On a Tuesday evening where Judge-Executive Stan Humphries and the Trigg County Fiscal Court had a litany of housekeeping items to tend for the start of a new year, the back-in-the-saddle leader closed with a trio of extremely pressing issues for the community — all of which will likely be a focus for this body in 2023.
The topics: an eventual construction of a third lane somewhere between Paducah and the Kentucky-Tennessee state line to combat congestion along I-24, the continued revitalization of a crown jewel in the Lake Barkley State Resort Park, and the Trigg County Recreation Complex and its best uses for the land & water funding.
And, ultimately, it’s all related to current and potential tourism for Trigg County.
In regards to I-24 expansion, Humphries said he recently attended a meeting with individuals from the Montgomery County area — in which he noted those officials are “already meeting with their federal delegation” to bring this matter to important tables.
The traffic volume is there, he added, for something to happen in west Kentucky.
In a nod to the state park, Humphries said it wasn’t the fiscal court’s purview to maintain or even suggest things go differently on the property. Over the last four years, the Lodge and its surroundings have been a haven for COVID-19 quarantines and tornado victims, while enduring an unfortunate fire.
However, Humphries said he’d like for the court to find effective ways to perhaps offer a lift — until the Kentucky General Assembly and Gov. Andy Beshear make clear what reparations and repairs could be coming to the state parks system.
Finally, Humphries warned that a 2020 land & water grant, valued at a $250,000 50/50 match, might not go as far at the Complex as magistrates once thought. A lot has changed in 24 months, and the needs of the restrooms and concession stand — as well as a couple of the fields — has been described as “great.”
Humphries noted the baseball and softball homes for the Wildcats may very well receive needed boosts from the team’s own fundraising and laborious efforts, but a review of construction options for the heart of the facility needs to occur.
Earlier in the meeting, Humphries did recognize the fact that previous Judge-Executive Hollis Alexander and his court left the county in good financial standing — a point also made by Magistrate Alana Baker-Dunn.
Humphries said Trigg County’s current bonding potential stands around $24 million.
In other court news:
— Magistrates Mike Wright and Barry Littlejohn recently attended the 45th Annual Kentuckians for Better Transportation Conference in Louisville, seeking training and understanding in multiple facets like new initiatives, state regulations, while workshopping with other municipalities. Wright said there were several awakenings from the experience, particularly with the electric vehicle industry.
— Magistrates also approved the first reading of an ordinance agreeing to be the support arm and co-signer for a bond issue to assist the Pennyrile Area Development District complete an upcoming renovation of its Hopkinsville office.
PADD Executive Director Jason Vincent spoke to the court about the process. Christian County Fiscal Court sponsored the building’s original construction in 1987, and its board room expansion in 2008. Trigg County sponsored a refinancing of the board room expansion to fix the rate in 2018. The work will consist of $200,000 in costs, replacing carpet and building sealing along with a bathroom renovation and some painting. Vincent said the PADD does not have taxing authority, and therefore has no access to KACO loan funding without a sponsor.
