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Elizabethtown City Council reviews medical cannabis zoning ordinance, approves medical contract

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The Elizabethtown City Council met for their first meeting of the month Monday.

The first reading was held on an amendment ordinance for the city’s zoning ordinance. Reading from the ordinance, City Attorney Ken Howard said the ordinance adds provisions for medical cannabis.

“Definitions for the various use types, the zoning districts where the various uses will be permitted, special provisions for spacing of uses, and hours of operation and parking standards,” Howard said.

The ordinance was reviewed in two public hearings by the Elizabethtown Planning Commission, which recommended approval of the ordinance.

A municipal order approving an $890,378 bid from Schroeder Construction for the Helm Street, Terry Court, Park Avenue project was approved, as was an $126,760 change order from Dirt Works Unlimited for the Hawkins Drive sewer project.

Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory broke a tie to approve a contract with Member Medical that provides additional medical services to city employees. Council Member Cindy Walker expressed her concerns with the cost of the services, while Gregory said his financial concerns are offset by the company’s guarantee to pay back the city if they do not save money.

“Ultimately, if it saves the city money and gives us the opportunity to improve health care for employees and give them another solid benefit, then I think it’s absolutely worth a shot,” Gregory said.

The council also approved a 10-year lease agreement with Addington Properties LLC for the city to use 212 West Dixie Avenue for additional office space. That building is the former Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet November 12.

Hardin District Court provides update on solar cases

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Hardin District Court Division III provided an update on two cases involving solar energy that are working their way through the court.

According to a release from the court, the court last week dismissed a complaint from CPV Stonecrop Solar LLC against the Hardin County Planning and Development Commission. Stonecrop requested a declaratory judgment that their proposed “agrivolatics” operation should receive zoning as an agricultural use, while also arguing their proposed operation fell under the “agricultural supremacy clause” and the Right to Farm Act, which they said would allow them to construct the operation without going through the applicable planning and zoning process.

According to the order from the court, the planning commission responded to Stonecrop’s complaint by arguing that because Stonecrop only holds an option to lease the land for their proposed operation, they lack standing and have not gone through the proper statutory process. The court found that it did not have subject matter jurisdiction for the case, with the court denying the petition for declaratory judgment and dismissing the case.

Meanwhile, the court will hear oral arguments this Friday in Hardin County Citizens for Responsible Solar Inc. versus Hardin County Fiscal Court. The Citizens organization is appealing the fiscal court’s approval of a zoning map amendment that would allow for a solar electrical generating facility near Cecilia.

Hardin County sees more than 15,000 early voters

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More than 15,000 Hardin County residents took advantage of in-person early voting opportunities ahead of the November 5 general election.

The Hardin County Clerk’s Office says after more than 4,800 early in-person no-excuse ballots were cast on both Friday and Saturday, the grand total for in-person no-excuse absentee voting was 13,887, with 8,118 ballots cast at the main clerk’s office in Elizabethtown and 5,769 cast at the Colvin Community Center in Radcliff.

The clerk’s office also says 1,679 residents cast their ballot at the clerk’s office during in-person excused absentee voting.

If you received a mail-in absentee ballot, you have Monday and Tuesday to get it to the clerk’s office.

“Those ballots must be back to the clerk’s office by mail or by hand delivery no later than 6 p.m. on election night,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday. With a record turnout expected for this year’s election, Smith says Hardin County has expanded voting locations and added machines at the traditionally busier locations.

“As long as you’re in line by 6 p.m. you’ll be allowed to vote,” Smith said. “We have 15 locations available all across Hardin County. Any voter who’s registered in Hardin County can choose any location that’s convenient for them. I encourage folks to visit govote.ky.gov or the Hardin County Clerk’s Facebook page to find the location nearest you.”

Contact your county clerk’s office for more election information.

Registration for fall LIHEAP energy subsidy opens Tuesday

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Area residents in need of financial assistance for heating their homes can, beginning Tuesday, apply for the fall Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program’s subsidy.

“The LIHEAP program is a program that helps right now with the electric,” said Hardin County Community Action Coordinator Julie Arney. “You cannot be disconnected. You have to be current, and we can help people that need assistance.”

Registration for the fall runs from November 5 through December 20 or until the available funds are depleted. Assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis by contacting your local Kentucky Community Action office. Arney says walk-ins are welcome at the Hardin County office.

“We’re located at 233 Ring Road inside our Kentucky Career Center, or you can call us at 502-764-2222,” Arney said. “If you call, you can make an appointment. We do see those first, but you could walk in. Our hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but we take our last client at 2 o’clock.”

Assistance received during previous LIHEAP cycles does not affect eligibility. Visit capky.org to find the nearest Community Action Agency office or to learn more.

CASA of the Heartland receives grant to support expansion

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CASA of the Heartland recently received a grant to support their efforts as they expand their services to three more counties.

The organization was awarded a $33,665 Volunteer Recruitment Grant from the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad litem Association for Children. According to a release, the grant will allow CASA of the Heartland “to strengthen its efforts to recruit additional volunteers, enabling the program to increase the number of children served across its expanding service region.”

CASA of the Heartland Executive Director Michelle Kail said after originating in Hardin County and expanding to cover LaRue County, the organization decided to take over for the dissolving Tri-County CASA organization and expand to cover Breckinridge, Grayson, and Meade counties.

“We went through a pretty extensive process to figure out if taking on this extra area would be something that we could do and do well, and ultimately we decided that we could not let those kiddos go unserved, and so we are now serving a five county region,” Kail said.

Kail said the organization has an Amazon Wish List posted and is accepting donations, but the best way to support CASA’s mission is by becoming a court-appointed special advocate yourself.

“If you are interested in learning more about being a CASA volunteer, you can visit CASAheartland.org,” Kail said. “We recently shared a video called Coffee with CASA, so if someone just wants to sit down with us and ask more questions, just give our office a call and we will set something up. Our number is 270-982-2274.

More information is also available on the CASA of the Heartland Facebook page.