Street light installation will soon begin about 3,000 feet up from the intersection of KY 52 and the Robert Martin Bypass near Catalpa Loop Road.
This is one step the Richmond City Commission is taking to ensure the safety of citizens who choose to walk to Paradise Cove at Gibson Bay, which will be opening Memorial Day.
The commission awarded the project bid Tuesday to the Albany-based R.L. Curry Inc. at a bid price of $63,000.
The installation of street lights has been planned for some time. It was just a matter of completing road work and getting permission from the state, said Richmond City Manager David Evans.
The project will be paid for out of the city’s Municipal Road Aid fund, Evans said.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is looking into installing a crosswalk that would safely lead pedestrians across the Eastern Bypass to Gibson Bay Drive, allowing them to walk to the aquatic center.
“They (the transportation cabinet) are planning,” Evans said. “They’ve already done a traffic count.”
Despite the approval of the aforementioned project, the commission’s request for a crosswalk at the intersection of KY 52 and Catalpa Loop Road was denied.
Richmond Mayor Connie Lawson wrote a letter recently to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet concerning the installation of a pedestrian crosswalk in that particular area.
Engineers from the District Traffic Section conducted a study of the area and determined that the location did not meet warrants for a traffic signal or a crosswalk, said Robert C. Lewis, acting chief district engineer for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
He responded in a letter dated April 16 that supported the state’s decision.
“In the past, we have experienced some undesirable results with mid-block crosswalks, in particular near the EKU campus, and we do not desire a repeat of those results at this location,” he wrote.
Lewis is referring to a crosswalk that previously was located on Lancaster Avenue connecting a large, commuter parking lot to campus. Several students were injured while trying to walk across because of the crosswalk’s offset location.
“Due to the high speeds and the number of lanes for a pedestrian to cross, it is our finding that a marked crosswalk will provide pedestrians with a false sense of security thereby further endangering them,” Lewis wrote. “Once the aquatic center is open and should pedestrians begin crossing KY 52, we will re-evaluate this location for possible placement of pedestrian signals.”
Commissioner Kay Cosby Jones voiced her dissatisfaction with he state’s decision at Tuesday’s meeting.
“That’s being reactive and not proactive,” Jones said. “So many of our street lights have gone up after people have been killed. It makes no sense to wait.”
In other business:
• An ordinance was passed that changes the zoning classification of 12.3 acres of property owned by the Richmond-based KK&RR;, LLC from single-family residential to multi-family residential.
• The commission voted in favor of changing the zoning classification of 9.07 acres owned by Spangler Apartments LLC from industrial to downtown business.
• The commission heard the first reading of an ordinance authorizing the Richmond Utilities Board to extend sewer service outside the boundaries of the city to the Okonite Co., located at 1740 Berea Road
The company was denied by the Kentucky Division of Water for a renewal of the company’s sanitary sewage treatment discharge permit.
The ordinance, if passed after its next reading scheduled for 6 p.m. May 13 at City Hall, will allow Okonite to gain access to city sewage treatment, as well as other city services such as police and fire protection.
• Commissioners heard the first reading of an ordinance to authorize the issuance of residential parking permits to residents of Eastway Drive. Several requests have been made by Eastway Drive residents, Evans said.
“If they (Eastway Drive residents) have guests, they have to park on the street and they get citations.”
The second and final reading of the ordinance will be at 6 p.m. May 13 at City Hall.
• Marsha Dunn, Richmond’s long-time community development director, will retire as of June 1.
• Debbie Bellairs and Richmond Police Senior Patrolman Josh Hale were appointed to the Richmond Human Rights Commission.
• David M. Jones resigned from his volunteer position on the city’s Board of Architectural Review.
• Joni Fields was appointed to replace Jones on the Board of Architectural Review.
• Jessica Emmitt, Megan Bellamy, Randi Bird, Wes Lanham and Taran Gorman were hired as seasonal summer workers for the Richmond Parks and Recreation Department.
• Gerald Quinn was hired as a seasonal, part-time employee for the Richmond Tourism Department.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.
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Judge weighs constitutionality of legislative redistricting
Kentucky’s deadline for filing to run for legislative seats was in flux on Monday because a judge did not immediately rule on a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of newly redrawn district boundaries.
Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said he expects to enter a ruling in the case by mid-week.
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A couple was hospitalized after their home was set ablaze Sunday by a spark from a cigar, according to a county fire official.
County Fire Chief Jim Cox said the city and county fire departments were called to the home at 111 Concord Road in the early afternoon. Waco Volunteer Fire Department and the Richmond Fire Department also responded.
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A Richmond country club is no longer offering dining to members, but remains available for catered events and will be open on certain holidays.
Arlington Country Club, which has been a staple of Eastern Kentucky University for the past 40 years, laid off all dining staff late last week, according to Tom Coffey of the EKU Foundation.
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A bizarre drug-fueled standoff at the Richmond Super 8 Motel ended peacefully with no one hurt, including a child who was in the room with a man that police found wielding two knives.
About 1:53 a.m. Friday, police received a call about a man who was threatening someone with a knife at the motel on North Keeneland Drive, according to Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock.
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Despite Monday morning television reports that the trial was beginning Monday, it was postponed because the attorneys are not ready to try the case.
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(Editor’s note: The following story contains graphic information some readers may find offensive.)
A Richmond man has been arrested for possession of child pornography as a result of a nearly one-year investigation by local police.
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Noted author to deliver keynote address for Black History Month
Almost a year ago, Arnold Rampersad stood in the East Room of the White House as he was presented the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama.
On Thursday, Feb. 16, the noted author will stand in O’Donnell Hall of Eastern Kentucky University’s Student Success Building to deliver the keynote address for the university’s Black History Month observance. Rampersad’s visit is also part of Eastern’s year-long Chautauqua lecture series, and the title of his talk, “Black History: The Challenge of Living with Others,” coincides with this year’s Chautauqua theme, “Living with Others: Challenges and Promises.” -
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Habitat for Humanity of Madison and Clark Counties, which has built 160 homes for people in need since 1992, is seeking applicants for partner families, according to Judy Flavell, executive director of the organization.
“We really need applicants right now,” Flavell said. “More people can qualify for Habitat homes than people realize.”
Eligible applicants must have lived in Madison or Clark counties for at least one year, have a stable income, be able to pay a modest monthly mortgage and be able to demonstrate that their current housing is overcrowded, physically substandard, too expensive, unsafe, or they are living in subsidized housing, according to Habitat.
For more information about eligibility, or to apply, call Habitat for Humanity at 625-9208 or visit its office at 1417 East Main Street in Richmond. Visit online at habitatmadisonclark.org. -
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The department will again sponsor the free eight-week program on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., beginning Feb. 9. Participants can attend Thursday and/or Friday. Applications still are being accepted (call 893-0653) for the free service, which is offered in Room 100 of the Dizney Building on EKU’s campus. -
Bible Belt towns in state consider going ‘wet’
In this Appalachian college town where socially conservative views are bedrocks of life, some people want to do what was once unthinkable: legalize liquor sales.
Supporters say passing the measure in Tuesday’s special election in Barbourville would tap a new revenue source in a place where hundreds of jobs are evaporating as one plant shuts down and another cuts its workforce in half. But from the pulpits to the courthouse square, opponents have been pressing their case that uncorking liquor sales would irreparably harm the town of about 3,200. - More Local News Headlines
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