In Jan. 31-Feb. 6 issue
By Derek Aaron
Times Journal Reporter

JAMESTOWN - The City Council held two special-called meetings last week, with the biggest news being announced that the city had purchased the Monin Building on North Main St. They plan to make the former location of the Jamestown Pharmacy and Jamestown Health Care Center into the town's new city hall.

During a short meeting last Friday, Mayor Brooks Bates confirmed that the city had purchased the building for $150,000.

The current town hall will be razed as a result of the new Russell County Justice Center being built, which will house all the courts-at-law as well as the Circuit Clerk's offices.

The new justice center will also need the lot adjacent to the current city hall for its construction.

Bates said the city has 90 days from the purchase until closing to line up financing for the deal, possibly through a short term loan through one of the banks in the county.

In other happenings at the meeting—

• The council approved a bid to install a new lighting system for both the baseball and softball fields at the Jamestown City Park.

Public Works Director Ottis Skaggs said the cost of the project is $120,000 with $97,000 coming from a state grant. Bates said the Bank of Jamestown was contributing $5,000 to the project while the remaining amount of $18,000 will be covered by the city.

"The lights have been ordered and we're waiting on the contract to be written for the installation," Skaggs said.

Zach's Superior Electric of Russell Springs got the contract to install the lights, Skaggs said. The lights were purchased off of Musco Lighting, a renowned lighting company whose lights have lit Major League baseball stadiums, NFL stadiums and the Little League World Series.

"This is going to be a state-of-the-art lighting system," Bates said. Skaggs said the poles were steel and would be durable. "They'll be around long after we're not," he said.

Skaggs said it would take 4-6 weeks for delivery of the lights and another 4-6 weeks to install them.

"We're hoping the lights will be up by the time Little League starts," he said.

• Skaggs also reported to the council about recent problem's with a city water tower. He said the 100,000 gallon water tower near Stephens Pipe & Steel on Ky. 619 has been leaking water because of 11 small holes that have developed over time.

Skaggs said repairs of patching the holes, sandblasting and re-painting the water tower along with other repairs would cost around $100,000. He said the cost of a new tower would be around $500,000.

The council agreed to move forward with repair work on the tower. Specifications for the work will be figured and advertised for bids in the spring, Skaggs said.

• These meetings marked the first time Councilman Harold "Frog" Miller had been in attendance since a motorcycle wreck last August left him and his wife, Dee, critically injured. Council members welcomed Miller back with open arms, applauding him as the Thursday meeting began.
Miller still has physical therapy sessions he must complete but said he was thankful for all the messages of support during these last few months. He also said he was thankful for being able to serve his community on the council.

Bates said he was happy to see Miller back on the council and said he looked forward to working with him in the future.

• The council went into executive session to discuss possible litigation during last Thursday's meeting. Mayor Bates announced no action was taken at the end of the session.

• The council could not meet at their regular monthly meeting time last week as quorum could not be met.