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Council Puts City Hall Discussion On Hold

Josh James
/
WUKY

Lexington city leaders are taking time to regroup before reexamining options for a new government center after a promising proposal to move city hall to the Herald-Leader building fell through earlier this month.

With the demiseof the most recent city hall project, the council moved swiftly to schedule a workshop on city properties near the Central Library downtown. But the council member behind the idea took a step back this week.

"There has been a lot of tension and competing messages the past few months and I think we need to take a quick break, start thinking about what we want and what we need, and then move forward," 4th district council member Susan lamb told colleagues.

Lamb had told reporters she didn’t want to lose the momentum generated in recent weeks, but the council agreed on Tuesday to cancel the workshop and give members time to gather more information before resuming the search for a new city hall.

"There isn't enough information and resources right now to have a workshop on the Phoenix Park options," Lamb said. "With time, we may very well find that Phoenix Park isn't the best option and some other property may work better. We may find once we truly get a final decision on pension costs that we have to reimagine what we are capable of affording." 

The move comes after both candidates for mayor – former Vice Mayor Linda Gorton and former Police Chief Ronnie Bastin – suggested city leaders step back and reset.

Josh James fell in love with college radio at Western Kentucky University's student station, New Rock 92 (now Revolution 91.7). After working as a DJ and program director, he knew he wanted to come home to Lexington and try his hand in public radio.
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