Court OKs building code, zoning reg updates; county cleanup starts Thursday

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio 

JUDGE EXECUTIVE DEAN WATTS

Tuesday, April 7, 2015 — Nelson County Judge Executive reminded Nelson Fiscal Court Tuesday that the county’s Spring Roadside Litter Pickup program begins this Thursday and runs through May 4.

The program offers non-profit organizations an opportunity to perform community service that cleans the county’s roads of litter and allows them to raise money, Watts explained.

“The program pays $125 per mile of roadway picked up,” Watts explained. “It’s an opportunity for these groups to do some community service while earning some money for their organization.”

Organizations interested in participating in the clean-up should contact the judge executive’s office, 348-1800.

Bardstown Fire Chief Marlin Howard discusses the department’s yearbook with Nelson Fiscal Court. The court approved funding to add two fire hydrants in the Botland area near the recently completed Station Four.

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING. Fiscal Court approved a resolution to provide $240,000 in funding for the transportation of non-public school students in Nelson County in the current school year.

The resolution is part of a program mostly funded by the state that reimburses the city and county school systems on a formula that determines their cost to transport private and parochial school students. The program reimburses Bethlehem High School for its actual documented transportation costs.

The county is reimbursed for most of the cost incurred by the counties who participate in the program, Watts explained.

BUILDING CODE UPDATE. Nelson Fiscal Court approved the first reading of changes to its building codes ordinance that will allow the county’s fee schedule for commercial buildings to match those charged by the state.

Magistrate Keith Metcalfe asks a question about the proposed building code changes at Tuesday meeting of Nelson Fiscal Court.

Magistrate Keith Metcalfe asked Watts if the change would impact home prices by raising construction costs. The change will apply only to inspection fees for commercial property and would not affect residential home inspections, Watts explained.

Magistrate Sam Hutchins asked Watts to keep the court advised of increases in the state’s fees.

ZONING AMENDMENTS. Fiscal court also approved first reading of two zoning amendments. One change increases the height of fences that require inspection. Currently, fences built five feet tall or taller require inspection. The change increases that height to 7 feet.

The second amendment removes certain fees and requirements for construction of ramps and other structures necessary to make a home accessible to an individual with a disability.

Landfill manager Brad Spalding updates the court on the progress of the annual bulky item pickup.

FIRE HYDRANTS. The court approved a transfer of approximately $6,000 to help pay for adding two fire hydrants in the Botland area. Hutchins requested the court OK transfer funds from his district’s occupational tax road funds to the general fund to place one at Botland and a second on Manton Road. The City of Bardstown has already agreed to add a fire hydrant at 150 Quick Stop, he said.

In other business, the court:

— approved having Liberty Tire take care of the tires collected during bulky-item pickup. According to Landfill Manager Brad Spalding, 2,860 tires were collected in the first five weeks of the pickup, slightly more than were collected in the same period last year.

— approved a request for a tax assessment moratorium from County Attorney Matthew Hite for a commercial property at 602 Bloomfield Road that he is upgrading and will serve as the new location for his law practice.

— approved a resolution for the county’s participation in the Lincoln Trail Hazard Mitigation and Flood Mitigation 2015 Plan.

— approved the following appointments: Todd Allen to fill the unexpired term of Jason Heath on the Bardstown-Nelson County Tourist and Convention Commission board; Joe Howard Rogers to the Nelson County Extension District Board. Rogers will fill the unexpired term of Tommy Hart; and James Schafer and James Nelson to the Bardstown-Nelson County Air Board.

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