BEREA — Construction work on Berea’s new 28-acre city park addition should be complete in about 60 days, City Administrator Randy Stone told the city council Tuesday night.
The $2.25 million project should be completed with a surplus of $20,000, he said.
Tuesday night, the council approved a $62,000 bid from Spohn Ranch Inc. of California to erect nine concrete skateboard structures in the park.
The supplier was waiting only for the council’s approval to ship and then set up the skateboard facility, Stone said.
In addition to a skateboarding area, the park with have $50,000 invested in playground equipment and two miles of trails, plus a lighted football field and lighted soccer field with a concession stand.
After the meeting, Stone said teams were anxious to play on the new fields in the spring, but he said letting them lie fallow for a year might be advisable.
Stone said the city had seen an uptick in insurance -- and payroll -- tax receipts in the past two weeks. Property owners also have begun to pay recently mailed annual bills.
While the city had no unpaid current bills at the end of October, end of year expenses --including $640,000 in payments on bonds to finance the new recreational park and industrial park, plus three payrolls in December -- would test city finances.
All city departments still are under orders to hold expenses “to the bare minimum,” Stone said.
The city’s contract for cell phones from Cellular One, which has been purchased by Verizon, is expiring, and the city has taken advantage of a favorable state contract with Sprint to save money, he said. The new contract will include 27, rather than 33 phones, to reduce costs further.
The street department has begun leaf pickups, focusing on areas with the greatest concentration of leaves, Stone said. Residents should rake leaves or place leaf bags at street curbs, but not in sidewalks or streets, he said.
Municipal utilities manager Donald Blackburn said the water department had completed flushing the city’s waterlines with no reports of brown water.
Fire Chief Randy Rigsby said he had received a letter from the Southern Madison County Water District stating that its lines within the city limits were certified for fire protection. The district is to provide the city with a map of its lines, indicating line sizes, the chief said. Six-inch lines are required for fire fighting, he said, and some of those outside the city limits but in the fire department’s coverage area are four-inch.
Planning Director Dale Van Winkle introduced Phillip Hurt, the city’s new codes enforcement officer.
Council member Vi Farmer said the personnel committee had interviewed three police department sergeants who are candidates for lieutenant.
Tourism Director reported that her department’s Berea Pride campaign, designed to encourage Bereans to be welcoming to tourists, had won a first-place award at the recent state tourism conference.
Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 624-6622.
Local News
New Berea city park construction nearly complete
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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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Couple recovering from injuries suffered in weekend house fire
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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Standoff at Super 8 Motel ends peacefully
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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Trial for couple accused of human trafficking delayed
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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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Richmond man charged with child porn possession
(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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For local adults who are experiencing memory loss related to dementia or Alzheimer’s, the Department of Occupational Therapy at Eastern Kentucky University has provided “The Place to Be” for the past two decades.
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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