Fiscal Court presented lease for drama association’s use of amphitheater

Fiscal Court will consider a lease to allow the Stephen Foster Drama Association’s use of the J. Dan Talbott Amphitheatre for the 60th season this year once repairs are completed.

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, March 6, 2018 — Nelson County Judge Executive Dean Watts presented Nelson Fiscal Court Tuesday morning with a draft of a lease that will allow the Stephen Foster Drama Association to use the J.Dan Talbott Amphitheatre for 60th season of the “Stephen Foster Story” and beyond.

For the payment of $1, the five-year lease comes with the option that gives the drama association the option to renew for two additional five-year lease periods.

The amphitheater and drama association officers were closed in late December for safety reasons following an inspection by state officials. With no money in the state budget to make the needed repairs and upgrades at the amphitheater, the drama’s 60th season was in jeopardy.

Working with the help state officials and local legislators, Watts and Bardstown Mayor Dick Heaton successfully negotiated a deal last month that allowed the county to lease the amphitheater from the state with a plan to sublease it to the drama association.

Under the draft lease, the association can begin the needed repairs to insure the productions and concerts scheduled for this season will begin on schedule.

Watts said he will be meeting with state officials in Frankfort next Thursday to discuss plans for immediate repairs to make the drama property safe for visitors, and long-term upgrades that are planned to begin once the season ends late this summer.

In other business, the court:

— heard that the county bulky item pickup is mostly on schedule. The second phase is set to begin on time, Monday, March 12. The second phase includes all roads south of the Bluegrass Parkway and west of KY 49. During the bulky item pickup period, county residents can haul their own bulky items to the landfill without paying a fee.

— Road Engineer Brad Spalding reported that the new bridge on Higdon Loop should be open next week once the approaches are completed.

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