GLASGOW, Ky. – A portion of land along West Main Street is one vote away from being sold to the Barren County Fiscal Court for the construction of a new judicial center.
The parcel of land is 2.2 acres and will be sold for $225,000. The area is between Water Street and West Main Street. Trabue Street, near the post office along West Main Street, encloses the property’s east side.
Glasgow Mayor Harold “M.D.” Armstrong said he received a message from someone within the judicial system about a year ago, and they indicated the city could receive a new judicial building.
“We proposed that they put that in their proposal to see if they could get that building built there, and then as a plan, if it worked out, we’d try to market it to them,” Armstrong said.
City Attorney Danny Basil explained the city did not realize when it purchased a larger package of land for $325,000, that it was getting the parcel that they’re now selling.
“When this was purchased, I don’t think the city realized they were getting the part that we’re talking about selling at this point,” Basil said. “Because we’ve continued to write letters to the Bale organization, asking them to mow it, and they wrote back ‘why should we mow it when you own it?’.”
The entrance will originate from West Main Street, Armstrong said.
Armstrong explained the building will be placed near the dentist’s office and convenient store along West Main Street.
“And all that overgrown stuff will be taken out, and basically when you drive down Main Street you can see this nice, new big building right there off of Main Street,” Armstrong said. “I think it will be a plus for that side of town, for sure.”
The council is scheduled to vote again on the land ordinance on May 11 in a special-called meeting.
In other news, the council discussed opening Weldon Park as an additional park for citizens to use the walking trail. Councilman Patrick Gaunce said Frankfort has open parks and green spaces and proposed Glasgow should be no different.
“If you watch the child abuse and the domestic abuse – these kids need somewhere to go out in the park,” Gaunce said.
Gaunce initially said children need a place to go while they’re away from school and at home. He cited child abuse as one danger of children being left at homes without a place to go such as the park.
City Attorney Basil clarified that children cannot play at the parks even if they’re open. The playground equipment and basketball courts must be closed, per the Kentucky League of Cities.
Gaunce said he was not proposing playgrounds and equipment be opened but the green space and walking trail areas.
The mayor plans to consult Glasgow Parks and Recreation Director Eddie Furlong to assess his staff’s ability to “police” the park because that’s something KLC said the city must be able to do if it opens any particular park. Armstrong said he’s visited Beaver Trail Park twice each day, but manpower is something the city doesn’t have.
“We don’t have the manpower to monitor more than Beaver Trail,” Armstrong said. “However, if you open up the grassy area, kids are going to be out there more than 6-foot together – especially if they don’t have supervision.”
The council moved to open Beaver Trail Park and Weldon Park through the week, however KLC must be consulted before Weldon Park is opened. The council proposed opening one park on even days of the week and the other on odd days.
Basil said the dual openings could occur as early as the weekend or next week.
Until that consultation and approval from KLC, Weldon Park cannot be reopened.