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City officials heard a proposal Tuesday to use small city-owned lots as sites for affordable housing in the community.

Tom Miles requested a pilot program using a city-owned lot on Sixth Street as a starting point.

The small homes of approximately 400 square feet are designed to be highly energy efficient, he said.

“It’s not the rent that drives people out of homes,” he said. “It’s the utilities.”

Harrison Langley of Boxvana LLC said the homes in question would require $200 to $300 in annual utility costs. They are manufactured homes that would be placed on a concrete foundation, he said. So far, the company has built nine homes throughout Kentucky, he said.

City Attorney Bill Dykeman said the property on Sixth Street has been bid twice to be sold, but the sale was never completed, which allows the city to negotiate.

No action was taken. Mayor Ed Burtner requested more specifics and details, and suggested they meet with the planning commission.

In other action Tuesday, the Winchester Board of Commissioners:

— declared a tire changer as surplus property and transferred it to Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation.

— voted to remove a bicycle maintenance stand on North Main Street so a historical marker can be installed.

— approved the second reading of an ordinance to create a single role EMT position at Winchester Fire-EMS.

— accepted the resignations of single role paramedic Steven Hardy, firefighter III/paramedic Logan Henry, patient transfer specialist-paramedics Geoffrey Breeden and Ethan O’Boyle, and patient transfer specialist-EMT Abigail Davis.

— hired Steven Hardy as a patient transfer specialist-paramedic.