Corbin officials asking residents to keep their property up

If you own property in Corbin, then you need to keep that property up, which includes getting the grass cut on a regular basis.

The city has made a concerted effort to go after blighted properties in the past and will do so again if necessary. However, the city would much rather people just keep their grass cut and maintain their property on their own.

This was the message that Corbin City Manager Scott Williamson would like the public to know as summer approaches and lawn maintenance is hitting full stride.

“If you have property, please take care of your properties. Do what you know needs to be done. Do what your neighbors are doing to make their properties look nice and presentable,” Williamson said.

“If you are an absentee owner/landlord, we know where you are. We can cite you just as easily as we can anyone else through the proper legal channels. It is spring. We have properties that need attention. Would you please do it the easy way? We would appreciate it.”

Corbin Mayor Suzie Razmus put it a little more succinctly during Monday’s meeting.

“Mow your lawn!” she said with a smile on her face and a chuckle in her voice.

Also, during Monday’s meeting, the commission awarded bids for blacktop, stone, landfill services and cell phone service.

There was only a single bidder for landfill, stone and blacktop, and only two bidders for cell phone service, Verizon and Appalachian Wireless.

City officials lamented the fact that there were so few bidders.

Razmus noted that the city reached out to additional companies trying to get them to bid, but with no luck.

City Attorney Bob Hammons noted that the city could reject the bids and rebid them.

Commissioner John Baker questioned what the odds would realistically be that the bids would go down.

Williamson added that the bids could up if bid again.

The city commission accepted the only bidders for landfill services, stone and blacktop, and accepted Verizon’s bid for cellphone service, which was $9,000 less than last year and provides the phones to the city free of charge.

City Clerk Tori Brock delivered a piece of good news in regards to health insurance costs, which will go down about $2,000 compared to last year.

She added that last year there was a 20 percent increase in the rate.

In addition, Williamson delivered his monthly city manager’s report during the meeting bragging on several departments.

He noted that Corbin Arena Manager Kristina Balla and her staff have embraced some new financial processes that have been put into place at the Arena.

“I want to brag on her a little. We are getting some great reporting to city hall to staff and myself. It is very integral to what we are doing. We are watching our budget and trying to be austere and, yet, fill all the needs that we have and some of the wishes. There are plenty of both,” Williamson added.

During the city’s last audit, auditors noted that invoices couldn’t be found for some cash disbursements and things of that nature at the Arena, and encouraged taking steps to tighten up the invoice situation at the Arena.

Williamson also bragged on Corbin Director of Public Works Jeff Nantz and his staff for replacing the decking on the Engineer Street Bridge and refurbishing it during a project, which came in under budget.

“It looks really nice,” Williamson said.

He added that city department heads have also taken to heart the city’s plan to start more closely watching spending, including getting purchase orders on anything over $300, which had never been done in some departments.

In other business, the commission:

• Announced that a grand opening is planned on Thursday (May 30) at 11 a.m. for the city’s new fitness court, which is located at the corner of Poplar and Seventh streets.

“We will have students there to demonstrate how to use the equipment,” said Corbin Parks and Recreation Director Jacob Roan.

The equipment will also have QR codes that the public can scan with their phones, which will bring up video of an athletic trainer explaining how to use the equipment and workouts that they can do, Roan said.

• Announced that there will be a 5 p.m. June 3 public planning meeting at Corbin City Hall in connection with a $200,000 Safe Streets for All planning grant. “If you all could be thinking over the next couple of weeks about areas in town that you think are a traffic hazard either through automobile or pedestrian or bicycling, anything that has to do with transportation. Please come to this public meeting and let your voice be heard,” Razmus said.