GLASGOW, Ky. — The Barren County fiscal court took the first steps last week to fund the South Cooper Industrial Park.
The industrial park will be located along U.S. 68-80 in Barren County. The project comes months after two larger industries parted ways with the community.
Micheal Hale, Barren County judge/ executive, said he wanted to pursue the project during his first term but financial capabilities weren’t apt. The court has since reexamined the issue and is seeking to fund the $5 million project.
“This is really something that needed to be done,” Hale said. “At the time, the county financially was not able to take that off because of our debt.”
The fiscal court passed an ordinance, on first reading, at last week’s meeting. The ordinance seeks to approve the issuance of bond monies, which will fund the project and issue debt to the county.
“There’s no time like the present,” Hale said.
The industrial park will serve as a major promoter of economic growth for the area. The Barren County Economic Authority has worked extensively on the project too.
Hale told the court he spoke with mayors in Cave City and Glasgow. Each mayor described their interest in being involved, but they each had reservations.
Harold Armstrong, Glasgow’s mayor, said the city identifies their commitment to such a project. The Glasgow City Council hopes to become involved in the debt incurment within the next two years. Cave City has not given an indication whether they will be involved.
Hale said a second meeting was planned with DeWayne Hatcher, Cave City’s mayor, on Tuesday afternoon.
The property will be annexed and will exist within the Glasgow city limits.
The first reading’s passage was unanimous. All members of the court support the measure, Hale said.
“As a fiscal court, they’re on board. They support this 100%,” Hale said. “No one has had any reservations not to support this. At some point, you have to jump start your community, and I really feel like this is going to do this – this $5 million bond.”
In other news, the Barren County Jail’s budget was discussed heavily. The jail continues to lack a budget for next fiscal year. Concerns exist due to the necessary funding it takes to operate the jail without actually making a considerable profit on those operations.
Marcus Thurman was appointed as the Barren County Search and Rescue Coordinator. The court also talked about reintroducing the Solid Waste Coordinator position.
Albert Dilley was appointed to the Ambulance Service Taxing District. Adrien Gossett was appointed to the Green River Water District Board.