Following a delay at the last board meeting, it is now full steam ahead for the new Aquatic Center in TPA Park after the Frankfort City Council voted 6-0 Monday night to approve an additional appropriation on second and third readings.
“The council voted unanimously tonight because Councilman (Lewis) Wheeler was not in attendance at our meeting this evening,” said Mayor Chris McBarnes. “Now, we can move forward with design specification to build our new Aquatic Center. It’s so very important we get going on this now so we can get this Aquatic Center open by Memorial Day 2021.”
At the last meeting on September 9, the council was hoping to pass this same appropriation on all three readings. However, they didn’t get the needed unanimous vote needed thus delaying the project.
During that meeting, Wheeler said he was not comfortable doing this basically because he couldn’t discuss it with his constituents, which forced the council to go to a second reading.
The current cost of the Aquatic Center is $8.7 million.
In other news, the council also approved the alcohol ordinance for Prairie Creek Park and the Neighhorhood Center by a 5-1 vote. Councilman David Hussey cast the lone ‘no’ vote.
“There is an extensive application process that will have to be gone through by any group that wants to serve alcohol as part of an event,” said McBarnes.
McBarnes added people will need proper insurance at Prairie Creek Park, keep the alcohol confined to the beer garden area so that it does not intermingle with others in the park, and, in certain cases, will have to hire off-duty police officers for security. All of this will have to come before the Board of Works for passage.
“The (permits) will be granted on a case-by-case basis,” said McBarnes.
The council also approved a resolution involving the real property at 16 N. Main St. in downtown Frankfort, which is where the old Utility Billing Office was located before it moved to the Frankfort Plaza on the east side of town.
This has been a spirited discussion at the last Utility Service Board meeting.
“I think we’re OK (with this),” said USB Chairman Mike Kelley. “It’s a community property that belongs to the city. It’s needed for Healthy Communities. Actually, we’ve accelerated our evacuation of the building and we’ve put our stuff in storage in a place a little closer to our current billing office. I think it’ll be a good thing for us.”
Under new business, the council had discussions on a USB appointment and downtown parking.
As far as the USB opening is concerned, Councilman Jim Moyer said the committee in charge of this process would meet the deadline of September 30. He said they need to get application deadlines set and added he wasn’t sure when that would be done.
“My understanding is that the current board member (Rick Gunyon) will continue until we get a replacement chosen,” said Moyer.
On the subject of downtown parking, there have been numerous complaints by business owners of city and county personnel parking around the downtown square. Those who visit downtown currently have three hours to do their business. There were statements made about going back to two hours, one hour or possibly going to parking meters, which was viewed as a last resort.