A representative from Cambell Hausfeld presented the Leitchfield City Council with a request to consider applying for an Enterprise Zone Program for the city to help make the company more competitive when competing for jobs against the global economy.

Paul Neilson, chief operating officer for the local factory said the program would allow for the factory to take advantage of tax breaks that would make them more competitive with factories in China.

These tax breaks might allow for the workforce to increase by 20 percent in the future.

Neilson said the local factory currently employees around 180 people which is down from a few years ago when 600 members from the local workforce found employment at the factory.

The Enterprise Program allows for tax breaks and will make it easier for the company to purchase new equipment, said Neilsen.

The council agreed to research the possibility of the city becoming an Enterprise Zone.

“We need to look into anything might bring jobs to the city,” said Leitchfield Mayor William H. Thomason.

Marty Higdon, owner of Marty & Sons Construction in Leitchfield, also presented the council with a letter requesting the council to consider allowing his company to build a new swimming pool for the city.

In the letter he stated that his company had built a pool for Camp Joy and he could build the same pool for the city at a price of approximately $400,000. The construction of the proposed pool will be complete by May.

Higdon was informed that the council had agreed to make the necessary repairs to bring the pool in compliance with the the new law instead of replacing the 30-year-old pool.

He then questioned the council members about placing ads in the local paper to allow members of the community to bid on such projects as the repair of the pool.

Higdon said he would like to place a bid on the project and the council agreed to look at his bid.

The next area of business Higdon questioned the council about was being able to place a business sign on Harrison Street for his business. The mayor told him that the matter would be looked into and a resolution to the problem will addressed.

Higdon said he previously had a sign beneath the sign at the entrance of the Grayson County Fair Grounds.

The sign was removed and a dispute over the location of the fence that surrounds the grounds began.

The dispute was resolved after the city moved the fence and Higdon has been unable to advertise the entrance of his business ever since.

He then questioned the council about the possibility of purchasing the old Bosch building, which he said would grow his business by 20 employees

He asked about the job of Industrial Consultant Dudley Cooper. He said he had previously contacted Cooper about help to grow his business and was told that Cooper would get back to him. According to Higdon, Cooper has not followed up with his request.

The mayor agreed to contact Cooper and see what could be done to resolve this issue.

In other business:

Utilities Director Darrell Harrell presented the council with a handout on proposed roadway projects in Grayson County.

The handout is a survey from the Lincoln Trail Area Development District who is hoping to gain public input for the Regional Transportation Planning prioritizing and ranking their statewide transportation planning projects for the future. There are four projects listed on the survey.

The first project listed is major widening of Hwy 62 from the Bypass to KY 224 in Clarkson.

The second is the reconstruction of KY 224 from US 62 to the Western Kentucky Parkway to address geometric deficiencies and improve safety.

The third project listed is the reconstruction of the roadway from KY 226 to the Western Kentucky Parkway in Leitchfield and the final project is reconstruction of Highway 259 from the Byway to Hanging Rock Road.

The handout is available at the library and at Leitchfield City Hall.

Kentucky Utilities Company has gotten approval and will begin to install the remaining lights along the William Thomason Byway in Leitchfield.

Councilman Jerry Schlosser presented the council with a proposed a grant that will be submitted this week.

The grant is requesting money to purchase a safety house for the Leitchfield Fire Department.

The safety house is a mobile unit that would be used to educate the public about fire safety In addition to the fire safety the unit will also address weather issues as well as earth quake risks

The unit will cost $66,000 and the possible grant will cover 100% of the cost.