City police chief gets council OK for changes in department’s structure

Bardstown Police Chief Kim Kraeszig explains changes she wants to make in the police department’s structure.

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017 (Revised 9 a.m.) — Bardstown’s new police chief told the Bardstown City Council Tuesday night her plans to strengthen the department by making changes to its command staff positions.

Chief Kim Kraeszig told the council she would like to make changes to the lieutenant position in the department’s command structure that is currently open.

Wilma Sorrell with the PATH Coalition, presents Bardstown Mayor Dick Heaton a certificate of appreciation for firefighter Scott Lawson and Bardstown Fire Department’s support of the coalition’s efforts to locate funds to help pay for training in the use of Narcan for opioid overdoses.

Kraeszig told the council she wants to turn the lieutenant position into a second captain’s position. The department will then have two captains, each would serve as an assistant police chief.

“Policing is a 24/7 operation and with that you need adequate command and control to properly supervise” officers,” she explained.

One assistant chief would handle the administrative functions of the police department; the second assistant chief would focus on operations — the work officers do on the street.

Both of the positions have a lot of responsibility, and her goal is to avoid overloading one person with both sets of duties.

Capt. C.D. Marksbury would serve as assistant chief of administration. She will look for an experienced officer to fill the assistant chief of operations position.

The candidate she hopes to fill the operations position with someone who can bring with them experience that can help existing officers build their law enforcement skills. The assistant chief of operations will work varying hours in order to be available to supervise and mentor the deparment’s supervisors and patrol officers.

Kraeszig said she wants to give her officers the opportunity to improve their skills and advance their careers as opportunities for advancement develop.

She said that training was critical and “is the No. 1 thing that makes or breaks a police agency.”

The council approved first reading of changes to the city’s compensation and classificaton plan that will allow the changes that Kraeszig requested.

HISTORIC REVIEW BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS. The council approved the following recommendations for Certificates of Appropriateness from the Historic Review Board:

COA-17-83. Thomas Wheatley, applicant/owner, request to demolish a shed at 208 N. Fourth St.

COA-17-84. Thomas Donan, applicant/ Daniel Linebaugh House LLC., owner, requests to demolish a shed at 205 East Stephen Foster Ave.

COA-17-77. Old Bardstown Village Inc., applicant/owner, request to install signage at 204 East Broadway Street.

COA-17-79. Jerry Janes, applicant, Joe and Jenny Buckman, owners, permission to install signage at Janes’ new office at 94 Court Square.

COA-17-80. Nancy Foster, applicant/owner, request to paint the roof at 214 East John Fitch Ave.

COA-17-81. Joe and Caitlin Ballard, applicants/owners, request to install a new fence at 208 West Broadway St.

COA-17-82. Holden Willett, applicant/owner – request to install a porch at 206 East Stephen Foster Ave.

COA-17-85. Holden Willett, applicant/owner – request to replace vinyl siding with wood siding at 206 East Stephen Foster Ave.

COA-17-86. Holden Willett, applicant/owner – request to replace wood fence at 206 East Stephen Foster Ave.

COA-17-87. Holden Willett, applicant/owner – request to paint the exterior of the home at 206 East Stephen Foster Ave.

COA-17-88. Holden Willett, applicant/owner – request to install new gutters on the home at 206 East Stephen Foster Ave.

In other action, the council:

–approved a request to close East Flaget Ave. between North Third and North Second Street on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017 for the Bardstown Craft Beer Festival. The festival will take place at the Bardstown Farmers Market pavilion. The festival is a fundraiser for Next Gen Nelson County Inc.

— gave final approval of the city’s 2017 tax rates. The rates on real estate and real property will remain the same as last year.

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