WQXE NEWS

Kentucky will be getting a new area code as an overlay complex is introduced in the 502 region.

The Kentucky Public Service Commission has announced that residents in the 502 area code region will soon be seeing a second area code: 761.

According to a release from the commission, the North American Numbering Plan Administrator estimates that available telephone numbers will soon be exhausted in the 502 region, with projections indicating the numbers will run out in the third quarter of 2027. The commission held a series of public comment meetings and determined that an overlay was the most efficient and cost effective strategy rather than splitting the region. The 502 area code will remain in use and current customers will not lose their number. The only change for customers will be the need to utilize 10-digit dialing.

The release from the commission states: “Industry guidelines maintain that an ‘overlay’ area code should be in place at least six months before an in-use area code is exhausted. A specific date for the introduction of the 761 area code has not been set.”

The NANPA estimates the new area code will have sufficient numbers for the region for approximately 30 years. The 502/761 region includes Bullitt, Jefferson, and Nelson counties along with parts of Hardin and Meade counties including Fort Knox, Muldraugh, and West Point.

502 was one of the original area codes introduced in 1947, when it covered the entire state. It became the area code for Western Kentucky when 606 was introduced in 1954 for Eastern Kentucky, then became the code for North-Central Kentucky in 1999 when 270 was introduced for Western Kentucky.

The Radcliff City Council met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.

Neil Crawford with QK4, which provides engineering services for the city, provided an update on the North Logsdon Parkway project. Crawford said work had begun on clearing the land and construction was set to begin in September, but the city was told by the state grant manager to pause all work after the period of performance for the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant the project funds were connected to expired on August 5. The project is now on hold as the state requests an extension on that grant.

“I did ask Megan Mollohan with the state what she thought the timing was going to be,” Crawford said. “She said with the way things are right now at FEMA and the federal government, she has no idea, but she said it could be two weeks, it could be two months, or it could be two years, so we don’t know. Totally up in the air.”

Crawford also discussed an ordinance amending the city’s Flood Damage Prevention ordinance that had its first reading at the meeting. Crawford said the ordinance simply matches local guidelines with changes recently made by the state, but not following the update carries negative consequences.

“If we don’t have it enacted by October 15, then we risk falling out of the NFIP system, which then would risk flood insurance for anybody that has it in the community, and it also has other implications of the community wouldn’t be available for grants or federal loans, or if the flood plain is potentially impacted,” Crawford said.

In other meeting news, the first reading was held on an ordinance that makes it “unlawful to leave or confine an animal in any unattended motor vehicle under conditions that endanger the health or wellbeing of that animal.”

“The first responder is authorized to take all steps that are reasonably necessary for the removal of an animal from a motor vehicle, including breaking into the motor vehicle, if the officer has probable cause and if certain conditions are met,” said City Attorney Mike Pike, reading from the ordinance.

Other ordinances on first reading included an amendment to the 2024-2025 city budget concerning balances, the rezoning of 238 Cedar Oak Drive in Vine Grove from Commercial Zone to R-4, and the rezoning of 2787 Hill Street in Vine Grove from Residential Holding and R-2 to just R-2. The council also gave Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall authorization to approve a real estate deal with Mid-Kentucky Kennel Club Inc. on a planned facility at the Millpond Business Center.

The Radcliff City Council will next meet September 8.