CITY HALL—City Council has unanimously voted to appoint Michael Barnett to the seat vacated by Steve Davis last week.

After the meeting, Mayor Bruce Fraley told The Edge he still needed to let Barnett know that he had been tapped. If Barnett accepts, he will be sworn in at City Hall soon after.

Barnett owns Barnett Heating and Cooling, based in Berea, with multiple locations across Central Kentucky. He currently is a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Before the vote, Councilmember John Payne raised the question of Barnett being kin to Councilmember Ronnie Terrill. Payne said that Barnett had suggested Terrill recuse himself from the vote. Terrill refused and voted in favor of Barnett.

Terrill told The Edge after the meeting that he had checked with Fraley before the vote about the correct course of action, and that the mayor said Terrill could vote. Barnett is Terrill's second cousin, according to Terrill.