Bardstown council adopts FY27 budget, approves permits and bids; city and county close on industrial park land

Mayor J. Richard Heaton called the Bardstown City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. on June 9 and the council adopted the FY27 annual budget, Ordinance No. B2026-08, following a roll call in which Councilmen David Dones, Betty Hart, Franklin Hibbs IV and Bill Sheckles voted AYE; Councilmen Joe Buckman and Roland E. Williams were recorded as absent. Mayor Heaton then declared the ordinance adopted.

The council approved several routine but consequential items during the meeting. Councilwoman Betty Hart moved to approve the Tourism Commission’s FY27 budget as presented by Tourism President Stacey Phelps; Councilman Franklin Hibbs seconded and the motion carried 4-0. The council accepted a KACO salt auction bid from Morton Salt Inc. at $128.53 per ton on a 4-0 vote after Councilman David Dones moved the award and Councilman Bill Sheckles seconded. Councilman Hibbs moved and Councilman Sheckles seconded approval of the Tri-County Kentucky United Way’s Spirit 5K event scheduled for Oct. 10, 2026; that motion also passed 4-0.

Councilman Bill Sheckles introduced Ordinance B2026-10, a proposed amendment to the FY26 budget, and asked City Administrator Aaron Boles to read it for a first reading; there was no recorded vote on the first reading in the minutes. The minutes also show the council approved the minutes from the May 26, 2026 regular meeting and the June 5, 2026 special meeting by unanimous consent.

In staff reports, Fire Chief Todd Spalding reported the department raised $22,411.00 for the Crusade for Children. Police Chief Kim Kraeszig told the council that filming for the movie "Ethan Almighty" is complete. The minutes note Social Services Specialist Heather Huston has applied for a grant to support a therapy dog, and attendees were reminded that anyone suffering a crisis may dial 988 for support.

The council approved several fireworks tent permits — submitted by Bloomfield Church of God, Washington County Band Boosters, Friends of Bardstown Boys Basketball, Gilda’s Club of Kentuckiana and Hope By Hope — on a 4-0 vote after a motion from Councilman Hibbs and a second from Councilman Sheckles. Councilmember remarks included Recreation Department programming that evening and a report that the Creativity Cupboard has moved to the Nelson County Public Library.

In his update, Mayor Heaton said the City and County have closed on the purchase of land intended for an industrial park and reported that BIDC has hired a new president/CEO who will start in July; the minutes do not give the hire’s name or expand the acronym "BIDC." The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. after a motion by Councilman Sheckles, seconded by Councilman Hibbs, which carried 4-0.