Fiscal court approves negotiated bid for grain bin training facility
The Henderson Fiscal Court approved a $376,488 bid for a grain bin training facility at Tuesday’s meeting.
The project is being funded by the county government, but will be constructed on City of Henderson land and after construction, the operations and maintenance will be handed over to the city and Henderson Fire Department. The city and the county signed a memorandum of understanding regarding this agreement. Both say the facility will be used to train the county’s volunteer firefighters and HFD firefighters.
HFD Chief Josh Dixon has been handling the negotiations. The fiscal court previously budgeted $300,000 to build the facility.
In late August, Dixon informed fiscal court that a lone bid from local company J&B Mechanical came in at $426,812. Fiscal court agreed then that Dixon should negotiate with the bidder that made the singular bid, which officials at the meeting said is legal both by state statute and county administrative code.
On Tuesday, Dixon said he had worked with J&B Mechanical and the company was agreeable to some changes in the bid. One was to change the design from a 360-degree catwalk to a 180-degree catwalk, and another was to incorporate two observation doors instead of three in the facility, Dixon said. Those changes shaved a bit more than $50,000 from the original bid.
Though still above budget, fiscal court approved it.
“It will still do what we need it to do,” Dixon said.
Previously, Dixon said that there’s a high chance a grain bin rescue operation will occur in the future. Not only would the grain bin training facility allow local firefighters to train, but also those from around the region, officials have said.
In other news:
- Airline Road resident Deirdre McConathy presented to the fiscal court a draft ordinance for battery energy storage systems. McConathy has been working on an ordinance that could replace the county’s current ordinance with one with greater protections since the fiscal court extended a BESS moratorium from one to two years earlier this year. McConathy said she has conferred with County Attorney Steve Gold, Henderson City-County Planning Commission Executive Director Brian Bishop and an attorney out of Atlanta, R.A. Gordon in drafting this ordinance. She said she hopes that her version can be sent to the planning commission to hold a public hearing and subsequent recommendation to the fiscal court for adoption.
“I think the court for your efforts that has led us to this point,” McConathy said.
City commission hears about golf carts on city streets
The Henderson City Commission heard recommendations for an ordinance that would allow driving golf carts on city streets provided operators follow certain guidelines.
Here are some of the points Henderson Police Department Chief Billy Bolin presented:
• Driving golf carts would be limited to city streets with speed limits of less than 30 miles per hour, and an operator would not be able to cross a street with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or more, said Henderson Police Department Chief Billy Bolin.
That would mean, for example, a person driving a golf cart would not be able to cross Green Street or drive from Balmoral to downtown Henderson.
• Golf cart use would be allowed on two walking trails—one located along Wathen Lane and the Merrill Way shared-use walking and bicycle trail.
• Golf carts would not be allowed on interstate, federal or state highways, parkways or other roadways under the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
• Golf carts must be inspected by the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and certified through the Department of Vehicle Regulation. Cost is $5 if inspection is at the sheriff’s office and $15 is the certified inspector needs to go to the site of the golf cart.
• Golf cart operators shall provide the proof of inspection document issued by the sheriff’s office to the city’s Finance Department in order to obtain a sticker that identifies that the golf cart is allowed to be operated on allowed city roads.
• Owners of golf carts that are driven on designated city roads must obtain insurance.
• A slow-moving emblem must be displayed on the back of the golf cart.
• Operators must hold a valid driver’s license in their possession.
• Golf carts are subject to traffic regulations
There was some discussion about implementing a curfew for drivers of golf carts. For instance, Mayor Brad Staton was concerned about golf carts on streets along with drivers who are out after 10 p.m.
Staton also asked that Bolin check with other jurisdictions about how they have handled golf cart parking.
Flock camera meeting
The City of Henderson will host a meeting to hear comments about Flock cameras in the community. It will be at 5:30 p.m., Oct. 13, at the Municipal Services Center building at 1449 Corporate Court.
On the night of the meeting, the first 20 people to sign in favor of Flock and the first 20 people who sign up against Flock will be given three minutes to speak.
Additionally, residents who want to give their opinions can also do so on an online form on the city’s website. It’s open now and will remain open until Nov. 13. Residents that want to give their opinions, can do so here.
