Four people (three women and a man) sit at a dais with the seal of the city of Southgate, the American flag and Kentucky flag behind them.
At a short council meeting, Southgate officials announced their next scheduled meeting will be a special public meeting devoted to budget discussion. Pictured from left: Treasurer Patty Edgley; City attorney Mary Ann Stewart; Mayor Jim Hamberg; and Assistant City Clerk Barbara Baldwin. Photo by Robin Gee | LINK nky contributor

At a short May 1 council meeting, Southgate city officials voted to cancel their second monthly meeting in favor of a special budget meeting. The meeting to be held Wednesday, May 15, will be a public meeting opening the discussion for the upcoming fiscal year 2024-25.

Department heads will present their requests for the coming year. The meeting will help keep the budget discussion on track for June’s vote.

Also at the meeting, council approved an ordinance to establish a non-exclusive franchise for gas and electric in the city. The ordinance provides access to streets within the city, a necessary step to open bids from utility companies operating within city limits. Duke Energy is the only utility in the area, but state law requires it to bid on the city work.