Mint Lane Pump Station

On Tuesday, April 28, the LFUCG Urban County Council voted in favor of upgrading the existing Mint Lane pump station and not relocating infrastructure to Bowman Mill Road.

• The final vote was 10-5 in favor of updating the existing pump station.

Fayette Alliance would like to thank the full Council for their careful consideration on this important land use issue as well as every community member who weighed in via email to their Councilmembers or attending in person to make public comments. Every voice on these important issues matters! 

• We are happy with the outcome of the decision because we believe updating the pump station in its current location is the most fiscally responsible decision, supports long-standing policy of developing infrastructure that meets community needs inside the Urban Service Area, and addresses the flooding and odor concerns of surrounding neighborhoods in a timely manner.

Executive Director Brittany Roethemeir gave public comment before the Council Work Session regarding the Mint Lane pump station decision.

• Her comments can be viewed in full by clicking on the video below.

Mayor Linda Gorton gave opening remarks about her thoughts on the pump station decision before opening up the floor to the rest of Council for discussion.

Mayor Linda Gorton cited fiscal responsibility, recommending meeting the Consent Decree requirement while putting the least amount of burden on the taxpayers of Lexington-Fayette County.

“When our residents continue to feel the strain of increasing costs for basic needs, for me the decision is clear. We need to focus on the most fiscally responsible choice that checks all the boxes, and that is Mint Lane.” — Mayor Linda Gorton

• Thank you to Mayor Gorton for providing insight and clarity to this issue and speaking out in support of upgrading the Mint Lane Pump Station in its current location.
• Watch her comments in full by clicking on the video below. ⬇️

Full Details

The Mint Lane pump station needs to be upgraded and expanded by approximately one acre to meet the requirements of the EPA Consent Decree.

• Dig Deeper: In 2006, the EPA sued the City of Lexington for violating the Clean Water Act. The City did not adequately update its infrastructure while rapidly growing, and the aging sewer system was releasing raw sewage into streams.
• Consider: Neighborhoods are still dealing with the effects of irresponsible growth from more than two decades ago.

The Mint Lane pump station is currently located behind Dunbar High School and could be updated and expanded in its current location. This will involve  LFUCG purchasing the additional acreage (~ 1 acre) needed from Fayette County Public Schools.

• However: A proposal was brought forward last fall to consider re-locating the pump station to a property located outside the USB and owned by Mill Ridge Farm on Bowman Mill Road.

LFUCG allocated $2M for a site analysis to study the feasibility, costs, and environmental impacts of the infrastructure location options.

• Results: The study ultimately shows that expanding the pump station in its current location would be the cheapest option.

Additionally, the study specifically states that an acknowledged risk of moving the pump station is the potential to expand the USB an additional 500 acres.

• This is in direct conflict with the recently adopted LP&GMP Fayette Alliance supported passing just a few months ago, in February 2026, to guide future decisions about the USB.

Council will learn more about the results of this study and all other options available for updating the Mint Lane pump station at the Council Work Session on Tuesday, April 14th at 3 p.m.

Concerns

Historically, Lexington-Fayette County’s policy has been to keep urban service infrastructure inside the USB.

• A few exceptions have been made for community driven-purposes, businesses, and landmark institutions, including Keeneland, Bluegrass Stockyards, and the Kentucky Horse Park. In those instances, Council passed a resolution approving the placement of the infrastructure outside the USB.

This instance is different because the infrastructure can be upgraded at its current location and the additional cost of relocation is being driven and lobbied for by private parties.

• Important detail: The same landowner lobbying for this infrastructure to be relocated on their property, which is located outside the USB, also lobbied for their property to be included inside the USB during the 2023 expansion process.

Here’s What We Think

Cave Creek features two different underground springs and unique karst topography that could potentially be impacted by constructing a new pump station on Bowman Mill Road.

• Council should vote to affirm its longstanding policy that city infrastructure should be located inside the USB.
• Relocating the Mint Lane Pump Station to another location outside the USB undermines the USB itself, the recently adopted P&GMP, permits private interests to guide taxpayer funded infrastructure investment, and indirectly and directly supports expansion of the USB in the location of the proposed infrastructure investment.
• The Mint Lane pump station should not be relocated to private property outside the USB because it can be expanded in its current location to serve the community’s needs.
• Our community and its resources should focus on developing inside the current USB, updating its infrastructure to meet existing community needs, and utilizing the land it has for development in the most efficient way possible.

Get Involved

We hope you will consider attending the Work Session on Tuesday, April 14th at 3 p.m.

• Pro tip: Arrive by 2:30 p.m. to get a seat in Council Chambers and sign-up for public comment

If you can’t attend the meeting, please consider writing to your Councilmembers about this important development taking shape at City Hall.

• Click the button below to make your voice heard — it only takes 60 seconds.