Fiscal Court hears ‘Fort Knox Invasion’ plan By Cindy Henning Meade County Fiscal Court members listened as Brad Richardson, executive director of One Knox, presented information about the Fort Knox BRAC Road Show. The show is being formed to inform participants of plans to bring Fort Knox and local community information to affected employees at agencies relocating to Fort Knox. This informational exhibition will travel to five cities next month including Indianapolis, Ind., St. Louis, Mo., Alexandria and Fort Monroe, Va., as well as Fort McCoy, Wis., with from 125 to 3,000 people invited to each presentation. Besides Fort Knox representatives, surrounding communities will be sending local leaders from school systems, businesses and government agencies. Richardson compared the BRAC changes at Fort Knox with its $250 million payroll to the $185 million affect of Toyota to central Kentucky. Meade County Area Chamber of Commerce’s executive director Russ Powell then spoke to the court about local efforts to be part of the action to lure civilian and military employees to the area. The city of Brandenburg has committed $3,000 and Powell requested a $6,000 commitment from the county which was authorized by the court. Powell described information packets, Web site updates, resource database development, a video and CD created by the schools about Meade County. Informal fundraising had already produced two $500 donations by supportive citizens. The Meade County BRAC Action Group wants to get information about all Meade County businesses, organizations, churches, government agencies, health services, and community services on the Web site being created by the Lincoln Trail Area Development District to serve as a single source of information for families that will be moving here to work at Fort Knox. If you have information to include on the Web site, a form can be obtained by calling the Chamber office at (270) 422-3626 or by e-mail at chamber@bbtel.com. Powell also invited the public to a special Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon at the Farm Bureau Community Building at noon on Thursday, Feb. 23. Kentucky’s 2nd District Congressman Ron Lewis will address the audience. Currently serving on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, Lewis participates in making decisions about such matters as federal revenue and taxes, trade and tariffs and human services programs ranging from Social Security to unemployment compensation.
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