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City council OKs first read on FY19 budget; proclaims Thursday National Bourbon Day

Bardstown Police Chief Kim Kraeszig and Councilman John Kelley talk briefly before Tuesday night’s city council meeting.

 

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, June 12, 2018 — The Bardstown City Council approved a proclamation declaring that Thursday, June 14, 2018 is National Bourbon Day. The proclamation goes hand-in-hand with the nationwide celebration of bourbon as Kentucky’s signature spirit.

The proclamation noted some interesting statistics:

  • 95 percent of the world’s bourbon is produced in Kentucky;
  • The Bardstown area has more than one-third of the world’s aging Bourbon;
  • And if poured into shot glasses, it would create 9.8 billion shots, or enough for two drinks to every adult on Earth.

National Bourbon Day will be marked locally Thursday by a special event ceremony at 11 a.m. Thursday in front of Spalding Hall. See the story elsewhere on the Nelson County Gazette.

BUDGET GETS INITIAL OK. The 2018-19 city budget was approved on its first reading Tuesday night.

Councilman Bill Sheckles lead Tuesday’s council meeting in the absence of Mayor Dick Heaton.

The budget consists of $57.8 million in revenues and $56.5 million in expenses — an increase of approximately $4 million over this year’s budget. The increase is the result of higher utility sales and resulting costs, along with a number of capital expenditures.

Acting in the absence of Mayor Dick Heaton, Councilman Bill Sheckles read from Heaton’s budget address some of the planned budget’s expenses, which include:

— an LED lighting conversion plan for downtown;

— completion of the chloramine project that will improve water quality and stability by changing the treatment process;

— replacement of aging water lines in the older areas of town

— addition of a new water main under the Bluegrass Parkway to serve the Nelson County Industrial Park;

— replacing the sewer main that runs from East O’Bryan south, under the railroad tracks to the Mockingbird Lane area;

— upgrading the Rowan Creek Trunk sewer main and the Pottershop Pump station;

— move the fire department to their new station at the former Newcomb Oil property on East John Rowan Blvd.;

— five new vehicles for the police department and $20,000 for a body camera data storage system.

FIREWORKS BOOTHS. With the 4th of July approaching, the Bardstown City Council approved requests Tuesday night from non-profit community groups to sell fireworks from fireworks booths around the county.

The list included:

  • The St. Vincent de Paul Mission Store will partner with B&B Fireworks;
  • The Bardstown Church of God plans to sell fireworks from a tent at 726 N. Third St. in conjunction with Stars & Stripes Fireworks;
  • TNT Fireworks is partnering with the Humane Society of Nelson County and St. Catherine Academy in New Haven to sell from the lot at the corner of New Haven Road and Elmcrest Drive;
  • The Bloomfield Church of God will sell fireworks from booths at the Bardstown Walmart and near Burger King restaurant in partnership with Lewis Enterprises;
  • The Buttermilk Days Foundation is partnering with USA Fireworks for a booth that will be located in the Wilson and Muir bank parking lot in front of Dollar General Market.

In other business, the council:

— opened the sole bid received for its gas franchise. LG&E’s bid was to provide the city with 3 percent fee on its sales to city customers.

— approved closing one block of East Brashear in front of First Baptist Church of Bardstown between North First and North Second streets from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 23, 2018.

— approved the tourist commission budget as presented by Mike Mangeot, the commission’s executive director.

— approved a mobile food vendor application from Aunt Anne’s Pretzels on the condition the applicant provides the rest of the needed approvals and documentation.

— approved a request to provide sewer service to Corman’s Crossing subdivision, Phase VII, and accept its sewer lines once completed as part of its sewer system.

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