With reapportionment coming soon to the Trigg County Fiscal Court, magistrates Monday night unanimously approved a governing committee to oversee its completion include Judge-Executive Stan Humphries, County Clerk Carmen Finley, Agnes Radford, Dan Bozarth and David Hazelmyer.
Humphries again referred to the fact that, mathematically, two districts now need more voters, and two need less. After careful consideration from involved magistrates, the committee has the authority to work from there.
According to Humphries, Radford and Bozarth — who served 33 years with the Pennyrile Area Development District and was executive director upon his 2009 retirement — have previously been involved.
Hazelmyer, meanwhile, is a frequent and focused attendee of fiscal court for the past 16-plus years. He also doesn’t live in any of the districts potentially to be realigned.
Magistrates also unanimously approved to pay committee members $100 per meeting. Humphries said it should take “less than three” sessions to create an effective and accurate map.
In other fiscal court news:
— Magistrates unanimously approved the second reading of the Trigg County FY 2023-24 budget, which is valued at roughly $14.4 million and has been green-lit by authorities in Frankfort.
Alana Baker-Dunn did clarify the budget has increased dramatically of course by some spending, but also because of the large influx of state and federal dollars.
— Magistrates unanimously approved a $225,000 grant, awarded February 24, that will go toward the $450,000 cost of a wastewater pump station upgrade at the I-24 Business Park. This is likely in preparation for the new spec building currently under construction.
— Humphries brought the court up to speed on a number of topics on his mind. At the forefront: a recent visit to the Trigg County Recreation Complex, in which the multi-purpose venue was “packed” more than 70 cars deep and a line “thankfully” wrapped around the concession stand.
He said it brought to his thoughts the land & water grant funding, which has yet to be used for needed improvements out there — but is earmarked for such.
Humphries said he’d like to see bathrooms, or whatever the court decides, started soon after this season and in play before the start of 2024.
— Following a conversation with Magistrate Mike Lane, Humphries said a small bridge on Stone Road is in need of a major resurfacing. The structure impacts one family, and is closed at the time being. This family, he added, is able to go to and from, and a price for the project could soon come.
Humphries further stated that magistrates needed to be getting their road lists together, now that bids have come back on materials.
— Speaking of roads, Humphries said he will be part of a “fly-in” delegation to Washington DC this week, in which many local and regional legislators will be able to meet with elected officials in hopes of discussing major transportation needs.
His focus: I-24, and its ever-growing need to widen.
— With the primary election opening today, Finley announced that of the 12,000-plus registered in and around Cadiz, only 396 people either chose absentee or an early vote. That’s 3.3%.
— Humphries said that with the new federal changes in the LBL Advisory Board through the Heritage Act, he will be vetting two new Trigg County appointees for this refitted governing body; one that will have strong reporting authority on Land Between the Lakes.
— Magistrate Cameron Sumner charged up a discussion about the potential for a speed-limit increase of 55 mph to 65 mph from the entrance of Business U.S. 68/80 all the way to the first bridge into LBL.
County Attorney Randy Braboy said a letter had been drafted and submitted to Frankfort in the past, but with not much splash. Karen Oakley, who has returned to full health, said while the concept had been discussed on a previous court, no action items about a speed-limit change had recently occurred.
Humphries, and magistrates, assured it would once again be a discussion point, with the potential for local feedback.
