Carrollton City Council | March 13, 2013 issue

CFD wins state grant

The Carrollton Fire Department received a $6,400 matching grant for a new thermal imaging camera from the Kentucky Fire Commission. It is a 50/50 matching grant, meaning $3,200 will come from the state and $3,200 from the city budget.
Fire Chief Greg Beck said council has not set aside this amount for the grant. He asked that the city pull from the $40,000 it had earmarked for the fire truck grant from the carryover funds because he did not think the city would receive the truck grant this year.
Beck said the lowest quote he received was $7,900 from Fire Department Service and Supply of Louisville for an MSA thermal imaging camera. The quote also includes a three-hour training class for the firefighters. Beck said the amount not covered by the grant will be taken from the miscellaneous funds.
Council unanimously approved the motion. Councilman Robb Adams said this is a huge piece of equipment for the city fire department to acquire and the city is getting it at a very good price.

EIP funds awarded

Council approved an Enterprise Incentive Program façade grant for $2,367 for Lizzy B. Goods, owned by Phillip Troxell. It is a 50/50 matching grant, meaning the city is paying half of the $4,735 total. The money will be used to install new windows on the east side of the building and paint the entire building.
Before the money was approved, the council members looked over the plans for the business and discussed amongst themselves.
Councilwoman Ann Deatherage encouraged everyone to go down and welcome the new businesses downtown and ask them if there is anything the city can do to help.
Mayor Gene McMurry said there has been some concern about the current EIP program, and councilmembers Mike Gordon, Robb Adams and Dwight Louden are working on revising it. He is looking forward to a new version of the program soon.

Campground activities for summer approved

Council approved a list of extracurricular activities for campers at the Two Rivers Campground, compiled by soon-to-be seasonal employee Billie Branham. She was one of the temporary workers at the campground last season and will be hired as the new campground manager soon.
The list includes children’s activities, such as face painting, t-shirt tie-dying and holiday-themed games. It also included a list of suggested two-for-one special weekends. However, council opted not to have any special rate weekends, except for Derby weekend because it was already approved last year.
Council also decided not to spend more than $200 on campground activities until July 1, when the new fiscal year begins. It also was agreed that any bands or activities that would benefit the entire community should be held at Point Park. Council approved Branham’s list with the noted changes.

City to attempt to get EIP money back

City Attorney Ed James has sent a letter to Steve Buchanan informing him that he owes the city money. Buchanan received $2,400 in Enterprise Incentive Program funds in 2011 for his business, Tea Shop, located at 408 Main Street.
Mayor Gene McMurry said Buchanan used the funds per his scope of work to remove the broken glass front and replace it with decorative stones, but he never opened his business. He recently sold the building to John Cox, which forces him to re-pay the grant money.
McMurry said if they do not receive the money voluntarily, the city will take legal action.