LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Urban County Council on July 1 approved a series of ordinances and resolutions spanning everything from employee compensation to zoning changes and significant capital purchases for the city's recycling infrastructure.

The council unanimously approved ordinances on second reading and resolutions authorizing three major contracts, including a $1.9 million purchase of a Materials Recovery Facility optical sorter and robotics equipment from Machinex Technologies Inc. The investment represents part of a broader modernization effort for Lexington's recycling operations, which process approximately 23,000 tons of material annually.

The optical sorter will enhance the city's ability to sort polypropylene materials such as yogurt cups and butter tubs, according to previous reporting. The facility upgrade aligns with a $1.8 million federal grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law intended to improve the materials recovery facility's efficiency and reduce contamination.

The council also authorized a $380,180 purchase of hardware, software, services and maintenance from Routeware Global, Inc. for the Division of Waste Management, and approved an $814,000 contract with Tetra Tech, Inc. for annual program management services related to Consent Decree implementation and storm water permit compliance.

In personnel matters, the council approved ordinances providing a two percent pay increase for all full-time and part-time employees in the Unified Pay Plan for fiscal year 2027, as well as a one percent structure movement for specific positions. The measure also increased starting pay for Traffic School Guards to $17.044 per hour.

The council created two new classified civil service positions in the Division of Parks and Recreation: a Recreation Manager and a Recreation Specialist Senior, both effective July 1.

Additional measures included an amendment to increase the Sister Cities Programs Commission from five to seven voting members, including the VisitLex president or their designee, a council member, and a representative of the mayor's office. The council also approved amendments to zoning ordinances and conservation easement criteria.