City council OKs first reading of FY 2025-26 budget; OKs medical cannabis zoning
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 — The Bardstown City Council held a second first reading of the 2025-26 city budget. Though a first reading of the budget had been approved at a previous meeting, auditors advised the city to put a line in the budget related to continued operation of the cable TV and internet operation.
The substantial change in the budget required the approval process to start over.
The proposed $115 million budget was an increase of $17 million over last year, Mayor Dick Heaton told the council. Fifty-one percent of the budget is related to capital project expenses, he sadi.
The budget includes 3 percent pay increase for city employees, which is made possible in part to a reduction in retirement expenses for the new fiscal year.
The final reading of the fiscal year 2025-26 budget will take place at the Tuesday, June 24th city council meeting.
In a related measure, the council approved first reading of a budget amendment for the current fiscal year so the city will end the year with expenses paid and a balanced budget.
MEDICAL CANNIBIS ZONING. After delaying taking action on the measure, the council had second and final reading of an ordinance that would require cannabis dispensaries and related businesses to locate in B-3 business zoned areas.
Heaton noted that cannabis-related businesses could locate in zoning classifications higher that B-3 in the city limits.
FIREWORKS LICENSES. The council approved four requests for fireworks licenses ahead of the Fourth of July holiday which would allow the operation of six fireworks stands.
The licenses will permit temporary fireworks for three locations sponsored by the Bloomfield Church of God that include Culpepper Street adjacent to Walmart; Michel Tire on West John Rowan Blvd.; and the Five Star Food Mart on US 150, Springfield Road.
The three additional licenses for fireworks booths include the Bardstown Walmart, sponsored by tthe Washington County Band Boosters; Kentucky Home Square shopping center, sponsored by the Friends of Bardstown Boys Basketball; and Burger King on West John Rowan, sponsored by Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana.
In other action, the council:
— approved the appointments of Bill Sheckles to the Bardstown Industrial Development Corporation (BIDC) board of directors, and the appointment of Jim Taylor to the ethics board.
— heard a warning from Bardstown Police Chief Kim Kraeszig regarding scams targeting residents in the form of text messages and phone calls. The scams include requests for payment of overdue bridge tolls; requests to pay a fine for missing jury duty or a court date among them.
“No one’s immune from these scams,” she told the council, as some members of the police department have received the scam messages.
NEXT UP. The next city council meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in the council chambers on Xavier Drive next to the Rec Center gym.
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