Council approves paving list, stormwater ordinance, finalizes tax rates
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette
Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011, 11:13 p.m. – Bardstown drivers will be seeing paving equipment in the near future after the Bardstown City Council approved the expenditure of up to $125,000 in state funds to resurface a number of city streets.
Councilman Francis Lydian listens during discussion of the bid for street paving in Bardstown.
The streets approved for resurfacing include:
- Beechwold from East Stephen Foster to the cul de sac, including the cul de sac;
- Castleton Drive from Templin Avenue to Englemen Street;
- Camptown Road from Bloomfield Road to Banjo Street;
- Old Bloomfield Pike from Stephen Foster to Brashear Avenue;
- North Fifth Street from Broadway to Brashear Avenue;
- Springhill Drive from Olympia to Angela Drive;
- A section of Olympia Drive and Indian Trails in Springhill subdivision;
- And resurfacing of portions of a couple of alleys in downtown.
The only bid submitted for the resurfacing was from Mago Construction Co.
TAX RATE FINALIZED. The council unanimously approved final reading on city property tax rates.
The tax rate for real estate and personal property was set at 18.88 cents per $100 value, slightly less than last year’s rate of 18.9 cents. The new rate is the compensating rate that – when used in calculations with the latest property valuations – provides the city with approximately the same level of revenue as was generated last year.
The tax rate on watercraft remains the same as it has been for several years: 24 cents per $100 of value.
Jessica Filiatreau, city engineer, provides an overview of the new drainage control ordinance at Tuesday's council meeting.
DRAINAGE CONTROL ORDINANCE. The council approved first reading of a new drainage control ordinance. The changes are required by federal law since Bardstown’s population density means the city now must meet MS-4 requirements.
The changes will mean that commercial and housing developments in the city must develop plans for stormwater that go beyond determining a route for runoff, city engineer Jessica Filieatreau told the council.
“It’s not only addressing water quantity, but now we’re looking as water quality,” she said. “And this isn’t just during construction standpoint but for the long term.”
The unanimous vote means the measure faces a second reading and vote at the Sept. 27, 2011, city council meeting.
WATER TREATMENT PLANT. The council also approved two change orders for the final stages of work at the city’s water treatment plant. Ray Ihlenburg, an engineer with O’Brien & Gere, provided a detailed breakdown of the requested change orders on the $4.4 million project. The total cost of the change orders was approximately $24,000. As Ihlenburg noted, even with these change orders the project remains $537 under budget.
Several items in the change orders were necessary due to undocumented differences between the actual fixtures installed and the record drawings, he explained. “Every time you do something, something else is in the way,” he said. “It’s worse than working on an old house.”
After a period of discussion about the request, the council approved the change orders in a 5-1 vote with councilman Bobby Simpson casting a “no” vote.
Councilman Roland Williams examines equipment listings for aerial lift trucks at Tuesday's council meeting.
In other business, the council:
— Approved purchase of a new 40-foot aerial lift truck from Utility Truck Equipment Inc. The company’s bid of $119,125 was higher than the other bid of $106,367 by Altec Inc.; however the Altec bid did not meet the specifications.
In his comments to the council, Jeff Miller, superintendent of public works, explained that the lift truck bid by Utility Truck Equipment featured greater lifting capacity and what he believed were better safety features;
— Approved second reading of an amended cable internet ordinance that raises the minimum speed for residential customers at no additional cost;
— Approved allowing the Bardstown Rotary Club to use the City Hall lawn area for its annual Children’s Day, which is set for 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29; and
— Reappointed Tom Dawson to a four year term on the Removal of Architectural Barriers Committee.
The next Bardstown City Council meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011.
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