"The public seems to be very satisfied and very comfortable with (5:30 p.m.) regular meeting dates," said Mayor Ed Burtner. "I do think having work session at 4 p.m. has been very beneficial."
In other business,
- The commission approved an application for a grant from the 2008 state Transportation Enhancement Program to fund revitalization efforts on historical Depot Street.
A historic 460-foot drive perpendicular to North Main Street, Depot Street is the last brick street in Winchester and a historic marker of the old train depot, where President Harry S. Truman once visited. It also serves as home to the Clark County Farmers Market.
Winchester First has been undertaking the massive revitalization project for more than a year, hoping the street will provide an outdoor venue for community events and an economic catalyst on the north end of downtown.
The city commission gave Winchester First the go-ahead in January to submit a pre-application for the project. Officials are asking the state to fund more than $900,000 of work and plan to use a $150,000 grant from the state Renaissance on Main program in 2007 to serve as a match on the grant.
- Winchester Fire-EMS Chief Danny Castle reported that the department received a Homeland Security grant to purchase a handheld device that identifies unknown solids, liquids and mixtures that may be encountered by first-responders in the field. Castle said the device will greatly speed up the process of identifying potential dangerous substances with an almost instant analysis. The grant, worth between $40,000 and $60,000, is match-free and will also pay for training, Castle said.
- An update from federal Environmental Protection Agency officials on clean-up efforts at the former Kentucky Wood Preserving facility on Magnolia Street was postponed.
- Winchester Police Capt. Kevin Palmer presented a new Web site for the Winchester Police Department. The site was designed by Nolan McCarty, a student from George Rogers Clark High School. Once a Web address is finalized, Palmer said the department plans to advertise the address with decals on the police cruisers. Commissioners praised McCarty for his work and suggested that the city create an internship position for McCarty to create similar Web site for other city departments.
- Resolutions were passed declaring March as the American Red Cross month and honoring the late Roger Glenn Hurst for his community involvement and help in organizing the Winchester-Clark County Christians Against Drugs.
- A resolution was passed to seek funding to help provide children with safe, accessible means to walk or ride bicycles to school.
- An ordinance was passed authorizing the Board of Adjustments to determine appropriate agricultural uses and establish agricultural related definitions.
- A 31-acres parcel of land north of Revilo Road and west of the CSX railroad was annexed into city boundaries.
- The resignation of Otha Quisenberry from the Winchester Board of Ethics was accepted and Gene Layne was appointed to fill his term.
- The resignations of Teddy Hunt and Jay Faulx, who were firefighters and EMTs, were accepted. The resignations of patient transfer specialists John Felder, Morgan Dodson, Kristy Hagen and Carrie Taylor were accepted.
- Brian Duty, Herbert Wilson Jr., Nicholas Riggs, Michael Dixson and William Appleget were promoted reclassified from firefighter I/EMT to firefighter II/EMT.
- Longevity salary increases were approved.
- A request to hold a spring 5K from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on May 24 was approved.
- Traffic control was approved for the 2008 Heart Walk on April 26.
