State Senator Matt Deneen of Elizabethtown presented Senate Bill 49 on Tuesday in Frankfort. There are over 1,600 teachers currently in the Option 6 alternative teacher certification program that only allows three years for provisional teachers to complete certifications. SB 49 is a measure to help address teacher shortages by extending the time frame to 5 years. SB 49 passed the Senate unanimously and will now head to the House of Representatives for consideration.
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The Elizabethtown Planning and Development Commission reviewed plans for two new convenience stores coming to the area. The development plan with waivers for a QuikTrip to be located at 1800 South Dixie Avenue, which is at the intersection of South Dixie and Lincoln Parkway, was approved in a 3-0 vote. The QuikTrip will have 3 access points – 2 on Lincoln Parkway and 1 from South Dixie – and will take up a majority of the 8.9 acre lot. This store could be the first of the chain to be opened in Kentucky depending on construction. The development plan with one waiver for a Huck’s to be located at 121 Ring Rod, which is at the intersection with Black Branch Road, was approved. The store will have one access point from each roadway and will cover about half of the 7.75 acre lot, allowing for potential development on the other half of the lot at a future time. The Huck’s will likely feature a Godfather’s Pizza and Cluck’s inside its store.
The Planning Commission also held a public hearing on a map amendment request from the City of Elizabethtown to rezone several lots around and including the Pritchard Community Center from a (PNR-2) Planned Neighborhood Residential and (C-3) Regional Commercial to C-5, Downtown Mixed Use. The Commission has recommended the changes be made and that recommendation now heads to the City Council.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has announced the next two roundabouts that will begin construction this month. Work will begin on the KY 251/Pear Orchard Road intersection on February 21. This intersection will not be closed during the construction but drivers will need to pay attention to signage and prepare for changing traffic patterns within the work zone. Work at this location is to be completed in 45 days so the anticipated end date would be around April 7.
Work will begin on the Dolphin Drive/Josale Drive intersection on February 28. This intersection WILL be closed for a 15 day portion of the construction process which is expected to be done in 30 days. Traffic patterns will be altered so motorists should prepare for that when entering the area. The dates for closure have not been announced as of yet but will be released in advance.
It was also announced that the construction at the intersection at the end of US 31 W Bypass and KY 1136 has been delayed two to three weeks due to a delay in receiving materials. The construction was originally slated to start yesterday.
All construction dates are subject to change, especially over the next few months with weather conditions. Updates will be posted on the Transportation Cabinet District 4 social media accounts.
The Lincoln Trail District Health Department announced a new interactive tool to assess public health and safety. In collaboration with mySidewalk, the Department has customized a Community Health Assessment dashboard to keep the public informed about health and wellness in their communities. The site helps to provide a better understanding of data with more than 60 data points looking at social, economic and environmental factors. The dashboard helps drive local communities goals and strategies and takes the conversation beyond outcomes to why health matters. For more information visit LTDHD.org.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for their work session last night. The Wastewater Department shared that it is currently working with HDR, Inc to conduct a rate study for the city. “Currently the city is undergoing a rate study. We are looking at this with the anticipated growth in the city. The anticipated date this will be completed is early July. We are anticipating that it will have some changes for the residents of the city. It doesn’t mean that rates are going up. It just means that we’re looking at it to see what needs to be done. After we get the rate study back in July, we will review it internally and have a discussion with the council to see when and if rates will change. It doesn’t mean it’s gonna happen right away. It could be next year, it could be a few months after,” said Director of Wastewater Treatment Corey Bond. It has been ten years since the rates were last reviewed.
The City Council also heard from the Elizabethtown Fire Department about refurbishing one of the ladder trucks. “If we ordered an Ariel (ladder truck) in July, it would be here in 2026. So really the advantage of refurbishing this truck is a much shorter delivery date. Like I said, we’ll only be without the truck for six months, whereas otherwise, we’re going to be waiting two years on a new ladder (truck). It’s roughly $1.4 million to refurbish the truck. It’ll have a 2024 title, it gets a brand-new engine, transmission, and chassis,” said Elizabethtown Fire Chief Mark Malone. Chief Malone noted that looking at other companies to purchase a new ladder truck, most companies have a 850 to 900 day lead time due to availability of parts. Chief Malone has been in contact with the Radcliff Fire Department about assisting should a need arise and says they have an agreement.