Technology may be culprit for council who did not get mayor’s list of priorities

An error in Councilwoman Kecia Copeland’s email address and the use of a the wrong email address for Councilman Roland Williams may explain why they did not receive an email from Mayor John Royalty outlining his priorities for the next two years.

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, 4 p.m. — Two incumbent members of the Bardstown City Council who did not receive an email from Mayor John Royalty listing his priorities for the next two years may have been victims of technology problems rather being on the receiving end of the mayor’s contempt.

Councilman Roland Williams and Councilwoman Kecia Copeland did not receive the Nov. 16 email from Mayor John Royalty outlining his priorities for the next two years.

At the last city council meeting, members of the media were told that Councilwoman Kecia Copeland and Councilman Roland Williams did not receive the mayor’s email dated Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, that outlined his list of priorities for the next two years. All of the newly elected council received the email, as did the members of the council who lost their seats or chose not to run for re-election.

Mayor Royalty followed-up on a story posted by the local newspaper pointing out that both incumbents were not sent the mayor’s email, pointing out to members of the media that his office did indeed send the mail to both Williams and Copeland. On closer inspection of the mayor’s email distribution list, it appears the missing email was not intentional.

The email distribution list has an error in Copeland’s email address; the proper “dot net” suffix on her email address was incorrectly typed “dot com,” which would explain why it was not received.

In regard to Williams’ email, Royalty’s email distribution list used an email for Williams that does not match the email Williams lists as primary contact email as a council member on the Bardstown City Council web page.

Williams and Copeland have both been critical of Royalty’s performance as mayor at times over the past two years, and with elevated tensions the last few months, the assumption among council watchers was the email omission was more than likely an intentional one.

In a follow-up email to a local newspaper story, Royalty asked for a “public correction” to state that he did sent the email to everyone, noting that it was “disturbing that only two of the ten did not receive this.”

PRIORITIES. Royalty’s email lists a number of priorities he has for the next two years, which include:

NEW POLICE/FIRE BUILDING. The city’s fire department and police department have outgrown their existing buildings. Royalty wrote that building a new building combining both services would be more efficient and effective. Informal costs estimates have been in the $5 million range.

SEWER UPGRADE FOR INDUSTRIAL PARK. The Rowan Creek sewer line that serves the Nelson County Industrial Park needs to be upgraded to a larger line. The 12-inch sewer main that will serve Thai Summit crosses under the Blue Grass Parkway and connects to an existing 8-inch line. The project is in the planning stage, Royalty wrote.

WATER DISINFECTION CHANGE. For years, the city’s water treatment plant has used chlorine to disinfect the city’s drinking water. The city plans to change from chlorine to chloramine, which will reduce the level of disinfection by-products that are created as treated water ages in the distribution system. The by-products are seldom a problem inside the city; however the city’s wholesale water customers have experienced some issues with them.

The move to chloramine, as well as other water treatment upgrades, will improve water quality and reduce by-products. The changes will also make the city’s treated water compatible with water treated by the Louisville Water Co.

According to the mayor, the improvements will cost approximately $2 million.

RECREATION. The city is investigating creation of a small park on the north side of KY245 to serve nearby residential areas. The email does not state where the park might be located in the city limits.

STREETS & GARBAGE. Royalty said he wants to continue the sidewalk repair and replacement program within the city to improve walking safety. Royalty also added that the Public Works maintenance lot at Withrow Court and Kelly Drive needs upgrades including more covered areas for equipment storage.

HAGAN ADVOCATES LONG-RANGE PLANNING. In a follow-up email, outgoing Councilman Fred Hagan sent Royalty a draft of a 2012 long-range planning document, suggesting the mayor and new council make an effort to conduct long-range planning as a way to better anticipate the city’s future financial, equipment and infrastructure needs.

Without a long-range plan, Hagan said the city will be “doomed to lurch from one crisis to another, from one hot issue to another.”

Such a plan would allow the public to offer input on the long-range planning needs, he stated.

“It would get us out of our echo chamber and allow us to receive valuable public input,” he wrote.

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