Benton City Council members on Monday voted to move forward in the bidding process for a new pool house at H.H. Lovett Park.
Mayor Rita Dotson said council was ready to advertise for bids on the design and construction of a new 1,900 square foot facility. Solicited designs must include specs for storage areas for supplies and chemicals, as well as a concession area. The city will accept sealed bids until 4 p.m. May 5. Total budget for the project was set at $220,000. The city hopes to begin construction on the project in September and complete work on the new facility by March 31, 2018.
According to previous council meeting minutes, the City of Benton applied for a land and water conservation grant match up to $75,000 for facility construction in March.
The city also passed a municipal aid resolution to accept monies from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for summer paving projects. The state has alloted $85,925 toward road paving efforts in Benton this year, for which KYTC will distribute three payments. Some 3 percent of funding will be withheld for emergency funds.
In other business, the council:
- Adopted a resolution to name the Main Street bridge over Town Creek in honor of former circuit court and county clerk, W.J. “Toad” Brien;
- heard the first reading of an updated nuisance ordinance, which clarifies the size of brush piles picked up by the city as no larger than a pickup truck bed, and prohibits dumping into creek beds or allowing leaves to accumulate, blocking proper drainage;
- adopted a proclamation, signed by Dotson, declaring May 5 as western Kentucky paralegal day;
- adopted a proclamation, signed by Dotson, declaring April as Confederate heritage month;
- appointed Steven Moore to serve on the Benton Planning and Zoning Commission;
- reappointed John Solomon to the Benton Housing Authority; and
- appointed Kristen David to serve on the city’s parks board.