BY DAN KLEPAL

Insight Communications, whose franchise agreement with the city is up for renewal next year, has offered free tickets and access to a luxury suite to several Louisville Metro Council members for Friday's basketball game between the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville.

Two council members — Democrats Dan Johnson and Bob Henderson — say they are considering paying the $35 face value of the tickets to attend, despite an opinion from Louisville Ethics Commission Chairman Jonathan Ricketts that accepting the tickets could violate city ethics laws.

Eight other council members who were offered free tickets say they have declined.

“Considering (Insight) has business pending before the council, it would certainly raise the question as to why the gift was offered or accepted,” Ricketts wrote in an e-mail to council members.

The Metro Council will vote in January or February whether to grant a 15-year extension that would allow the cable television provider to continue serving Jefferson County.

Ricketts' opinion is not an official recommendation from the commission because there was no scheduled meeting for the board to consider the issue.

»www.courier-journal.com/article/···act-vote