By MELINDA J. OVERSTREET
for Glasgow News 1
With options for the city’s approach to its property along the 100 block of West Main Street are still under development by an engineering firm, other steps related to it have been taking place in the meantime.
Jim McGowan, superintendent of the Glasgow Department of Public Works advised the Glasgow Common Council Infrastructure Committee on Monday that the Barren County Fiscal Court had approved the transfer of an adjacent portion of property it owned between the city’s parcel and the county attorney’s office.
The primary purpose for the city’s acceptance of the property as a donation from former Councilman Patrick Gaunce was to gain access to the retaining wall along the back side of the lot, as it holds in place the ground underneath a city-owned parking lot between Commerce Plaza and the Mitchell Terry Building. The wall, including the part that is along that county property to be transferred, is in need of work to ensure it can continue to meet its purpose.
“I actually met with [Deputy Judge-Executive] Garland Gilliam and the surveyor on that property,” McGowan said, adding that they were trying to be sure about what would be conveyed, and they were working on preparing a deed for the transfer.
The engineering firm Qk4 has been assessing the condition of the structure, and McGowan told Glasgow News 1 later that all of the field work for the assessment has been completed, and the company is in the process of preparing its report, which will include multiple design options for how to best make the repairs and whether stairs up to the parking area should be included. He said that report is now expected toward the end of July or first part of August.
The rest of the meeting also consisted primarily of general updates and informational items, with no action items other than approval of minutes and adjournment.
McGowan told the group that the street light along Garmon Avenue they had previously approved has been installed.
Following up on some feedback one of the members had shared with the to panel earlier about a possible speeding problem, McGowan said state transportation officials have reviewed the signage along New Salem Road and found it to be appropriate. He added, though, that they could put one of the city’s new solar-powered mobile “radar” units that displays a vehicle’s speed along with the speed limit to let drivers see how fast they’re going, because it is within the city limits.
He said the Street Division has done some paving on State Avenue and Grandview Avenue, adding that some repairs had to be completed on State, where portions needed to be dug out and replaced. Paving is also scheduled to take place on YMCA Way and a portion of G.L. Comer Road. Some patching has been done there, and the paving will cover those areas, said Wes Billingsley, foreman for the Street Division.
Also, about 300 feet of sidewalk was repaired along East Main Street before the end of the fiscal year, June 30.
A plan being developed to address stormwater issues in the vicinity of Bravo Boulevard is roughly 30 percent done, and some stormwater mapping is also taking place, McGowan said.
Billingsley said the subgrade on the road has already failed once and had to be fixed last year due to water flow and/or erosion.
McGowan said that Bravo Boulevard area, which catches runoff from the Castleridge subdivision uphill and to the west of it, was included in the stormwater master plan the city had done several years ago.
Kirkpatrick asked for some progress updates on some streets within the city that are actually state-maintained, and Royse recapped a few bits in terms of timelines he’s heard that have been previously reported, but he recommended that Kentucky Transportation Cabinet personnel are the better sources for that information.
The voting committee members present were council members Randy Wilkinson, Marna Kirkpatrick and Freddie Norris. Councilman Joe Trigg was absent and had informed city officials he was traveling and wouldn’t be available.
Mayor Henry Royse and City Administrator April Russell attended, as they usually do, and Councilwoman Elizabeth Shoemaker, who is not a member of the committee, was there as well.
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