Will Burgin Go Wet? Voters Get To Choose Nov. 5
The Harrodsburg Herald/Robert Moore
The Van Halen cover band Completely Unchained performed to a huge crowd at Oktoberfest, which drew approximately 24,000 visitors while downtown Harrodsburg drew approximately 220,000 visitors over the past year. Organizers hope Burgin will see similar success if voters choose to go wet at the upcoming election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Robert Moore
Herald Staff
[email protected]
Burgin voters will finally get to vote on whether to go wet or remain a dry city at the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
On the ballot, Burgin voters will be able to choose yes or no on the sale of alcoholic beverages.
In April, Mayor Joe Monroe told the Burgin City Council he had filed paperwork to get a wet-dry initiative on the ballot. At the time, Monroe said they needed 85 signatures to get the question on the ballot.
Councilman Sindicat “Sid” Dunn, who organized a previous effort to get an initiative on the ballot, said they collected 115 last time. The number of necessary signatures is based on turnout at the previous election.
Officials said the last time, a lot of people who did not live in Burgin signed the petition.
A large number of visitors come through Burgin every year on their way to Herrington Lake, and local leaders have wondered if allowing alcohol sales—as Harrodsburg voted to do in 2016—could have a similar impact in Burgin as it did in Harrodsburg. Local leaders are also looking at Lancaster in Garrard County, including a new store just across the lake.
The topic came up at the Burgin Election Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at Burgin Independent School. Only three of the candidates running for the Burgin City Council—Dunn, Councilwoman Melinda Wofford and Jim Caldwell—appeared at the forum. Councilman Jamie Keebortz, Councilman Travis Irvin, candidate Sarah Moran and write-in candidates George Hensley, Timothy Dollar and Barbara Watts did not attend.
“We’ve got a wet-dry vote coming up,” said Caldwell, who has previously served Burgin as police chief and mayor. “I want them spending that money here,” Caldwell said. “That’s money that’s staying in this town that’s going to other communities.”
“We need little mom-and-pop start-up businesses,” Dunn said. He said alcohol sales would be a way for Burgin to grow and to increase revenue for the city government without increasing taxes.
“We’re of the only cities in Kentucky that don’t charge an occupational tax,” Dunn said.
Dunn noted Burgin no longer has a police officer. He said the city lost their last officer to a school system.
“We can’t afford to pay them what our schools can pay now,” Dunn said.
The candidates were given a chance to give opening statements and then answer six questions from Burgin High School Junior Barron Bradshaw and Mercer County Senior Sage Markham. Earl Motzer served as the moderator. The city council candidates were also asked about dilapidated properties.
“You have to lead by example,” Dunn said. He said he bought a dilapidated house and tore it down.
Dunn and Wofford noted the difficulty in finding the property owners. Wofford said she serves on other boards, including Mercer County Habitat for Humanity. She noted a property owner had sold their property to Habitat for Humanity.
“There’s a home being built for a Burgin family,” Wofford said.
Caldwell said he could bring his experience from 22 years in law enforcement to deal with the issue. He said Burgin had tore down a dozen such properties during his administration.
“The houses that we did tear down were replaced with better houses,” Caldwell said.
“We’re getting it done,” he said. “We may not be getting it done as fast as you want it to.”
The candidates were asked for their top priorities.
“Number one is getting the flooding issue fixed,” Wofford said. “We need to be more transparent with the way taxpayers’ money is being spent.”
“You don’t get things done in a year,” Caldwell said. He said it took three and a half years to get money for the flooding. He said the administration before his “didn’t want any transparency.”
Another priority for Dunn was the park, including building a permanent structure.
They were also asked what they would do if their personal values conflicted with those of their constituents.
“I’m out,” Caldwell said. “I don’t sell my soul.”
Caldwell and the other candidates said they would try to work with constituents.
“The main thing is to sit and listen,” said Dunn, who said he’d never been put in that position in his time on the city council.
“I’m always willing to listen,” Wofford said. “I’m definitely not going to bend to something that’s morally wrong.”
The candidates were asked about improving infrastructure, such as roads and utilities. Dunn said he’s spoken with the state to deal with the bridge in front of the school.
“That’s probably the main priority,” Dunn said.
He said the sewer system has encouraged construction in Burgin and wanted to make sure the roads would be able to handle it.
Wofford said some city ordinances need to be updated. She said they are limited by state law from doing some things to protect the city. Wofford said they are trying to organize a code enforcement board.
Caldwell said, under the previous administration, funding from the state and federal government had stopped because of poor financial record keeping.
“We got the books balanced,” Caldwell said. “We brought in millions of dollars in funding.”
They were also asked about areas where the city government needs to focus.
“We need some more money,” Wofford said. She said the city could increase revenue by attracting more businesses and residents.
“Our primary focus is the flooding,” said Caldwell, who said 25 percent of the city goes underwater every time it rains.
“If we can get that flooding under control, we can develop that property and turn it into tax money,” Caldwell said.
Finally, the candidates were asked about transparency.
“We’ve already done it,” Caldwell said. He said there were no open records violations during his time as mayor.
“Since I’ve been in charge, we’ve been open,” Caldwell said.
“We have moved into the new era of Facebook Live,” Dunn said. He said he enjoys having conversations with constituents.
