Barren County board discusses construction of new road, renovation update and approves 2023 tax rates

By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1

The Barren County Board of Education members met at their central office for the regularly scheduled meeting, among the agenda items up for discussion included the approval of the construction of an access road that runs around the schools on Trojan Trail, a brief renovation update and the approval of the district’s 2023 tax rate.

After a brief prayer by board member Tommy Newberry, the meeting began with recognition of talented students and accomplished classified and certified staff members. During the course of the school year the board chooses specific schools to celebrate. At this meeting they chose to highlight Barren County High School. BCHS student entertained the board with her rendition of “On My Own.”

Board members, family and staff then paused the meeting before they dove into the business portion.

One of the major topics of discussion was the construction of a new road that aimed to decrease the amount of traffic on Trojan Trail in the mornings and afternoons.

“We’ve been discussing the possibility of a bus lane or car rider drop-off lane to separate some of our traffic on Trojan Trail in the mornings,” Superintendent Bo Matthews said. “This is a popular topic, I hate to say it’s a complaint, but it’s an opportunity for us to see how we can improve.”

According to Joey Bunch, director of transportation, school buses take up roughly two-and-a-half car lengths so moving either cars to that proposed road or buses would clear up a lot of traffic on Trojan Trail.

Matthews said this possible road would also improve safety and efficiency for students. The projected path of the new road would utilize property already owned by the school board. The potential downside, Matthews said, would they would likely lose a tennis court behind the high school.

Matthews also discussed possible changes to include offshoots that “reintroduce” traffics back to the current paths so parents do not have to travel the whole length of the road if they don’t need to. He also said this proposal offers this board, or future boards, the chance to make upgrades on it, for example going “cross country,” using property the board already owns, and connecting it up with Roseville Road and the Cumberland Parkway.

Currently, according to Alliance Board Chair Tommy Gumm, the plan includes a 14 foot one lane road, the standard width for a one lane road ranges from 9-15 feet.

This plan would most likely not include getting another law enforcement officer to direct traffic, Matthews said, but they would mostly likely not need on as it is proposed right now being a one lane road.

“The likelihood of picking up a third law enforcement officer two times a day is probably not real high,” Matthews said. “We wouldn’t necessarily need somebody for people simply to turn into this area.”

Matthews said the highway department had looked at the plan and were in favor of it but was “more concerned what it would do to 31-E.”

Joe Murley, finance director at the district, said they were still very early in the process and all that was approved was the BG-1 form. He said he would now submit the form to the state “for their initial approval.” The current budget for this proposed access road is $1,503,375, according to Murley, but could change depending on the actual bids and design costs.

Gumm, along with Craig Thomas, president of RBS Design Group, gave the board a brief update on the currently underway Barren County High School Renovation Project.

The update begun by Gumm saying that contractors were on site despite the bonds to pay them would not be going on sale until Oct. 6.

“We have mechanical and electrical site contractors working basically on will come,” Gumm said. “They’re people that have worked with [the district] before and have a great deal of faith in the fact that they will eventually get paid.”

On the agenda was also the approval of a change order. Gumm explained that this change order was for an temporary electrical connection to install and move the new bleachers, which were already ordered and set to begin installing them on Tuesday putting the renovation “a few days ahead of schedule.”

Gumm said the two temporary electrical circuits would be usable and permanent until the actual electrical components could be installed next summer.

Gumm added that the field house would soon be under construction as well as the bleacher and the seats in the auditorium. According to Gumm the gymnasium renovations would be between basketball season and graduation and the auditorium renovation sometime between Feb. and April. The glass rails would likely be pushed to the summer schedule, Gumm said.

“When we talk about this renovation project it’s going to span a number of month, I hate to say years,but it’s going to be a longtime,” Matthews said. “There are portions of it we’re hoping to have milemarker dates, the gym being a focal point right now and also the auditorium space, all the other work is important as well but we’ve really honed in on those two areas [to finish] before the end of our school year.”

The board also approved the 2023 tax rates. Murley said the rates would remain the same as they were last year. However, due to the Property Valuation Administration’s assessment the district’s revenue would increase by roughly $365,000.

All the items on the agenda were approved unanimously — with the notable exception of board member Brad High’s recusal during the summary of payments approval.

Currently, the next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Oct. 12.