Somerset Council hears updates from local non-profit organizations

Apr. 24—A trio of community non-profit organizations took the spotlight during Monday's Somerset City Council meeting, with representatives of each informing the community of their goings-on.

Jody McRoberts spoke on behalf of Pulaski KY Strong Towns, which is part of a national non-profit organization that aims to help cities be safe, financially responsible and be livable.

"They do this through education and then encouraging people to take action on what they've learned," she explained.

Among the organizations principals, McRoberts said, is that a city's financial solvency is a prerequisite for longterm prosperity.

"As cities grow and develop, it's important to think long term, so Strong Towns encourage cities to think about when they bring new developments in and new things into the city, that what's going to be the cost long term," she said.

She pointed out that during a recent city council meeting, during a discussion about development in the Valley Oak area, some council members asked whether that growth would generate enough tax revenue to cover the additional cost of providing first responder assistance to that area.

"That's exactly what Strong Towns encourages cities to do," she said.

She added that the group wants to "work together with everyone to see our community grow stronger."

The organization's next monthly meeting will be held May 9 at the Energy Center at noon, where a light lunch will be served and two videos shown, with a discussion afterwards.

From safer cities to giving veterans a place to live, representatives from the Habitat for Humanity of Pulaski County, Ky. Board spoke to council members, thanking the city and its workers for assisting them over the past few weeks.

Kristi Phillips and Jon Roberts said that the local Habitat for Humanity group appreciated the help they've received from the city during their efforts to bring a Veterans Village to the area.

Three cottages will be available to veterans, whether they are single or have a family, and who need a home. Those cottages will be built on Bourne Avenue, on property the city donated to the organization.

Roberts also said that applications are open for veterans who want to apply to receive one of the homes, with details available on the Facebook page Pulaski KY Habitat for Humanity.

Later in the meeting, council members approved a zone change for that property, changing it from Residential-3 (multi-unit housing) to Residential-1A (single-family dwellings).

More non-profit updates came from Brenda Russell, the executive director for God's Food Pantry, who reminded the public that voting is underway in the CANdemonium food drive contest.

Groups from around the area were encouraged to build artistic structures using only cans of food, with those cans being donated to God's Food Pantry after the contest ends.

Photos of those structures are posted on God's Food Pantry's Facebook page, with links for members of the public encouraged to vote for their favorite sculpture.

Votes cost $1 each, which will also help raise money for the food bank.

"Our goal this year is to raise enough cans to fill our shelves, so as we feed families for the summer while the children are out of school, we don't have empty shelves," Russell said.

She added that the contest has so far raised around 10,000 to 12,000 cans of food.

Voting continues through Sunday.

Also at Monday's meeting, council:

* Approved a change to the zoning ordinance that dictates where medical marijuana dispensaries and growing facilities can be located within the city limits. Dispensaries will only be allowed in areas zoned Business-1 or Business-2, and will not be permitted within 1,000 feet of schools, churches, daycare areas or residential recovery centers. Cultivation will only be allowed in industrial zones.

* Heard the reading of a resolution declaring April as Fair Housing Month.

* Approved the zone change for 75 Bluegrass Drive, from a business-zoned property to a Residential-1 property.

* Approved at the request of Councilor Jimmy Eastham a donation of $1,000 in the name of the City of Somerset to the family of Chastian McWhorter, the EMT who was killed in a wreck in the line of duty.

Carla Slavey can be reached at cslavey@somerset-kentucky.com