would like to remain anonymous.
· Councilmember Holland would like to have a rental committee meeting during the 2nd or 3rd weeks of November.
· Councilmember Nay let the council know the newsletter is being laid out.
· Councilmember Flynn announced a Parks Committee meeting will be Tuesday at 1:30 to look at a master plan for Community Park.
· Councilmember Landes asked Chief Wilkerson about Flock cameras and the public discussions surrounding them. Chief Wilkerson told the council that access to the information is guided by the police SOP, according to state law. Daily and quarterly audits are done to ensure access to the information was necessary. Any unusual activity is flagged. Anyone abusing the access or information will be held accountable. St. Matthews policy is to hold the information for 30 days.
CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT
There was no City Attorney’s report.
MAYOR’S REPORT
There was no Mayor’s report.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Holland made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Nay. Upon Voice Vote: (8-0) the motion carried, and the meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. EST.
Respectfully submitted,
Rick Tonini, Mayor
Judi Kassebaum, City Clerk
| September 8, 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: | |||
| Air Hydro Power, Inc. | Works – Supplies & Materials | $437.74 | |
| Andersons’ Sales & Service | Works – Equipment Repairs & Maintenance | $1,199.88 | |
| CDW Government | IT-Repairs & Main./Tech. Equip. & Cables | $2,138.48 | |
| Central Business Systems | Admin. – Annual Contract Postage Machine | $1,455.00 | |
| Charter Communications | IT – Service Contract | $220.00 | |
| Cross Chrysler Jeep | Police-Vehicle Main./Mechanical | $254.00 | |
| DC Elevator | Works – Maintenance Agreement | $138.92 | |
| Fulcrum Biometrics | Police – Service Contract – Software | $600.00 | |
| Great Horn Financial Services, LLC | Works – Draut Park Stream Bank Stabilization | $113,400.00 | |
| Guelda Zeller Plumbing Co. | Works – Building Main. & Repairs | $440.63 | |
| Home Depot Credit Services | Works/Police-Supplies & Materials/Main. | $1,392.66 | |
| IdentoGo | Police/Works – Fingerprinting | $44.00 | |
| Integrity Auto Repairs, LLC | Works – Vehicle Maintenance & Repairs | $665.00 | |
| LeadsOnline | Police – Service Contract – Software | $4,805.00 | |
| Louisville Gas & Electric Co. | Works – Electric/Gas Services | $142.41 | |
| Louisville Water Company | Works – Water Services | $927.98 | |
| Miller Company | Police – Service Contract – Copies | $419.18 | |
| Nugent Sand Company | Works – Supplies & Materials | $24.00 | |
| Occupational Medicine Physicians | Police – Contract Services – Medical | $625.00 | |
| PB Electronics | Police – Radio Equipment Repairs | $500.00 | |
| Porta Kleen | Parks – Portalets | $1,030.00 | |
| Plumbers Supply Company | Works – Supplies & Materials | $188.46 | |
| RES Kentucky, LLC | Parks – Draut Park Stream Bank Stabilization | $4,500.00 | |
| Singler & Ritsert | Admin. – August, 2026 Attorney Fees | $3,104.00 | |
| Site One Landscape Supply | Works – Supplies & Materials | $107.46 | |
| Sparkle Brite Car Wash | Police – Vehicle Maintenance – Car Washes | $992.00 | |
| St. Matthews Ace Hardware | Works – Supplies & Materials/Equip. Main. | $483.66 | |
| Tires Plus Total Car Care | Police -Vehicle Main. – Mechanical | $985.26 | |
| Tonini Church Supply | Works – Supplies & Materials | $65.96 | |
| Trans Union Risk & Alternative | Police – Contract Services – Investigative | $115.60 | |
| Valvoline | Police -Vehicle Main.-Preventative | $753.50 | |
| Welders Supply Company | Works – Supplies & Materials | $14.18 | |
| Wex Bank | All – Gasoline | $22,920.87 | |
| Wilson Equipment Co. | Works – Equipment Repairs & Maintenance | $2,067.19 | |
| MAP | |||
| Hall Contracting of Kentucky, Inc. | Works – Resurfacing Streets | $53,469.12 | |
| Reimbursements and Payments | |||
| Austin, Elizabeth | Admin. – Miscellaneous – August Services | $132.00 | |
| Cobaugh, Tony | Police – Reim. Flowers-Former Employee | $169.60 | |
| Hardin, Richard | Police – Court Pay After Employment | $100.00 | |
| TOTAL | $221,028.74 | ||
