Clarksville Council wants to preserve Colgate-Palmolive history

Clark County

Discussion

July 7, 2009

Officials would like to have a documentary produced

Matthew Ralph The News and Tribune Tue Jul 07, 2009, 01:56 PM EDT

Clarksville town officials want to preserve the visual and oral history of the famed Colgate-Palmolive Co. plant in the form of a keepsake that can be shared with future generations.

“I’d like to see a DVD made that can be used in schools in the area,” Councilman Bob Popp said Monday, noting how highly visible the plant has been for generations, with its massive clock as the prime example.

Popp thanked the Clarksville Historical Society for a gathering for former plant employees it organized last month and asked Jane Sarles, the historical society’s president, if the society would look into the possibility of having a documentary produced.

“It would be our pleasure to do that,” Sarles said.

The society has, in fact, already done some of the legwork. Sarles noted that she has been in touch with Ball State University about the possibility of collaborating on some documentary film projects.

Council President Greg Isgrigg, a longtime Colgate-Palmolive employee, liked Popp’s idea, but is hopeful that future generations will have more than photos and videos to remember the old landmark.

“I’m dedicated, Bob,” Isgrigg said. “To keep that site alive.”

The site’s future is still uncertain, but Isgrigg said previously that the company most interested in purchasing the facility and surrounding land would use the existing structure as part of a mixed-use, town-center style development.

Earlier this year, Active International, a New York-based company which regularly trades its marketing expertise for land, purchased the property from Colgate-Palmolive.

In other business

• The council approved the purchase of a new salt truck for $42,345 from Bob Hook Chevrolet in Louisville, and a new van for transporting inmates to town court for $25,332 from Carriage Ford in Clarksville. Both purchases were the low bids, according to town officials.

• The council approved the promotion of firefighter Doug Olson to fire inspector.

• The council approved an award of $725 for temporary access of the Evergreen Apartments property for the Eastern Boulevard redevelopment project.

The property owners had argued that the award should be more than 10 times the amount of the town’s appraisal — $7,815.15 — based on its own appraisal of the property.