The first month of 2009 may nearly be over, but the excitement about the coming year and the projects slated to be started for the City of Science Hill is still being felt.

Science Hill Mayor Bill Dick and the city’s four commissioners — Mike Hall, David Phelps, Jeff Wesley and Terry Wesley — are already looking into finishing up some important improvements for the city that began in 2008, and they’re hoping to make 2009 a year of progress for the northern Pulaski County city.



Progress in 2008



Science Hill Mayor Bill Dick said the town of around 600 saw several changes in 2008, including the update of a sewage plant and the expansion of a sewage line.

“We probably spent around $800,000 on the sewer extension,” Dick said.

Some of those funds came from PRIDE (Personal Responsibility In a Desirable Environment) grants and from grants through the Corps of Engineers.

The extended sewer lines reach 42 residential and commercial customers, and the system features two new lift stations that will transport the sewage to the city’s treatment plant. Ten more homes along Frog Hollow Road and Frog Hollow Spur will also be added to the sewer system with additional funding awarded by PRIDE to the city.

There are currently 1,900 Science Hill water customers and 360 sewer customers.

Dick said the U.S. 27 construction created few problems for the line systems.

“We didn’t have much of a problem with that,” he said. “Our lines got moved quickly.

“I’m glad to see it (the construction in the Science Hill area) is done,” he added.



The city’s ball park also received a bit of a facelift, and more improvements are in the works.

Dick said the city purchased around four acres of land to add to the ball park, which is the setting for numerous leagues and school sports teams including baseball teams, soccer teams and football teams.

“It (the ball park) is a tremendous asset to the community,” Dick said.

A walking track was installed, the restrooms were upgraded, and Dick said the city has already begun construction for two other baseball fields. In all, around $250,000 in additions and improvements will go into the community staple.



The city commission has also undertaken the task of updating the Web site for city hall.

“We’ll have all the minutes (from the commission meetings) on the site,” Dick said.

Residents can reach tools such as community activities and the calendar of activities for Science Hill Independent. Contact for every commissioner are also available.

Citizens can go to:

http://www.sciencehill-ky.gov/

for more information.



Questions About the Police Force



But 2008 wasn’t completely without controversy for Dick and the city’s commissioners. Some residents expressed concern about the police force in the small town, which is made up of Science Hill police Chief Robbie Gossett and Officer Kenny Shepherd, who was hired on in September after Shawn Dobbs was hired on with the Somerset Police Department.

“You still have your crime in Somerset, and they’re out 24 hours a day,” Dick said.

Dick said it isn’t financially possible to hire anyone else for the police force, but he said he’s confident Gossett and Shepherd do an excellent job patrolling within the city limits.

“I know I’ve talked to some residents who’ve said they feel real good when they see Kenny (Shepherd) driving up and down at night,” Dick said.

“It (hiring another officer) would be nice, but it’s just not possible for us to do that,” he added.

Deputies from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department also patrol the town.

“They (the sheriff’s department) have been real quick to respond,” Dick said.

Dick said the same crimes that are happening in the town — most commonly, burglaries and thefts — have increased everywhere, and he said the town is safe for its citizens.

“With the two officers we have now, for the time they’re out, they are doing an excellent job,” Dick said.



The future



Dick said the town has grown slightly in the last year, and he said he has high hopes that businesses will begin to look at the town’s section of the newly-expanded U.S. 27 to locate to.

“With 27 the way it’s going to be and the bypass just below Science Hill and the sewer on 27, we’re hoping to have some businesses move in,” Dick said.

“Everything’s gone south, south, south,” he continued. “We’re kind of hoping it will come north.”

The commission is also looking into making it safer and more convenient for residents to make their way through the city on foot.

“They (citizens) would like to see more sidewalks and more infrastructure, which we’re trying to work on,” Dick said.