Park Repairs
Ella Lee Wilson, Betty Tucker, Scottie Martin, and seated in front is Sue Atwell who were all in attendance to ask for repairs to the historic part of the Sulphur Well Park. Photo | PJ Martin
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
The Metcalfe County Fiscal Court met in a regular session on Thursday, September 12th with all magistrates present.
The minutes from the August 23rd meeting were approved with motions being made by Magistrates Ronnie Miller and Daniel Bragg.
Sue Atwell, Ella Lee Wilson, Betty Tucker, and Scottie Martin were in attendance to talk to the court about the older historical portion of Sulphur Well Park needing repairs.
Atwell explained, “We’re just concerned about our park. The old park! It’s just falling apart and there’s nothing been done there for, I don’t know how many years…but we don’t want our original park destroyed and that’s what’s happening.”
Judge/Executive Larry Wilson said, “I know that’s on the historic register.” He then talked about the picnic shelter there saying the back part (maybe 6 feet) needed to be torn down and the rest repaired. “What do you all really want to see?”
Atwell explained, “We just want to see things repaired. There’re planks out of the bridge, the little bridge that goes across. And then the back of that (picnic shelter) is in really bad shape. We would like for it to stay there, what’s there, we would like for it to stay there. Not be torn down, just repaired. It needs a renovation, is what it needs.”
“And there’s some land up there, on the other side, where you go across the bridge on the left, where that house used to be. Part of that land belongs to the park.”
Wilson said he wasn’t aware of the land. Atwell said it had been left to grow up and needed cleaning back up, because it didn’t belong to the house. She also noted that the steps had no guardrail and needed one for safety.
“Our parks, not just that one, all of them have been neglected…,” said Wilson. “What you’re talking about at Sulphur Well, it’s not a huge expense…”
The damaged roof on the new building at the park was questioned and Wilson answered that the insurance has come back on it and it should be repaired soon. One of the ladies pointed out that the walking trail needs more lighting also.
Wilson proposed sending a county maintenance guy to the park and that he would go also. They could make a list of everything that needs to be done while there. He also told the people in attendance that the magistrates voted at the last meeting to move the gazebo from the courthouse yard to the park immediately after the Pumpkin Festival.
The magistrates and judge agreed that the park would be repaired.
Ella Lee Wilson and Betty Tucker both stated that a lot of people spend time at the older section of the park while they are waiting to get into the Lighthouse Restaurant and that they want the park to look nice.
Financials
The August Financial Statement was read by the magistrates and after a couple of simple questions, Magistrate Kevin Crain made the motion to accept which was seconded by Magistrate Bragg. The motion was approved.
The motion to approve the budget transfers was made by Bragg and seconded by Miller.
Claims were next, Treasurer Page Edwards explained, “We had some larger payments…” referring to the quarterly payments of $34,890.25 to the Barren River District Health (health dept.) and the payment of $29,748.90 to the Barren-Metcalfe Ambulance Service.
Other Business
The Recycling Center and Road Department reports were available for questions. Solid Waste Coordinator Kim Jandt stated that she would have a list of the roads and the trash items picked up on each at the next meeting.
With no other business, the meeting adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 9 a.m.
