Nelson Fiscal Court takes up firearm use in subdivisions, OK’s paving projects

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, July 1, 2014, 1 p.m.  — Nelson Fiscal Court examined the first draft of an ordinance Tuesday that would prohibit the discharge of firearms in a residential area.

Judge Executive Dean Watts said that as the county grows there are more complaints of weapons being fired in residential developments out in the county. The City of Bardstown already has an ordinance that prohibits discharge of a firearm in the city limits, however the county has no such ordinance in place. Watts said he had contacted the National Rifle Association about the proposal.

Nelson County Sheriff Steve Campbell told the court that weapons fired in residential areas is a growing problem and the number of calls the Sheriff’s Office gets continues to climb.

Several magistrates expressed concern about the vague wording of the proposed ordinance, which stated that it prohibited the discharge of a firearm “within a neighborhood or mobile home park.”

Magistrates Jeff Lear and Sam Hutchins both asked how the ordinance defines a “neighborhood.” County Attorney Matthew Hite said he and Watts had the same discussion about the proposed ordinance. Watts told the court the ordinance was just a starting point for the discussion.

Magistrate Keith Metcalfe said firing guns in subdivisions and residential areas is a problem the court needs to address. “Some guns can fire a bullet for a mile,” he said. “How’s that work out for someone who lives on a half-acre lot in a subdivision?”

Magistrate Sam Hutchins said he had a vehicle window shot out at his home by a stray round. The magistrates generally agreed with the need to limit weapons discharge in residential areas, but were unhappy with the existing wording. Watts told the court he would research the matter further and no action was taken.

LANDFILL MECHANIC’S BUILDING.  Fiscal court accepted the low bid of $416,085 from Coleman Contracting of Morgantown for construction of a new mechanic’s building at the county landfill. The new building will replace the smaller existing building. The new building will also have covered parking for eight of the landfill’s trucks. The old mechanic’s building will be used for working on the landfill’s compactors.

JULY 4 GARBAGE PICKUP. The county and city garbage pickup schedule is unchanged on Friday, July 4. The landfill will be closed on Saturday.

PAVING LIST. The court approved asphalt paving requests from Magistrate Jeff Lear for resurfacing roads including: Abbey Ridge Road; Hobbs Lane from KY 509 to Murray’s Run Road; and portions of Berman Wells Road, Regency Road, Gallery Circle and Crenshaw Lane.

In other business, the court:

— approved appointing Jerry Janes to the property assessment board of appeals;

— declared six 10-foot sections of antenna tower surplus in order to sell it to the City of Shepherdsville for $750;

— approved revising the county’s contract with the Humane Society to include an automatic annual cost-of-living increase;

— and issued a proclamation declaring July 6-12 as Humane Society Appreciation and Awareness Week.

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