WQXE NEWS

Another traffic switch is set to take place this week as the U.S. 62/U.S. 31W dual roundabout interchange project progresses to the next phase.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four says westbound U.S. 62 traffic will be moved to the outside of the roundabouts to go through, with access to both the northbound and southbound bypass ramps. Eastbound U.S. 62 traffic will continue in the current pattern, with access to the southbound bypass ramp but not the northbound (the current detour from southbound U.S. 31W Bypass to the roundabout to reverse direction still in place). Northbound bypass traffic will be able access U.S. 62 but will only be able to go west.

The KYTC says as part of this construction phase the Nicholas Street connector from U.S. 62 will be blocked at both ends. Westbound traffic needing access to Nicholas Street will proceed to the signal at Nicholas and turn left. Eastbound traffic will continue east to the signal at U.S. 31W, turn right, and head south around the square before turning right on Nicholas.

“We’re heading down the homestretch of finishing this project up, but this is one of the bigger traffic impacts throughout the entire project there with the closure of that connector between U.S. 62 and Nicholas Street,” said KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie. “Most folks that live in that vicinity, they certainly know how to get into each end of Nicholas Street with that connector being closed, but there are a lot of delivery and other vehicles that need to access those addresses that aren’t necessarily going there as residents that certainly need to be aware of these detours.”

The traffic pattern shift was expected to go into effect Thursday, but rain in the forecast this week delayed the shift to Monday. Follow KYTC District Four on social media for updates.

The Elizabethtown City Council met for a special meeting and work session Monday.

The council approved the ordinances setting city property taxes for 2025. The motor vehicle and watercraft rate is 11.6 cents per $100 assessed value while the real and personal property rate is 10.7 cents per $100 assessed value. E-Town Mayor Jeff Gregory noted that the city has maintained or lowered the property tax rate each year since at least 1983.

The council approved two municipal orders. The first approved Magnolia Bank’s bid for the naming rights for the gallery space at the Historic State Theater, a five-year deal valued at $20,100 a year. The second approved the sale of 710 and 712 East Dixie Avenue for $190,000 to Dewey and Kelly Cruze, the owners of Dewster’s Ice Cream. Dewey Cruze said his family is excited for the opportunity.

“We live on that side of town,” Cruze said. “Some of you all probably do too. We’re excited about that side of town and what that has to offer for us in Elizabethtown and in surrounding counties.”

The council heard an update from Tim Mattingly with Congleton-Hacker on the outdoor music venue. He said foundation work is under way, and about 60,000 cubic yards has been moved at the site, with more than 190,000 cubic yards more to go.

“You know, we’re still in the early stages out there, but things are really about to start taking off,” Mattingly said. “Once we get these foundations going, we’ve got our block mason where we’ve started talking to them. They’ll probably be getting out there here in the next month or so, so you should start seeing some things go vertical here soon.”

Scott Heath with Magnolia River Services reviewed the findings of the first gas rate study conducted by the city since 2009. Heath said use of the city’s natural gas system has remained steady but they are recommending increases in facility charges and rates to bring the system up from a break even point to a net revenue point. Heath said for a typical residential customer the increase would be about $20.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet October 13.

Breckinridge County Emergency Management Director Justin Frazier says his office and the Breckinridge County Health Department have been working on developing a community-led recovery group.

“Disasters don’t end when the storm passes or the fires are put out,” Frazier said. Recovery is really the rebuilding, and it’s often the longest and the hardest part of the disaster cycle. We want to create a community-led recovery group made up of local churches, businesses, county and city agencies, and as many non-profit organizations as we can partner with.”

Frazier says he is looking to talk both with organizations that focus on preparedness for disasters as well as ones focused on efforts to rebuild after the disaster passes.

“We want to create a framework so that all of these organizations can come together before disasters,” Frazier said. “We talk about what our capabilities are and maybe more importantly we talk about what our limitations are and how best we can help the citizens of Breckinridge County after the disaster. Really, in a way, that keeps us from duplicating our effort or wasting resources.”

Leaders of any such organizations are encouraged to reach out to the Breckinridge County Emergency Management office by calling 270-756-2269 or through the Breckinridge County Emergency Management Facebook page.