Several months ago, Christian County Emergency Management Director Randy Graham applied for local disaster relief following the December 2021 tornadoes — seeking grant funding for shelters to be placed all across the community.
During Tuesday morning’s fiscal court meeting, magistrates unanimously approved to enter into negotiations with Lexington’s Hoage Engineers — accepting their request for proposal as lead agency for the construction of 13 facilities.
Amy Frogue, PeADD’s director of community and economic development, said six of the shelters will be able to house up to 500 people, while the other seven will be able to house 110.
In other court news:
— Under E-911’s recommendation, magistrates approved the renaming of Watts Road to Tutt Road. David Carroll, E-911 coordinator, explained why.
Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam said this would increase public safety, and Carroll said residents of the now Tutt Road wouldn’t have an address change, and will be notified of this clarity.
— Magistrate John Bruce confirmed that “Operation Air Drop,” organized by the Hopkinsville-Christian County Airport, collected more than two tons of supplies last week for victims of Hurricane and Tropical Storm Helene, and that nearly a dozen flights to Concord, North Carolina, and Greeneville, Tennessee have been successful.
Several flights, however, still need to get to those hard hit areas, and Bruce said there is still time to donate money for fuel costs. At present, he said $50 will buy 10 gallons, and that most flights need 200, or so, gallons for round trips.
Once planes land, Bruce said local helicopters are then taking supplies to rural properties, as several roads in east Tennessee and North Carolina “no longer exist.”
— Magistrate J.E. Pryor noted that Torchlight Tales with William Turner and Friends is still on tap for 6 PM, October 19, at the Jeffers Bend Environmental Center. The cost: $5 per car load.
— Magistrate Rich Liebe also noted that it’s time, once again, for the Christian County Senior Citizens Center Fish Fry. Planned for 4:30-6:30 PM Thursday, October 24, plates are $15 each with carry-out and dine-in options available. Proceeds go directly back to the center, for needed improvements on the property.
— Magistrates closed Tuesday’s meeting by going into executive session, with no action taken, for discussions between a public agency and a representative of a business entity, concerning a specific proposal, if open discussions would jeopardize the siting, retention, expansion, or upgrading of the business.
