Commissioner Mike Burgess (middle) reports on the new signage to be put up around town, paid for through a Kentucky Trail Town grant. Gage Wilson/for Glasgow News 1
By GAGE WILSON
for Glasgow News 1
With belated business to address, the Park City Commissioners convened at City Hall for Monday’s meeting. Park City Mayor Larry Poteet called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. Commissioners began by approving the December meeting minutes. The commissioners did not meet in January due to scheduling conflicts.
With the minutes approved and commissioner reports given, the quorum moved into new business, starting with a lien placed on property at 200 and 202 East First St. Poteet explained that the previous property owner had repeatedly failed to maintain the area, requiring the city to clear the space multiple times in 2024. As a result, a lien was placed on the property. Since then, the land has been sold, but due to a clerical oversight, the lien remained unresolved. Commissioners were presented with options ranging from charging the new owners the full $7,400 to forgiving the amount entirely. “It’s entirely up to the commission,” Poteet said. “At least it will stay clean and add value to the city.”
Poteet also noted that the property was slated for development into four new duplexes. Commissioner Gary Carroll sympathized with the new owner, sharing his own experience with a similar situation in Glasgow, where an overlooked lien had been forgiven. “They just wrote it off,” Carroll said. “They just said, ‘You fixed up the house and made it look good, it’s now going to bring in more revenue,’ and so they just wrote it off.”
Encouraged by Carroll’s remarks and the potential benefit to the city, the commissioners unanimously voted to forgive the lien.
The commission then turned its attention to Park City’s “Concerts in the Park” series, a well-documented lineup of free shows at Bell’s Tavern Park. While some performances will remain free, the city plans to introduce ticketed events to attract more recognizable local talent. Commissioners Angelo Scavo and his wife, Donna Scavo, who oversee the concerts, explained that tickets would cost around $25. Combined with a $1,500 city budget, ticket sales would expand the artist lineup and improve the concert experience. With the Scavos leading the initiative, the commission approved the $1,500 budget for concert months and voted to continue researching ticket sales and marketing strategies.
For the first time, the commission also addressed concerns regarding Park City Elementary School. Poteet stated that the city had received an increase in calls from parents and students regarding the school’s administration. Allegations of unfair treatment and favoritism among faculty were raised, prompting Poteet to ask if the commission would consider drafting a letter to the Barren County Board of Education.
Donna Scavo expressed frustration over preschool students being unable to choose chocolate milk with their meals, despite it being available to other grades. “So you see it [the chocolate milk], and who isn’t going to want it? I’m in my 60s, and I’d still pick chocolate milk,” she said.
Ultimately, the commission voted to have city attorney Richard Jackson draft a letter addressing these concerns to the Barren County Board of Education.
Commissioners then entered a closed session pursuant to KRS 61.810 to discuss the possible acquisition or sale of property. No action was taken after the 20-minute session.
The commission also opened the floor to public comment. Matt Pedigo, a representative of the Barren River Area Development District, was the only person to formally address officials.
“In case you guys were wondering, we don’t have any clear guidance on how the federal grant freeze is going to affect local projects,” he said. “We’ve been asking, but so far, nothing has come down the pike that’s definitive—at least nothing that has answered our questions, much less the questions of our clients.”
Poteet said the city received an email regarding a $25,000 reimbursement grant through FEMA. “Where I’m really hurting is I haven’t gotten this money back,” the mayor said. “The city will probably lose that $25,000 from what I was told.”
“Hopefully not,” Pedigo said. “This is supposed to just be a 60-day freeze, that much we have heard.” He added that he would investigate the grant status and provide updates as soon as he had more information.
Shortly thereafter, the commission voted to adjourn and scheduled its next meeting for Mar. 3 at 6 p.m.
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