Mayor: City is taking action regarding closed Howard Johnson Inn

Mayor John Royalty listens to Councilman Roland Williams and City Attorney Tim Butler prior to the start of Tuesday’s Bardstown City Council meeting. Click to enlarge.

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, March 8, 2016, 10 p.m. — The deteriorated condition of the long-closed Howard Johnson hotel, 1875 New Haven Road, was discussed during Tuesday’s Bardstown City Council meeting.

During the comments portion of the meeting, Councilman Roland Williams said constituents had asked him about the status of the closed hotel and voiced concerns about the continued deterioration of its condition.

Councilman Francis Lydian.

Bardstown Mayor John Royalty told the council that the property owner has been issued a “condemn to repair” order, which gives the property owner 30 days in order to come up with a plan to make repairs.

“I’m not going to accept putting plywood up over the broken windows” Royalty said. “It’s going to be repaired or its going to end up coming down.”

If a plan to make repairs isn’t completed to the city’s satisfaction, the city property maintenance ordinance allows the city to condemn the property to raze it, which is an order for its demolition. If the owner won’t demolish the building, the city could have it demolished and then place a lien on the property for the demolition costs.

Royalty said since he was elected mayor, the city has moved to demolish four dilapidated homes.

“If they’re junk and they’re a hazard, they have to go,” he said.

APPOINTMENTS AND RE-APPOINTMENTS. The council approved the mayor’s new appointees for the Bardstown-Nelson County Human Rights commission — Mary Jane Greenwell and Dulce Salas.

Royalty did not re-appoint Kathy Reed, a 30-year HRC member and said his decision had nothing to do with the recent controversy over the HRC vote to donate public money to the Flint, Mich. Water Challenge.

Royalty praised Kathy Reed for her 30 years of service to the community as an HRC member. He said his decision was based on appointing Dulce Salas, who will be the first Hispanic representative to service on the commission.

The council also approved reappointing Mike Yaden, Michael Johnson and Carrier Stivers to new four-year terms on the human rights commission; Crystal Brady and Martin Carpenter to 4 year terms on the planning commission; and Kevin Rogers to a four-year term on the Bardstown Board of Adjustments.

DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD. The council approved the recommendation of the Development Review Board for a new office and warehouse building planned for Filiatreau Lane.

The application, filed by Ron Wimsett and Mark Filiatreau, seeks to build a 10,000 square-foot building on a 1.7 acre lot on Filiatreau Lane.

In other business, the council:

— approved adding a part-time media specialist position to the city’s classification and compensation plan;

— approved a request to close city streets for the annual July concert. Bardstown Main Street plans to close the first two blocks of North Third Street north of Court Square, and Flaget Avenue between Second and Fourth streets. The concert is planned for Saturday, July 9, and the streets will be closed from 2 p.m. to midnight.

— approved a variety of bids from vendors to supply chemicals used for water and wastewater treatment.

NEXT UP. The council meets next at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 in the council chambers in the city hall annex on Xavier Drive.

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