The Hardin County Fiscal Court regular meeting was held Tuesday afternoon. Judge Executive Keith Taul introduced new personnel to his office. B.K. Gale will serve as the Director of Executive Office Operations, Megan McDougal has accepted a part time position in Public Relations and Crystal Leo has started as Staff Assistant. Judge Taul also announced the appointment of Joey Scott as the County Emergency Management Director. The Fiscal Court also reviewed presentations from Animal Control and the Emergency Management office. Following comments from the County Attorney and Magistrates the meeting was adjourned. The next regular meeting will be held on February 28 at 5:30PM.
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The Hardin County Attorney’s Office will be moving out of the former courthouse to its new location in two phases at the end of the month. “We are moving our office beginning on February 24th. We’re splitting our office into two parts to do that move, so that we don’t have to shut down completely. On Friday, February 24th and Monday February 27th, our Child Support Division will shut down in order to move, but the other division will remain open. And then on Friday, March, 3rd and Monday, March 6, the Criminal and Civil Division will do the same. Then we’ll all be open at the same location at 117 North. Main on March 7,” said County Attorney Jenny Oldham. The former courthouse was purchased by Weyland Ventures LLC who will be developing the property into a boutique hotel with two dozen rooms, restaurant and bar which is expected to open in 2024.
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.
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.