2013 Legislative Priorities Submissions

Each year, Chamber members determine our organization's legislative priorities for the upcoming year. Representatives from local government, businesses, and civic organizations present information to educate Chamber members on projects and proposals in need of legislative funding and support. Chamber members review the information, and projects are ranked according to priority. This list is then presented to elected officials and discussed during the Chamber’s annual Legislative Breakfast.

The Chamber will use an online information and ranking process to refine the list before it is presented at the Legislative Breakfast, set for 8 a.m. Thursday, December 13 in the Joseph R. Miller Auditorium at Baptist Health Madisonville.

Call us at 270-821-3435 for more information. 

Brown Road Sidewalks - Safe Routes to School
Submitted by the City of Madisonville

The Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS) is designed to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school; to make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative; and to facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption and air pollution in the vicinity of schools.

The Safe Routes to School Program is a Federal-Aid program of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).  The Program was created by Section 1404 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users Act (SAFETEA-LU).

The City wants to build upon its earlier success of obtaining funding for a similar sidewalk project along Grapevine Road. In the securing of additional funding for the construction of sidewalks along Brown Road, near James Madison Middle School, a public safety issue can be addressed. This project would total 5,325 LF and would cost an estimated $238,956 to construct.

North Madisonville Water Pressure Upgrades
Submitted by the City of Madisonville



Currently the City's water system operates on one pressure zone. Due to the expansion of the northern service area and the demand from interconnected water districts, the City has planned for the construction of a new water tank and a pump station in the northern service area, creating a second pressure zone operating at a higher pressure level. This project will provide improved domestic water service and improved fire protection in this service area. Waterline extensions are included in the project as is an emergency standby generator to assure service during power interruptions.

Through use of computer modeling, a final design has been completed which allowed the project to be fully permitted by all affected agencies.  All easements and property has been acquired. Total estimated costs for this project are $2,041,927 (inclusive of construction and engineering costs) with $800,000 having been earmarked by The City of Madisonville through remaining bond funds.

Project construction is estimated to take 18 months and will add approximately $1,000,000 to the local economy during the construction phase through employment contracts.

Hopkins County Regional Sports Complex

Submitted by Hopkins County Fiscal Court

Keeping the vision and pursuing the completion of the Hopkins County Regional Sports Complex should be a priority. For many years citizens and organizations, including those that serve our young people, have discussed the need to improve and update youth sports facilities in the county. Although many sports activities take place at various locations throughout the county, the area where most of our youth play softball, baseball and soccer is in a poor location that often floods. 

The new Sports Complex will provide facilities that have proper drainage, lighting, turf, and greater accessibility. To date, about $1.2 million has been invested in this project, including property acquisition, site design, earthwork, and sewer installation. Estimated cost for this project is $7.5-8 million.

Not only will the Sports Complex offer a quality facility for the youth of Hopkins County, but an independent economic impact study conducted in June 2012 revealed that sports tournaments have the potential to generate several thousand dollars in revenue as well as support jobs in our community.

For more information about the Hopkins County Regional Sports Complex, call Hopkins County Government Center at 821-8294. 

Madisonville Postsecondary Education Building
Presented by Madisonville Community College and Murray State University

The Regional Postsecondary Education Center provides for the necessary expansion of classroom and program space for educational opportunities at the bachelor’s and master’s level.  In conjunction with Madisonville Community College and Murray State University, this KCTCS facility will serve the growing needs for postsecondary education and positively impact economic development.

Currently, Murray State - Madisonville cannot expand programming opportunities locally without additional space allocation.  And, with, the local campus now the largest enrolled regional campus of Murray State University, the timing is right for this Regional Postsecondary Education Center.

Designed to serve the growing educational needs of the region, each level of the building is zoned for separate functions.  The Lower Level comprises public functions including the bookstore, student commons, a multi-use quad classroom, a tiered classroom, and a computer classroom.  The Second Floor will serve as administrative offices while the Third Floor will be comprised of classrooms as well as a community resource, train­ing, and conference center.

In 2006, $300,000 was allocated for project planning.  As a result, Myers Jolly Architects were hired and Phase A of the project was presented for approval.  With Phase A and Phase B planning complete, $19.4 million will be requested for construction.

