Mark Bowman, a magistrate representing District 5 in Barren County, questions Krista Steenbergen, the county grant administrator, during an earlier meeting of the Barren Fiscal Court on Nov. 23, 2021.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
GLASGOW — Some “dream projects” could become a reality in Barren County if certain grants from the federal government are awarded.
Congressman Brett Guthrie’s office was looking for various innovative projects, officials said. The county has worked with Kylie Foushee, a representative of Guthrie’s local field office, to draft those grant applications.
The Barren Fiscal Court voted Tuesday to move forward on obtaining that money. Those grants, if awarded, will fund projects like an adult special needs facility, a bridge near Trojan Trail and a men’s addiction recovery house.
The men’s addiction recovery house would become the second one in the county. One already exists for women. Fuller Counseling Services in Glasgow is assisting in the project.
“They do not administer medications,” said Krista Steenbergen, a grant administrator with the county. “They do it all through counseling.”
Fuller Counseling estimates they will have a fully operable, inpatient addiction recovery facility within five years. They currently work through River Lake Church and provide a faith-based approach to recovering addicts.
The special needs post-secondary facility would provide a place for students who age out of the school systems’ special needs programs. The facility would promote skills training and potentially assist special needs adults obtain jobs in the community.
And the bridge project would entail work to a bridge and turning lane near Highway 249 and Trojan Trail. The county’s latest cost estimate was from 2016.
A new estimate, which increased, was obtained from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
“I think that one’s been needed for quite a while,” Steenbergen said.
The county requested $2 million to fund the project.
