FRONT PAGE NEWS

Quarry zoning passes, new controversy on FC erupts

The Meade County Fiscal Court held its regularly scheduled meeting Sept. 8, approving 5-2 the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Board’s recommendation to rezone 488 acres owned by James Collins in Battletown from AH-1/agricultural to H1 heavy industrial. The rezoning paves the way for Meade County Quarry, LLC to continue pursuit of a limestone quarry with an on-site crusher, and loading facility on the Ohio River. (See story this page).

During approval of the county’s claims and transfers, Magistrate Herbie Chism questioned the practice of fellow magistrates getting hotel rooms in Louisville at training conferences, rather than commuting back and forth from Meade County.

Battletown quarry battle wages on.....

Its a long, long road.

Big Bend road in Battletown is actually only about 20 miles long, but figuratively speaking the controversy surrounding the 488 acres at 2595 Big Bend Road spans over a year and cuts through a community. It is at the center of Meade County Quarry’s (MCQ) quest to operate a limestone quarry there; members of the community that oppose yet another one; and a 71-year old man that simply wants to sell his land and move on..

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A Community Gathers

On Sept. 11, the nation gathered to mark the solemn memory
of a shattered day eight years ago. In the harried world since, the
day marked an opportunity for Meade County citizens to honor
both our living emergency responders, and the more than 3,000 innocent civilians and brave rescuers who died in fiery terror.

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Did officials waste taxpayer $?

During the Fiscal Court’s regular meeting, Magistrate Herbie Chism questioned an expenditure during what is normally a routine approval of the county’s claims and transfers. The claim was for $1,076.32 for hotel rooms at the Galt House in Louisville for a state-sponsored training conference.

“I question why they were getting rooms and staying overnight rather than driving back and forth to Louisville,” explained Chism. “I question why the county should pay for that. Now if it had been somewhere where it would be unreasonable to drive, then that would be a different story. I understand this has been going on for some time there in Louisville.”

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Taxes to remain the same

The Meade County Fiscal Court voted unanimously Aug. 14 to keep real and personal property taxes the same, citing unemployment and the continuing state of the economy.

The Court considered the state of Kentucky’s “compensating rate” for real property, which would have raised taxes to .233 cents per $100 of valuation; and a 4 percent increase which would have raised taxes to .242 cents. The compensating rate is set yearly by state calculation of various economic factors including the consumer price index. Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) 132.190 requires counties that raise taxes above the compensating rate to hold public hearings.

“We just couldn’t raise taxes with the economy the way it is,” said Magistrate Randall Hardesty. “We had to choose one of the choices and that was the lowest tax rate there was.”

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