lance.gaither@bluegrassnewsmedia.com

During the Danville City Commission meeting on March 25, the commission approved Resolution 2024-03-25-09, a formal pledge by the city to adopt the Vision Zero Traffic Initiative as part of the Safe Streets for All grant that the city received in 2022.

The city has a goal to reach zero annual traffic fatalities and major accidents by the year 2050. City Engineer Josh Morgan explained that this resolution is a necessary part of the Safe Streets for All grant that will be needed for the city to receive implementation grants from Safe Streets for All.

The commission heard an update from Vice President of Kinder Morgan Allen Fore. Kinder Morgan is the company that owns the gas line under the closed entrance to Chick-Fil-A, and Fore explained the reason for the ongoing road closure.

He explained that Kinder Morgan is responsible for the extended-length distribution lines of natural gas that utility companies then provide to customers through smaller lines. He said that the lines are heavily regulated by the US Department of Transportation Office of Pipeline Safety.

“A significant supply has been in the county for generations,” Fore said. “We have complied with regulations since the pipeline’s inception dating back to the 1940s. These are safe and will continue to be in safe operations.“

He went on to say that Kinder Morgan will give annual updates to the commission with all planned work throughout the year. He explained why the entrance to Chick-Fil-A has remained closed.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that anything that passes over the pipeline is safe and doesn’t impact the integrity of the pipe,” Fore said. “We lowered the pipe and now we are working with the developer to restore the other aspects of the road.”

The property’s developer, CJ May, is eager for the road to be opened and praised Kinder Morgan for their cooperation in getting the road open while keeping the gas line safe.

“Our goal here is to make a safe road from a gas perspective,” May said. “The last thing we want to see is somebody get hurt. When the road is open you can be rest assured that we and Kinder Morgan have done everything to make sure that happens.”

Both May and Kinder Morgan believe that the road will be reopened by the end of April.

In other news from the meeting:

• The commission approved the first reading of Ordinance 2028. The ordinance changes 6.787 acres at 521 Ensslin Avenue from highway business and agriculture to light industrial.
• Danville city staff has sent a letter of support regarding Kentucky House Bill 141 which would remove the state requirement for water providers to fluoridate their water and allow the decision to fluoridate to be made at the level of local governments.