For more information, call Heather Roy at 825-5052. 

East Center Street-Island Ford Connector Road
Submitted by Ershig Properties

The Center Street – Island Ford Connector Road will provide the means for organized growth and expansion to this important area of Madisonville. This artery will be equivalent to the ‘Ring Roads’ enjoyed by many towns and cities in Kentucky, which have greatly benefited and prospered from this important community infrastructure. The impact of this artery will create several hundred local jobs per year for many years to come. 

During the past 15 years Ershig Properties, Inc. has been actively involved in commercial real estate as well as numerous community benefit programs in the Madisonville and Hopkins County area.  We commenced with the acquisition of Parkway Plaza Mall and  several years ago undertook the challenge of developing the Ruby property, now identified as Mid Town Commons. This major multi-use development will consist of retailers, restaurants, service industries, office parks, residential complexes and more.  During the 4 year economic recession which faced our country Mid Town Commons had to take a back seat in order to bring forth new retailers to restore the Mall.  We are now ready to actively pursue development of the Mid Town Commons area.

For many years, citizens have supported the need for a Connector Road linking Center Street with Island Ford Road. And since our company’s involvement in the Ruby property we brought forth a plan to bring a new development program for this area provided this artery could be realized.  For this artery to become a reality, it will require the full simultaneous support of city, county and state government as well as CSX Railroad and the private sector.  Our company has spent considerable time and energy pursuing this total support and has thus far achieved the endorsement of Pennyrile Area Development District and, most recently, the cooperation of CSX Railroad.  The above endorsements have also been complimented by high interest from previous Chamber Legislative Priorities programs. We expect to soon commence with the Mid Town Commons intersection with Center Street to accommodate Phase 1 for this development.

To attract expanding companies to this area, we must present a progressive community on the move. We ask the Chamber to continue to endorse this needed infrastructure and help get this road approved and "over the tracks" so it may become a reality.  

CSX Mainline Relocation 
Submitted by the City of Madisonville

Currently the CSX mainline runs through downtown Madisonville. A separate track, known as the “Earlington Cut-Off” lies on the east side of Madisonville. The proposal is to construct two passing tracks along the Earlington Cut-Off, each being 2 miles in length, and abandon the downtown main line track at a projected cost of $8,000,000.00.

The existing track is a major safety hazard with 15 at-grade crossings. One fatality and a second near-fatal accident have occurred within the past few years. The main line track also crosses the main entrance to the hospital and runs within 300 feet of an elementary school. In addition to the major safety concerns, including the transportation of hazardous chemicals, the tracks greatly increase traffic congestion, increase downtown noise and reduce the quality of life in downtown Madisonville.

The city has progressed to the design phase and is working on the actual costs associated with this project. 

Madisonville-Hanson Wastewater Project
Submitted by the City of Madisonville

The community growth of Hanson is limited in part by the volume and rate of wastewater discharge that Madisonville's sanitary sewer system can accommodate for conveyance and treatment.  The proposed project is to address that constraint by providing a relief interceptor sewer that will reroute certain existing flows with Madisonville's system, which will in turn allow Hanson to assume some of that redirected capacity.

The Hanson Relief Interceptor calls for an upgraded pump station, 2,500 LF of 12" force main and 10,600 LF of gravity mains.  In addition to addressing this growth restraint on Hanson, this project also provides the means to eliminate three existing pump stations within Madisonville's sanitary sewer system (Southern States PS, Thompson Avenue PS, and West Noel Avenue PS).

The study conducted has estimated construction costs for this project as follows: the cost for the interceptor sewer at $3,410,000; the project development cost estimated at $1,023,000; for a total project cost of $4,433,000 (at 2009 dollars).

This project has been submitted through the Pennyrile Area Development District office and approved for inclusion under the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority, No. SX21107022.

