LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mayor Linda Gorton delivered her State of the City County address. She looked back on Lexington’s 250 year anniversary and laid out goals for the new year.
Gorton addressed several issues in the address, including public safety. She credited the increased use of Flock safety cameras and more staffing at the real-time intelligence center with helping the police department solve crimes in a timely manner.
Gorton added with the additional tools, the Lexington Police Department was able to increase homicide case success rates, double the speed of stolen vehicle recovery, and get hundreds of weapons off the streets.
The mayor said she’d like to see continue the momentum of 2024 into 2025. She said, "The need for continuing change and improvement drives us forward as we move into our next 250 years. We know we have much work to do to continue the tradition of accomplishment that has been part of our community since its founding."
Mayor Gorton also addressed economic growth. She said Oct. 2024 set a record for the highest employment in Fayette County history—174,328 people in the workforce.
Gorton also reported since the start of the 2020 pandemic, Fayette County has seen the highest growth rate—5.5%, of any metro area in the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank District, which includes Cincinnati, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
The mayor said projects such as the new Davis Park Workforce Center, will play a key role in continuing to drive Lexington’s economy by connecting people to jobs and supporting local businesses.
Gorton said there are two new business parks coming to the area. She said construction will begin this year on Legacy Business Park, which is expected to create 1,700 jobs. She added Lexington recently partnered with the City of Berea, and Madison and Scott County Fiscal Courts, to create Central Kentucky’s first public regional business park.
The 300-acre industrial park will be in Berea and each county will receive 33% of the tax revenues created by the park.
Mayor Gorton called affordable housing an “urgent priority.” She said, “We need more of it. Working with public and private partners, we are tackling the problem head on.”
She said last year, Lexington added 577 additional affordable living spaces. She admits there is more work to be done, but is optimistic by the progress being made.
Gorton concluded her address by talking about the importance of quality of life. She said the city’s parks are crucial for the community. Gorton spoke of the recent investments funding both large and small improvements.
Cardinal Run North, the first large regional park to be opened in over 25 years, will open this year. Kelley’s Landing, will offer public access to the Kentucky River, will also open.
Douglass Park will have a new pool when it opens in 2025 and Gorton said park visitors will find improvements at playgrounds, walking and biking trails and upgraded sports courts around the city.
Gorton won her second term in office in 2022.
