CITY HALL — Rumor of a new Berea Walmart Supercenter has been much discussed on local social media in recent weeks. Now a lawyer involved in the deal has confirmed the rumor is true that the retailer plans to build a second, larger site than its current location in town.

During City Council's second regularly scheduled meeting of the month, Preston Worley, an attorney speaking on behalf of Berea College, confirmed Walmart will purchase about 46 acres of land from his client in order to locate a new store at the corner of Mayde Road and the bypass (KY 956). What's to become of the retailer's current location at Exit 76 on Interstate 75 has not been announced.

For the deal to happen, first Planning and Zoning Commissioners had to agree to recommend to Council re-zone the property, which they did last month. Formerly zoned I-2 for heavy industry, the lot is now zoned B-4 for businesses suitable for an interstate exchange. Exit 77 of off Interstate 75 is in the same block as the property.

"Berea College and Walmart are very excited," Worley told Council. "The City has been very accommodating working with [our] engineers. Everything is moving in the right direction." Worley also said the new location will not only be larger and a "better facility" than the current one, it will provide more jobs than the retailer's current location.

Worley made his comments after Council heard the first reading of Ordinance 04-2026 allowing for the zone change. The second reading of the Ordinance will be on Tuesday, April 7, during the next regularly scheduled Council meeting.

Also receiving a first reading was Ordinance 05-2026 reflecting P and Z's recommendation to re-zone a property on Mt. Vernon Road owned by Todd Wilson and Terry Wilson. Currently, the property, located at the corner of Liberty Avenue and US 25 (Mt. Vernon Road), is zoned R-1, single family residential. The property owners asked P and Z last month to re-zone it as B-2 for small business.

Mayor and police chief to be 'jailed'

In other news of the Council meeting, Mayor Bruce Fraley and Chief of Police Jason Hays will be "jailed" as part of the annual Hope's Wings Jail and Bail fundraiser.

For Fraley and Hays to be released from custody on Friday, March 27, Hope's Wings Executive Director Jennifer Lainhart told Council that friends and others will need to raise enough bail. All monies paid toward their bail will be donated to Hope's Wings, a domestic violence nonprofit emergency shelter that helps victims re-establish themselves after their ordeal.

Lainhart said that this year's fundraiser is more important than in times past since her organization's federal funding was cut this year. She added that she has been told by legislators in Frankfort that Hope's Wings can expect state funds will also be cut. Jail and Bail tends to raise about $50,000 annually for the Richmond-based organization serving the entire county. Proceeds from the event go to fund the organization's emergency shelter, which Lainhart said costs about $32,000 per month to run.

For more information or to donate, visit hopeswings.org.

Appointments

The only other new business on the meeting's agenda were two appointments. The first was David Wallace, whom Fraley appointed to the Board of Adjustments with Council's unanimous consent by voice vote. Councilmember Teresa Scenters was absent.

By Municipal order 02-2026, Lesha Hays was reappointed by the mayor to the Madison County EMS Board, which she currently chairs, garnering a unanimous voice vote in favor of the appointment.

Comments

With just three exceptions, none of the officials, elected or otherwise, nor the public, offered any comments during the brief meeting (just under 3o minutes). The exceptions were Fraley and councilmembers Katie Startzman and John Payne.

Fraley remarked on a packet that had been distributed to Council prior to the meeting by City Administrator Shawn Sandlin, listing each City department's most recent activities. It was evidence of how dedicated City employees are to improving the quality of life in Berea, according to Fraley, who encouraged Councilmembers to express their appreciation to City staff.

Startzman wanted to know when the community swimming pool punch list will be completed. Sandlin told her there was a hold up on completing final items because there hasn't been the opportunity yet to do a test run of all pool operations post-construction. Sandlin said the City will begin operating the pool one month before it officially opens on Memorial Day weekend, in order to troubleshoot any items.

Payne wished everyone a happy St. Patrick's Day.