By Macee Swafford
The Sentinel Echo
LONDON, Ky. — At London City Council’s regular monthly meeting Monday, discussion and debate among council members and residents centered on the council’s decision to approve a resolution authorizing Mayor Tracie Handley to sign an interlocal agreement with Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County and surrender the city’s ambulance certificate of need for the fire department. The topic prompted questions from a community member during the public comment period before returning later in the meeting for council discussion and a unanimous vote.
During public comments, resident Leigh Ann Howard repeatedly questioned why the city was relinquishing the certificate of need and whether doing so would reduce emergency medical services available to residents.
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“So, my question is why the council — I think as a taxpayer representing the majority of the citizens, can you please explain why you’re taking that certificate of need away from our community?” Howard asked.
Howard expressed concern that ambulance response times could increase and questioned why the city would give up the certificate if it had previously been deemed necessary.
Councilmember Judd Weaver responded that the city was not eliminating emergency medical response — explaining that under the proposed agreement, the London Fire Department would continue responding alongside Ambulance Inc. on certain emergency calls. Weaver added that the city had previously been operating under the certificate of need “illegally,” though it had been issued by the state.
Weaver stated that “there are illegal implications, and that’s … on my opinion.”
When asked by audience members to explain the alleged illegality surrounding the CON, Mayor Handley informed the public that questions were reserved to those signed in for public comment.
Later in the meeting, the council considered Resolution 2026-23 approving the interlocal agreement. Before the vote, officials reviewed portions of the agreement outlining when both Ambulance Inc. and the London Fire Department would be dispatched.
Under the agreement, the fire department will continue responding to major medical emergencies — including cardiac arrests, heart attacks, strokes, overdoses, seizures, significant falls, severe bleeding, electrocutions, gunshot wounds and other serious incidents. Ambulance Inc. will respond to routine medical calls and transports, while both agencies may be dispatched together depending on the nature of the emergency or when additional assistance is requested.
As the agreement was discussed, members in the audience questioned how dispatchers would determine which agency should respond and whether uncertainty in dispatching could expose the city to liability.
Johnny Miller , who is seeking a seat on the London City Council in the November election and one of the top vote getters, provided comment to The Sentinel-Echo — saying he believes surrendering the certificate of need raises concerns because the state had previously determined there was a need for it.
“My thing with the certificate of need is, it was granted by the state,” Miller said. “Obviously, the state saw whatever evidence they needed.”
Miller said many residents have expressed concerns about emergency response times and questioned whether enough consideration had been given to potential risks before moving forward.
“Their worry is response times,” Miller said. “It’s not that we don’t have somebody — it’s that we don’t have somebody when we need them.”
Miller also questioned whether the agreement could create confusion in emergency dispatching, and said he believes the city should carefully consider any potential legal and operational risks before moving forward.
“Anybody who has run any sort of business or knows anything about something on this scale would ask, ‘What risk is involved?’ and ‘Did we think it all the way through before we decided to make a vote on it?,’” Miller said.
Following discussion, the council unanimously approved Resolution 2026-23.
In other business, the council unanimously approved resolutions authorizing signatures for a federal grant application to construct a new hangar at the London-Corbin Airport , the purchase of a front loader for the sanitation department using grant funds, a commercial lease for city-owned property at 202 S. Broad St. , and the appointment of London Police Lieutenant Gary Mehler to the Laurel County 911 Board.
The council approved the first reading of Ordinance 2026-24 on a unanimous vote, which was an amended agenda item. The ordinance amends the city’s budget and pay classification ordinances by extending deadlines related to the surrender of the city’s certificate of need and notification to Laurel County 911, allowing additional time to finalize the mutual aid agreement with Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County , and removing certain attorney retention and payment restrictions. According to the ordinance, it also eliminates positions tied to employment agreements entered into by Mayor Randall Weddle without City Council approval between Jan. 1 and Sept. 1, 2026 , unless those agreements are rescinded by Aug. 13 , with those positions scheduled to be reestablished Sept. 15 .
During old business, council members approved the second reading of Ordinance 2026-16 establishing a two-year moratorium on new data centers within the city while officials study their potential impacts. Councilmember John Bruner voted no on the second reading, with the rest of council members voting yes.
Council members also approved the second reading of Ordinance 2026-23, which amends the city’s pay and classification plan and Ordinance 2025-14, Sections I and VI, governing non-elected officers and the city attorney. Handley said the amendment restructures supervisory positions within the London Police Department . Rather than changing the total number of employees, it adjusts the breakdown of supervisory roles by creating four sergeant positions and four corporal positions, allowing each patrol shift to have a supervisor. She said the sergeants and corporals will continue performing patrol duties, but the revised structure ensures there is always a supervisor overseeing each group of officers. Handley also explained that the ordinance includes that the IT department is now “in-house” within the city.
The measure received its first reading during a special called meeting Friday before receiving final approval Monday.
The council tabled the second reading of Ordinance 2026-21, changing the location of future regular London City Council meetings. Councilmember Jim Baker explained to The Sentinel-Echo after the meeting that the reasoning for tabling was in regard to the crowd sizes and attendance at the meetings. Previously, the meetings had been moved back to the London Community Center, and now have recently been back at the Laurel County Courthouse.
Following the meeting, City Attorney Christy Shannon confirmed to The Sentinel-Echo that Jane Dyche, Amanda Bargo, Stacey Benge and Danny Phelps have been appointed to the city’s ethics board. This was approved at the special-called meeting on July 24.
To read the ordinances and resolutions in full, visit the City of London website and navigate to the official acts and directory tab.
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