News from August 5, 2004 issue


Officials keeping eye on US 641
The political stalemate over a state budget is causing some distress for local leaders who want to get moving on the U.S. 641 four-lane project from Marion to Fredonia.

According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Six-Year Highways Plan, the relocation of U.S. 641 is scheduled to begin during the state's fiscal year 2005, which started July 1.

Yet because of the state's budget impasse, there is a great deal of uncertainty over whether right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation will begin as scheduled.

Crittenden County Judge-Executive Fred Brown said he spoke with Transportation Secretary Clay Bailey by phone Monday and was assured that the project remains alive and well.

"He told me there might even be some work done on the right-of-way purchase or utilities within a few weeks," Brown said.

State Rep. Mike Cherry of Princeton is encouraged by the conversation between Brown and the transportation secretary.

"What I want to hear from the highway department is that they've given District 1 the green light to begin property acquisition," Cherry said. "It sounds like (Bailey) is about an inch short of saying that's a done deal."
Cherry said he talked with Gov. Ernie Fletcher about the U.S. 641 project just last week and was also encouraged by the governor's willingness to make sure the plan stays its course.

However, there remains a great deal of conflicting information, depending on who is talking.
A copyrighted article published in last week's Paducah Sun reported that $8.32 million for the U.S. 641 project was on hold because of the budget issue. That amount would include design work for the southern phase from Fredonia toward Interstate-24 (or the West Kentucky Parkway), and the right-of-way procurement and utility relocation money for the northern portion of the road from Marion to Fredonia. The Sun's article used Mike Goins, a spokesman for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, as its source of information.

"It's all very confusing because the state hasn't adopted a budget," Brown said. "But from everything I'm being told by transportation officials, we're not going to be forgotten.

"They know how important this project is to us," the judge-executive continued. "We're having discussions with the Transportation Department regularly and we are making sure this highway project doesn't slip through the cracks."

Cherry said Crittenden officials are taking the proper steps to see that the project doesn't get pushed back another six or 12 months like it did last year.

Brown said that although the state can't legally begin any road projects ear-marked for the 2005 budget cycle until a budget is passed, it's been explained to him that some of the money for the U.S. 641 project was carryover from previous years. That money was held over because Crittenden County agreed to move funds from other projects ­ such as relocation of U.S. 60 at Rosebud Hill and the Marion Bypass ­ to the 641 plan.

"It's hard to follow the money, but that's the key," Brown added. "There should be enough already allocated to get this project going pretty soon."

However, Brown concedes that there are many other projects across the state and all are vying for too few dollars. The six-year road plan, he said, includes $1.5 billion worth of state-funded highway projects for the period July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2007. However, only $200 million will be available to pay for them.

"We're going to have to remain very visible at the state level in order to make sure our project stays on track," Brown added.

School tax expected to stay the same
A hearing on the proposed local school tax rate will be held at the Central Office Aug. 19.
The Crittenden County Board of Education is recommending leaving the school tax at 40.2 cents per $100 assessment, the same rate as 2003.

School boards are required to hold public hearings prior to the adoption of tax rates each year.
While the proposed rate will be unchanged from this year, 40.2 cents of every $100 of assessed property in Crittenden County will generate nearly $62,000 in new money for the school district.

Property Valuation Administrator Ronnie Heady said the county's taxable propety is valued at $6 million more this year because of new growth and re-assessments.

He says people who pay more for a house than its assessed value drive up assessments.
For example, a house valued at $70,000 that is sold for $80,000 drives the assessment on the house up to $80,000, thus increasing the county's tax base.

The State of Kentucky lowered its tax rate by two-tenths of a cent this year.

Farmers Bank donates $50,000 to MCC
Dr. Judy Rhoads and Madisonville Community College have announced that Farmers Bank & Trust of Marion has pledged a $50,000 scholarship gift to the Fulfilling the Promise Gifts Campaign, specifically for the Crittenden County Endowment for Excellence. This endowment supports the tuition, transportation and/or book costs for students from Crittenden County who attend MCC. The gift will be paid over a five-year period, and was approved unanimously by the bank's Board of Directors during its May meeting.

In making the gift announcement, Farmers Bank's President & CEO Gareth Hardin noted the already strong working relationship between Farmers and the college.

"Everyone associated with Farmers Bank is committed to the growth and development of Crittenden County, and we feel strongly that Madisonville Community College is also committed to our county. A quality education means a greater opportunity for a quality job. This endowment creates a wonderful, permanent education resource for our families."

The gift is the largest MCC has ever received from a Crittenden benefactor, and one of the 20 largest scholarship gifts the college has ever received. Dr. Rhoads stated that "Farmers Bank has always supported the college in its off-campus endeavors, and this gift will support Crittenden students on a permanent basis through interest income. Individual board members have also been very generous with multi-year pledges, so the whole Farmers organization has created a wonderful example of generosity for all of us to follow."