By GINA KINSLOW
HORSE CAVE — The city is moving ahead with plans to construct a new firehouse.
The Horse Cave City Council voted 4-3 Monday night to amend the city’s budget by $25,000 and to use the money to hire an architect to design the facility.
Councilman Randall Curry, who chairs a committee overseeing the project, said the city is in need of a new firehouse.
“Our fire department building is busting at the seams,” he said, adding it has been out of date for quite some time.
The building will also serve as a community center.
The committee has also discussed locating a satellite ambulance at the new firehouse, he said.
Three city council members — Joanne Smith, Jason England and David Lindsey — voted against amending the city’s budget to hire an architect, while council members Sue Nunn, Randall Curry and Vickie Rogers voted in favor of the measure. Mayor Odell Martin cast the tie-breaking vote.
“Everyone I’ve spoken to about a new firehouse is totally against it,” England said.
The reason people are opposed to the idea, he said, is because they believe a new firehouse is not needed during such hard economic times.
Martin disagreed with England and said he has heard several people speak out in favor of building a new firehouse.
“I have not talked to one person who has opposed this,” he said.
The council then debated making a $5,000 donation each to Kentucky Repertory Theatre and the American Cave Museum, which Martin voted against. The council voted 6-0 to make the donations to the theater and the museum. The money will come from the city’s payroll tax fund.
“It’s hard for me to understand how we can vote against the fire department then vote to give money away,” he said. “I’m not opposed to anything like this. I think it would be good if anyone had the money to do whatever they wanted to do with.
“However, we have to note that funding for the arts generally comes through federal and state grants and private grants; mostly coprorations and wealthy people and not poor taxpayers of the city of Horse Cave.”
After the council met in closed session to discussion pending litigation, Lindsey explained while he voted against the construction of a new firehouse, he is not against the fire department.
“What I would like to see is a substation built on the (Owens) hotel property,” he said.
Curry told the council, also after the closed session, that everything regarding the planning for the new firehouse will be done “above the board.”
