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Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland observing Hunger Action Month in September

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Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul issued a proclamation at Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland’s Volunteer Center Tuesday recognizing the month of September as Hunger Action Month, encouraging residents to support the organization’s efforts to combat food insecurity through volunteer shifts, social media shares, and donations.

FAKH says data shows more than 176,000 people in the organization’s 42-county service area are struggling with food insecurity, and FAKH Executive Director Charles Dennis says the organization and families are feeling the strain.

“Data that we reference told us that compared to January 2021, the average household in Kentucky is spending $140 more a month on food,” Dennis said. “Cumulatively, the average household in Kentucky has spent $3,555 more on food due to inflation since January of 2021.”

FAKH celebrated two major shows of support during the event. Darden Foods donated a new truck to the organization, and Aetna Better Health of Kentucky CEO Paige Franklin was on hand to announce a donation.

“Through a new $250,000 gift to Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland, we, in partnership with you all, will be able to distribute roughly 16,000 nutritious meals per month for the next 12 months,” Franklin said.

Visit Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland on the web for more information on the impact of food insecurity and volunteer opportunities.

ECTC cuts ribbon on Robbins University Center

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Elizabethtown Community and Technical College celebrated the ribbon cutting for the Robbins University Center during their Pancakes with the Provost event Tuesday.

According to ECTC, the Robbins Center will allow “four-year colleges and universities to offer high-demand bachelor’s and master’s degrees locally.” Students will complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree at ECTC and then transfer to a four-year partner that offers classes and support services at the Robbins Center.

ECTC President and CEO Dr. Juston Pate said several recent projects have focused on supporting a strong workforce, but this focuses on allowing local students to thrive closer to home.

“What we’ve really got is a population problem,” Pate said. “If we had more people who lived here, we wouldn’t have a workforce problem, so this university center concept really became more of an effort to keep local talent local, to support not just our community but our places of employment.”

The center is named for Dr. Robert and Rita Robbins, who made a $1 million donation to ECTC in 2018. Rita Robbins said the center will support area students and the need for continuing education.

“We hope this center will be an inviting place for people to gather, develop relationships, and pay it forward,” Robbins said. “When you walk through these doors, change happens. You don’t walk out the same way.”

ECTC has partnerships for the Robbins Center with Western Kentucky University, Lindsey Wilson College, and Campbellsville University, and plans to announce additional partnerships “as early as this fall.”

Road work on Logsdon Parkway, Patriot Parkway under way

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The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is updating drivers on two projects in Hardin County.

KYTC District Four says a chip sealing project is beginning on Kentucky Route 1646/North Logsdon Parkway, with the speed limit reduced to 25 miles per hour from the railroad crossing to Patriot Parkway as crews prepare for resurfacing. Drivers will be passing over loose gravel and will see several lane closures this week, then a final pavement surface will be applied next week.

Meanwhile, work is set to begin on the resurfacing of Kentucky Route 361/Patriot Parkway between Kentucky Routes 220 and 313. The roadway will be milled this week and paved next week, with several lane closures set up to accommodate the work.

Drivers should slow down, pay attention, and use caution in all work zones. Work on both projects is scheduled to be completed before September 30.

Radcliff council talks taxes, playgrounds, and youth council

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The Radcliff City Council met for a work session Monday evening.

The council discussed the city’s ad valorem taxes for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Radcliff CFO Chance Fox said the city saw a jump in new property on the tax rolls, along with a significant increase in property values.

“Radcliff has $1.418 billion of assessed real property value,” Fox said. “Last year in 2023, it was $1.16 billion, so that’s an increase of $250 million in assessed value.”

Because of this increase, the city’s tax rate for real and personal property will decrease from last year’s rate of $1.47 per $1,000 assessed value to either the compensating rate of $1.23 per $1,000 assessed value or the 4 percent increase rate of $1.29 per $1,000 assessed value. Members of the council expressed support for the 4 percent increase in order to generate revenue for the city without impacting taxpayers. The 4 percent increase requires advertising and a public hearing, which the city will prepare.

In other meeting news, the council discussed the pursuit of a grant program through GameTime Playgrounds for a new playground at Dawley Park, and Council Member Terry Owens proposed an ordinance establishing a youth council for the city. Members of the council expressed support for both measures and will discuss them further.

The Radcliff City Council will next meet September 17.

Elizabethtown City Council approves tax rates

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The Elizabethtown City Council met for a special meeting Monday evening.

The council approved, on their second readings, the ordinances that set city taxes for the 2024-2024 fiscal year. The franchise tax rate for all eligible bank deposits is set at .025 percent, the tax rate for real and personal property is set at 11 cents per $100 assessed value, and the tax rate for all motor vehicles and watercraft is set at 11.6 cents per $100 assessed value. Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory said the tax rates have been consistent.

“Just so we’re clear, we have not raised these percentages, at least in my tenure, and I think quite some time before that,” Gregory said. “I didn’t look up the exact date when they were adjusted last, but it’s been quite some time, so these were made the same as they did last year, in the year before, and so on.”

The council also approved a municipal order approving the application for up to $975,000 in grant submissions on behalf of the Elizabethtown Airport Board. The applications are for several grants through the Kentucky Department of Aviation for the terminal building renovation and expansion at Addington Field.

In other meeting news, SpringHaven Inc. CEO Georgia Hensley gave a report of the domestic violence shelter’s activities. Hensley said policy changes and work to increase reporting led to a jump in domestic violence survivors seeking support from SpringHaven from 379 in 2023 to 1,541 in 2024. Hensley highlighted some of SpingHaven’s initiatives including a court escort program that has rolled out in response to the shooting outside the Hardin County Justice Center and the establishment of a domestic violence intake center.

Elizabethtown Director of Planning Joe Reverman reported on the Planning and Development Department’s activities to this point in 2024. Reverman said 329 building, 501 electrical, and 156 sign permits have been approved, with 598 housing units approved for construction. Reverman said even without anticipated growth related to BlueOval SK, the rate of growth is outpacing the city’s infrastructure investment business model, so the city is exploring goals and initiatives laid out in the city’s comprehensive plan and other strategies.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet in a joint meeting with the Elizabethtown Tourism and Convention Bureau on September 23.