Trigg County Judge-Executive Stan Humphries was one of many regional civic leaders who made a recent trip to Washington, D.C., in order to visit with tangential federal voices — with hopes and concerns for south western Kentucky.
Humphries said the delegation included many members of the Pennyrile Area Development District, including mayors and some citizens, and it provided ample time to map what the present and future look like for these communities.
Among the top priorities, he noted, included discussions with the staff of Tennessee’s Republican U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn — regarding the needed widening and expansion of I-24.
He called the project “long, coming” and something that arrived “much faster than anyone anticipated,” and that state leadership has been trying to rudimentarily prepare for its potential construction.
Other issues, he said, include:
— Erosion control on the lower Cumberland River, which will involve due diligence from the Army Corps of Engineers;
— Federal appropriations for the Fort Campbell property, which were addressed by the office of Senator Mitch McConnell;
— And the growing need for improved H-2A and H-2B programs, which offer temporary work visas for non-immigrant employees, who look to provide ample workforces for agricultural and business agencies anticipating a shortage of domestic workers.
Trigg County, he added, has long successfully used the H-2A program to power some of the biggest farming installations, but it’s a concern where immigration reform has yet to be addressed where cooler minds prevail.
One of the more important parts of the visit, Humphries noted, was a humbling stop to Arlington National Cemetery.
In other county news:
— Humphries said an RFP has been issued for an architect to draw up plans designing a new Trigg County Rescue facility, and he wants to see that project “well under way” before the end of 2024. The RFP is due back April 5.
