By MELINDA J. OVERSTREET
for Glasgow News 1
At its regular meeting Monday, the Glasgow Common Council got updates on the local election process and park construction projects and information about upcoming events for Veterans Day and other occasions, and it approved three municipal orders and first readings of three rezoning ordinances.
It also unanimously approved a resolution adopting a new interlocal agreement among the four city and two county governments of Metcalfe and Barren counties dealing with the provision of 911 emergency telecommunications services, but more details about that is covered by Glasgow News 1 in a separate report.
Mayor Henry Royse had invited County Clerk Helena Chase Birdwell to the meeting to share information about when and where to vote, and she reported that nearly 300 people had cast “excused” in-person absentee votes at the clerk’s office since that option started Wednesday, and it continues from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for two more days. More than 1,000 absentee ballots had been mailed, she said. They must be received at the clerk’s office by 6 p.m. on Election Day, which is Nov. 5.
Birdwell said that she expects at least 7,000 people to take advantage of the no-excuse-needed early voting that takes place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday of this week at the Barren County Extension Service Auditorium, 1463 W. Main St. She said there’s almost always at least a short line there, but the longest she’s heard of anyone’s having to wait in line is 15 minutes.
On Election Day itself, the county has nine locations where any registered Barren County voter can participate in their civic responsibility from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. or until the last person who was in line by 6 p.m. has had the opportunity to cast their ballot. Those places are the Austin Tracy FIre Department, Barren County High School Gym, Beckton Community Center, Cave Area Conference Center, Glasgow Middle School, Haywood Fire Department, Hiseville Elementary School Gym, Park City Lions Club and Temple Hill Elementary School Cafeteria.
She noted that the ballots are printed on the front and back, so voters should be sure to check both sides, and they should also familiarize themselves with the two proposed amendments to Kentucky’s constitution.
Jim McGowan, superintendent of the Glasgow Department of Public Works, was called to the podium, and he briefly spoke about the construction processes at Richardson Stadium in Gorin Park and at American Legion Park.
The footers for the concessions and score booth buildings, each of which also has a bathroom and small storage room, started in early June, he said, and the masonry work is completed, as well as the interior ceilings, and they are in the process of installing the electrical and plumbing fixtures. The bleacher pads have been ordered and the hope is to get the shade canopies are to be installed this week, weather permitting.
At American Legion Park, storm drainage work is expected to be done this week or next, with a stockpile of topsoil there. He noted progress on the base for the pickleball courts, with subgrade work on the pool house starting soon and work on the actual aquatic center next week, weather permitting, of course.
He also mentioned the geotechnical, engineering and environmental surveying that’s underway for due diligence on the city’s pending purchase of what is known as the Johnson property, and so far that was going well. Final reports on all that are expected in the next couple of weeks or so, which would lead to the final signing off on the roughly $6 million purchase, provided it continues to go as expected.
Councilman Freddie Norris said the newly constructed sidewalk along North Green Street was looking good, and McGowan said that was completed about two weeks ago.
Moving on to the action items, the first two municipal orders appointed Sue Furlong to the Glasgow-Barren County Animal Control Board to finish the unexpired term of Julie Adkins and reappointed Jerry Botts to the Glasgow Water and Sewer Commission. The third municipal order adopted a supplement to the city’s Code of Ordinances. All of those votes were unanimous, as were the ones for the first readings of the rezoning ordinances for the following:
– approximately 6.99 acres at 106 Firethorn Street from agricultural to low-density residential (R-1);
– approximately 2.47 acres at 850 N. L. Rogers Wells Blvd. from light industrial (I-1) to general business (B-2); and
– approximately 3.13 acres at the end of Oak Leaf Street, near Autumn Ridge Road, from agricultural to low-density residential (R-1).
Approval of second readings is required of all ordinances before they can take effect.
The mayor had notified the council members via their meeting packets that he wishes to appoint Amy Irwin to the board of directors for the Glasgow Municipal Airport to finish the unexpired term of Denise Dickinson that ends July 31, 2026, so that is expected to come up for a vote at the next meeting.
Monday’s gathering concluded with several announcements, including that the annual Veterans Dinner is Nov. 9 at the National Guard Armory. Tickets are $10 for nonveterans; veterans eat free. The Veterans Day Parade is at noon Nov. 11 in downtown Glasgow. Glasgow City Hall and most city departments will be closed due to that holiday, but the city’s transit service will be running on an abbreviated schedule.
In addition, because the council’s next regular meeting would fall on Veterans Day, that meeting is cancelled. Instead, a special-called meeting is set for 6 p.m. Nov. 12 in Council Chambers in City Hall, 126 E. Public Square.
In the meantime, trick-or-treating in Glasgow is from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday.
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