By GAGE WILSON
for Glasgow News 1
Park City is making room, not by expanding, but by refining. From regulating engine noise to approving special-purpose vehicles and moving ahead with a long-discussed amphitheater, the city is making adjustments aimed at improving quality of life. Commissioners also approved a four percent property tax increase, a small financial shift intended to help meet future needs.
Beginning at 6 p.m. with all members present, the commissioners began with reports. Garnering the most discussion was the report from Mayor Larry Poteet who offered an update on two of the city’s biggest new enterprises.
Speaking on the amphitheater, Poteet informed commissioners that DECO Architects — the firm behind the project’s design — met with the mayor and Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley-Byrd to discuss some changes to the project’s blueprint. “They had to rearrange some things,” he said. “But that rearranging will save around $750,000.”
Originally proposed in spring 2024, the 17-acre project became a joint effort with Barren County that December. Gage Wilson/ for Glasgow News 1
The new design would incorporate the landscape to aid in the constriction by moving the amphitheater closer to a hill to “use the natural gradient for seating.” He also explained that the attached drive-in movie theater would need to be downsized as after talks with Byrd revealed that “it would not be feasible to run two screens.”
“Working with Jamie has been great,” Poteet said. “This project isn’t just for Park City, it’s a benefit for the whole county.”
Poteet also elaborated on an upcoming strip mall slated to begin construction, saying that the Joint City-County Planning Commission’s office has approved the groundwork for the project, and that once a bid is accepted construction should begin “within a couple more weeks.”
The commission also approved both ordinances visited at last month’s meeting, that being the use of special-purpose vehicles and the banning of “Jake Brakes” within city limits. Both ordinances unanimously passed the second reading.
Commissioners also passed the first reading of an ordinance setting the city’s real and tangible property tax rate using the four percent revenue increase option. The rate for tangible property would rise negligibly, roughly staying at the rate of 27.4 cents per $100 of assessed value. Unlike the compensating rate, which adjusts to generate the same revenue as the previous year, the four percent increase allows the city to collect four percent more from existing properties, not including new growth.
Poteet noted that Park City saw nearly $1 million in property value growth last year, which contributed to the decision to take the higher rate. According to the Kentucky Department for Local Government, cities often use the four percent option to keep pace with inflation and rising costs.
The commission then moved to go into a closed session, which upon returning to open session it was revealed that a city flatbed truck would be sold as surplus. Shortly thereafter commissioners moved to adjourn with the next scheduled meeting set for Monday, Sept. 9.
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