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Quicksie 98.3
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The Elizabethtown City Council met for their first meeting of the month Monday.
The council approved ordinances that updated the city’s Code of Ethics to match recommended updates from the Kentucky League of Cities and updates to the city’s land usage ordinance concerning residential zoning. When discussing the residential amendments during the council’s June 9 work session, Elizabethtown Planning and Development Director Joe Reverman said the changes allow developers more flexibility and creativity, while also addressing housing needs.
“People have asked for rezoning for a zoning district where they don’t need the zoning change to increase density, they just want smaller lot sizes or some other regulation that’s in another zoning district that doesn’t require additional density, and then we want to incentivize certain types of developments and then of course create new housing types to increase supply and increase affordability,” Reverman said.
The council also approved the rezoning of 1151 Pear Orchard Road from Urban Residential (R-3) to Regional Commercial (C-3). That rezoning paves the way for such uses as a proposed VA medical clinic, but Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory noted that nothing besides the requested zoning change has been presented to the city.
In other meeting news, the first readings were held on ordinances rezoning 201 and 202 North Main Street to Downtown Mixed Use (C-5) and the annexation of 1331 Hayden School Road. The council also approved a municipal order amending the city’s contract with Congleton Hacker Company for the outdoor music venue project.
“The outdoor music venue project has now progressed to the next phase of construction and the city and (Elizabethtown) Tourism desire to continue to develop the project, and per the directive of Municipal Order No. 51-2024 have negotiated a price for the construction phase of the project,” said City Attorney Ken Howard, reading from the municipal order.
The amendment to the contract includes the completion of construction of the project including buildings, utility infrastructure, equipment installation, parking areas, and landscaping, with a “guaranteed maximum price” at an amount not to exceed $41,082,281.
The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet August 11.
The prosecution is responding to convicted Crystal Rogers investigation suspect Steven Lawson’s request for a new trial.
In a response filed Monday to the defendant’s motion for a new trial and judgement notwithstanding the verdict, Special Assistant to the Attorney General Teresa Young said Lawson’s defense “has shown no grounds which would entitle him to a new trial.”
Responding to the defense’s claims that they did not have adequate time to prepare for the trial, Young notes that the trial was moved from February to May to allow the new defense attorneys time to review the case, and that Lawson did not take advantage of arrangements made by Nelson Circuit Judge Charles Simms III to allow Lawson to review materials at the courthouse.
Young also dismissed claims from the defense that Lawson was prejudiced by members of the Ballard family wearing pink in the courtroom gallery, or by prosecution witness Elizabeth Chesser speaking with Rogers’s mother Sherry Ballard during the trial, as the interaction was not about their testimony and was not in violation of separation of witness rules.
Lawson was found guilty on Class B Felony Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Class D Felony Tampering with Physical Evidence charges on May 30, at which time the jury recommended a prison sentence of 17 years. He is scheduled to appear in Nelson Circuit Court for a sentencing hearing Wednesday.
The John Hardin High School FFA chapter is receiving national support for their local project.
John Hardin FFA has been awarded a $2,500 yearlong Living to Serve grant from the national organization.
According to a release from FFA, John Hardin FFA will be using the funds to help address area cat overpopulation by partnering with the Friends of Hardin County Animal Shelter organization on a trap-neuter-release program. Funds from the grant will go towards the purchase of trapping equipment. John Hardin alum Dr. Vasi Wilk will perform the procedures at the school’s PAWS Veterinary Clinic, with assistance from John Hardin Ag. Education students enrolled in the Animal Science pathway.
The Living to Serve grant program is sponsored by Cargill and Tractor Supply Company. FFA says the nationwide program provides funding to local chapters to support yearlong service-learning projects that address needs such as community safety, environmental responsibility, hunger, health, nutrition, and community engagement. Visit ffa.org to learn more about the program, and contact your school’s FFA sponsor to learn more about local chapters.