Fiscal Court Night Meeting: Yearly Reviews, Movie Industry, More

Darren Doyle, story and photo
Several citizens attended the first night fiscal court meeting of 2017 last night in the upstairs courtroom of the Edmonson County Courthouse.

Among various standard reports and business, several county offices gave year-end reports and updates. 

​Road Report: County Road Foreman Ray Page said that some minor issues with the new county truck were repaired and he updated the court on the bridges that were recently underwater: Willie Webb Road, Black Gold Road, and Cedar Grove Church Road, but all were reopened this past weekend. 

​Parks & Rec: Program Director discussed and attributed last year's success to the community, which provided much help to Parks and Rec. He thanked the road dept. for repairs on walking trail at Chalybeate, and discussed the expansion of the disc golf course from 18 to 27 holes thanks to disc golf club. He said Chalybeate park now can hold more tournaments in 2017 and said that over 500 people from 14 different states attended one tournament alone in 2016. He also said the park was planning on adding projection movies to the park this year instead of the concerts in the park.

Coroner Report: County Coroner Brently Esters  said that his office reviewed fewer deaths in 2016 than the year before, for a total of 23 coroner’s cases.

Tourism: Director Rhonda Clemmons announced that a new festival was being put in place that will be held somewhere in the county on May 20th, 2017. A name for the festival hadn't yet been decided, or theme, but that details would be announced soon. She also reminded of the upcoming Trail Town Meeting this Thursday, January 26, at 6pm at the EC Public Library.

South Central KY Movie Industry Contribution: The Fiscal Court, Industrial Authority, and Tourism Board are each paying $1500 as their portion of the $5000 annual due to join the SCKY Movie Industry. The EC Chamber of Commerce is paying $500 due to what they said was a limited budget. Tourism Director Clemmons Rhonda Clemmons said that the purpose was that EC residents and businesses will be hired to help with movie production in the region and services from the county can be utilized. Hart County has reportedly seen over half a million dollars in economic growth as a result of the SCKY Movie Industry group.

Clemmons also announced that the film commission is in search of photos of farmhouses and homesteads that might spark interest in film companies that are looking for that type of scenery in making movies. She anyone with photos or ideas could call her office at 270-597-2222.

The next fiscal court meeting is scheduled to be held on Monday, February 13, 2017 at 9am in the upstairs courtroom at the Edmonson County Courthouse.