Russell Springs Kentucky- June 5, 2009
The special called meeting of the Russell Springs City Council took place this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. The Agenda had seven items. After the acceptance of the May 14 minutes of the last council meeting; Mayor Hollis DeHart announced to the Council and seven observers that the executive session for personnel was no longer necessary, and was done away with.
What Mayor DeHart did not tell the Council or the public was what the personnel matter was about.
After the readings and subsequent approval by unanimous council votes of two budget ordinances, the longest discussion took place about having festivities on the 4th of July. Mayor DeHart spoke about how he was upset and personally ambivalent about Russell Springs continuing the “Lake Fest” without the City of Jamestown. He said “I have thought a lot about this” with even tossing and turning at 2:00 a.m. in the morning. Mayor DeHart went on about the reasons Jamestown had canceled the Lake Fest because of problems with electrical hookups, limited space due to the new justice center, and how he personally felt the relationship between Russell Springs and Jamestown would suffer if Russell Springs went ahead. Mayor DeHart then stated that given the short length of time to prepare and the high cost of fireworks that he felt that the City of Russell Springs should forgo “Lake Fest”.
However the Council was not satisfied with ignoring the patriotic holiday of the 4th of July. Council member Lisa Mann questioned the Mayor asking if Russell Springs continued having “Lake Fest” whether Jamestown would agree to help out. Mayor DeHart had no answers for her. Then a private citizen spoke out how important it was for the city to celebrate Independence Day and that “we got enough people in Russell Springs to do it”. The Council agreed.
While plans are tenative at this point; Russell Springs will be having Independence Day festivities, with the Council wanting to avoid the term “Lake Fest” for the celebration. The City is accepting donations of all kind, including montary donations for fireworks. Contact Mayor DeHart at 866-3981 if you would like to help the City with the Independence Day Celebration. The City is also requesting local resident musicians to volunteer to play at the celebration.
