Bullock: $1M grant for town square is only for the square

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October 28, 2009

Judge says there are misconceptions about how state money is used

By HEATHER PYLES, CJ Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Wed Oct 28, 2009, 08:14 PM EDT

If there’s one thing the newly received $1 million grant for the fountain square has generated, it’s interest.

But not all of it has been good.

During Tuesday’s Pulaski County Fiscal Court meeting, Pulaski County Judge-executive Barty Bullock took several minutes to explain the nature of the grant in hopes of clearing up some misconceptions county officials say the community has received.

Bullock took that cue after Executive Secretary Tiffany Finley, administrator for the square project, asked that the court provide proof that the county will provide a 20 percent match of in-kind funds for the grant.

“That’s something we can very well do in in-kind,” Bullock said.

Saying that “questions have arose” about the grant, Bullock set about explaining the nature of the $1 million “Fountain Square Beautification Project,” which is funded through the state.

“This money is set aside by the state for certain projects to be done and that money is earmarked only for projects such as this, so there’s no way we can take any of this money and spend it on the county courthouse or the county roads,” Bullock said on Tuesday.

The funding comes through the Kentucky Transportation Enhancement Program, and projects approved through that program must meet certain requirements. According to information about the enhancement program from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Web site, “eligible activities may include bikeways or pedestrian facilities, preservation of historic transportation facilities, beautification of the roadway environment, or other such specified improvements.”

The Fountain Square project may just qualify under all those.

Considering the Fountain Square’s long history — it was first designed as it stands today in 1908, though its role as the centerpiece of the city and county extends back to the 1800’s — it may be considered historic.

Add in the county’s wish list of improvements, which include better pedestrian access and bike access, and the fact that county officials are hoping, in general, to improve the traveling experience for motorists who drive by the square every day, and the project seemingly easily qualifies for funding through the enhancement program.

“That’s our goal ... when you drive into downtown Somerset, we want it (Fountain Square) to shine.” Bullock said.

And Bullock also noted that had Pulaski County not received that funding, it would’ve simply been put toward a similar project in a different county.

$800,000 of the $1 million will come from the state, and the county is required to contribute $200,000 in in-kind funding for the project. During Tuesday’s meeting, Bullock said equipment for the project and manpower can be provided through the county.

“It won’t cost the county tax payers anything at all out of pocket,” Bullock said.

Bullock also visited another question asked by several citizens since the ounty announced it had received the grant — how can anyone spend $1 million on a town square?

It’s easy, said Bullock.

“When you go and look at all the ... stuff that needs doing there, it’ll be a very expensive project,” Bullock said.

Several improvements will be necessary to bring the square up to par, county officials said. Those improvements come with a substantial price tag, as engineering and architectural costs add up quickly. Along with pedestrian and bike access and a new fountain, the electrical system that runs beneath the square, long ago considered nearly useless and cumbersome, must be updated. Handicap access is also high up on the list of priorities, and traffic flow around the square will also be studied to determine whether that can be improved as well.

“It’s in the center of our city, it’s in the center of our county ... and we just want to make it what everybody thinks it needs to be,” Bullock said.

The court approved Finley’s request that documentation be provided for the in-kind funds.

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Pulaski carries Girdler to win

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”

Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

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