By GAGE WILSON
for Glasgow News 1
The Cave City City Council March meeting Monday visited discussions ranging from the establishment of an entertainment district for the city’s downtown to law enforcement equipment replacement grants. With all members present the meeting was called to order, with one notable absence, that of Craig Thomas, CEO of RBS design Group, who was on the agenda to keep the community abreast of the Cave City Boys and Girls Club’s progress.
The absence of Thomas was chalked up to miscommunication on the date that he would be addressing the council, but through the efforts of his staff, Mayor Dwayne Hatcher received a statement from Thomas. “All consulting is finished, except for the structural engineer. Drawings have all been updated, and if the structural engineer responds early next week then everything should be ready for bidding next week,” Hatcher read.
Hatcher added that this comes after a meeting with club CEO Mallie Boston, and RBS. He turned the floor to Barren River Area Development District representative Matt Pedigo, who said that before funding could be released a building inspector would have to go over the plans to issue a permit. This would need to take place before the project could be put up to bid.
Councilwoman Leticia Cline asked Pedigo for clarification on matching funds outlined in the Community Development Block Grant, which is up to $750,000. Pedigo pointed out that the club’s matching funds could be less depending on, “How the estimates come back.”
Hatcher went on to say that after some “severe misunderstandings” Thomas took the project under his direct supervision. “We’ve been moving pretty swiftly with this since he took it over, so that’s where we’re at,” he said.
Brandon Wright, who also holds a place on the city’s public safety committee speaks to the council on getting new surveillance equipment for the police department. Gage Wilson/ for Glasgow News 1
A continued item for discussion came from the council’s committee reports with Councilman Brand Wright bringing to the council’s attention the matter of police body and dash cameras. The cameras have been a regular item on the council’s agendas.
Wright asked Cline to tell about what they have learned. Cline said they have been in contact with AXON, a tech company specializing in law enforcement armaments.
“We’ve been talking about this since the last time I was on the council,” she said. “And, great news, it’s better than I thought it was going to be.” She said that after speaking to a representative from AXON the company was willing to offer a five-year contract in which the city’s police force would receive body and dash cameras as well as new taser’s for $49,525 per year.
Cline said with a payment of $1,000 to AXON the city could expedite the acquisition of the equipment, however, this would null the approval of a grant through U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie’s office. That grant would pay for these upgrades, the approval or denial of which would be known by June. The city has also been exploring a similar five-year contract with Motorola for around $160,000 in total costs for body and dash cams.
Cline pointed out that this deal did not also include tasers, which she was told need to be replaced every five years, to which police chief Paul Reynolds responded that this replacement is a suggestion and not state law. He said that, “I would suggest that, too, if I sold them.”
Hatcher was mostly quiet during the discussion with one stand out moment in which he expressed his distaste for doing anything before the grants finalization. “With what we have been assured, this would be a slap in the face to them [Guthrie’s Office]. I don’t know that if we go this route that I would ask them for anything again.”
Councilwoman Beverly Ford expressed her skepticism on the likelihood of the grant’s approval. “With what the government is saying on whether you get that grant, it’s not likely,” she said.
Hatcher asked Wright if he believes the congressman’s office is just, “feeding them a line.”
“I believe they’re telling you what they think,” Wright said.
Councilman Clifton Parsley took a more conservative approach saying that since the grants status would be known to the council within a couple of months, a wait-and-see approach may be more prudent. After some discussion council members unanimously agreed to this, with the stipulation that this discussion would take the lead for June’s agenda.
The proposed entertainment district brought forward by Leticia Cline, owner of Ace Coffee Co. Gage Wilson/ for Glasgow News 1
The council also continued its discussion on the establishment of an entertainment district throughout downtown. This discussion, brought to the council’s attention by Cline at the February meeting, would allow patrons of downtown businesses to travel throughout the district with alcoholic beverages without legal repercussions. Cline also pointed to the advantages for festivals and events held within the district, easing restrictions and hurdles normally placed.
With several other business owners present, no dissenting arguments were heard, and the council [excluding Cline] voted to advertise the district’s inception as the proper documentation will take around a month to complete.
The council looked at mowing bids for the Interstate 65 interchange within the city. The contract went to MCS Lawn Care as they were the only ones to apply. The contract runs for eight “cycles” costing $3,375 per mowing session. Hatcher explained that due to the steep embankments and valleys that mowers contend with, this area could not be cared for with conventional lawn care equipment, requiring more attention and more specialized tools.
The next regular meeting scheduled for April 14.
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