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Elizabethtown City Council discusses Flock Camera System, upcoming projects

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The Elizabethtown City Council met for a work session Monday afternoon.

Elizabethtown Police Chief Jeremy Thompson gave the council an update on the EPD. Thompson discussed the success of the city’s Flock Camera System, which captures vehicle and plate data from automobiles in order to assist police work.

“Of all the years I’ve been doing it, I can’t think of a better piece of technology, a more game-changing piece of technology, than what Flock has done for law enforcement,” Thompson said. “I think many of you have heard me say before that it gives us actionable intelligence in real time on what’s going on in our city when it comes to criminal behavior.”

Thompson said the department has had various success stories, from locating a stolen vehicle on the first day the cameras went up to recovering a child that was in a stolen vehicle within an hour, and said the department plans to ask for the installation of six more cameras. Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory said at a time where the department faces hiring challenges the cameras have proven extra valuable.

“Technology is never going to take the place of manpower when it comes to police work, but what Flock has allowed these guys and gals to do is it’s made their job a lot easier, where they don’t have to put so much man power into a certain job in a lot cases because they’ve had those tools to lead them to who they needed to get to,” Gregory said.

In other meeting news, the city recognized the winners of the Christmas in the Park Poster Contest: 

  • G. C. Burkhead Elementary School kindergartener Maggie Coale 
  • St. James School first grader Kenley Overstreet
  • G. C. Burkhead Elementary School second grader Taylor Garrett
  • Morningside Elementary School third grader Alenea Stutz
  • Morningside Elementary School fourth grader Melody Witten 
  • Helmwood Heights fifth grader Adair Worth.

Pictures of the winning posters and the artists behind them can be found on the City of Elizabethtown Government Facebook page.

City Administrator Ed Poppe gave an update on several city projects. Poppe said bids are expected to come in soon on the sewer project on the west side of town, one of the segments of the Buffalo Lake Trail project, and new scales for the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Poppe also said the city plans to have public input meetings after the first of the year for the community-wide streets system study being paid for by the Safe Streets For All grant the city received. Poppe said traffic work will be based on data, but the city has some areas in mind.

“We have specifically talked about, because we’ve got growth on the north end and addressing some of those projects, that we may look and target some south end projects with some of this funding,” Poppe said.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet for a regular meeting on November 20.

Radcliff City Council approves golf cart ordinance, updated policies for RPD

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The Radcliff City Council met for a called meeting Monday evening.

The council approved an ordinance authorizing the use of golf carts on permitted streets within the city.

The ordinance states that all public streets owned and maintained by the city with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less may be used for the operation of golf carts except for Wilson Road (north or south), Shelton Road, Hill Street, Elm Road, Blackjack Road, and East Lincoln Trail Boulevard. Golf carts must have proper signage and permits, and operators must obey regular traffic laws and be licensed drivers. 

Council Member Toshie Murrell recognized the residents that brought the matter before the council.

“I’d like to thank Mr. Bennett and Mr. Hopwood for presenting what they say as a need in our community to have this public safety ordinance as it pertains to golf carts,” Murrell said.

The council also approved policies and procedures for the Radcliff Police Department which included the introduction of policies detailing the permitted uses of the city’s upcoming Flock Camera System and the drone purchased for the department with the assistance of Kentucky Farm Bureau, along with an update to the policy concenring Sexual Assault Evidence Kits introduced in 2016. Council member Jerry Brown said the policies ensure the new equipment is used properly.

“We’re looking at the safety of our residents,” Brown said. “We’re trying to protect our residents to make sure they get the best care that they possibly can, but also to ensure their privacy and their legal rights.”

Brown noted a warrant is necessary for the drone to be flown over residential property without specific probable cause, and Radcliff Police Chief Jeff Cross said the policy specifically details how information obtained from the Flock cameras can be used.

