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Bardstown City Council approves signage request from Bardstown Bourbon Co.

David Mandell, CEO of Bardstown Bourbon Co., discusses the company’s signage request at Tuesda’s Bardstown City Council meeting.

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, June 11, 2019 — The Bardstown City Council approved a request from the Bardstown Bourbon Co. for a large sign that will be affixed to their building facing in the direction of the Bluegrass Parkway.

The requests falls under a special provision of the city’s sign ordinance that allows the city council to approve a request for signage larger than the city’s sign regulations allow for properties of 50 acres or more than are also zoned I-2 Industrial.

David Mandell, chief executive officer of the Bardstown Bourbon Co., explained that the company’s new $3 million visitor center is set to open in six weeks, and the company wants signage that will help direct visitors to its location.

“We have no signage that advertises this business,” Mandell explained. So far, the company has not been successful in getting access to the brown attraction signs on the BG Parkway, nor being listed on the blue directional signs on the parkway.

“Right now there is nothing that advertises our $40 million investment that includes what has been called ‘the best new restaurant in the state of Kentucky,’ ” he explained. “We really have nothing that points anyone in that direction.”

He said the company will come back before the council with a master sign plan for the 100-acre Bardstown Bourbon Co. campus. Right now, the company sought some flexibility from the council on its signage as the company prepares to open its new visitor center.

The council voted 5-0 to approve the request, with Councilman David Dones who recused himself.

HR Director Greg Ashworth discusses the renovation plans for the former Newcomb Oil property on KY 245 to convert the property for use as a fire station by the Bardstown Fire Department.

FIRE DEPARTMENT RENOVATIONS. The city’s plans to remodel the buildings on the former Newcomb Oil property for the city’s new fire station continue now that the bids for the renovation have been opened.

The bids were in the $1.4 to $1.6 million range, HR Director Greg Ashworth told the council.

The lowest two bidders will be asked to look at the plans and offer suggestions for ways the city can save money in a process called “value engineering.” The city may be able to shave up to $100,000 off the overall cost of the project in this way.

The renovations will include complete rewiring of the building and replacement of the existing HVAC system, which are original to the 39-year-old building, Mayor Dick Heaton explained.

In addition to the renovation costs, the building will need to be equipped for the fire department’s use, including beds, office furniture and hardware.

Councilwoman Betty Hart, left, and Councilman Frankie Hibbs talk prior to the start of Tuesday’s city council meeting.

WATER TANK PAINTING. The council approved a change order for the painting and repairs currently under way on the city’s Fairgrounds water tank of US31E just south of Hagan Drive.

The crew doing the painting found that the tank’s top vent needed to be replaced due to the fact the vent is an important attachment point for equipment used in the work on the tank. The change order adds $4,400 to the project’s total cost of $374,000.

RaShae Jennings, city preservation coordinator, left, and Councilman Joe Buckman talk prior to the start of Tuesday’s meeting.

FIREWORKS. The council approved a fireworks booth application submited by Devin O’Bryan, who will locate the booth in the parking lot of the Bardstown Walmart store.

The booth will be operated in conjunction with the Nelson County Humane Society and St. Catherine Academy in New Haven.

In other business, the council:

  • approved a bid of $78,474 from Data Center Warehouse for up to 20 Terrabytes of additional storage for the City of Bardstown’s existing computer network.
  • approved a bid of $149,000 from WESCO TVC for IPTV equipment which when installed, will allow cable TV subscribers to view cable TV programming on any internet-enabled device.
  • approved a resolution honoring Buzick Lumber and Home Center’s 75th anniversary in business in Bardstown.

NEXT UP. The Bardstown City Council next meets at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, in the city council chambers next to the Rec. Center on Xavier Drive.

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