 Bardwell, the county seat of Carlisle County is experiencing a growth spurt - thanks to a mayor willing to go after state and federal money. The City of Bardwell has recently undergone a drastic makeover, both cosmetically and internally as the city hall and various pipe and infrastructure renovations have been completed or have been in the process of being completed.
However, the citizens of Bardwell, while enjoying the fresh coats of paint, new roofs and improved water system have expressed their concern about the costs to the city for these projects, fearing that these projects would spell out increased tax rates for the citizens of Bardwell.
Having heard those concerns, the Carlisle Weekly sat down with Bardwell Mayor Philip King to address those issues.
Mayor King told the Weekly that the projects that the city has undertaken, as of late have been all funded by grant money and money from the stimulus package. “We are very aggressive in pursuing and taking advantage of all grant opportunities that come our way that will improve the City of Bardwell’s infrastructure for possible future growth
and development,” King said.
In the last three months the City of Bardwell has undergone a great deal of physical change through projects that were funded by grants. Those projects include:
The Sidewalk Project on US Highway 51-
The sidewalk project, which will eventually extend up to the Bardwell Apartments, was funded by a $100,000 grant. $20,000 of that grant was provided in labor and equipment use by the City of Bardwell.
Renovations to the Bardwell City Hall-
Constant flooding issues at the Bardwell City Hall forced the city hall to conduct renovations to redirect water away from the city hall. Those renovations included a new roof and the blocking of the garage doors that were a big source of flooding issues. The funds for that project were covered by a $50,000 grant from the Department of Local Government and a $15,000 check from the Kentucky League of Cities Insurance Company.
State Highway Department Water and Sewage Services-
Over the summer city water and sewage services were extended to the State Highway Department Garage on Highway 62. The project will not only provide water and sewage services to the highway department building but to the new Carlisle County Courthouse as well. The funding for this project was received through a $99,000 grant. The City of Bardwell also contracted with the State Highway Department to complete the project.
Adams Street, Hillcrest Drive & Ken Winters Drive-
Ken Winters Drive, which connected US Highway 51 to the water treatment plant, was a project that was funded by a grant received in the final days of the Ernie Fletcher administration. The drive will serve as an alternate entrance and exit for utility workers along with emergency personnel as well.
Summer Youth Program -
During the summer the City of Bardwell also benefitted from the summer youth program that the PADD office sponsored. Six county youth were employed through this program and were only allowed to work 240 hours. In those hours the youth performed various tasks ranging from masonry to painting buildings on Front Street.
The stimulus package also employed three project ice storm workers as well. Recently that project received an extension and will work for the City of Bardwell until December 31st.
Mayor King also stressed that input from citizens has played a major role in recent city projects. “The citizens of the city have been concerned with dilapidated buildings, grown up shrubbery and other cosmetic aspects to improve the appearance of the city,” King said.
Utility Work -
Utility poles have also been replaced on Hillcrest Drive for the first time since the 1960’s along with the continued trimming and cutting of trees surrounding power lines. “In the event of another ice storm, or a severe storm the city is taking every precaution to ensure that if there is a loss of power, it won’t be for long,” King said.
In the future -
Speaking of the ice storm, King told the Weekly that the next set of grants and funding that will be pursued will be for generators for the water system and the Bardwell Baptist Church Christian Outreach Center, which served as a major shelter for Carlisle County during the February ice storm.
King stated that he will continue to look for more grants to improve the City of Bardwell at little to no cost to the citizens.
“It takes the cooperation and money at the city, county and state levels to secure grants and funding for these projects to improve the city. With budgets being tight at all levels of government, grants and special projects will be the avenues that the City of Bardwell will pursue to achieve the goals of growth that we are striving to achieve.” |
