On July 25, Christian County Judge-Executive Steve Tribble inked a community development grant with officials from the US Department of Agriculture — bringing $100,000 to the Hopkinsville/Christian County YMCA.
During Tuesday’s fiscal court meeting, magistrates unanimously approved that action retroactively, in what should be a well-embraced lift for the popular recreation facility on Eagle Way Bypass.
Sheryl Ellis, CEO, said the organization had been waiting two years since first applying for these funds — funds that will be awarded to the fiscal court and correctly dispersed effectively through the Pennyrile Area Development District.
Tribble noted that the YMCA will have to get started on most of these projects by October 1 in order to activate the grant. And Ellis added that once they get these major projects started, the remaining $12,000 or so will be used to procure any other new equipment needed for the facility.
In other court news:
— Following weeks of deliberate conversation and public input through the Christian County Board of Elections, magistrates unanimously approved an increase to $200 for early-voting an in-house poll workers, as well as the purchase of five more voting machines at $29,500 from Harp Enterprise.
The move comes following the recommendation and acceptance of three more voting centers in Christian County (Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Friendship House, Hopkinsville Middle), bringing the total to 16 for this November general election and thereafter.
Magistrate Darrell Gustafson said the county would be reimbursed for the purchase of the new machines through a security grant. He also noted that by May 2023, the county will have to own new poll sign-in devices.
Magistrate Phillip Peterson said the Commonwealth would also be playing its part in this changeover.
— Magistrate Rich Leibe relayed to the court a recent Zoom meeting he’d recently attended as a member of the Kentucky Magistrates and Commissions Association, in which that body heard a comprehensive update regarding the ongoings of east Kentucky’s flood recovery.
Leibe said there’s still a massive need for several specialized goods, which can be found on wkdzradio.com.
Tribble added that Christian County’s Emergency Management Director, Randy Graham, has been in Letcher County for the last week. He’ll return to Christian County this weekend to regroup, and has been asked to go back to Letcher County next week.
— Assistant County Attorney Lincoln Foster administered the first reading of the 2022-23 proposed tax ordinance, revealing one considerable recommendation. Fiscal Court is looking to lower the property tax rate from 18.6 cents per $100 of assessed value to 18.2 cents. Tribble noted that with increasing property values, the county can still garner its 4% return while dropping the tax.
Gustafson commented that this was made possible due to county growth.
The second reading will come at fiscal court’s next meeting: September 13.
Kentucky Magistrates and Commissions Association released list of needs:
concrobium mold killer
2.5-gallon bug sprayers for concrobium
lawn & garden tools
dehumidifiers
Clorox
gloves for industrial cleaning
fans
plastic sheets/tarps
other cleaning products
brooms
generators
large storage containers/pods/trailers
insulation/other building supplies
tents
camping supplies (propane, stoves, et al)
temporary housing solutions
