The Pineville City Council passed the first reading of a pair of measures to close a portion of Catalpa Street between the old Presbyterian church building and Presbyterian Field and to close Kenvir Alley between the field and current Pineville School playground at their meeting on Monday.

Mayor Shawn Fugate II explained that the school had approached the city about closing Catalpa Street next to the old church building so they can expand that building to house a new preschool center.

“Part of that expansion will go onto the property where the Presbyterian Field is,” he said. “As we went into that process we looked at the alley that’s in between Presbyterian Field and the playground. I felt like closing that alley would be a big help with safety for the kids and keep traffic down as they were crossing from that section.”

He said the action by the city starts the process of closing the street and alley at the property and gives the school the city’s consent to move forward with their construction project.

Council member Pat Bingham made the motion and included that it state in writing that the city maintains all of the utility egresses and stipulates that the Fire Department test their trucks to make sure they will still be able to access the neighboring community.

Fugate said the department planned to take their trucks to the area on Tuesday during their regularly scheduled training.

The motion was seconded by Chad Gambrell and the passed unanimously, 5-0. Council member Scott Jeffrey was not present.

Fugate also gave an update on the Courthouse Square project. He said he had been in close contact with the engineering firm and the contractors doing the work.

“When we have good weather we’re really rolling on this thing and I think they are making a lot of progress,” he said. “But they’ve battled cold, cold and now they’re battling rain, but we can see things coming together. The pavers are going down around the courthouse and it’s going to be beautiful. I think it’s going to be really something when it’s finished.”

Fugate credited Main Street Pineville with staying in touch with the local businesses around the square during all the construction.

“They’re struggling right now because of the way things are,” he said. “We’ve got a guy who will be going around to all the downtown businesses to help them with social media. He started today and he’s going to make a video for all of them and show them how to do some of that stuff on their own. I’m excited about it, it’s something that we’re doing to help those businesses get their now out there right now.”

Main Street Pineville co-director Johnna Callebs added that the city encourages everybody to shop local and eat local to help those local businesses.

“Absolutely. The more you can eat down there and the more you can shop down there the better off we’re going to be,” Fugate said. “Just hold on a little bit longer and I think we’re going to be there.”

During her Main Street update, Johnna Callebs said this Saturday Pine Mountain Lodge was hosting a murdery mystery dinner at 7 p.m. The following weekend will be the annual Main Street Gala at the Pine Mountain State Park lodge. As of Monday evening only eight tickets remained for the event. Callebs said anyone interested in attending could contact City Hall or any member of the Main Street Board. Gala festivities will start at 6 p.m. with cocktail hour, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. followed by a dance.

On Saturday, March 8, American Idol finalist Kennedy Reed will be in concert at the Bell Theater. Tickets are $20.

The council also unanimously passed a resolution related to the Police Department’s application for a Kentucky Office Homeland Security grant for body armor. The resolution authorizes the mayor to furnish any required documentation and to act as the authorized correspondent for the project.

Also passed unanimously was a motion by Bingham for the city to formally go on record opposing HB 253.

“I think it’s a hurtful bill, especially for small cities and small town merchants,” she said. “House Bill 253 as it’s written says that all occupational tax in a city will be commonly collected by the state and then returned to the city.

“In my opinion, that’s an extra burden on any business that has to file occupational tax and send it to the state. The state will probably create some type of bureaucracy to take care of this or contract with a third party and then send it right back. Whoever filed this bill must have local issues in their district. I just can’t figure out the rationale.”

Council member Bobby Valentine seconded the motion and it was approved 5-0.

Bingham encouraged anyone opposing the bill to call 1-800-372-7181 to let their representative or senator know they oppose it.