Support for continued development of Interstate 69
Submitted by the Public Issues Committee of the Madisonville-Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce

In October 2011, 55 miles of Kentucky's parkways received official Interstate 69 designation, including 38 miles of the Wendell Ford/Western Kentucky Parkway beginning at the interchange with the Pennyrile Parkway in Hopkins County. The portion of the Pennyrile Parkway from Henderson to the Western Kentucky Parkway interchange is still designated a future I-69 corridor. The Madisonville-Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce, as a member of Chamber Leadership Initiatives for Northwestern Kentucky, or C-LINK, a group of 12 chambers of commerce representing communities in 10 Northwest Kentucky counties, encourages our state and federal legislators to continue to pursue completion of Kentucky's portion of Interstate 69.

Key to the I-69 project will be the building of a new bridge spanning the Ohio River between Henderson County and Vanderburgh County in Indiana, and construction of a 10-mile stretch of connector highway around Henderson between the bridge and the Pennyrile Parkway. The Public Issues Committee of the Madisonville-Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce recommends that I-69 be placed in a priority status when considering the 2013 Chamber Legislative Agenda.

For more information about C-LINK, visit www.Buildi69-ky.com.

Promote your business with Chamber events

Looking for ways to get the most bang from your marketing bucks? The Chamber offers many cost-effective ways to help you put your business in the spotlight.

Ribbon cuttings: Are you a new business? Have you moved to a new address or remodeled your existing location? Are you celebrating a milestone, such as a grand opening or an anniversary celebration? Call us at 821-3435 to schedule a ribbon cutting.





Chamber After Hours: Need to network? A Chamber After Hours is a great way to meet local professionals and community leaders. After Hours typically take place on weekdays from 5-7 p.m. Hosts usually provide beverages and light appetizers for the guests who drop in. You can plan your After Hours with a purpose, or just schedule one to socialize. It's a terrific tool for presenting a great first impression or cementing your reputation as a vital element of the local economy. Call us at 821-3435 to schedule an After Hours.

Kentucky- Indiana Bridge Authority must be created to move ahead on new Henderson Bridge

This month, I-69 advocacy groups from Indiana and Kentucky – Hoosier Voices for I-69 and Chamber Leadership Initiatives for Northwestern Kentucky (C-LINK) – will meet in an annual joint session, bringing together community leaders from both sides of the river in a continued effort to advance the project that will provide new opportunities to all eight states in the I-69 corridor.


In both Kentucky and Indiana, 2012 is an exciting year for I-69.  This fall the State of Indiana is scheduled to have sections 1, 2 and 3 completed, taking I-69 from just north of Evansville to the Crane Naval base.  In 2014 Section 4 is scheduled for completion allowing interstate travel between Bloomington and Evansville.


Section 5, the Bloomington to Martinsville segment, will soon be in the hands of the Federal Highway Administration for approval and will upgrade State Road 37 to federal interstate standards.  Section 6 is in planning stages and over the next few years we can expect steady progress to fully connect Southwest Indiana with the state capitol via the long awaited Interstate 69.

Kentucky is also rapidly moving ahead.  I-69 shields are going up on 38 miles of what was formerly a portion of the Western Kentucky Parkway as well as 17 miles shared with Interstate 24. Projects to further upgrade the WK, Pennyrile and Purchase parkways are well under way.  Soon the future I-69 corridor signs will come down as those roads become a true interstate.

While the two groups have much to celebrate, their work will continue on a critical, yet still missing link: a new I-69 Ohio River bridge connecting Evansville, IN and Henderson KY. At this time we are covered by two bridges, one northbound and one southbound, between Evansville and Henderson.  These vital links see heavy traffic daily from local commuters, local business traffic and cross state commerce.  In the months and years ahead, as I-69 is completed in Indiana and Kentucky, this traffic will increase.


The Bi-State Vietnam Gold Star Twin Bridges have served our communities well.  The east bridge was completed in 1932.  The west bridge was open to traffic in 1966.  As sturdy and durable as these bridges have proven to be, they are getting old and will be further strained by increased I-69 traffic.  A new bridge project of this scope takes years and even decades to complete. As the bridges continue to age, interstate highway traffic will travel the bridges and through Henderson’s US 41 until our two states prioritize the identification of funding and construction of a new link.


The time to act is now.  Hoosier Voices for I-69 and C-LINK encourage the Indiana Department of Transportation and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to continue work on forming the bi-state authority needed to construct the bridge and advance the appropriate studies necessary to gain federal approval.  The Evansville and Henderson metropolitan areas need this vital link to support the demands of a new interstate, provide relief to aging bridges, and enhance the economic vitality of our region.


