Dave Gibson, owner of Apex Home Builders, readdressed a Nov. 25, 2025, issue of his high water bill on Oct. 20 due to a major water leak.

“From about a year ago, we haven’t had any water over there because our bill was almost $12,000, and that was due to a water leak that was within 10 or 15 feet of the meter down there,” Gibson said. “So I just, once again, to come back and just, you know, see if there’s any sort of an arrangement that could be made, or if there’s any portion of that water bill that could be forgiven.”

Looking at his water bill leading up to the incident, he said that it was normal usage until one month that said he used a million gallons of water. He believes that a city employee clipped a water line with a mower, damaging it and causing it to leak.

Ward 1 Alderman Margie Brine said that they tried to let him make payments, but he has yet to do so, and Ward 2 Alderman Tim Davis added that they took off the sewer bill to cut the costs.

Gibson said he is fine with paying the water bill, but requested that the costs be knocked down a little. Brine said he needed to start paying his bill as a sign of good faith because they have tried to help in this situation, but Gibson hasn’t done anything.

No action was taken on the issue.

Julie Henson, speaking on behalf of the Bourbon Boosters, requested permission to close Pine Street between Cedar Street and Elm Street, and then just past the Bourbon Area Community Center, from 5 to 6:15 p.m. on Oct. 30 for trick-or-treating.

A costume contest will be held inside the community center afterwards at 6:30 p.m., and all age groups can enter.

She also requested that Pine Street be closed on Dec. 4, starting at the Bourbon Family Center and ending at the community center for Bourbon’s Old Fashioned Christmas Parade.

The parade will follow the tree lighting at 6 p.m.

While they didn’t take a vote, Brine made sure that it wouldn’t be a problem for Police Chief Scott Zwetow to shut down the streets. The aldermen unanimously agreed to approve the request.

Chuck Ray, of the Bourbon Economic Development (BED) Group, made a formal request to the aldermen to waive the $650 water tap connection fee for their dog-friendly walking trail located at the property they own across from the Dollar General.

The BED Group has been working on improving the dog-friendly walking trail, which includes a dog-level spigot.

“Our mission is simple: create a safe, welcoming, scenic, green space that enhances the quality of life for our local residents, while serving as an attractive roadside stop for travelers and pet owners coming off of (Interstate) 44 and, of course, Route 66,” Chuck Ray said. “There’s one essential feature that remains: it’s reliable access to fresh drinking water. Our committee pointed out to me that it would be actually kind of wrong to have a dog-friendly walking trail without water for dogs.”

Mayor Sky Huddleston suggested, as a member of the BED Group, that they add a human-level fountain as well.

Brine confirmed that the waiver they are requesting is just for the water tap connection, but the organization was still going to be paying the water bill.

A motion to grant the waiver was approved by a 4-0 vote.

Jordan Ray, also on behalf of the BED Group and barrel committee, requested to put a barrel in the city’s easement in front of the Old Bourbon Hotel.

No vote was taken, but the board said they had no problems with the request.

In other business, resident Van Kitchens said during the June 16 meeting that Bourbon needed to change its animal control policy after he alleged that on June 9, the city police euthanized his dog.

He was present at the Oct. 20 meeting to receive an update on the report he made.

Ward 1 Alderman James Naquin said he reviewed the report and called for a special meeting, but it requires two aldermen, and he is the only one who has put in for it. Davis said he would put in for the special meeting to make it two aldermen, and the meeting can be held.