Request to help fund indoor pool study gets cool reception at council meeting
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette
Bardstown Mayor Bill Sheckles gestures during discussion during the Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012 city council meeting.
Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012 — Mayor Bill Sheckles told the Bardstown City Council Tuesday at its regular meeting he was approached by Nelson Judge-Executive Dean Watts recently regarding the city’s participation in funding a feasibility study for a community facility with an indoor pool.
The study will cost about $19,000, and Watts asked Sheckles if the city would be willing to consider funding one-fourth of the study.
Councilman Fred Hagan asked if written details about the study’s scope were available. Sheckles said he didn’t have the information with him, but would make it available to the council.
Tommy Reed asked if the study would include the information gathered six or seven years ago when an indoor pool was being considered.
“That information is already out there,” Sheckles said. “I didn’t get too excited about it, but I told him I would bring it before the council.”
Councilman Francis Lydian said it wouldn’t be a bad idea to study it and see what’s possible. Councilman Tommy Reed noted the indoor pool facility in Lebanon loses $100,000 a year.
“I’ll tell you right now, from the City’s point of view, operating an indoor pool is a losing proposition,” Sheckles said. “For that to be a feasible operation, it’ll have to be some public funding and some major private funding involved.”
The mayor said he would get the details of the feasibility study to the council before the next meeting.
Councilman Joe Buckman looks reviews paperwork during discussion during a meeting of the Bardstown City Council Nov. 13, 2012.
OKH UPDATE. Sheckles said the vandalism of the former Old Kentucky Home Middle School property over the spring and summer has been repaired, the heating and cooling for the facility is working, and the locks were changed without spending a lot of money. The security system has been reconnected, he said.
“We have had numerous requests to use the facility for all kinds of things but I have refused those requests,” Sheckles said. He did approve the use of the event for several pageants that were displaced after the Civic Center flooded. “The only people who have the use of the facility is our recreation department,” he said.
Others have expressed interest in possibly leasing parts of the building, he said. “We won’t do much else with the building until after the first of the year,” he said. “Then I’ll bring it before the council.”
Councilman Joe Buckman noted the city was paying insurance on a building that is valued at $4,974,000. Donan said the insurance value is based on replacement costs of building. “If you don’t insure it for replacement cost, and you have major damage,” Abell said. If you don’t insure for full value and you have damage, you won’t be paid for the full costs to repair the damage, he said.
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