UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 2559
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A RESOLUTION recognizing the 50th anniversary of the merger of Lexington and 1
Fayette County. 2
WHEREAS, the city of Lexington was founded in 1775, and Fayette County was 3
founded in 1780; and 4
WHEREAS, after almost 200 years of prosperity and growth, it was recognized by 5
city leaders that efficiencies could be gained and certain problems minimized if the city 6
and the county worked more closely together; and 7
WHEREAS, the blueprints for merger were drafted by bold and courageous leaders, 8
each of whom had to deal with a myriad of technical concerns arising during the multi-9
year process; and 10
WHEREAS, in 1972, the voters, by a margin exceeding 70 percent, approved the 11
merger of Lexington and Fayette County and the charter that would dictate how the 12
merged government operated; and 13
WHEREAS, on January 1, 1974, the merger became effective, making Lexington-14
Fayette Urban-County Government the first merged government in Kentucky, with 15
Foster Pettit becoming its first mayor; and 16
WHEREAS, the work of those original leaders, and the leaders following them, has 17
promoted an efficient government while avoiding duplicative services; and 18
WHEREAS, the leadership of Lexington-Fayette Urban-County Government 19
hosted a commemoration of its founding on March 21, 2024; 20
NOW, THEREFORE, 21
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 22
Kentucky: 23
Section 1. The Senate recognizes the 50th anniversary of the founding of the 24
Lexington-Fayette Urban-County Government and furthermore commends its leadership, 25
both past and present, for providing its citizens with a prosperous, scenic, and history-rich 26
home in which to work and live. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 2559
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Section 2. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 1
Resolution to Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe for presentation to Lexington-Fayette 2
Urban-County Government Mayor Linda Gorton. 3