At Monday night’s Leitchfield City Council meeting, council members approved expanding the installation of KnoxBoxes to several city-owned buildings, pending approval of the Leitchfield Utilities Commission.
A KnoxBox holds a key to a business or residence in a secure, steel-constructed box attached to the building, and allows firefighters to have more rapid access to a structure. The device ranges in price from $100 to about $600, depending on the size and design.
In May, the council approved installing a KnoxBox on the City Hall building on West White Oak Street, but Leitchfield Fire Department Communications Officer Andrew Whobrey was asked to write a proposal that would outfit a dozen city-owned buildings with the system.
Whobrey told the council he estimated installing a KnoxBox on the 12 city-owned buildings would cost $2,784, or $232 per building. He distributed a detailed proposal to the council, with location-specific recommendations. Whobrey also included an estimated, itemized cost of the proposal, with the larger buildings costing $323 to have a KnoxBox installed, and the smaller structures $167. He reiterated to the council that those numbers are estimates pending final design determinations being made.
The 12 structures to possibly have a KnoxBox installed are: Leitchfield Animal Shelter, Leitchfield Water and Sewer plants, Public Works compound, Rite Aid building (soon to be City Hall), City Hall, Centre on Main, Leitchfield Aquatic Center, the city’s utilities shop, Leitchfield PD, Little League concession stand, and softball concession stand.
The matter will now be taken up by the Leitchfield Utilities Commission.
Whobrey said Grayson County government has ordered three KnoxBoxes, and at least two local businesses will be installing the device.
McStoots retires
Long-time Leitchfield Public Works employee Wayne McStoots was awarded a watch by Mayor Rick Embry in honor of his retirement after 20 years of service. McStoots, accompanied by his wife Betty, was also honored with a small party after the meeting.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
