CORRECTION/UPDATE: A name has been changed for the Infrastructure Committee. The proposed members had changed between the time the draft agenda was distributed and the vote on Monday night, and the change was not noted. Also, since Monday’s meeting, one of the community members proposed for reappointment to the Plaza Advisory has changed and another person proposed for appointment instead. These changes are now reflected below.
BY MELINDA J. OVERSTREET
GLASGOW NEWS 1
Early into his first meeting with the Glasgow Common Council as mayor, Henry Royse, held a handmade dogwood gavel in his hand as he shared information about the man who made it for him – “a gentleman so many of us know and love and been influenced by for so many years.”
Glasgow Mayor Henry Royse holds up a dogwood gavel made for him by Jim Nelson, who died in June, so he would have it when he took office, as Royse told of the day Nelson presented it to him. MELINDA J. OVERSTREET / GLASGOW NEWS 1
Jim Nelson was a former Glasgow High School principal and science teacher.
Royse said Nelson, who died in June, had worn many hats in this community, some of which Royse had only just learned about himself, including his work with the Fort Williams Restoration Commission and Rotary Club Scout Camp. He also had served on the Barren County Ethics Committee and the board overseeing the South Central Kentucky Cultural Center.
The new mayor said that sometime after he announced his candidacy for the seat, Nelson walked into his workplace and presented him with that gavel, telling him, “I want you to have this for when you become mayor.”
Nelson had made the gavel from a tree that was on his farm and was so encouraging, Royse said, “but as fate would have it, he did not live to see me sworn in for the position.”
A proclamation was then read by City Attorney Rich Alexander honoring Nelson’s memory, and Royse presented a commemorative copy of the resolution to Nelson’s wife, Theresa, to a standing ovation for Jim Nelson.
Those holding certain city personnel positions take the oath of office at Monday’s regular meeting of the Glasgow Common Council after the council unanimously approved municipal orders reappointing them. From left, standing, are Lincoln Bell, city engineer; William Rock, fire chief; Stephanie Garrett, city treasurer; Maddie Griffin, finance officer; Roger Simmons, superintendent of public works; and Brandon Kerney, license inspector. MELINDA J. OVERSTREET / GLASGOW NEWS 1
From there, a series of more than 30 municipal orders were read and approved appointing several city staff members, who were then sworn in individually or in a small group, and appointing council members to a variety of positions on boards, commissions and committees, all of which were unanimously approved. The complete list is below.
Royse had also provided, in accordance with a 2016 resolution requiring that he do so with at least two weeks’ notice before a vote, the names of individuals from the community he proposes to appoint or reappoint to the Glasgow Electric Plant Board (Troy Stephens, reappointment, and Robert Oliver, new appointment) and Plaza Theatre Advisory Board (Holly Alexander, Cody Meek and Jerry Ralston, all of whom are reappointments, and Jessica Wells, new appointment).
With zero discussion from the nine council members, all of whom were present, and another unanimous vote, first reading of an ordinance changing the group’s meeting time from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. — still on the second and fourth Mondays of each month – was approved. A second reading must also gain approval and the ordinance setting the change to the original ordinance must then be published before the change would take effect, so the next regular meeting is still scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 23.
No other business items required a vote; however, it was noted that the council had been provided with notice that an executive order had been signed approving the Glasgow Police Department’s Standard Operating Procedure regarding state and federal criminal history databases and notice that an earlier executive order from the prior mayor declaring a state of emergency with regard to winter weather during the penultimate week of December had expired.
Royse announced that the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day program is set to take place in front of the Barren County Courthouse at noon Jan. 16, followed by a walk to First Baptist Church, 611 S. Lewis St., and a service at the church. Also, in observance of the holiday, city offices will be closed and services suspended that day, with that day’s garbage and recycling pickup to occur Jan. 17 instead.
PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS
Mona Simmons, city clerk
Rich Alexander, city attorney
Maddie Griffin, finance officer
Stephanie Garrett, city treasurer
Brandon Kerney, license inspector
Roger Simmons, superintendent of public works
Lincoln Bell, city engineer
William Rock, fire chief
Jennifer Arbogast, police chief
Garland Gilliam, emergency management director
Marcus Thurman and Anita May, deputy emergency management directors
COUNCIL MEMBER APPOINTMENTS
Council Committees
Finance: Terry Bunnell, Chasity Lowery, Freddie Norris and Marlin Witcher
Infrastructure: Patrick Gaunce, Marna Kirkpatrick, Norris and Witcher
Planning and Development, also known as Parks and Recreation: Bunnell, Gaunce, Lowery and Norris
Public Safety: James Neal, Gaunce, Norris and Witcher
Strategic Planning: Kirkpatrick, Bunnell, Neal and Witcher
Other Committees, Boards and Commissions
James Neal: Annexation Committee and Glasgow/Barren County Animal Shelter Board of Directors
Freddie Norris: Annexation Committee and
Terry Bunnell: Barren County Economic Authority Board of Directors and Glasgow Economic Development Loan Fund Board of Directors
Patrick Gaunce: Community Relief Fund of Glasgow-Barren County Board of Directors
Joe Trigg: Community Relief Fund of Glasgow-Barren County Board of Directors and Veterans Wall of Honor Standing Committee
Chasity Lowery: Glasgow Electric Plant Board and Plaza Theatre Advisory Board
Marna Kirkpatrick: Glasgow-Barren County Salvation Army Service Unit Committee, Renaissance Steering Committee, and Glasgow Water and Sewer Commission
Max Marion: Plaza Theatre Advisory Board and Barren-Metcalfe County Emergency Communications Center 911 Governing Board
Marlin Witcher: Veterans Wall of Honor Standing Committee
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