Concerns voiced over re-zoning

May 13, 2008 10:43 am

— By Sean Bailey / Staff Writer
The Corbin City Commission authorized the city attorney to re-zone a property located between Union, White and Depot streets.
The property will be re-zoned from residential to commercial. One resident who lives near the site raised his and another resident’s concerns over the re-zoning.
“We feel that should be residential from the overpass on toward, not commercial. There are plenty of areas for commercial buildings here in Corbin that are empty ... we just felt it’d be better to stop right there at the overpass ...” the resident said.
Orkin representative Robert Helton addressed public safety concerns and said the new location will not be a distribution center for chemicals, but rather, a “normal service center.”
“It’s not going to be a distribution center, it is going to be a service location. Will there be chemicals stored at the property? Yes sir, there will, but it’s going to be a very small ... none of it is restricted use, it’s all general use pesticides,” Helton said.
Helton said he is looking to buy the property for two reasons — it’s a business investment for his company and it will be inside the city limits, making his business more visible. Helton said there would be no chemicals mixed at the location and no foul odors.
The city planning commission approved the re-zoning at its April 17 meeting.
City Commissioner Dennis Lynch moved to allow the city attorney to draft an ordinance for the re-zoning and the commission approved the motion.
“I don’t think I’d know anybody that’d like to build a house there ... it’s right up against the railroad track. And it’s an area that needs cleaning up now ... the city of Corbin would be far ahead by that,” Lynch said.
The commission also heard from George Fields of Emergency Reimbursements Service (ERS), a Louisville company that helps emergency response organizations such as fire departments and police departments charge non-residents for their services. The commission decided to look into the service and check on its legality.
The commission passed a motion to have the city manager and attorney look into possibly setting up a random drug testing policy for all city employees. The city manager and attorney will look into cost and feasibility of a new policy. City Clerk Erin Blount added that insurance forms often ask the city if they have a random drug testing program.
In other business, the commission recognized Lawrence Helton as a Corbin Colonel for his years on the city planning commission.
Bids were also opened for fuel, landfill service and stone — all of which were put under advisement.