The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their first meeting of the new year Tuesday afternoon.
The court approved a resolution related to the annexation of a quarter mile portion of Hutcherson Road between KY 447 and U.S. 31W. Judge-Executive Keith Taul said the resolution clears the way for the city of Elizabethtown to annex the road and take it under city maintenance.
Taul recapped some of the county’s accomplishments in 2023, including increased transparency, broadband grant money, reducing costs and improving services for EMS, expanding E911 to include Radcliff Police dispatch, and an ongoing review of improving emergency services. Taul also discussed the comprehensive study that was completed on the impact of BlueOval SK. Taul said he appreciated the large amount of collaboration that went into preparing the plan.
“We had basically a timeline to deal with here because one of the main purposes of pulling this together was to identify all of these things and get with our legislators,” Taul said. “They have committee meetings and everything even in the middle of the year in preparation for the session that they’re in right now.”
Taul said goals for the new year include maintaining a strict but effective budget, continuing to improve response times for emergency responders, and a study of sewer expansion in the southern part of the county, among other goals. Taul said he is optimistic for the new year.
“I feel that this is a lot of work ahead of us, but I believe that we have a great team and I’m confident that we will make significant improvements as we plan for all of this growth coming our way,” Taul said.
In other meeting news, Hardin County Public Works Director Stephanie Givens said the county’s shredding program saw 358 bags shredded in 2023, and the recycling program collected a total of more than 306.8 tons.
Hardin County Planning Director Adam King said an open house introducing the county’s new comprehensive plan will be held at the county building from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on January 16. King also discussed the Creating Vibrant Communities grant the county received from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, which will cover more than $100,000 for a study of options for downtown Glendale.
“Three different consultants,” King said. “It will be about a year-long process studying downtown Glendale, how to preserve what we’ve got, how to protect what we’ve got, and how to even enhance it, and truly keep it a unique place in Hardin County.”
The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet January 23.
