By Dennis Brown

A section of Ky. Rt. 8 between Vanceburg and Black Oak remains closed while officials determine what steps to take to make permanent repairs to a section of roadway which failed July 31.

The roadway was closed on that day when workers with the Kentucky Department of Transportation noticed a break in the pavement.

Allen Breed, with the District Nine office, said an embankment failure beneath and just north of the roadway near the railroad tracks was resulting in a slip under the roadway.

DOT workers applied 48 tons of blacktop to the estimated 100 feet of roadway on August 1 and the roadway was temporarily reopened then closed again August 3 after large cracks reappeared.

Engineers were on hand last week to test and evaluate the underlying roadway and school bus routes were adjusted to bypass the closure.

A release from the Kentucky Department of Transportation indicated the roadway could be closed for several weeks until the problem is corrected, although repairs will be made as soon as possible.

Above average rainfall this spring, and over several days prior to the closing, is thought to be a contributing factor in the slip.

Vanceburg City Council met in regular session last week and heard information concerning a proposed fire department/community center for the city.

Buffalo Trace ADD Economic Development Director Kevin Cornette addressed council and reviewed a request for site proposals concerning the project.

Cornette said he had recently attended a meeting in Frankfort concerning the project and said the available grant for the project is a $500,000 maximum amount with no matching funds needed. He explained the city is eligible for full funding because of the percentage of low-to-moderate income residents recorded by the 2000 Census.

Cornette said he estimated the cost of the construction for the facility at about $350,000, leaving about $150,000 for land acquisition, design, appraisal and administrative costs. He said the facility will likely call for three double bays which would accommodate six firetrucks.

He explained that if Vanceburg property owners had suitable land for sale they would make proposals to the city and the proposals would receive points based on various criteria.

Proposals would be scored based on the size and shape of the property, access to the property, cost of the property, site preparation costs and cost of providing utilities to the property.

Cornette said the property, at least 1.5 acres and no more than four acres, must be located in the city limits and must have road access. He said utilities must be available to the site, it must be outside of the 100 year flood plain and must not have any known environmental cleanup issues.

Cornette explained that the property purchase would be voluntary, that the seller would be willingly conveying the property to the city at or below fair market value. He said the city could take an option on the property but could not acquire the property until the grant is approved.

He said an advertisement for a project architect had already been placed, saying that the architect should be on board by the time of site selection.

Proposal packets for interested property owners are available at the city’s administrative offices on Second Street in Vanceburg.

Cornette said the Vanceburg Fire Department has also applied for a grant of $500,000 which could be used in conjunction with the project and the status would be known in the next several weeks. He said, however, that the grant is geared more toward urban fire departments with a full time staff.

Council members discussed possible locations for the project and where fire trucks will be housed. The primary concern is keeping fire equipment located both north and south of CSX railroad tracks in the event of a fire while a train is on the tracks.

Council adopted a resolution authorizing filing for a Community Development Block Grant for the proposed project.

Tammy Cooley, with People’s Self-Help Housing, attended the meeting to present council with a report concerning city-owned apartments which are managed by PSHH. Cooley said $1,000 in excess monies is being turned over to the city with mortgage payments totaling $8,336.20 sent to Kentucky Housing Corporation.

Of the original $427,200 loan at zero percent interest, $74,691.47 has been paid. The loan matures on June 30, 2024.

Council talked briefly about a proposal for city police officers to take cruisers home with them while they are off duty.

Mayor Angie Patton said security of the cruisers is a primary concern and the off duty officers could keep an eye on them while they aren’t in service. Further discussion on the matter was tabled until more information and a review of policies from other cities had been reviewed.

Council authorized a municipal order which establishes the city as a drug free workplace. Patton said a $500 savings would be realized off workers compensation insurance premiums. Patton said a similar policy was already in place and the municipal order was more in line with what insurance carriers were looking for.

Council authorized a request to obtain monthly financial/transaction reports from the city owned utility company for review.

The meeting was recessed until Noon on August 18 when a zoning hearing will take place along with a scheduled second reading of the city’s proposed zoning ordinance.