Council grants moratorium assessment for councilman; Bogert retirement announced
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette
Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, 11:20 p.m. — The Bardstown City Council’s first session of the New Year was also its briefest in recent history. With a light agenda, the meeting was over in less than 25 minutes.
This 1951 postcard shows the Hahn Tourist Court and Restaurant. The original portion of the building shown above left was demolished this week. The property is now owned by Bardstown Councilman Bobby Simpson. The row of cabins shown above right were situated in a row on the north side of the building. They were demolished some years ago. Click image to enlarge.
Mayor Bill Sheckles opened the meeting by noting the absence of Councilman Tommy Reed. Reed’s mother, Ruth Lyddane Taylor Reed, 87, died on Saturday and the visitation was Tuesday evening.
ASSESSMENT MORATORIUM GRANTED. Councilman Bobby Simpson, who owns the property at 718 North Third St., was granted an assessment moratorium on the property that was once the site of the Hahn Tourist Court. Simpson purchased the property last month, and in the past week has torn down the front portion of the building closest to North Third Street.
Simpson recused himself from the discussion and vote on the moratorium, which the council approved in a 4-0 vote.
The assessment moratorium means that improvements to the property are exempt from being assessed for tax purposes for five years. The moratorium is designed to encourage the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of properties more than 25 years old.
After the meeting, Simpson said the part of the building that remains standing would be rehabilitated for business use. The portion of the building that was demolished was built after World War II by W.H. Hahn.
Public Works Director and Engineering Larry Hamilton, left and councilman Bobby Simpson talk before the start of Tuesday's Bardstown City Council session.
The Hahn Tourist Court and Restaurant property served the postwar tourist trade as a motor court with “steam and gas heat,” and “17 units with baths (tub and shower) as well as a “modern restaurant serving choice foods.” A row of cabins was built on the northern side of the building. Several of the cabins survived over the years, and once the hotel closed, the cabins were rented as efficiently apartments. The cabins were demolished about 10 years ago.
The portion of the building that was demolished this week was in very poor condition, Simpson said. He said the plan is to take the lot down to plain dirt, which includes removal of the old footers and foundation. Simpson did not elaborate on possible redevelopment of the lot.
BOGERT RETIRING. Mayor Bill Sheckles told the council he had received a letter from Historic Review Board administrator Pen Bogert, announcing his plan to retire at the end of May 2012.
Bogert has been HRB administrator for eight years, and said he will be remaining in Bardstown and will keep active in his love of historic buildings and the history of the community.
“If you love history, this is the place to be,” Bogert said. “The really neat thing is that the community likes history and the historic character of the city and county. I don’t think there’s another town like this in Kentucky.”
Bogert said he would also focus his attention on finishing a book on the history of slave trading in Kentucky. “It’s one of those projects I need to devote all my time to,” he said.
In other business, the council:
– approved the appointment of Sarah Hardin Ballard to a three-year term on the Historical Review Board;
– approved the reappointment of Rick Caldwell and Ed Jury to three-year terms on the city’s tree board.
The council’s next meeting will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012 in the City Hall Annex on Xavier Drive.
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