By GAGE WILSON
for Glasgow News 1
After years of delays tied to design setbacks and rising construction costs, the Boys and Girls Club of the Caverns project is heading back out to bid.
Barren River Area Development District representative Matt Pedigo told the Cave City Council on Monday that the project will be rebid in January, though no specific dates were provided.
“We don’t have the deadline of submission or anything like that yet,” Pedigo said. “We have been contacted by several contractors that didn’t get a shot last time that want to try this time.” He added that the new advertisement will remain unchanged so bids can be compared “apples to apples.”
The initial bid announcement was made during the council’s October meeting, with openings taking place in November. However, no company was awarded the bid because the quotes came back “considerably over budget,” according to prior reporting.
“The lowest one was about $700,000 over bid,” Pedigo said. “We had 23 firms represented and only four actually bid.”
Pedigo said he’s more optimistic heading into the second round, noting that he and Mayor Dwayne Hatcher have been approached by firms who either didn’t bid or were unable to previously. “There’s nowhere to go but up,” he said.
The council also heard from Wade Copas, director of Bridge KY, a nonprofit serving unhoused or low-income individuals. Though based in Glasgow, Copas said Bridge assists people across Barren County, with an estimated 20 to 30 percent of those served coming from Cave City.
“This proposal outlines a one-year partnership in which the city would commit a portion of its opioid abatement funds to support essential stabilization and recovery-focused services provided through Bridge Kentucky,” read a letter submitted to the council.
Hatcher told members that similar agreements have already been made with BRADD’s Anchor Project and the Glasgow-based Community Partners for Recovery. Cave City’s opioid abatement fund currently stands at around $47,000—a restricted pool of money that can be used only for specific types of projects, which Hatcher said Bridge’s work meets.
Ultimately, the council agreed to allocate $10,000 from that fund to Bridge, with the amount to be reviewed annually.
“We appreciate your vote of confidence and your support,” Copas said. “It helps continue and furthers our mission.”
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