Local musician Jim Duff has the blues

Comment by drzrocks: Wednesday, July 14

I never heard anything impressive on his site at all....read more...

Humane Society comes under fire in local farming magazine

Comment by Truthseekerme: Thursday, July 8

Patti Strand, of the National Animal Interest Alliance, author of "The Hijacking of the Humane Movem...read more...

Humane Society comes under fire in local farming magazine

Comment by HillaryatHSUS: Wednesday, July 7

I work at the HSUS, and I’ve also worked at several animal shelters. Shelters do great work – ad...read more...

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Craig Butler, the certified public accountant who conducts Stanford’s annual audit, gave the city a clean bill of health last Thursday as far as accountability and procedures in handling public funds. Butler, who has kept an eye on the city’s books for years, told the councilmen that City Clerk Sandy Gooch “was doing an outstanding job of record keeping and accounting for your money.”

The only cautionary note Butler had was in regard to the city’s reserve fund balance at the end of the fiscal year. Butler told the council that the amount of money available at the end of each fiscal year has declined steadily over the last five years. “This is the most important event you need to keep your eye on,” Butler said.

At the end of last fiscal year the city had only $108,000 in the bank; Mayor Bill Miracle told the council that spending hadn’t dramatically increased but cash flow had stagnated. “Times are tough, this is simply a case of us spending a little more than we are taking in,” Miracle said.

Butler agreed with Miracle’s assessment of the economy, telling the council that every municipality he audits is in the same boat. He suggested that with no assurance that the economy would rebound any time soon, the city should consider a “break even budget” which would keep the city’s reserve funds low, but stable for the foreseeable future.

Butler has agreed to assist the city council in the next budget cycle by doing a line-by-line review of expenditures with the group at a workshop.

The council also discussed allowing electric golf carts on Stanford city streets. Council Attorney Carol Hill had town ordinances from other Kentucky communities allowing the vehicles on town roads with speed limits below 35 mph. There was no resistance to the idea, but councilmen debated how restrictive to make the ordinance in terms of vehicle safety equipment like lights, turn signals, etc., and Councilman Bobby Wilkinson voiced concern over the city assuming some liability in allowing the carts on the street.

Councilman Tim Estes asked the group if the city had any visibility on any other potentially dangerous businesses operating within the city limits citing the recent explosion at Shannon Corman’s black powder manufacturing operation. None of the members were sure, but there was some discussion of a similar operation in the vicinity of Stanford Elementary School.

In other business, Arts Director Sandy Swett briefed the council on progress she is making with downtown property owners. Swett said that she and Miracle had met with Jess and Angela Correll, who own many Main St. buildings, about helping Stanford become an arts magnet.

One big step forward was an agreement between Swett and Correll to allow the city to use J.C.’s Powerhouse on Depot St. as a performing art center. Swett told the council that the weekly open mike night has outgrown the L&N Depot. “Last Friday night we had 40 people still here at 11 p.m. when the last act went on,” Swett said. The popular, local music venue lost its home when Uncle Bob’s Restaurant closed last year and has been housed temporarily in the old train depot.

Swett said that the Powerhouse will need some cleanup and a good coat of paint, but has tremendous potential. “It’s already wired and plumbed for a commercial kitchen,” she said, anticipating being able to serve hot food at performances. Eddie May has already donated a professional sound system and lighting to the effort.

Councilman Eddie Carter said that he would also like to see the venue serve as a community and youth center with pool tables and other forms of entertainment, a function the Powerhouse previously served, but for now Swett will be focusing on getting at least one facility in Stanford up and running as a home for the arts.

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