Groups will no longer be allowed to take up money at the intersection of U.S. 127 and Shelby Street in Junction City, after the council voted unanimously to no longer allow the act, which members called “dangerous.”

In the past, organizations such as the Masons, the Shriners and the AmVets have stood at the intersection collecting funds, Mayor Jim Douglas said.

“We could be liable,” Douglas said.

City Attorney Lynne Dean said the city “very well could be” liable.

“You can do releases and that kind of thing, but you would have to look at those on a case-by-case basis, and still, I can’t assure you that you would be covered in every instance,” she said.

Douglas said he realized this would be a problem for some of the organizations, calling it a “very good” intersection. 

“Some of these guys will work two hours and they take up $2,500 in two hours,” he said. “I know they don’t want to lose that and I don’t want to see them lose it.”

“It’s a sue-sue world, too,” council member Bill McCowan said.

“You’re not only looking at liability of one of them getting hit, you’re also looking at liability of: Someone decides last minute they want to throw something in a boot or a bucket and hits their brakes, somebody rear-ends them and we get named,” council member Pete Kendrick said.

Kendrick asked how often the requests come in, to which Douglas said, “it varies.”

Some groups come twice a year and some want to come on holiday weekends, he said.

“It’s open for discussion,” he said.

Council members agreed with his opinion and voted unanimously to “deny any future” requests to set up at the intersection.

In other news:

•  Junction City Elementary’s Odyssey of the Mind team presented to the council after securing a chance to compete at the academic competition’s world finals in May. The council approved a $1,000 donation to help the students, who are fundraising to pay for their way to the competition, which will take place at Michigan State University.

• Fire Chief Cory Kitchen asked for the council’s “blessing” to spend the department’s annual allotment of $11,000 from the Kentucky State Fire Commission to replace some of the department’s hoses.

“We have several areas where 300 feet makes a difference in if there’s a hydrant or not,” Kitchen said, and explained that some of the current hoses are out-of-date, making them less effective.

He also wants to purchase new helmets, some of which are close to being out of date per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; and new turn out gear, some of which is out-of-date. It costs $2,500 to $3,000 to cover the cost of turn out gear, which goes out-of-date every 10 years.

“It becomes a liability on the city, and threatens firefighter safety,” he said.

Douglas said he would like to see an inventory and would “discuss” the choices with Kitchen.

• Dean announced plans to resign from the city, having been appointed as the Boyle County Attorney, as of April 1.

“It’s been a wild 11 days or so. One thing that I’m quite sure of is that I’m going to have to give up all of my side practices. That means that I’m not going to be able to serve as your city attorney any longer,” Dean said.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with Junction City. I like Junction City a lot … I love this little city.”

She commended the council for having “the best interest” of the city at heart. 

“You don’t find that everywhere. I appreciate that,” Dean said.

Douglas thanked her for her work.

“I appreciate all you’ve done for us,” he said.

Follow Kendra Peek on Twitter, @knpeek.