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Bridge work in Louisville will close I-65 for two months next summer

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An $150 million construction project will result in traffic impacts on Interstate 65 in Louisville.

Governor Andy Beshear on Wednesday announced that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet awarded a contract to Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. for the replacement of three bridges on I-65, the first phase of the I-65 Central Corridor Project.

According to a release from KYTC District Five, the project is “a bridge replacement and rehabilitation initiative to ensure safe and sound bridges along one of Kentucky’s busiest transportation arteries.” Under the contract, bridges over Kentucky and Brook streets, Hill Street, a CSK rail line, and Burnett Avenue, along with Bradley Avenue will be fully replaced. The KYTC says all three bridges are more than 60 years old and are rated in poor condition.

The work will be completed in phases, with the first phase consisting of work underneath the interstate with minimal traffic impacts between now and June 2026. The second phase will result in a full closure of I-65 between Jefferson Street and the Watterson Expressway for two months, with traffic detoured via Interstates 264 West and 64 West.

More information on the project can be found at www.iI65centralcorridor.com.

Hardin County Fiscal Court approves property tax rates

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The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.

The fiscal court approved property tax rates for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

“The real estate tax rate of 10.8 cents per each $100 of assessed value, the personal property, business inventory, non-Kentucky-registered watercraft and aircraft rate of 12.3 cents per $100 of assessed value, and then the motor vehicle and watercraft tax rate of 11.5 cents on each $100,” said County Attorney Jenny Oldham during a public hearing on the tax rate held during the meeting.

Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul said during his presentation on the tax rate that the county was going with the four percent revenue increase.

“The four percent increase from the previous year brought us very close to what we looked at and what we were able to predict,” Taul said. “It came in within a total of about $60,000, so very close to what the budget that we are currently in shows.”

Taul said the county budget is being balanced with about $2.5 million from the BlueOval SK Pilot Agreement, while not using annual funds from the Baptist Health Hardin hospital sale. The business personal property rate increased while the real estate property rate decreased.

“The reason that we could do this, to actually have an increase in revenue with a tax rate that went down 0.3 cents, is because it’s due to our growing county, really, and with an almost $1 billion increase in real estate property valuations,” Taul said.

In other meeting news, Hardin County Coroner Pat Elmore said his office responded to 72 cases in June and 129 in July, noting an increased number of autopsies performed. Hardin County Sheriff John Ward said in June and July his office made 189 arrests and issued 254 citations.

The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet September 9.

ECTC and U of L partner on applied engineering degree program

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Elizabethtown Community and Technical College President and CEO Dr. Juston Pate said during the college’s community breakfast Tuesday that ECTC is progressing in its mission of being a “3.0 community college,” which means students are not attending just to get the so-called “basics.”

“Maybe it’s the first two years of a four, five, or six year degree, or maybe it’s one year and going into the workforce in a high-wage, high-demand job,” Pate said. “It’s not the basics. It’s not the first two years. It’s a clear career path and a clear educational plan to get that career.”

Progress has been made on that goal with expansions and upgrades on campus and improving the experience for students, and the college took another step towards creating pathways for students with the introduction of an undergraduate applied engineering degree, created in partnership with the University of Louisville.

U of L Speed School of Engineering Dean Dr. Emmanuel Collins was on hand Tuesday to formally sign the agreement between the schools. He said the applied engineering program will give students a deeper understanding of the math and science foundation of engineering, which is a benefit to them and their community.

“They’re going to be able to solve deeper technical problems, so when they look at your plants and they see the engineering issues that are prevalent, they’re going to have greater capacity to solve those problems,” Collins said. “They’re going to have a more in-depth understanding of how to use some of the tools that are really common in your plants.”

The ECTC program will open in the spring. More information on the applied engineering program is available on the University of Louisville’s website.

Hardin County Clerk’s Office asking for wheelchairs for voting locations

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The Hardin County Clerk’s Office has announced an initiative to assist mobility-impaired voters by making a wheelchair available at all county voting locations.

“We have come up with an idea of utilizing wheelchairs and some assistance so that walk from your handicap-accessible parking place to the poll booth is going to be a whole lot easier for folks,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. 

The clerk’s office is asking residents with an unused wheelchair at home to donate it to the cause.

“We know a lot of folks have a wheelchair either in their basement or their garage,” Smith said. “It belonged to a family member who needed it, and maybe that family member has passed on or no longer needs it. We’re asking you to donate it to the county clerk’s office. We’re going to put it to good use. We’re willing to come pick it up. We’ll clean it up. We’ll make sure it’s safe and functioning, and we’re going to help people vote with it.”

The clerk’s office is aiming to collect 10 wheelchairs by the end of the year to prepare for the 2026 election cycle. Contact the clerk’s office at 270-765-6762 or email HCelections@hccoky.org for more information.