New police officer sworn-in as council’s July working session begins

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

After being sworn-in, Shannon Hall, Bardstown’s newest police officer, smiles while her husband Danny affixes her badge on her uniform. Click image to enlarge.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013 — Shannon Hall, Bardstown’s newest police officer, was sworn-in prior to the start of the Bardstown City Council’s working session Tuesday evening.

Before the meeting, Bardstown Police Chief Rick McCubbin said he was glad to have the opportunity to have her sworn in so she can be ready for regular duty.

Hall is the third woman to serve as city police officer and the first woman of color. Hall took the oath from Mayor Bill Sheckles while her husband, Danny, pinned her shield on her uniform.

LEBANON JUNCTION WATER LINE. The City of Lebanon Junction wants to end its long-term agreement to purchase water from the City of Bardstown. According to Public Works Director Larry Hamilton, The Louisville Water Co. is extending its service into Hardin County and offering water service to Lebanon Junction.

The Louisville Water Co. can provide Lebanon Junction with a larger volume of water than they currently get from Bardstown. The move will improve fire protection and provide sufficient water supply the city needs to recruit large business or industry. “That’s their motive,” Hamilton said.

Public Works Director Larry Hamilton points to a map that marks the route of a water main owned by the City of Lebanon Junction. LJ has asked the City of Bardstown to release it from its long-term contract to purchase water so it can instead buy water from the Louisville Water Co. Click to enlarge.

THE PROPOSAL. In the 1970s, Lebanon Junction built a water main that transports water from the Sympson Lake water treatment plant to Lebanon Junction. The line runs parallel to parts of the city water line along Boston Road and is larger than the city’s existing line. Lebanon Junction has asked the city to release it from its long-term water contract; in exchange, LJ will agree to give its water main to the City of Bardstown.

The proposal would give the city water utility the chance to connect the two existing water mains and improve water service west of Bardstown all the way to Boston, Hamilton said. The move would also eliminate the need for a $1 million construction project under consideration to upgrade water lines serving the areas west of Bardstown.

Releasing Lebanon Junction from its commitment will mean the loss of approximately $100,000 in utility revenue. Hamilton said that agreement would mean the loss of some revenue, but the additional water main would improve water service reliability to areas west of town.

The council took no action, but will consider taking action at an upcoming council meeting.

RECYCLING GRANT UPDATE. The city’s recycling grant will fund a pilot program to help small to medium-size businesses collect and recycle their waste cardboard.

Larry Green, city assistant administrator, explained how some businesses generate a considerable amount of waste cardboard — a recyclable material that ends up in the county landfill. To reduce the amount of cardboard routed to the landfill, the recycling grant will purchase three nine-yeard cardboard collection bins that will be provided for business use.

RECYCLING UPDATE: PLASTICS. The city’s recycling program can no longer accept the full range of plastics it once accepted, Green explained. Due to changes implemented at the regional recycling center in Washington County, only No. 1 or No. 2 plastics may be submitted for recycling.

The city previously accepted No. 3, 4 and 5 plastics, but the recycling center no longer wants those plastics.

No. 1 and 2 plastics are the most commonly found plastics, and are used in water bottles, milk jugs, margarine tubs, soda bottles, detergent bottles, etc.

INSURANCE SAVINGS. City Chief Financial Officer Mike Abell explained how he and risk manager Anthony Mattingly have reviewed the insurance coverage on some of the city’s older and permanent assets.

Examples include old equipment the city owns, and infrastructure like water tanks, sewer pump stations, the water treatment and sewer treatment plants. Abell and Mattingly have suggested the city take the money it has paid for insurance on older assets and place that money in a pool. Over time, that money would, in effect, be a form of self-insurance should something happen to one of those assets.

Abell said during the review of insurance coverage, the city’s liability was deemed to be very low at $2 million dollars. The liability coverage was rasied to $5 million dollars at a total premium cost of $26,200, which covers the city’s general liability coverage as well as public officials’ liability coverage.

NEXT MEETING. The next meeting of the Bardstown City Council is 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, 2013, in the council chambers adjacent to the Bardstown Rec Center on Xavier Drive.

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