Audit report gives city finances top marks at Tuesday city council meeting

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 — Tuesday’s Bardstown City Council meeting began with Mayor Dick Heaton and the council expressing its appreciation to Bardstown Police Detective Eric Williamson for the work he put into the recent human trafficking and prostitution arrests at two local Asian spas.

Williamson explained the investigation began many months ago, and the investigation is still ongoing while additional evidence is collected and examined.

FISCAL YEAR 2022 AUDIT. The city council was presented the annual financial audit that covered fiscal year 2022 by Lexington-based RFH.

The audit was presented to the council by Kevin Fisher, a manager with RFH.

Fisher’s presentation showed that the city is in sound financial shape and RFH offered what they called a “clean audit opinion,” noting that the financial statements accurately reflected the city’s financial status.

He said the audit did not identify any deficiencies or need for additional internal controls.

Mayor Heaton said the city’s sound financial position was important as it continues to obtain funding and loans for the large number of capital projects underway.

PARTISAN LEGISLATION. Councilman Bill Sheckles told the council about legislation current in the General Assembly that would require non-partisan city council and commission races to be partisan.

Of more than 400 cities in Kentucky, only six of them have partisan council/commission elections, he said.

After City Attorney Audrey Haydon read a resolution opposing the legislation, the council voted unanimously to approve the resolution.

Sheckles noted that the decision to hold partisan elections rests with the city government, not the state legislature.

APPOINTMENTS. The council approved the following appointments:

— Nicky Rapier to fill the expired four-year term on the Bardstown Housing Authority through Feb. 12, 2027.

— Sheila Thompson to fill the expired four-year term as a resident member on the Bardstown Housing Authority through Feb. 12, 2026.

The council also approved reappointing RaShae Jennings to a one-year term on the Wickland board beginning March 10, 2023.

In other business, the council:

— approved the bulk chemical bids for the water treatment and sewer treatment plants.

— approved a service request to serve two existing residential lots at the end of O’Bryan Avenue. The request means extending a sewer main 130 feet from Allison Avenue up to the two unserved lots on O’Bryan.

— approved a resolution for a water project so it qualifies for a revolving loan from the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority. The project includes the construction of an 1.25 million gallon water tank on Parkway Drive, and the construction of a new water main from downtown to the east near the industrial park.

— approved a service agreement with QK4 Engineering in regard to engineering sidewalks along Templin Avenue.

NEXT UP. The city council next meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023.

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