By Laura Ray/For The Sentinel
MURRAY – The Murray City Council met on June 12, 2025, addressing key issues in healthcare, infrastructure, insurance and zoning.
Mayor Bob Rogers introduced Reba Celsor, who became CEO of Murray-Calloway County Hospital on April 28. A Logan County native, Celsor brings over 35 years of healthcare experience, including 19 in leadership roles at hospitals in Lebanon, Kentucky, and Dyersburg, Tennessee. Celsor touted the hospital’s strengths, including specialty services such as cancer care, ENT, vascular surgery, orthopedics, pediatrics and OB/GYN. Celsor noted that MCCH captures 67% of hospital admissions and aims to grow that share by better addressing community needs.
Serving on the Kentucky Hospital Association Board and as an American Hospital Association delegate, Celsor stressed the importance of advocacy as hospitals face shrinking dollars and rely heavily on Medicaid incentive funds. Councilman Terry Streiter inquired about the high turnover rate among nurses who graduate from Murray State University. Celsor responded that support for new nurses is critical and explained that the hospital’s preceptor program is designed to support and retain new nurses during their first year.
The council approved the formation of a Utilities Study Work Group, which includes council members Danny Hudspeth, Monty McCuiston, Rose Ross, Johnny Bohannon, Jeremy Bell and Joe Darnall, to review rates unchanged since 2018.
Infrastructure projects progressed with bid approvals for box culvert rehabilitation at Poplar at South 12th Street (Siteworks) and box culvert remediation on South 8th Street between Elm and Vine streets (Young Blood Excavating), as well as obtaining Murray Paving’s services in 2026.
Insurance Committee Chair Jeremy Bell recommended, and the council approved, increasing the city’s liability coverage from $5 million to $10 million, at a cost of about $660 more per year.
Council member Bonnie Higginson reported that the city will partner with Volunteers of America to establish a recovery community center for opioid use disorder. Site selection and planning are underway.
The council gave the green light for Mayor Bob Rogers to sign an agreement with a team of attorneys to help the city pursue claims related to PFAS ( contamination at the recommendation of the city lawyer. The goal is to protect the City’s drinking water and keep cleanup costs from falling on residents. City Administrator Jim Osborne noted that no PFAS contamination or claims have been reported locally.
Other actions included:
- Accepting a KIA grant for water infrastructure along Opportunity Drive (Resolution 2025-008).
- Unanimously passing the FY 2026 budget (Ordinance 2025-1876).
- First readings of ordinances establishing a compliance inspection fee for medical cannabis businesses at 10% of their business license fee, which costs $1,000-$3,000 (Ordinance 2025-1877) and updating zoning definitions for indoor/outdoor entertainment (Ordinance 2025-1878).
Planning Director Carol Downey mentioned an upcoming public Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) hearing for a proposed medical cannabis dispensary at 1300 N 6th Street. The BZA meets on June 18 at 4:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.
The council reappointed Ruth Daughday, Linda Metz, and Whitney Cooper to the Senior Citizens Board.
The meeting concluded with a Fox 17 News segment on Grandmaster Tung Dinh of Murray, performing 58,281 sit-ups, one for each American who died in the Vietnam War, as a tribute to the nation that gave him refuge 50 years ago.
