Bourbon Council Hears Reports On Summerfest, Car & Tractor Shows
Posted
Carol Anders-
BOURBON – Bourbon Town Council heard some details Tuesday of the annual Summerfest activities, car show and tractor show from Lonnie Berkey.
Berkey has held the car show for 32 years and headed up the Summerfest this year as well. Berkey said he had 30 volunteers working during the event that allowed several local groups to raise funds.
According to Berkey, there were 190 cars in the show and the profits from the entries allowed every food bank in Bourbon to receive $85. Additionally, a tractor show that was organized in only two weeks attracted 93 tractors.
Berkey said he’d like to continue with the event and asked to reserve the park pavilion for the second week in August next year. He said, “We try to make a difference. I’m about a successful event.”
Berkey said there has been some discussion as to whether the school’s practice football field can be used for set-up in the future since new rulings affecting how the grounds need to be watered could make it unsuitable.
Board members shared their appreciation for the cleanup efforts following the event. Berkey said, “I walked the whole parking lots with buckets the next day. I wanted to leave it better than when I got it.”
The board also shared their appreciation for the fire department’s help in holding fireworks displays.
Berkey indicated that the money taken in did not fully cover expenses. He said, “It cost me $500 to $600 out of my pocket.” As an example, he said the hot air balloons cost $375 each of the three times they were displayed, plus an extra $100 for extra transportation. He also listed a number of other expenses totaling $2,955.
According to Berkey, comments posted on Facebook have been negative and directed toward a mix-up in the beauty pageant. He said this year’s organizer of the pageant spent $900 of her own money to hold that part of the Summerfest activities.
Following Berkey’s comments, the board voted unanimously to pay $300 for the 2019 event.
In other matters, representatives from Republic Services appeared before the board to request a change in the frequency of pickup for recycling. The board previously entered into a five-year contract with Republic Services.
Peter Callan, municipal account executive, and Cody Humphrey, general manager, both of Republic, asked to change the weekly recycling pickup service to an every other week. Callan explained that China stopped taking the amount of recycling generated in the United States due to contamination and environmental impact.
Humphrey said Republic had been making a profit of 65 cents per customer and is now losing 24 cents per customer. He said pickup every other week would reduce the use of their trucks on Bourbon streets.
Republic is offering to provide community education for recycling and what items can be recycled. Callan said leaving a crust in a pizza box results in contamination of an entire load. When contamination occurs, the loads must be placed in landfills. They further indicated that they would provide a second container for households that have more recycling. Prior to any pickup changes, the company would provide customers with calendars to show service dates.
Town attorney Mark Wagner questioned if the contract could be changed. He said, “It’s hard to alter a contract because one party doesn’t like it anymore.” He said one option could be to terminate the contract.
The board tabled the matter to give Wagner time to research the matter further.
The board approved the purchase of a new utility truck for the wastewater and water department. According to Steve Stacy, superintendent, the replacement truck has been in the five-year budget plan. The purchase price for an extended cab vehicle is $33,833 and a bed, $11,632. According to Stacy, some equipment can be used from the existing 2001 truck being used and a snow plow will need to be added at some point.
Stacy also requested new fencing for around the water tower at a cost of $3,730 plus some pole replacements. The board approved it.
