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Mainstreet asks city for part-time groundskeeper for downtown, city gateways

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Lisanna Byrd, executive director of Bardstown Mainstreet, listens to the council discussion regarding a proposal to designate a part-time groundskeeper to maintain areas of downtown and gateways into the city.


By JIM BROOKS

Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Wednesday, May 25, 2016, 4 p.m. — To keep Downtown Bardstown and surrounding areas well-maintained, the Bardstown Mainstreet program is asking the City of Bardstown to help create a part-time groundskeeper position.

Lisanna Byrd, the executive director of Bardstown’s Mainstreet program, told the council Tuesday night that downtown Bardstown is a reflection on the community — including the sidewalks, landscaping and cleanliness of the downtown area and city gateways.

Byrd presented the council with a proposal for a part-time groundskeeper who would be responsible for the maintenance of downtown areas and city gateways. The duties would include cleaning streets, curb, and parking lots; water and help maintain landscaping; mows grass, trims weeds, and uses other power equipment as necessary, and other tasks as required.

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Former Councilman Joe Buckman spoke in support of the groundskeeper proposal.

Byrd said the job would involve roughly 16 hours a week.

“You get a chance at a first impression one time,” former councilman Joe Buckman told the council. Buckman serves as chair of the Mainstreet design committee.

The lack of maintenance in downtown landscaping will be evident to the city’s visitors, he said.

“Beautiful cities are a sign of success,” he said. There’s nobody charged with maintaining the look of downtown on a regular basis — something which is needed now, he said.

Buckman said the position could amount to part of one city employee’s job from approximately April through October.

“It should be part of the taxpayer’s money to keep the city looking nice,” he said.

Members of the council agreed that regular maintenance of downtown was a worthwhile project.

Councilwoman Kecia Copeland reminded the council that the cities who participate in the Mainstreet program are a select group who try to keep their downtowns vibrant and attractive.
After discussion, Mayor John Royalty said if the Mainstreet program could come up with a schedule of the needed duties, he would do what he could to make sure the work was covered.

In other business, the council:

— approved utility requests, the first was a sewer service request by H&H Enterprises to serve Miller Springs Subdivision Phase II. The subdivision will be served with water by the Northeast Nelson Water District. The second a request for street and utility requests for Culpepper subdivision off KY 245.

— approved first reading of changes to the city’s classification and compensation plan to authorize adding four sergeant positions to the city police department. The changes also delete the major/assistant chief position and raise for two to three the number of investigator positions. The city police department has a total of 27 authorized positions.

— approved a bid of $69.90 per ton for road salt. The city anticipates buying an additional 200 tons at the bid price.

— approved a request from the Nelson County 4-H, and the FFA groups of Thomas Nelson and Nelson County high schools for a 5K run on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016.

— received word of a $5,026 Certified Local Government matching grant from the Kentucky Heritage Council. The city is required to match the grant with local funds, which will total $3,358.

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