City accepts grant for restrooms at soccer complex

Published 10:39 am Wednesday, November 2, 2016

After waiting for state and federal officials to approve the project, Winchester officials approved a grant agreement to build new restrooms at the Winchester Soccer Complex.

The city first applied for the $150,000 grant in 2014 and has been waiting for the necessary approvals since, Winchester City Manager Matt Belcher said. The National Park Service, the source of the grant, was the last to sign off on the project, he said.

The project calls for a garage on the property to be converted to restrooms at the facility. The grant will also cover the necessary infrastructure, including a small pump station, he said.

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The city is required to come up with a 50 percent match, which can include in-kind services or cash, he said. The match was included in the city’s budget for this fiscal year, he said.

The project may be bid later this year, and would likely be completed in 2017, he said.

The Winchester Board of Commissioners approved the memorandum of agreement unanimously Tuesday evening.

The commissioners also approved the second reading of an ordinance to create a single-role paramedic position within Winchester Fire-EMS. The department recommended adding the position to attract more paramedics, which has been a struggle across Kentucky.

Presently, the department requires all EMTs and paramedics to be certified firefighters as well. Winchester Fire-EMS Chief Cathy Rigney said previously the department is down to four full-time paramedics with five vacancies. Rigney said the paramedics have been following ambulances in a chase vehicle, which offers more flexibility but is not sustainable long-term.

In other action, the commissioners:

— approved a grant application for planning assistance through Local Foods, Local Places for Main Street Winchester.

— approved a grant application from Winchester Fire-EMS to replace Engine 4 with a new truck.

— approved a request for a march by Christ Temple Apostolic Church on Saturday.

— accepted a letter from the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection for the final report on the Lower Howards Creek Watershed Improvement Initiative.

— approved the first reading of an ordinance to increase meeting pay for members of the Winchester-Clark County Planning Commission and the Winchester-Clark County Board of Adjustments.

— hired Steven Hardy as a patient transfer specialist/paramedic.

Contact Fred Petke at fred.petke@winchestersun.com.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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