LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Urban County Council on Thursday approved millions in service contracts, including nearly $3.1 million for winter emergency shelter services, even as residents continued to voice strong opposition to the city's surveillance camera program.

The council met September 17 to consider procurement measures and budget items. Among the approvals was a $278,000 contract with CASA of Lexington, Inc., which provides child advocacy services for abused and neglected children across seven central Kentucky counties. The organization, one of the largest CASA programs in the nation, uses trained volunteers to advocate for vulnerable children in family court.

The council also authorized a $3,081,732.03 agreement with EDS Holdco, LLC to provide winter emergency shelter services for people experiencing homelessness from October 29, 2026 to April 1, 2027. Two additional resolutions approved agreements totaling $534,977 with Community Action Council and Hospice of the Bluegrass for motel-based shelter services.

The council passed other procurement measures including an $85,000 contract for electronic vehicle inspection services and a $444,705 agreement for wastewater treatment support, but took no action on a contested item that continues to draw public concern.

During the public comment period, multiple residents urged the council to terminate the city's contract with Flock Safety, citing privacy concerns over the automated license plate reader cameras. The city operates 125 license plate reader cameras throughout Lexington, which are accessible to law enforcement agencies across the nation.

Public opposition to the surveillance program has intensified in recent weeks following reports that over 7 million searches were conducted on the Lexington system in seven months, with 96 percent from external agencies. Mayor Linda Gorton announced in early September that she is establishing an independent panel to review the Flock program.

A resident advocating for automated external defibrillator mapping shared a personal survival story during the meeting, urging the council to improve cardiac arrest response rates in the community through better AED accessibility and location data.