City council OKs review of employee pay, swears-in new police officer
Mayor Bill Sheckles, right, administers the oath of office to Officer Eric Williamson while Chief Rick McCubbin looks on. Williamson comes to the Bardstown Police Department from the LaRue County’s Sheriff’s Office.
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, 11:55 p.m. — The Bardstown City Council moved forward with a review and revamping of its employee compensation plan at its regular meeting Tuesday night.
The council voted unanimously to authorize Mayor Bill Sheckles to enter into a contract with Paul E. Combs to review and update its compensation plan. Combs created the city’s existing compensation plan in the late 1990s.
Combs will focus on comparing city employee pay with comparable pay in similar public sector and municipal employers. Combs can spend up to $11,922 without additional council authorization.
NEW OFFICER. Eric Williamson, the Bardstown Police Department’s newest officer, was sworn-in Tuesday night by Mayor Sheckles while the council looked on. Williamson comes to the Bardstown Police Department from the LaRue County Sheriff’s Office.
Jeff Mills, city electrical engineer, explains the vendor change for a project that will allow remote monitoring of the city’s electrical substations.
NEW RESTAURANT. The council unanimously approved a Design Review Board recommendation for a new Taco Bell restaurant planned for East John Rowan near Lowe’s. According the Design Review Board documents, the restaurant will be built in a lot between Long John Silver’s and Chili’s Grill and Bar.
REZONING. The council approved first reading of a zoning change for a former daycare at 1315 N. Third St., at the intersection of North Third and Downs Lane. The amended zoning will allow the new tenant to have a flowers and gift shop.
In other business, the council:
– approved a bid of $64,890 from BESA Equipment for a horizontal cardboard baler for the recycling center at the Guthrie Opportunity Center. The bid was slightly higher than the lowest bid, but Larry Green, city assistant administrator, told the council the higher bid was for a baler of heavier design and featured a more powerful motor;
– approved changing firms for a previously approved project that will allow remote monitoring of the city’s substations, which will allow problems to be more quickly detected and addressed;
– approved $10,831 to fund a “Distribution Arc Flash Study” that will determine if the city’s protective clothing and materials are sufficient. The study will determine the incident energy across the city’s power grid. New safety regulations require the study;
– approved the receipt of two grants, a $180,500 grant for E-911 Dispatch Board, and another grant of $39,000 for drug and alcohol abuse prevention advertising from the Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy;
– approved a Historic Review Board certificate of appropriateness for an antenna mounted on a tower behind the Luckett Building. The antenna relays the WOKH Bardstown studio signal to its transmitter site in Washington County.
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