By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025 — Nelson Fiscal Court approved a marketing agreement with a company owned by Bardstown businessman J. Rick Hill.
The property value on the PVA records is $1.08 million. The building was, according to the PVA, built in 1914.
It was built to serve as the city’s post office, which it did until 1968, when a new post office was built at 205 West Stephen Foster. The building next housed the Nelson County Public Library until 2005 when the library moved to its current location on Cathedral Manor.
Following its sale, the building was later purchased by Nelson Fiscal Court in 2007 with the intent of using it for the Nelson County Clerk’s office. The property was later deemed unsuitable for that use, and the building became home to the local art gallery among other uses.
TOWER LEASE BUY OUT. Nelson Fiscal Court agreed to a lease buy-out proposal for an antenna tower leased currently by ATC Towers.
The county receives $800 a month in revenue on the lease. ATC wishes to buy out the lease with a one-time payment of $200,000.
OLD COURTHOUSE CHANGE ORDERS. Judge-Executive Tim Hutchins said that the work on the Old Courthouse continues, and said fiscal court may be able to return to the second floor meeting room in January 2026.
Citing a spreadsheet of cost overruns and items that were not as expensive as proposed, Hutchins sought the court’s approval of a change order totalling just over $97,000 in additional total expense.
The magistrates unanimously approved the change order payment.
POST CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. The magistrates voted to make Dec. 26th paid holiday for county employees. Employees that must work that day will additionally receive 8 hours of holiday pay, County Treasurer Rhonda Fenwick told the court.
In other business, Nelson Fiscal Court:
— approved the Nelson County Clerk’s budget amendment that shows more excess fees returned than budgeted.
— announced that work on the Sullivan Lane bridge replacement will begin Dec. 12, 2025.
— approved a contract with Lexington-based Roy Hunter CPA to conduct the county’s financial audit at a cost of $16,800.
— approved the allocation of $5,000 of the county’s opioid funds to NELCARE to help the organization pay the salary of its executive director.
NEXT UP: Nelson Fiscal Court will next meet at 6 p.m. Dec. 16, 2025 at the Nelson County Public Library.