Council discusses paving projects, material bids

Carrollton City Council held required public hearings on Municipal Street Aide and Local Government Economic Assistance funds and then pushed through a routine regular agenda at its meeting on Monday night.

No one attended or presented comment at either public hearing, as is often the case, and the council members saw only one guest, Matthew Sabin, manager at nearby General Butler State Resort Park, attend the regular portion of the meeting.

Sabin was on hand to provide an update on the park and to inform the city and local residents that a road repair project is slated to begin at Butler on May 1 and continue for at least two weeks weather permitting. The goal is to repave roads and parking lots throughout the park including work to widen some of the hairpin curves on the steep and winding back side of the property. Guardrail replacement and installation will be included in the scope of work, which is scheduled to run through June 1 if needed with work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Sabin said the road work on the “front” U.S. 227 side of the park will likely go quickly because the challenges for pavers are fewer there, but the steep hills and winding curves on the “back” side will take much longer to complete.

In other business, the council discussed several issues pertaining to the city’s road maintenance needs including opening and awarding of bids for rock, sand and rip rap to Nugent Sand Inc., at bids only a few cents higher than last year and bids for paving to Hinkle Contracting Inc., also at bids only slightly higher than 2023. The two local companies were the only bidders.

Mayor Robb Adams provided a report on a project to repave the basketball court at the city’s Point Park, noting that the court is currently being torn out before being rebuilt in the same site. He said the project calls for a base layer followed by a surface finish. The court will then be allowed to cure for a couple of weeks before the surface is inspected and then re-striped if the finish is considered up to par.

The council members also discussed ways to deal with a gravel road at Point Park that runs from west of the pickleball courts south toward the city campground. The issue is that vehicles using the road for access to the campground or to drive closer to picnic and fishing areas under the Kentucky River Bridge are stirring up dust for patrons using the pickleball courts and other park facilities in the area.

According to Adams, the best option for getting rid of the dust is paving the road with base coat asphalt much like what is used on the city’s alleys. He said it is estimated that basic paving would cost about $19,000 for the project.

Adams said there are other materials that could be utilized to settle the dusty conditions such as a liquid “environmentally friendly” surface application similar to what was used in the parking areas of the now closed Kentucky Speedway. However, the material needed is expensive to buy and not an item that local contractors keep in stock. The city would have to purchase an entire tanker of the material and store about half of that until it is needed.

In other business:

• Carrollton’s city-sponsored cleanup day is scheduled for June 1 from 8 a.m. to noon. Dumpsters will be located near the intersection of Second Street and Highland Avenue and Public Works Department employees will be on hand with a backhoe to assisting with unloading.

There are restrictions on disposal of some items including paint, solvents, grease, oil and chemicals among others. Tire disposal will be limited to eight per household and mattresses, couches and chairs must be bagged.

Those using the service should be prepared to show a local driver’s license, utility bill or other form of identification as proof of residency. A complete list of guidelines is available on the city’s Facebook page.

• Agreed to freshen up faded yellow paint in a restricted parking zone at Sixth Street and Highland Avenue rather than make the entire area near First National Bank a no parking zone.

• Adams reported that the city’s annual Fourth of July Fireworks show has been scheduled for Saturday, July 6, with a rain date on Saturday, July 13.