We encourage anyone who is concerned about the region’s continued economic prosperity to contact their federal and state legislators and urge them to move forward to build the I-69 bridge at Henderson!

Harriett Whitaker, President

Madisonville-Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce

Guidelines for use of fireworks within city limits

From a press release distributed by the City of Madisonville:

MADISONVILLE, KY- To address the public’s concerns regarding the use of fireworks during the 4th of

July season, city officials have announced that personal fireworks will be permitted with restrictions

within the city limits of Madisonville.

Observing these important guidelines will help insure a safer and more festive Independence Day

celebration:

• Fireworks can only be used between the hours of 10 am and 10 pm.; and from 10 am to midnight on July 4th.
• Do not use fireworks within 200’ of a structure or vehicle (KRS 227.702-.750)
• No one under the age of 18 is permitted to ignite fireworks (KRS 227.702 - .750)
• Keep a water hose or bucket full of water near the ignition site at all times
• For fire emergencies, call 9-1-1

The public is invited to attend the City of Madisonville’s 2nd annual 4thFest fireworks show at the

Madisonville City Park on Wednesday, July 4th at 9 pm. As an added precaution, the Madisonville Fire

Department has plans for an additional crew on site during the City’s 4thFest celebration. No personal

fireworks will be permitted in the City Park.

If you have questions or concerns regarding fireworks safety, please contact the Madisonville Fire

Department at 270-824-2148.

Five tips for avoiding advertising scams

Not a scammer: Steve Graff, the Chamber's map ad  representative from CommunityLink, is currently selling ads for the upcoming edition of the Madisonville-Hopkins County Map. He has been visiting with our members for the past few weeks.

It’s the time of year when the flowers are blooming, the birds are singing … and your office phones are ringing as solicitors try to entice you to purchase ads in their “publications.”

We’ve received multiple reports from members recently concerning telemarketers who claim to have connections to the Chamber and local businesses. One company has even gone so far as to acquire copies of past Chamber magazines, and is using them to sell ads for their less-than-professional publications. We find it especially interesting that this activity has increased since we have started selling ads for the new edition of the city-county map.

How do you know whether these calls are legitimate or scams? The following tips will help keep you – and your money – safe:

1. When a caller says they are working with the Chamber to sell ads, don’t take their word for it. We will always announce ad sales to our members via the E-Market prior to the beginning of any campaign. Our ad sales are limited to these publications:


·         The biennial Madisonville-Hopkins County Map we publish through CommunityLink (this is our current campaign)
·         The biennial Chamber Member Directory and Buyers’ Guide
·         The annual Madisonville-Hopkins County Magazine

If a solicitor’s sales pitch leaves you feeling uneasy, stop! Don’t purchase an ad right away. Get the name of the company and a phone number, then hang up and call the Chamber office to verify.

2.  When the Chamber is selling ads you will be personally contacted, and the sales representative will meet with you face-to-face. Representatives from The Messenger sell ads for our annual magazine. In 2011, board member Ronnie Noel contacted members concerning ads for the new directory. Currently, a member of the CommunityLink staff is setting appointments for our members to meet with Steve Graff, the ad representative selling ads for the upcoming edition of the city-county map. CommunityLink will not pressure you to purchase an ad over the phone.

3. Ask for a web address that will allow you to see an online sample of the product. You can then visit the web site – and do web search to see if the company is associated with any scam activity. You may find, once you see the online sample, that the product doesn’t look as good as described by the caller.

4. Don’t let the telemarketer pressure you into making a quick decision. This is one time when procrastination is a good thing! It’s your money – don’t let someone you don’t know talk you into spending it. Also be wary of callers asking you to ‘renew’ a previous ad – another clue that they have an old Chamber publication and are simply calling our past advertisers!

5. Do not agree to pay for advertising over the phone using your credit card – especially when it’s your first contact with the solicitor.

From time to time, the Chamber sends advertising alerts via e-mail to our members. Typically, we send these out because we have received one or more calls from members inquiring about a company claiming to be affiliated with us. We appreciate it when our members call with such information, and are always happy to pass the warning on to others.

