The Caldwell County Fiscal Court has approved a bid for clean-up of two creeks affected by the May 2024 tornado and declared the old Health Department property on Hawthorne Street as surplus.
During Tuesday morning’s meeting, Judge Executive Kota Young recommended approving the low bid from Charles Watson Excavating for over $126,000 for the Natural Resources Conservation Service Emergency Watershed Program clean-up project of the Skinframe and Livingston creeks.
click to download audioYoung pointed out that state matching funds will cover the expenses, so there is no cost to local taxpayers.
District 4 Magistrate Jeff Simms thanked District 2 Magistrate Jeff Boone for his efforts in coordinating with various agencies over the past year, with Boone acknowledging the challenge of not receiving reasonable bids for the other sites.
click to download audioBoone added that the clean-up work can only occur over a few months and only when the Natural Resources Conservation Service is present on site.
click to download audioThe bid passed with a 4-0 vote, as District 1 Magistrate Elbert Bennett was absent from the meeting.
In other business, magistrates approved declaring the old Health Department property as surplus with a minimum bid of $15,000 after postponing the decision at the previous meeting to explore other avenues.
Judge Young said Watson Excavating estimated demolition of the building and parking lot would cost about $11,000.
During the discussion, Boone said he didn’t see any benefit of putting “another penny” into the property, and Simms agreed.
Boone asked District 3 Magistrate Brent Stallins for his opinion on demolition, and Stallins reiterated that his main concern with declaring the property surplus is the county’s ongoing housing crisis.
click to download audioSimms said their role in the scenario is to free up the real estate for development to happen, noting that the county continues to pay for the upkeep of the building and lawn maintenance. He recommended declaring the property surplus so a developer can move forward with the site, with Young adding they can make it clear that the building currently sits on four lots.
click to download audioIn additional business, magistrates approved the second reading of an ordinance setting penalties for burn ban violations, as well as a $383,400 budget amendment for fiscal year 2025, reflecting funding from three grants.
WPKY’s News Edge will share more from the fiscal court meeting in the days ahead.