The council recognized veterans Louis Simpson and Levi Roberts, who both passed away earlier this year. The council also recognized the KF Longhorns on their championship season as well as Carlos Echeverria who received a silver medal representing Team USA at the World Kickboxing and Karate Union World Championships.

The Radcliff City Council will next meet for a work session on December 11.

Central Kentucky Community Foundation celebrating National Community Foundations Week

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The Central Kentucky Community Foundation is joining in on a nationwide celebration for National Community Foundation Week, which runs now through November 18.

“Community Foundation Week helps celebrate the great work that community foundations all over our country do all year long,” said CKCF President and CEO Davette Swiney. “It gives us a chance to just bring a little attention to that, focus on the missions that we carry out 365 days a year, and celebrate those who help us make it happen and those differences we make in our community.”

The Community Foundation says it works closely with nonprofits and community leaders to address challenges head-on by gathering information, convening stakeholders, addressing systemic needs, inspiring giving, and marshaling resources for the greatest impact.

Swiney says community is not just part of the organization’s name; It is at the heart of everything the foundation does.

“People we work with care very much about our community and how they can be part of helping make it a better place today, but also tomorrow and long term, and that’s the beautiful part of the work that we get to do,” Swiney said. “It’s about today, but we’re also trying to think about those that will come after us.”

After organizing a blood drive Monday, other national community foundation week activities include the announcement of the 2023 Granted Award recipients Wednesday morning, which Swiney says will be the largest the organization has ever presented. The organization will also host an ice cream social for its volunteers Thursday.

Learn more about the Central Kentucky Community Foundation by visiting www.cfck4people.org.

Central Kentucky Community Foundation, Hardin County Schools partner for new grant fundraising program

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Hardin County Schools and the Central Kentucky Community Foundation are announcing the launch of a new grant catalog, Let’s Fund HCS, to help fund innovative educational projects.

In a video posted to the HCEC-TV YouTube channel, CKCF President and CEO Davette Swiney said the fundraising program is a new opportunity for community support.

“We’re excited for this partnership to give our community a chance to help support some new initiatives going on in our classrooms to help students have the experience they need to transition into the real world from some project-based learning,” Swiney said.

HCS says Let’s Fund HCS is an effort to create opportunities for more students to experience the benefits of project-based learning. These projects often require equipment or supplies that classrooms do not have access to through the district’s general classroom fund.

HCS Director of Innovation Brandy New said 12 teacher applications were selected for the catalog.

“Teachers over the past few weeks have submitted ideas,” New said. “We’ve looked at those. We’ve made sure that they align with the curriculum and what needs to get done. Principals have seen those and vetted them, and now they’re ready for the public to see.”

The district says project-based learning encourages students to engage in hands-on, collaborative projects that deepen understanding and support critical thinking skills.

HCS Superintendent Terry Morgan said the program connects educators, students, parents, and the community.

“This was asked for by the community, so we know that you are a great community and willing to support these great endeavors happening in our classrooms,” Morgan said.

Find a link to the Let’s Fund HCS page on the Central Kentucky Community Foundation’s website.

Local officials remind residents to adhere to outdoor burning laws as crews continue fighting wildfires

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Hardin County officials are reminding residents to adhere to Kentucky’s Fall Fire Hazard Season burn restrictions.

State law states that during Fire Hazard Seasons it is against the law to burn a fire or any flammable material within 150 feet of any woodland or brushland between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. unless the ground is covered in snow. The statute is intended to prevent forest fires by limiting outdoor burning to times where conditions are less likely to spread out of control.

The reminder comes as Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has declared a state of emergency for numerous wildfires across the commonwealth, with the Kentucky Division of Forestry reporting 16 active fires, 36 contained fires, and 76 controlled fires at the time of an update Monday afternoon. Kentucky Emergency Management says drought conditions have increased threats for wildfires statewide, and weather forecasts predict the potential for additional fires.

More information on wildfire prevention is available on the Kentucky Emergency Management website.