Cole has been the most upset Commish about sports park issues
But she still supports the park and wants voters to like it, too
RICHMOND—Every sitting member of the City Commission is running for re-election. We offered to interview all of them so they could make their case for why they deserve to stay in City Hall.
And not one of them responded.
Of course we're disappointed the incumbents at the helm of one of Kentucky's fastest growing cities collectively decided to blow off the news outlet with the most readers countywide.
But we don't think their refusal to share their vision for Richmond's future and why they think they deserve to be in charge of it should mean you don't get the information you need to decide wisely at the polls.
Which is why if Richmond's elected officials won't give you that, we will.
By Wednesday of this week, it was clear we'd have to get a wiggle on if we were going to have this information for you by today, but our team here at The Edge is dedicated to bringing you the best news coverage Madison County has to offer, so we did it, all while continuing to cover our regular beats.
Thank you to my two reporters, Jemi Chew and Aubrey Kimble for moving quickly on this when I asked them to. They both worked equally hard gathering the research on each Commissioner and the Mayor.
We combed through our own coverage, other media reports, and City records to track trends in how these incumbents voted on issues that matter most to Richmond residents at a time when Richmond has been cited in the US Census as the part of the fastest growing micro-regions in the US.
Also, at a time when delays and overruns on construction of a multi-million dollar sports complex has also resulted in serious damage to private property.
And, at a time when questions about how economic development will be achieved as employment at the Blue Grass Army Depot is in flux, and nearly 1,500 contiguous acres of land on Duncannon Lane zoned for industry and with critical infrastructure has sat idle for years.
We asked, did they introduce any ordinances to address these concerns? Did they take an independent stand on anything? What did they spend the most time talking about? What did they ignore?
Then there is the mistrust between City Hall and the City Commission. Although an investigation was conducted into allegations of a hostile work environment, it's not clear whether the reported dysfunction has been addressed and whether it might have anything to do with the City's higher than average turn-over rates.
This report shows you what we found.
Next week, we will bring you a profile of incumbent Mayor Robert Blythe.
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Founder and Publisher,
The Edge
RICHMOND—Tammy Cole's professional career as an educator at EKU was largely focused on workforce development, but since becoming a Commissioner in 2023, she has not spoken much about the need for that if Richmond is to attract a robust industrial sector, which so far, it has lagged on doing.
Growth and development
Cole supported the rezoning of six acres for a Publix that is being built as part of a planned urban development by the Ramsey family, on Goggins Lane and Barnes Mill Road, near where the Richmond Regional Sports Complex is currently under construction.
However she voted no on an annexation of property near Goggins Lane that would have built more houses on 96.66 acres of land.
Cole was in favor of zone changes for the nearly 70 acres at Carriage Place. Other zone changes Cole has supported includes one for 15.8 acres at Lantern Ridge Drive from B-3, highway business, to R-3, multi-family residential.
Richmond Regional Sports Park
Out of all the Commissioners, Cole has been the most explicit about her displeasure about the cost overruns and delayed opening of the 280-acre Richmond Regional Sports Complex on Goggins Lane.
City Manager Rob Minerich has consistently joked in regular Commission meetings about Cole’s hesitancy in spending additional money on change orders.
However overall, Cole has supported the project. “I know everybody’s so excited to get it open and to get to see the park,” she said during a Commission meeting on September 8. When she was up for re-election in 2024, she said that the City “must remain committed to the new park.”
She has not made any comments on flood damage caused to neighboring private property by poor oversight of the construction site.
911 fee
In 2025, Cole voted to end the City’s participation in a countywide collection of 911 service fees that would have been calculated based on a property’s square footage and zoning.
The move was a reversal of an order the Commission had already unanimously passed to accept the City's portion of the fee. Cole and her fellow Commissioners reversed their decision after Blythe claimed, without evidence, that the County acted in bad faith when negotiating the fees.
During the meeting held on July 22, 2025, Cole asked the City to carefully consider how churches and non-profits would contribute to 911 service fees as they are designated as tax-exempt entities under federal law.
Interlocal agreement for regional industrial development
Cole voted twice in favor of entering into an interlocal agreement with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, Scott County, Madison County, Georgetown, and Berea that would have required the City to commit $500,000 toward a regional business park. As part of the deal, Richmond would have received 8.33% of the revenue generated by the park.
“I still am honored that Lexington Fayette Urban County Government, Scott County, Georgetown, Madison County, Berea, that group of governments wanted us to be a partner. So I just wanted to say that I don’t want that to get lost in the shuffle,” Cole said in October 2024.
During the meeting, Cole also asked about the return on payments made for the park and mentioned the public’s fear of the City accumulating debt from the project.
In general, Cole has expressed support for industrial development in Richmond, stating that the City is “extremely proud of our own industrial park” during discussion about the interlocal agreement.
'Toxic culture'
During an executive session in March 2024, Cole voted to launch an investigation into Minerich's behavior, costing the City more than $30,000. The investigation was prompted by an email Cole received from an anonymous person claiming to be a City Hall employee, who accused Minerich of sexual harassment, inappropriate comments, and creating a toxic work culture.
Commissioner Jim Newby referenced the investigation during a regular meeting, where he recommended tabling a pay increase for City employees until the conclusion of the investigation. Cole voted to table the pay increase.
Cole did not make any comments when the investigation found that there was not enough “substantial” evidence of any wrongdoing by Minerich.
Flock cameras
Cole has not publicly taken any definite stance on Flock cameras. In a statement to the Register, she said that her role is to “balance public safety with the right to privacy.”
She also said she would not support “any situation that places our residents at risk of higher utility bills.” However, she said that she would "thoroughly evaluate” a data center proposal and “prioritize the best interests of our community.”
Data centers
Cole is not opposed to them, but has stated publicly that they should not lead to higher utility bills for residents.
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