Before and during the monthly meeting of the Barren County Fiscal Court meeting on Feb. 20 County Judge-Executive signed a proclamation declaring Feb. 20 as Barren County Cheerleader Day for their first place finish at the UCA National Championship. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
The Barren County Fiscal Court, with its seven magistrates, met in the mid-morning of Tuesday, Feb. 20 to discuss a variety of agenda items, including approving the next phase concerning the ongoing renovations at Jackie Browning Park, a budget amendment, and discussion of a beautification project.
The fiscal court begun when Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. with a recognition of the Barren County High School Cheerleading team, which recently won at nationals. As Byrd read the proclamation she and Glasgow Mayor Henry Royse signed officially commemorating the day, the students lined up alongside their tear-eyed coach.
Although the court’s agenda was lengthy and varied, the subjects of interest came in the “Orders of the Day,” agenda items that came to the court’s attention after the agenda was already publicize.
The first concerned discussion and approval of “Jackie Browning Project Phase B.” On Dec. 19 the fiscal court approved by a 6-1 vote to begin Phase A, which included getting bleachers, shade structure, parking and “dirt work.” At the Feb. 20 meeting Magistrate Derick Pedigo, who heads the Parks and Recreation Committee, made the motion to approve Phase B which includes installation of the bleachers and at least six of the 12 shade structure before the spring season, concrete work and fixing a drainage issue.
Byrd stressed that this phase would not cost additional money as they have bonded all phases of the project for $2 million and are not close to surpassing that. Byrd also mentioned the possibility of using inmates at the Barren County Detention Center for labor in an effort to further lower costs.
“The project is moving and we need to get Phase B approved,” Byrd said. “We’re right on target with project cost.”
Much like the December meeting the roll call vote passed with a 6-1 margin with Magistrate Tim Coomer dissenting.
The second item that provoked considerable discussion from the magistrates also came as an “Order of the Day” add-on. Byrd asked the court to support a joint effort to fund additional mowing and cleaning around the Barren County parkway, Interstate 65 and highway exits.
“I get a lot of complaints on the outer loop and Highway 90 mowing,” Byrd said. “The state mows three times a year max and will not clean out the fenceway.”
The project would be funded by the county, each of the three cities, tourism and Beautify Barren County, a nonprofit. Barren County would pay $63,200, Glasgow $42,800, Park City, Cave City and both of the city’s tourists commissions would pay $12,000 and $13,500, respectively. Glasgow-Barren County Tourist Commission would pay $10,700 and Beautify Barren would supply $15,800.
“Many of you when you drive to Bowling Green you see what they do,” Byrd said. “I know we’re not Bowling Green but that matters when you’re trying to attract industry, tourism…if you’ve got your community looking like it should then it’ll attract businesses and get people to move here.”
“I’m asking that our Barren County court approve the mowing project and our contribution…I do think this will affect tourism and economic development,” Byrd said.
In the end, no motion was made with Magistrate Ronnie Stinson, Marty Kinslow and Jeff Botts raising concerns over the language of the contract and its price tag.
“I got issues with the reading of the contract,” Stinson said. “I’d like a map showing exactly what they’re going to mow. I think that’s the problem the mayor had with it. It’s not so much that he’s against this, it’s just the vagueness in how it’s written.”
“I’m with Ronnie [Stinson],” Kinslow added. “I think we need to put more thought in this.”
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