Council approves $10,300 for additional treatment water plant repair work

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, July 28, 2015, 11:55 p.m. — The members of the Bardstown City Council reluctantly approved a request for an additional $10,300 to pay for repair work to the three storage tanks at the city’s water treatment plant.

Councilman Bobby Simpson, left, and Councilman Bill Buckman look over their iPads prior to the start of Tuesday’s Bardstown City Council meeting.

Part of the needed work is to replace caulking that seals the tanks to the concrete foundation. The caulking prevents moisture from getting under the tank and causing rust and corrosion. The change order also requested an additional 15 days to complete the additional work.

Councilman Roland Williams asked if the city could use its employees to do the work rather than pay a contractor to do it.

Jessica Filiatreau, the city’s civil engineer, told Williams that city employees could do the work, but getting it scheduled is the problem.

Councilman Bobby Simpson asked why the needed work wasn’t uncovered when the tanks were inspected.

Freddy Riggs, pastor of Faith Fellowship Church, told the council he was the local contact for Kentucky 120 United, a group that is working to have the Bible read aloud during the 2016 calendar year in each of Kentucky’s 120 counties.

Filiatreau said some of the problems weren’t uncovered until the contractor was prepping the tanks for paint. Only one of the tanks was inspected prior to the bid for the project because the other two tanks were needed to remain in service treating city drinking water.

Mayor John Royalty told the council that allowing the contractor to do the work will allow the work to be warranted. Councilman Francis Lydian noted that applying the materials requires experience, and it is best to let the contractor complete the work.

The council voted 5-1 to approve the additional funding, with Simpson voting “no.”

ZONING CHANGES. The council gave final approval of two zoning changes that will allow two businesses to sell alcohol.

The first zoning change will allow a new business to serve alcohol by the drink at 112 North Third St. The new business will offer craft beer and distilled spirits by the drink.

The second zoning change affects a 2.943-acre vacant tract next to the El Jimador restaurant off Granite Drive. The developer plans a restaurant that will sell liquor by the drink.

Councilman Bill Buckman listens during a discussion about a change order for painting and repairs for water tanks at the city’s water treatment plant.

TAX MORATORIUM REQUESTS. The council approved property tax assessment moratorium requests from the owners of two properties in the Maple Hill neighborhood.

Nicole Kwong was granted an assessment moratorium for a property located at 111 South Center St. The court also approved Frank Welch’s moratorium request for a home at 709 Kurtz Ave.

The moratoriums freeze for five years the property tax value for an owner willing to invests in rehabilitating his or her home.

In other business, the council:

— heard a request from Pastor Freddy Riggs, pastor of Faith Worship Center, for a proclamation in December regarding Bible Reading Week.

Riggs is the local organizer of Kentucky 120 United, an organization that aims to have the complete King James version of the Bible read aloud by volunteers simultaneously during the 2016 calendar year in each of Kentucky’s 120 counties.

Riggs said he is contacting local churches to recruit 30 leaders, who in turn will recruit 360 volunteers who will agree to take turns reading the Bible aloud in 15 minute increments at the Visitor’s Center on Court Square.

The leaders are responsible for a three-hour block of time, and they will recruit volunteers to fill the needed time slots.

The proclamation will be presented to the council in December.

— heard a proclamation read that honors the the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Bardstown Baptist Church.

— approved 11 certificates of appropriateness recommended for approval by the Historic Review Board.

— heard that Royalty appointed Kathy Graham as an ex-officio member of the Bardstown Housing Board.

NEXT UP. The council will next meet for its monthly working session on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015, at the Council Chambers on Xavier Drive.

-30-