“I’m always making myself approachable,” Dunn said.
Wofford said her number one thing was to continue to learn. She said Kentucky statutes are very confusing.
“I want to make sure I’m doing what I’m supposed to do,” Wofford said. While part of that was seeking more training with the Kentucky League of Cities, part of it was “asking questions and learning more.”
“You have to continue to ask questions,” Wofford said. “We can get better as a council and as a city in being transparent and letting citizens know what’s going on.”
At the election forum, three of the candidates for the Burgin Board of Education—current board member Ben Bradshaw, Bryan Vandiviere and Kathryn Hendershot—appeared. Board member Keith Monson did not attend.
The three candidates got a chance to introduce themselves. Bradshaw has served on the school board for eight years. He has worked for Kentucky Utilities for 20 years. He only sought election to the school board after another longtime member relocated.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about the kids,” Bradshaw said.
Vandiviere, a Burgin graduate, said he has worked in education for 25 years, the last 10 years in higher education. He currently works for a web-based company and has three kids in the school system, two are currently enrolled. Vandiviere also coaches crosscountry and track.
“It’s a special place and a special community,” he said.
Hendershot earned a doctorate from Asbury University, from which she retired.
“Our children are facing many challenges that their parents and grandparents never faced,” Hendershot said.
Asked about leadership opportunities for students, Bradshaw said Burgin’s small class size enabled the school to focus more on the leadership capabilities of the kids.
“We’re able to find the kids who may not know they’re capable of that,” Bradshaw said.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Vandiviere said, without the opportunities he received at Burgin.
“I want to see the growth of our clubs,” Vandiviere said. “I want to see more of those led by our students.”
“I don’t have anything additional to add,” Hendershot said.
They were asked about long term goals for the school.
Vandiviere called himself a “fiscal conservative.” He said he wants the school and the community to work together.
Hendershot said she had no long-term goals beyond saving children from agendas that would harm national pride.
“I am new here,” Hendershot said. “I have a lot to learn.”
Bradshaw said his goal was to make sure the school is financially solvent. Sometimes that entails making unpopular decisions, he said.
“I also want to make sure we can retain the wonderful teachers we have here,” Bradshaw said. He spoke of increasing revenue by increasing the student population.
“We can attract some of the best kids around,” Bradshaw said.
The candidates were asked how they would handle budget gaps.
“I have no idea,” Hendershot said. “I’ve only lived here a year and a half.”
“We’re very limited in our revenue streams,” Bradshaw said. “We have to depend primarily on the residents in Burgin.”
He said the school district is in competition with other districts for staff.
“We want to attract the best,” Bradshaw said. He said the district needs to narrow the gap in compensation.
“It’s hard to overcome, but we have to work toward that year in and year out,” Bradshaw said. “You have to make decisions that aren’t popular.”
Vandiviere said they need to look at outside revenue options, including grants and working with corporations.
“I don’t like taxes,” Vandiviere said. “I want to explore outside options.”
Asked about school safety, Bradshaw said he wouldn’t say there is a direct safety issue. Burgin does not have a school resource officer.
Bradshaw said the state has mandated an SRO in every school but does not provide funding. He said the board of education is working closely with the City of Burgin and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office.
“That’s everybody’s biggest fear,” Bradshaw said. He said the staff does a great job of keeping doors locked and monitoring the school.
“I think every building needs that,” Bradshaw said.
“That is one of the big gaps,” Vandiviere said. While the school does a great job at security, he said he wanted to pursue technological options.
“That really has jumped out at me,” Hendershot said. “That would be something I would really want to press into.”
While she also discussed the possibility of arming the staff, Hendershot said it was a priority of hers to have a safety officer.
The candidates were asked about their opinions about amendment two.
“I personally am not for amendment two,” said Vandiviere, who said the wording opens the doors for a lot of possibilities. “It opens up the door for potential abuse at the state level.”
“I want to continue to grow our public education system,” Vandiviere said. “There are a lot of good possibilities, but there are a lot of possibilities for harm.”
Hendershot read from the amendment. “To me, that’s pretty clear,” she said.
“There’s a lot of misconception out there,” Bradshaw said. He said students already had school choice, and state money follows the students to any public school they choose to attend.
“It’s pulling funds from public schools,” Bradshaw said. He said public schools are mandated in how they handle money, including contractors.
“I am against tax dollars funding private schools,” Bradshaw said.
Finally, the candidates were asked about accessibility. Hendershot said she wanted to find out what the people wanted and act as a liaison.
“That’s not why we’re here,” Bradshaw said. “We’re here for the kids.”
“You have to listen to everyone’s voice,” he said, “but at the end of the day, you have to decide what’s best for the kids.”
Vandiviere said the easiest way to be accessible is to be plugged into the school, being active and available.
“I’ve always tried to be as reachable as I can,” he said. “We want to make sure at the end of the day that we’re happy with all our decisions.”
The general election will be on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Excused in-person absentee ballots can be left at the drop box starting Wednesday, Oct. 23 through Wednesday, Oct. 30.
In-person no-excuse absentee ballots can be cast on Thursday, Oct. 31; Friday, Nov. 1; and Saturday, Nov. 2; at the Mercer County Fiscal Courthouse (207 West Lexington Street). The hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