For questions about the Chamber or ways we can help you realize the most value from your membership investment, please call us at 270-821-3435 or contact us via our web site.

Local leaders attend Interstate 69 caucus in Washington

Submitted  by Mary King

2012 Madisonville-Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Mary Ann King and Past Chair Amy Sanderson attended an I-69 caucus in Washington, D.C. February 27-28. Gerald Cook, executive director of the Madisonville-Hopkins County Economic Development Corp. and Bill Corum, MHCEDC board member, also attended. The event was organized by Congressman Ed Whitfield’s office in collaboration with C-LINK, WKRCA, & Hoosier Voices members. Brad Schneider, president of the Henderson Chamber, worked closely with Congressman Whitfield’s office to create an event to bring together leaders from chambers of commerce, economic development, and other coalitions affected by the progress of I-69.

From left, Mary King, Amy Sanderson,
Congressman Ed Whitfield, and
Brad Schneider. (Photo provided.)

The event began Tuesday morning, February 27, with a meeting at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. We were briefed by Chamber staff on issues affecting businesses from many areas: Political Affairs and Public Policy, Energy/Environment Policy, Healthcare Policy, Transportation Policy, and Small Business Policy. This meeting brought us up to date on ways our U.S. Chamber advocates for the individual chambers throughout the U.S. and their local members.

The group then reconvened at Rayburn House Office Bldg. for a noon meeting and luncheon.  We were welcomed by Congressman Whitfield and also heard from Gov. Steve Beshear, Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas, Jennifer Shepard of Texas’s I-69 Alliance, and Michael Cline and Michael Schopmeyer, both of Indiana. Brad Schneider wrapped things up, speaking on what we can do as interested parties to help the progress on a local, state, and national level. The meeting ended with a brief question & answer session for the speakers. The delegation then split into groups to meet with senators and congressman from the individual districts.

On Wednesday, February 28, we met with Taylor Booth from Congressman Whitfield’s office to wrap up what we hoped to accomplish from this delegation, and to learn what their office would be doing to help. We were advised to stay in contact with our local and state legislators and urge them to keep all 12 of the I-69 related projects in the proposed 6 year road plan. The Kentucky General Assembly will be voting on the road plan soon. We will also continue the working relationship C-LINK has with Hoosier Voices to develop a strategy to promote the establishment of a national I-69 project manager to our state DOT chiefs, and eventually introduce the plan to the Federal Highway Administration.

This was the first I-69 delegation and it came to fruition largely because of the willingness of Congressman Ed Whitfield and his staff in leading the way. They are hoping to make this an annual event, and grow it into an even larger event with delegations and speakers from all 8 states involved from Michigan to Texas.

(See more photos from this trip on our Facebook page.)

2012 Annual Chamber Luncheon and Awards

More than 260 people attendeed the Madisonville-Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Annual Luncheon and Awards Presentation on Thursday, February 2. The Chamber honored several businesses and individuals, and introduced the new board members and board chair for 2012.



Amy Sanderson, left, 2011 Board Chair, handed the gavel to 2012 Board Chair, Mary King.



From left: Wendy Kolb, owner of Giggles & Grins Boutique, winner of the 2011 Horizon Award for a business in operation three years or less;
Kevin Cotton, owner of Brother's Bar-B-Que, winner of the 2011 Small Business of theYear Award for a business with 50 or fewer employees;
Kenny Allen, Executive Vice-President of Mining Operations, and David Cobb, Executive Vice-President of Business Development for Armstrong Coal, the Chamber's 2011 Business of the Year.

 

2011 Educators of the Year, from left:
Murray State University-Madisonville: Donna Crouch
K-12: Darryl Patton, Madisonville-North Hopkins High School
Madisonville Community College: David Schuermer

First United Bank and Trust of Madisonville received the 2011 Bill Corum Community Service Award. Karen Glenn, center, CEO of First United Bank accepted the award for the bank from Rick Welch, left, and Chamber President Harriett Whitaker, right.

  

 

Allen Rudd, left, Board Chair of Trover Health System, presented the Loman C. Trover Healthcare Award to Dr. William J. Crump Jr.

