Burgin Starts Condemnation Process To Allow Drilling For Flooding Solution
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Robert Moore
Herald Staff
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The Burgin City Council is having to take some extra steps in working towards a solution to the flooding issues that have plagued the friendly little city.
At their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 14, the council voted unanimously to file to file a certificate of condemnation against a local property.
At a special-called meeting last month, the council approved a deed of easement on another property so testing could begin on possible flooding solutions.
On Tuesday night, the council learned researchers had pinpointed another location where they wanted to place a well. City officials said they had made an offer to buy the easement but it was rejected.
Mayor Jamie Keebortz said the city was told there was no reasonable amount of money the property owner would accept.
City Attorney John Wood said the next step would be to file a certificate of condemnation, part of the eminent domain process, in which public entities take private property for public use without the owner’s permission. Councilman Syndicat “Sid” Dunn moved to file the certificate of condemnation, which was seconded by Councilwoman Melinda Wofford. Dunn’s motion passed unanimously.
In April of last year, a geological team from the University of Kentucky installed high resolution resistivity sensors. Researchers also want to install a continuous flow monitoring station at Burgin Spring and drill and evaluate test dewatering wells. The test wells will be at least 60 feet deep and eight inches in diameter, researchers said.
On Tuesday, the council also learned Councilwoman Sarah Moran had resigned effective that day. Moran, who had not served on the council before, won her seat in the 2024 election.
There has been a lot of movement on the Burgin City Council over the last few years. Kevin Wallace was appointed to fill out Keebortz’s unexpired term on the council in August of last year. Wallace had been nominated by Moran.
Keebortz, who had served on the city council since 2016, was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of former Mayor Joe Monroe in June of last year. The council has 30 days to fill Moran’s vacated seat or the governor can pick a replacement.
