Bourbon Approves Grants For Businesses
August 9, 2017 at 3:48 p.m.
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Thanks to an incentive program, two downtown buildings will get a facelift. Jeff and Jane Fuller requested $2,500 for renovations to their building at 202 N. Main St.
Jane Fuller said they are considering opening an antique and collectible business. They presented estimates for the work to the council. According to Jeff Fuller, they have been promised by the contractor on the project it will be completed by the fall. Once the work is completed and proper receipts have been submitted, the $2,500 incentive can be released to the Fullers.
The Bourbon Investment Group also received approval for partial funding for work at their buildings at 202 N. Main and 114 S. Main. The work at the North Main site will include new doors and paint on everything that is wood on the exterior. The laundromat proposed at the South Main location will have an alcove and all-glass front. The work should be completed within six months.
They were awarded $2,500 for each project.
The owners asked if there could be a guarantee that water rates would not be increased. Town attorney Mark Wagner explained that rates are based on
The Bourbon Fire Department received a donation of $188,611 from a trust of the late Charles and Glendora Compton. Wagner and town clerk-treasurer Kim Berger said they have been working for several months to provide information needed to verify certain aspects of the trust that was established some 20 years ago.
Fire Chief Brandon Chapman requested monies for a gear washer for the equipment. The request had been brought up at prior meetings. There also was discussion around installing a ventilation system. Approval to move ahead on the requests was granted.
However, things became tense when Chapman said there is a communication problem between the council and his department. He indicated that there was confusion internally, saying one volunteer had walked out of a meeting and two others are leaving at the end of the year.
Chapman said, “I feel like no one took me seriously.”
He then exchanged words with Council President Les McFarland over billing to the truck stop in the town. The truck stop owners requested that the fire department bring water to the station to aid in tank placement. Chapman said they used three trucks and eight volunteers over a four-hour period.
The cost that McFarland said they agreed on was $1,000; however, only $850 was received. Chapman said he used a formula for water usage to arrive at the $850 figure.
Chapman said he was called at work over the request and he tried to work it in. McFarland asked if Chapman had told them it was a bad time to discuss it. McFarland said he was trying to offer them a way to make money and the funds received were split 50-50. McFarland said he wanted respect for the council’s decisions.
In other matters, an audience member, only identified as Linda, asked about the rules for golf carts usage on the streets. She shared her concerns about young children driving them.
Wagner said the golf carts need to be registered through the clerk’s office and be operated by a person with a valid driver’s license.
Discussion continued about golf carts being prohibited on a state highway. Linda said there is no way for those in her area to get to the town since the alleys have been fenced and gardens planted.
The council members assured her they would look into whether the alleys had been vacated and take steps if necessary.
A representative from JPR sought approval from the council to begin developing plans and bid documents for application for the Community Crossings grant. The project would include asphalt work. The representative said the cost would be $16,400 for their work. It was approved unanimously.
He also made a request for engineering of $18,000 for the Dollar General sanitary sewer connection. The entire project has been estimated at $70,000.
During the meeting, there was also discussion about putting the parcel into a tax increment finance district to assist in future development. The parcel will not be in the Dollar General name since they will only be holding a 30-year lease. It was suggested that the current owners could be contacted.
The sewer work project would include provisions for adding three parcels for future development.
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Thanks to an incentive program, two downtown buildings will get a facelift. Jeff and Jane Fuller requested $2,500 for renovations to their building at 202 N. Main St.
Jane Fuller said they are considering opening an antique and collectible business. They presented estimates for the work to the council. According to Jeff Fuller, they have been promised by the contractor on the project it will be completed by the fall. Once the work is completed and proper receipts have been submitted, the $2,500 incentive can be released to the Fullers.
The Bourbon Investment Group also received approval for partial funding for work at their buildings at 202 N. Main and 114 S. Main. The work at the North Main site will include new doors and paint on everything that is wood on the exterior. The laundromat proposed at the South Main location will have an alcove and all-glass front. The work should be completed within six months.
They were awarded $2,500 for each project.
The owners asked if there could be a guarantee that water rates would not be increased. Town attorney Mark Wagner explained that rates are based on
The Bourbon Fire Department received a donation of $188,611 from a trust of the late Charles and Glendora Compton. Wagner and town clerk-treasurer Kim Berger said they have been working for several months to provide information needed to verify certain aspects of the trust that was established some 20 years ago.
Fire Chief Brandon Chapman requested monies for a gear washer for the equipment. The request had been brought up at prior meetings. There also was discussion around installing a ventilation system. Approval to move ahead on the requests was granted.
However, things became tense when Chapman said there is a communication problem between the council and his department. He indicated that there was confusion internally, saying one volunteer had walked out of a meeting and two others are leaving at the end of the year.
Chapman said, “I feel like no one took me seriously.”
He then exchanged words with Council President Les McFarland over billing to the truck stop in the town. The truck stop owners requested that the fire department bring water to the station to aid in tank placement. Chapman said they used three trucks and eight volunteers over a four-hour period.
The cost that McFarland said they agreed on was $1,000; however, only $850 was received. Chapman said he used a formula for water usage to arrive at the $850 figure.
Chapman said he was called at work over the request and he tried to work it in. McFarland asked if Chapman had told them it was a bad time to discuss it. McFarland said he was trying to offer them a way to make money and the funds received were split 50-50. McFarland said he wanted respect for the council’s decisions.
In other matters, an audience member, only identified as Linda, asked about the rules for golf carts usage on the streets. She shared her concerns about young children driving them.
Wagner said the golf carts need to be registered through the clerk’s office and be operated by a person with a valid driver’s license.
Discussion continued about golf carts being prohibited on a state highway. Linda said there is no way for those in her area to get to the town since the alleys have been fenced and gardens planted.
The council members assured her they would look into whether the alleys had been vacated and take steps if necessary.
A representative from JPR sought approval from the council to begin developing plans and bid documents for application for the Community Crossings grant. The project would include asphalt work. The representative said the cost would be $16,400 for their work. It was approved unanimously.
He also made a request for engineering of $18,000 for the Dollar General sanitary sewer connection. The entire project has been estimated at $70,000.
During the meeting, there was also discussion about putting the parcel into a tax increment finance district to assist in future development. The parcel will not be in the Dollar General name since they will only be holding a 30-year lease. It was suggested that the current owners could be contacted.
The sewer work project would include provisions for adding three parcels for future development.
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