The Fiscal Court voted to allocate $100,000 to the new Danville Boyle County Development Corporation (DBCDC) at their meeting on Oct. 25.

Previously the EDP, the DBCDC recently had its first meeting with the new board. Magistrate Jason Cullen and Judge Executive Howard Hunt are on the board.

The court agreed to allocate $100,000 per year, starting with this fiscal year, to match the city of Danville’s same contribution. Danville is also allocating $50,000 to the new Economic Development Authority (EDA).

The court had previously taken all $200,000 of its funds from the old EDP and allocated it to the EDA. The $100,000 for the DBCDC will be taken out of that EDA allocation. Since the EDA does not have a budget yet, that organization can request funds from the county as needed.

Cullen said he hopes Perryville, Junction City and other parts of the county might get involved in the new economic development organizations.

The court signed a memorandum of agreement for Norfolk Southern Railway to demolish Buster Pike bridge. Norfolk is covering the cost of demolition, and will make a cash contribution to the county for the bridge’s reconstruction.

The demolition will likely take place between Christmas and New Year’s of this year. That part of the road will be closed while they rebuild the bridge.

The court previously signed a memorandum of understanding between the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Boyle County for $1.6 million from the state to use in rebuilding Buster Pike bridge.

Derek Sublett, regional vice president for government relations for Norfolk Southern, said the bridge is in bad condition, is damaging the tracks beneath it, and is not up to standards for the railroad.

“This serves two purposes, one, the county gets a brand new bridge that’s safer and better suited to the traffic that’s out there, and two, Norfolk Southern gets a bridge that meets our current height clearances, which is very important to us,” Sublett said. “Right now we are unable to maintain that track at the level we’d like, and it’s literally sinking into the mud.”

In order to move quickly in rebuilding the bridge, the court signed an agreement for HMB Professional Engineers to design the new bridge. The total design fee is $115,000; and will include survey and site visits, geotechnical engineering, roadway design and structure design.

Public Works Director Duane Campbell explained the county has used this company for other designs, and that the fee is a good deal. The design cost will be taken from the state’s allocation for this project.

Once the bridge is demolished, the county will begin bids for construction at the beginning of 2023. When the bridge is rebuilt, it will be county-owned.

In other business, the court:

• Reviewed a proposed lease agreement from the city of Danville for the county to rent a city property for a potential satellite EMS station on Hustonville road. The court will discuss more at the next meeting.

• Renewed the IOP and SAP contracts with Shepherds House.