By GAGE WILSON
For Glasgow News 1
The Boys and Girls Club of the Caverns has hit another snag in its years-long effort. During a special-called Cave City City Council meeting Monday, Mayor Dwayne Hatcher told the council members that bids for the project came back “considerably over budget.”
“We opened bids back on November the fourth,” Hatcher said. “We had four bids turned in, all over budget, so at this point we have not accepted any of them. We’re trying to make some adjustments, but we will be rebidding that.” He estimated the project would go back out to bid in January, adding, “We are not giving up on it in any form or fashion.”
Councilwoman Leticia Cline suggested the city take a serious look at its bonding capacity as it considers how to move forward. “The city has identified projects such as purchasing a property for the police and fire departments,” she said. “We need to explore our possibilities for accessing funds to grow our city.”
Hatcher agreed the council should examine its options. “There’s several things that we would like, and several things we need,” he said. While not ideal, he noted that if the Boys and Girls Club plan ultimately falls through, the building could help address other delayed projects. “We’re not giving up on the club, but if it’s something that we can’t get worked out, then that’s definitely a facility we could consider.”
Hatcher did not have the city’s current bonding capacity available, noting the figures he had were “a little outdated.”
Cline then shifted focus to the city’s fire department, saying Cave City needed to be more aggressive in its support. “It seems like morale is low, and getting new volunteers is nearly impossible,” she said.
The Cave City Fire Department currently operates with 26 volunteers, while the Cave City Fire District covers an area stretching well beyond city limits. Councilman and CCFD Battalion Chief Andrew Bagshaw outlined several concerns he has observed.
“We would love to have new fire trucks, new equipment,” he said. “But Cave City, Park City, everyone in the county really, are going to have to figure out a way to get people paid to make runs.”
Bagshaw noted that while all departments face staffing challenges, Cave City’s proximity to Interstate 65 and steady tourism traffic creates particularly busy days. “It’s a very serious problem,” he said. “The people that have been doing this for 30 years, they’re getting older. It’s very scary to me that if a house catches on fire, who’s going to show up?”
Bagshaw said he would like to see the county adopt a model similar to Warren County’s, where departments employ full-time firefighters who work weekday shifts, supplemented by volunteers at night. “That’s our biggest thing, through the day there’s hardly any coverage.”
Bagshaw stressed the need for the city to prepare now to prevent a drop in available first responders. The council agreed to hold inter-committee meetings to develop a plan, though no formal action was taken.
Council members also passed two ordinances: The first approved the second reading allowing “special purpose vehicles” within city limits, aligning Cave City with the county and other municipalities. The second updated which city staff can access funds, a move Hatcher said would ensure that “in the event of a prolonged absence, we would have someone here to sign the checks.”
The council’s next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 8.
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