State advises no parking on Church Street

Church Street residents have been given a letter from the states Transportation Cabinet regarding the impending traffic detour.

Due to a recent state assessment of the U.S. 27 North viaduct, which deemed the bridge structurally unsound, the weight limit of the bridge has been reduced to 10 tons.

Cynthiana Mayor Jim Brown said this will create a need for traffic to be diverted off of U.S. 27 to Church Street until the new bridge can be constructed.

Brown said at Tuesdays city commission meeting that the state plans to open bids in October with construction expected to take about 18 months.

We need to slow that traffic down because there are a lot of small kids running out after skateboards, Brown said, directing Assistant Police Chief Ray Johnson to patrol the area. We need to be acutely aware of speed on that street.

Commissioners also heard from Rob Williams, Quest Engineers, regarding a plan for a new waste water line.

An existing line that crossed the Licking River above Terry Dam was damaged by a tree floating down the river. That line had to be closed and a temporary line was run along Water Works Road to Bridge Street.

However, according to the mayor, the city is paying $5,300 weekly for the lease on the temporary lines.

At the last meeting, Quest reported that the lowest bid to bury the line along the temporary route was $330,000, which commissioners agreed was too high.

They requested that Quest redesign the project going back across the river.

Williams advised commissioners Tuesday that the new bid was $212,000, which he termed fair and reasonable.

Commissioners voted to proceed with the project.

Williams advised that there will be a disruption of traffic for about two weeks, which will require that Water Works Road be closed.

In other business, the commission:

Agreed to place its revolving funds from a UDAG grant amounting to $38,031.18 into a 12-month account at Fifth-Third.

Heard Brown report that the city received $257,000 for sidewalk repairs around the Hilltop through a Safe Routes To School grant.

Heard Commissioner Bill Doan report that construction at the landfill should be completed in October. That project includes an upgrade of a pump and a larger forced main line.

He said that once that work is complete, he has been assured the city will no longer have to pump or haul leachate.

Commended Jamie Hutchison for her completion of a three-year program for municipal clerks.

Accepted the resignation of Doug Brooks in waste water maintenance.

Hired seasonal workers Michael Pike and Tony Kearns.