Horse Cave City Council – Splash Pad Discussions
Chris Summers, President of the Kiwanis Club of Caverna, addressed the Council regarding the desire to coordinate projects for splash pads in both Horse Cave and Cave City.
Katrina England
Reporter
Hart Co. News-Herald
The City Council of Horse Cave met in regular session on Monday, January 13, at the Horse Cave City Hall.
In attendance were Council Members Velpha Hatchett, Larry Bunch, John Buckingham, Vickie Rogers, Mandy Hatcher, and Randy Russell.
Special Guest
Chris Summers, President of the Kiwanis Club of Caverna, addressed the Council regarding the desire to coordinate projects for splash pads in both Horse Cave and Cave City.
The Kiwanis Club of Caverna was chartered in 2018 as part of Kiwanis International.
“Our mission is very simple,” said Summers. “We do service projects that benefit the youth of the communities of Cave City and Horse Cave. That’s it. We have no other mission.”
Summers then explained that after seeing the simple fun that children had playing on the splash pad at the Hot Rods game, he got the idea to bring the experience to our local communities.
“Our goal is that we want to do the fundraising,” said Summers. “We want to handle all the gathering of the money. We have corporate entities that are interested in being part of it once they see a plan that’s going to go on to fruition. Our goal is to put one in Cave City and one in Horse Cave.”
The endeavor would be a partnership between the city and the Kiwanis Club. The city would be responsible for the property and the maintenance.
“Location is something we would have to discuss with you guys,” said Summers. “You know your property better than we do… We’d obviously have to work with utilities, and Green River Valley, and try to make sure all those pieces are put together.”
The total cost of the project is estimated to be $100,000.00, and the space will take up less than an acre.
“We live in a community where there are very few recreational opportunities for our youth,” said Summers. “It’s good for tourists and locals alike. We think the location needs to be somewhere that’s walkable for the average youth, but it’s a simple enough location too that if a tourist comes into town and is looking for something for kids to do on a hot summer afternoon, there’s an option.”
Mayor Curry created a committee composed of Councilmembers Vickie Rogers, Mandy Hatcher, and Velpha Hatchett to work with the Kiwanis Club to bring back designs and ideas.
“We’re not scared of raising the money,” said Summers. “We are a small organization in number but we pride ourselves on trying to remind our youth in both communities that just because you’re in a small town, it doesn’t mean you can’t do great things.”
Department Reports
In the Police Report, Chief Heather Childress explained the 329 calls for the month of December, which included 25 accidents, 33 alarms, 6 animal complaints, 26 burglary/theft/shoplifting, 38 domestic abuse, 10 disturbance/fights, 22 civil complaints, 4 abandoned vehicles, 6 EMS/Medical/Fire, 14 welfare checks, 6 noise complaints, 12 juvenile beyond control, 19 mentally ill/suicidal, 9 motorist assists, 27 officer agency assists, 13 traffic hazards, 6 funeral escorts, 28 suspicious vehicles/persons/incidents, 29 terroristic threats, 49 911 hangup/unverified 911 calls, and 14 warrants.
The total yearly run volume was 4,580, which Childress said was an increase from last year, but otherwise similar to the pre-Covid average. Childress also expressed gratitude for the maintenance department for their work during January’s winter weather.
In the absence of Fire Chief Mason Michael, who was at work, Velpha Hatchett presented the Fire Department Report, which included 35 medical runs, 5 vehicle accidents with injuries, 5 fires, 5 fire alarms, a gas emergency, and 2 additional runs, for a total of 53 runs.
In the Public Works Report, Randy Russell reported on 4 grave openings, limb clean-up, and 2 runs with snow and ice. Russell explained that salt is low, but more has been ordered within a couple of days. He also reported that all new equipment is working well.
The Council also approved:
-The Financial Report;
-Reappointing Joy Bennett and Jesse Sims to serve 3-year terms as Architectural Review Board Members;
-Reappointing Paul Wilson to the Hart County 109 Board as the Horse Csve representative for a two-year term;
-Appointing Teddy Church to the Horse Cave Housing Authority Board for a two-year term; and
-The transfer of the Ford F450 truck and chipper from Hart County Solid Waste to the City of Horse Cave.
