Councilwoman lobbies council to restore BIDC funding in 2015-16 budget

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Councilwoman Kecia Copeland speaks in favor of funding the Bardstown Industrial Development Corporation’s budget request to the city for the 2015-16 budget.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015, 2:30 a.m. — Councilwoman Kecia Copeland successfully lobbied the Bardstown City Council to fully fund a budget request by the Bardstown Industrial Development Corporation (BIDC).

Larry Green, assistant city administrator, told the council the city’s BIDC contribution was reduced in the 2015-16 budget from $27,000 to $6,300 because BIDC received money from the sale of industrial development property.

Green explained that a 2003 letter of understanding between the city and BIDC explains that the BIDC would receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale of industrial property, and presumably those funds would be used to fund the BIDC’s operations.

But when BIDC ran short on funds a couple of years ago, city and county governments chipped in additional funding, Green said. After the BIDC received the proceeds of a recent sale of industrial property, city officials assumed BIDC would use that money to fund its operational expenses.

Councilman Fred Hagan reviews documents at Tuesday’s city council meeting.

But according to Green, BIDC chairman Frank Wilson and NCEDA President Kim Huston said they believed the higher funding levels would be ongoing. They requested the city to consider restoring the funding so BIDC could save the property sale proceeds for special projects to help in recruiting new business and industry.

The council’s discussion focused initially on leaving the funding at the reduced level, and possibly modifying the budget allocation if the council felt compelled to raise the budget. Wilson and Huston are scheduled to attend the council’s next working session to discuss BIDC and funding matters.

Councilwoman Kecia Copeland went to bat to restore the funding in the city’s 2015-16 budget, telling the council the loss of the funding could affect employment in the NCEDA organizations, and that could leave NCEDA’s Huston short of help when she needs it most.

“Look at the job [Kim Huston] does, look at Bardstown and Nelson County and look at the companies that are here,” Copeland said. “I think we owe it to her to put that money back in there.”

If the council wants to revise the 2003 letter of understand, that’s fine and that’s something to do in the future, Copeland said. She said she felt the city owed BIDC and Huston the funding they have requested.

Councilman Roland Williams said BIDC is a reason why Bardstown and Nelson County has the jobs and attractions it has. “I see a lot of good that comes out of that money they’ve been given,” he said.

Huston, as economic development head, has been largely self-sufficient and has an excellent track record, Copeland said. “She has the skills and we are lucky to have her here,” she said, adding that the council should “do the right thing” and approve the funding request.

After additional discussion, the council unanimously agreed to amend first reading of the budget to restore the funding back in the budget for BIDC to $27,000.

NON-PROFIT REQUESTS. After some discussion, the council agreed to use its contingency funds for donations to help the annual street concert, Buttermilk Days and the Stephen Foster Story.

Councilman Fred Hagan said he opposed the use of taxpayer money for contributions by the council to charitable organizations.

“It’s not the government’s job to be donating citizen’s money to charitable organizations,” he said. “Citizens have every right to do that on their own.”

Copeland said the donations were simply the council participating in the community. “I think its doing goodwill in our community that we participate in things like this.”

In a 5-1 vote, the council approved donations of $2,500 each to the street concert and Buttermilk Days, and $6,000 to the Stephen Foster Story. Councilman Fred Hagan cast the single “no” vote.

In other business, the council:

— approved an advisory opinion from the Development Review Board for proposed Colton’s Steak House building;

— approved the 2015-16 tourist commission budget.

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