Human Rights Commission OKs Flint Water Challenge donation
Bardstown City Councilwoman Kecia Copeland asks the Bardstown-Nelson County Commission on Human Rights to support the Flint Water Challenge at the HRC’s meeting Tuesday, Feb. 2.
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2016, 4 p.m. — After a discussion regarding the proper use of its funding, the Bardstown – Nelson County Commission on Human Rights voted to make a $250 donation to the Flint Water Challenge.
Bardstown City Councilwoman Kecia Copeland attended the commission’s meeting Tuesday on behalf of the local Flint Water Challenge effort, and she asked the commission to support local efforts to provide drinking water to the residents of Flint, Mich. The city’s drinking water crisis is due to the high levels of lead that entered the water supply when the city changed its raw water source.
The HRC meets monthly at the main branch of the Nelson County Public Library.
Bardstown has been recognized as the most beautiful small town in America, and Copeland said she would like the city to also be known “as the most caring and loving community in America.”
“It’s not a self-serving thing,” she said of the water challenge. “Its being a servant to the public and knowing that something’s come up against us and we need to help.”
Copeland called the Flint water crisis “aqua genocide,” and asked for bottled water or donations from the commission to support the Flint Water Challenge.
When Paula Pace asked commission members about making a donation from the commission’s funds, Michael Johnson questioned if a such a donation was an appropriate use of the commission’s funds. The commission is funded by contributions from the City of Bardstown and Nelson Fiscal Court.
Johnson applauded the local grassroots effort to help the affected residents of Flint get fresh drinking water, and he pledged he would personally donate to the effort.
“I don’t know if it is the role of this commission to support something like that,” he said. “I don’t know if the ordinance allows us to use the government funds. Our commission is focused on the City of Bardstown and the County of Nelson, and that’s my concern about doing something as a commission.
“On a personal level I’m all for helping out,” he added.
Johnson said that if the city and county governments gave the commission permission to use its funds for a donation, he would have no problem supporting the move. The commission’s treasurer reported earlier in the meeting a bank balance of $5,149.75.
Copeland said having clean water to drink “a basic human right.” The other members of the commission voiced their support for making a donation.
“Do we have to have the county and city tell us how to use our money?” member Paula Pace asked Johnson. “What’s the worst thing that can happen? We’re making a donation for the human right to water.”
Johnson said he would prefer to check to make sure a donation was an appropriate use of public funds before voting in favor of it. He said he would gladly attend a special-called meeting to approve a donation prior to the local group’s departure for Flint on Friday, Feb. 26.
Pace suggested a donation of $1,000, which led into additional discussion about the purpose of commission’s funds and the appropriate amount for a donation.
Michael Johnson told the commission there are a lot of local groups deserving of financial support if the commission decides to make donations from its surplus funds.
Member Mike Yaden said he thought $250 was appropriate because if the commission later found out it shouldn’t have approved the donation, the 10 members of the commission could chip in $25 each and cover the donation.
The commission voted to approve the donation, with Johnson casting the only vote against.
When asked about who to direct the donation to, Copeland asked the commission to delay writing a check until the group opens a bank account to allow accountability and to be “good stewards of everyone’s kindness.”
She said the commission could purchase bottled water if that was its preference. Many groups are making donating gift cards, gas cards and cash in addition to bottled water.
The Flint Water Challenge group plans to leave Bardstown on Friday, Feb. 26, to deliver the water to Flint residents that weekend, Copeland said.
APPOINTMENTS. The five commission members appointed by city government have not had their re-appointments approved by the mayor and Bardstown City Council. City appointee Michael Greenwell is leaving the commission, but Mike Yaden, Kathy Reed, Michael Johnson and Carrie Stivers have asked to be re-appointed. Reed said the commission will wait for the re-appointments before it elects officers.
-30-
