Council delays hiring attorney to investigate pre-election document dump

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, 11:30 p.m. — The Bardstown City Council did not take action Tuesday night to hire an investigator to look into possible city involvement in the election-eve delivery of an anonymous packet of information delivered to the council chambers prior to its meeting on Nov. 1, 2016.

Councilman Fred Hagan

Councilman Fred Hagan told the council that after giving it some thought and discussing the matter with the incoming council members, he thought it better to allow the new council to consider the investigation.

“If we sign a contract, it locks them in,” he said. This way the new council can review the matter before making its decision, and make their own determination on an investigator.

Hagan said he had asked incoming councilman John Kelley Jr. to take over the matter when the new council meetings for its working session in January.

CITY AUDIT. Linda Gray, of the Louisville-based Peercy & Gray, reviewed the city audit with the council and told them her audit gave the city’s fiscal year 2015-16 finances her highest opinion.

Among her concerns in the city’s finances were the general net loss of $853,983. Councilman Fred Hagan asked if those figures represent the balance prior to the fund transfers. Gray said the figure includes the utility reserve transfers.

Linda Gray, an auditor with Louisville-based from Peercy & Gray, reviews her audit of the city’s finances.

“You ate up a lot of your fund balance last year,” she said. The city’s new occupational tax rate — which was doubled from 1/2 percent to 1 percent of income in the city limits — will help offset that loss.

Several of the city’s utilities also showed operating losses, she said. The city’s cable TV and water utilities operated at a budget loss of $737,000, while the city internet service and sewer utility reported gains.

Another concern Gray has is that the E-911 pension liability — more than $1,000,000 — is still part of the city’s overall pension fund liability of $12,674,000. The liability isn’t actually a bill, but a number that is now required to be shown on financial reports.

OUTGOING COUNCILMEN’S COMMENTS. Tuesday’s meeting is the last of the year — and the last for four members of the council.

Hagan, who is wrapping up his third council term, said he was proud of what he had helped accomplish as a member of the council. “I wish the next council all the luck in the world,” he said.

Councilman Bobby Simpson thank thanked those who supported him during his 16 years on the council, and expressed his appreciation for the city employees who keep things running.

Councilman Bill Buckman called serving on the council an experience “rougher than policing,” but wished the incoming success with continuing the city’s ongoing projects.

Councilman Francis Lydian was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.

In other business, the council:

— by 3-2 vote reappointed Margaret Sims to the Code Enforcement Board. Councilman Fred Hagan and Councilwoman Kecia Copeland cast “no” votes regarding the appointment.

— approved a request by Cees & Dees to accept an 8-inch sewer main extension on Lincoln Way into the city’s sewer system. The extension will serve two commercial building lots.

— approved a signage request by the Knights of Columbus, 111 N. Fourth St.

— approved a request to renovate a porch at 115 East John Fitch;

— approve a request for signs at 120 W. Stephen Foster.

-30-