WQXE News

The Elizabethtown City Council met for a special meeting and work session Monday evening.

During the special meeting, the council approved a resolution supporting the Elizabethtown Police Department’s application for Law Enforcement Protection Project funds from the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security. Elizabethtown Police Chief Jeremy Thompson said the funds will cover the purchase of new tasers.

“We learned of some grants through Homeland Security, and they want a resolution to make sure that we’re not only serious about it, but on down the road if there’s matching funds, in this particular instance there are not, but just part of the procedures for us to apply for this grant, so we don’t know how much yet,” Thompson said.

During the work session, Elizabethtown Wastewater Management Director Corey Bond discussed updates to the city’s sewer use ordinance needed to update definitions and reflect fee changes that are due to be approved at the next council meeting. Bond also discussed a proposed grease trap program under which the city would help businesses that are still using under-sink grease traps convert to exterior grease traps, which would put them in compliance with current city code and help keep city sewers cleaner.

“So basically in this year’s budget the ask will be $250,000 to put in,” Bond said. “The plan is to send a letter out to each one of these businesses that we know has one and ask them to basically say would you like to participate in this or not, and if not then basically you’re signing off saying that you’re aware that you’re basically not taking advantage of this program and you’re fine, unless one of these things happen then it’s completely on that business at that time.”

Members of the council expressed support for the creation of such a program.

Council members also asked for more information on the proposed creation of a stormwater utility fee. City officials said they would create a list of planned projects and projections for the council to review.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet April 7.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking businesses to manage three area campgrounds at state properties. 

The USACE Louisville District has published notices of availability for two land lease opportunities at Rough River Lake and one at Green River Lake.

According to releases from the USACE, the Louisville District is looking to partner with businesses to help transition management responsibilities for the campgrounds, allowing the business to receive a fair profit while the campground remains an integral part of the lake communities.

The notices of availability begin the formal process of transferring management responsibilities for Rough River Lake’s campgrounds at Cave Creek Multipurpose Recreation Area in Falls of Rough and North Fork Recreation Area in McDaniels, along with Green River Lake’s Pikes Ridge Campground in Campbellsville.

The release states: “USACE is committed to creating a sustainable recreation program and providing a high-quality recreation experience for lake visitors. As part of that effort, the Louisville District is continually evaluating how to best deliver an enduring recreation program despite rising service and maintenance costs and constrained annual budgets.”

Visit the USACE Louisville District website for more information.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and in observance CASA of the Heartland is hosting a Pinwheels for Prevention planting event in each of the five counties the organization serves.

“The pinwheels, because they’re very whimsical and fun, represent the healthy and happy childhood that all children deserve, and so we plant a thousand of them in Hardin County to represent all of the children of Hardin County and the fact that they do deserve that happy, healthy childhood,” said CASA of the Heartland Executive Director Michelle Kail. 

The first planting event is coming up this Thursday.

“We will be hosting our annual pinwheel planting in Hardin County at the Elizabethtown Police Department on March 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the EPD has so graciously sponsored Juanito Street Tacos again this year, so they will be out there to provide lunch for our participants,” Kail said.

All are welcome to attend Thursday’s event.

“We do have a QR code that we’ve kind of pushed out there for if people want to just kind of sign up in advance so that we can just kind of engage with them and they can stay in the loop about other events and stuff that we’ve got going on, but they can register on site,” Kail said. “They don’t have to register in advance, but it is a free event and completely open to the public.”

Learn more about the organization, including how to serve as a court-appointed special advocate or other opportunities to help, at www.casaheartland.org or on the CASA of the Heartland Facebook page.