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Bill Hardin County Animal Shelter says will support puppy mills advances out of committee

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A bill that area officials say would undo local efforts to combat puppy mills advanced out of the Kentucky Senate’s Agriculture Committee Tuesday.

State Bill 157 would permit retail pet stores to sell dogs or cats that were obtained from animal shelters and qualified breeders, which was defined in the bill as “a large-scale breeding kennel that has no direct violations indicated by United States Department of Agriculture inspection reports in the last two years or a hobby breeder.”

Elizabethtown City Council Member Julia Springsteen was among those that spoke against the bill. She and members of the Louisville Metro Council expressed concerns with the bill invalidating ordinances passed on the local level and hindering local efforts.

“E-town’s ordinance allows retail stores to partner with our county shelter and nonprofits to facilitate the adoption of animals, and also allows the county shelter and nonprofits to hold adoption events in certain places,” Springsteen said. “The only way to end puppy mills is to cut off the demand, and that is what we’ve attempted to do in Elizabethtown.”

18th District Senator Robin Webb voted in favor of advancing the bill. She said the rhetoric against the bill is a product of what she called propaganda from animal rights groups, and said bans hurt breeders of work and police dogs doing their business the right way.

“These bans do nothing but to drive it underground, to shield bad breeders, and to create foreign black markets, internet sales, and other things like that,” Webb said.

10th District Senator Matt Deneen voted against advancing the bill, stating that the bill needs some revisions.

“I do believe that there is a need for statewide governance in this area, but at this time I don’t believe the bill adds the framework that is necessary for the enforcement of the bill, and I look forward to working with the chairman on maybe establishing some of those frameworks to ensure that this does away with those puppy mills and kitten mills,” Deneen said.

The bill will now go before the full Kentucky Senate.

Radcliff council considering recovery residence ordinance

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The Radcliff City Council met for a work session Monday.

The council discussed an ordinance that would designate engineering firm QK4 as the city’s local administrator for flood damage prevention. The annual floodplain report helps reduce city insurance premiums, and Mayor JJ Duvall said it makes sense for QK4 to take over management as they are already providing engineering work for the city.

Duvall also discussed the city of Elizabethtown’s recently approved Recovery Residence Certification Ordinance, and said the city is working with other communities and Hardin County on preparing to draft similar legislation. Duvall said the city has been in contact with E-Town officials.

“Mr. Pike and I have talked several times, Ashley Russo has reached out to their folks,” Duvall said. “We have, as far as I know, three or four that we’ve identified that we know is here, so it’s a lot less, but we are being very cautious and monitoring when their rules get in place that fluctuations don’t happen everywhere else in the county.”

The Hardin County Fiscal Court will hold the first reading of a county ordinance regarding recovery residences at their meeting Tuesday.

The council met for a special called meeting prior to the work session in order to go into closed session to discuss the acquisition or sale of property and economic development. No other action was taken during that meeting.

The Radcliff City Council will next meet February 20.

Area officials urge residents to voice opposition to ‘puppy mill bill’

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Local officials are asking area residents to contact their legislators in response to a bill they say would undo local efforts to stop puppy mills.

State Bill 157 is due to be discussed by the Kentucky State Senate’s Agriculture Committee Tuesday, and in a post on their Facebook page the Hardin County Animal Shelter said the bill “would force communities to allow the sale of puppy mill puppies and kitten mill kittens in pet stores.” The animal shelter also says the bill would prevent the enforcement of previously approved ordinances in Elizabethtown and Radcliff that ban such sales.

Elizabethtown City Council Member Julia Springsteen said during Monday’s city council meeting that she would be going to Frankfort to speak against the bill. She said there’s still time for residents to voice their opposition.

“If you have a minute (Tuesday) to call your state senator, please tell them you oppose SB 157,” Springsteen said. “It’s about preemption of our ordinance. It’s about consumer protection, and it’s also about the humane treatment of animals, and we do not want that bill to pass.”

A request for comment from the bill’s sponsor Jason Howell was made to the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission but has not yet been answered.

Elizabethtown Finance Department says drop in general fund is not concerning

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The Elizabethtown City Council met for a work session Monday.

City Finance Director Jeff Hawkins presented a quarterly financial update to the council. Hawkins said the balance of the city’s general fund in December 2023 was $28.7 million, which is down $4.6 million from the year prior. The city’s sewer fund is up $1.4 million while the city’s natural gas fund is down $2.2 million. Hawkins said with recent projects such as the new Public Works building the drop in the general fund was not unexpected.

“We knew it was going to drop,” Hawkins said. “Obviously we’ve had salary increases and compensation. We’re hiring more people, doing what we can to better serve our citizens, but as we know, too, the Occupational Tax increase just kicked in January 1, so we’re anticipating to get half of the employer increase in this budget year.”

Hawkins said the city will review possible gas rate increases as the city has not adjusted that rate in about 12 years. Hawkins also noted that to this point in the fiscal year the city’s restaurant tax has collected about 44 percent of the $5.5 million that was projected.

City Stormwater Director Rita Davis gave an update on several projects. Davis said phase one of the Foxborough drainage project has been completed, and the city is waiting to collect data on spring rain events before proceeding to phase two. Phase one of the city’s Stormwater Master Plan is complete. Phase two of the master plan is ongoing, focusing on objectives such as reviewing ordinances, developing a design manual, better definitions, and establishing a rain gauge network. Davis said the department’s online portal for reporting stormwater issues has been well-used.

“We received 152 requests since this time last year, so this is heavily utilized,” Davis said. “We’ve resolved 132 requests since January of last year, and a lot of those are in conjunction with Public Works, with them doing the work on the ground.”

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet February 20.

Crystal Rogers suspect Joseph Lawson’s bond reduced but medical release not granted

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Crystal Rogers investigation suspect Joseph Lawson has been granted a bond reduction, but not to the extent requested by his attorney.

Nelson Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III entered an order Monday reducing Lawson’s bond from $500,000 to $250,000. Lawson’s attorney had requested a bond reduction to $50,000 and for Lawson to be released on home incarceration to attend an inpatient treatment facility.

Simms said the court considered the gravity of the charges Lawson faces, which carry a potential sentence of up to 25 years in prison. Simms’s order states that pretrial assessment described Lawson as a moderate flight risk and a moderate risk to reoffend. Simms also considered Lawson’s criminal history, which includes at least two felony convictions, and noted that Lawson is currently incarcerated at the Kentucky State Reformatory while serving a one-year sentence for a first degree Criminal Mischief charge.

Simms previously granted a $250,000 bond reduction for Lawson’s father Stephen Lawson, who faces the same charges as Joseph Lawson. Simms previously denied a bond reduction for Brooks Houck, who faces charges of Murder and Tampering with Physical Evidence in the case.

Houck, Joseph Lawson, and Stephen Lawson are all due back in Nelson Circuit Court for a status conference on March 21.