Nelson Fiscal Court accepts bids totaling $605,000 for Old Courthouse repairs
Magistrate Jerry Hahn was absent from Tuesday’s Nelson Fiscal Court meeting.
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Tuesday, May 1, 2018 — Nelson Fiscal Court approved brick and roof repair projects for the Old Courthouse building totalling $604,000 at its meeting Tuesday morning.
The project will repair the mortar joints on the building on the upper parts of the building. Due to the deterioration of the joints, the contractor selected — Schnell Contractors of Louisville — will be grinding 1 inch of mortar from every joint on the upper portions of the Old Courthouse and that mortar will be replaced.
Judge Executive Dean Watts reviews the main projects in his proposed 2018-19 budget during Tuesday’s Nelson Fiscal Court meeting.
Schnell Contractors’ bid for the tuckpointing work was $285,000.
Once the brick work repairs are complete — including the chimneys and the bell tower — the roof on most of the building will be replaced. The portion of the roof on the south side of the building is flat and will not be replaced. The roof there has a membrane-type roof installed that is still under warranty.
The only bid for the roof replacement was from Corbin-based JBK Inc. at $318,984.
Judge Executive Dean Watts said he expects some additional window repair work will be needed during the project, and he said the total cost shouldn’t exceed $650,000 when completed.
The roof and upper areas of the Old Courthouse have had water leaks for years, prompting the growth of mold and even weeds and small trees which have taken root in the areas were mortar is missing in the brickwork.
2018-19 COUNTY BUDGET. Watts presented the member of fiscal court with a copy of his draft of the county’s $25 million budget at a special meeting Monday morning. At Tuesday’s meeting, Watts reviewed the notable expenses included in the proposed budget.
The budget includes new chillers to improve the cooling systems at the Justice Center and also the Civic Center; a new dump truck for the county road department; and more funding to operate the jail.
Watts talks with Magistrates Jeff Lear and Sam Hutchins after Tuesday’s meeting.
As Jailer Dorcas Figg reduces the number of state inmates held at the Nelson County Jail, the income the county receives for state inmates also drops. The reduction was a response to a series of security issues at the jail, and reducing the jail’s overcrowding was seen as a way to improve security.
The budget includes an additional $200,000 to help cover the jail operational costs, ,Watts explained.
PARK PARKING PROBLEMS. Recreation Director Tyler Wimpsett told the court that people parking illegally at Dean Watts Park after repeated warnings led him to ask police to issue tickets to offenders at the park.
Greenwell said this past weekend when he was called to come to the park, there were plenty of empty parking places — just not on the end of the park where visitors wanted to park and then walk to the playing field.
Parking is prohibited along Fenwick Drive, and when he was there, cars were parked on both sides of the drive. Despite claims to the contrary on social media, the parking ticket fine is $20.
HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT RESOLUTIONS. Fiscal court approved two resolutions regarding grant applications.
The first application seeks funds to purchase cardiac monitors for Nelson County EMS for $238,119. The second application is a multi-agency funding request (EMS and Bardstown Fire Department) for 10 mechanical CPR devices that will perform CPR automatically while the EMT performs other patient care duties.
In other business, the court:
— heard discussion about the need to increase Nelson County EMS fees to help cover a greater portion of the costs. The county subsidizes the EMS budget, but Watts said he felt it was time to compare the county’s EMS fees with those of surrounding counties and adjust them.
“Better to raise the fees than raising taxes,” Watts said.
— conducted a 24-minute executive session related to the sale or purchase of real estate. The court returned to open session with no action taken and no comment about the executive session.
NEXT UP. Nelson Fiscal Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in the fiscal court meeting room on the second floor of the Old Courthouse.
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