 

Shauna Parker, left, accepted the 2011 Chamber Ambassador of the Year award from board member Andy Rideout, right.

Richard George, center, the Chamber's Volunteer of the Year, with board member JAT Mountjoy, left, and Chamber President Harriett Whitaker, right.



West Kentucky Thank You Night

The Chamber has chartered a bus to take members to Frankfort on Thursday, February 9 for West Kentucky Thank You Night.

The bus will leave Madisonville at 1 p.m. and return at 10 p.m. The event takes place from 5-7 p.m. at the Frankfort Convention Center.

Join other western Kentucky chambers of commerce, representative of businesses and county and city governments, and others as we meet, greet, and thank our elected officials.

There will be plenty of good food and fellowship. One of our Chamber members, Brothers Bar-B-Que, was one of the restaurants selected to cater the event.

Seats on the bus are $35 and are first-come-first-reserved for Chamber members. Call us at 270-821-3435 for more information.

Upcoming Chamber Events: Chamber Annual Luncheon

The Chamber's annual Luncheon and Awards Presentation will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, February 2 at Covenant Community Church in Madisonville. Join us as we recognize Chamber members for their accomplishments.

Awards to be presented include the 2011 Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year (for a business with 50 or fewer employees), and the Horizon Award for a business in operation three years or less.

Additional awards are presented to individuals or businesses for excellence in education, health care, and community service.

Tickets are $20 each and may be reserved by calling the Chamber at 270-821-3435.

2012 Legislative Priorities ranked by Chamber

On December 14, the Chamber announced its 2012 Legislative Priorities. Members ranked the priorities using an online survey.

1. CSX Mainline Relocation
2. Center Street-Island Ford Road Connector Road
3. Support for continued development of Interstate 69
4. Brown Road Sidewalks-Safe Routes to School
5. Hopkins County Regional Sports Complex
6. Madisonville Post-Secondary Education Building
7. Madisonville-Hanson Wastewater Treatment Project
8. East Center Street Railroad Underpass Improvements
9. Madisonville Northside Water Service Improvements
10. Widening of Stagecoach Road (Kentucky 1069)

Legislative Priorities Projects -- Learn More

Submissions for the Madisonville-Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce's Legislative Priorities List are now featured on this blog. You can use the links to the right, under the Archives section, to view the submissions.

If you'd like to learn more about a project, please use the contact information that's been provided for each entry.

In December, Chamber members will prioritize the submissions. The list will then be presented to our elected officials at the Chamber's annual Legislative Breakfast, set for 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 14 in Joseph R. Miller Auditorium at Regional Medical Center. Displays that feature more information about the submitted projects are welcome at the breakfast; however, attendees should arrive at least 15 minutes early to set up these displays.

For more about the Legislative Breakfast or the Chamber's 2012 Legislative Priorities, call us at 270-821-3435. You can also visit our web site.

Legislative Priorities Submission: Safe Streets to School on Brown Road

Submitted by: Hopkins County Fiscal Court

James Madison Middle School is located on Brown Road in Madisonville, Kentucky. Brown Road is a highly travelled road and is not equipped with sidewalks and can be unsafe for walking. There are several students that walk to this school or to Jesse Stuart Elementary School which can be accessed by the cutoff road by James Madison Middle School.   Sidewalks provide places for children to walk, run and used by young bicyclists.  The placing of sidewalks on Brown Road will help benefit our school children in this area along with providing a safe route for the children to travel to and from schools.

For more information, call the Hopkins County Judge-Executive’s office at 821-8294.

Legislative Priorities Submission: Widening of Stagecoach Road (Highway 1069)

Submitted by: Hopkins County Fiscal Court

Stagecoach Road (Highway 1069) is a State Highway that is a narrow and dangerous highway that is traveled by thousands daily, including the many homeowners who live in subdivisions in the area. There is no road shoulder on this highway, which has resulted in major traffic accidents and several fatalities.

Because of the existing ditching no shoulder can be added without major construction. This road has a narrow bridge at the intersection of JD Buchanan Road that is made of rock mortar and the culvert is in poor condition. Former Representative Eddie Ballard had considered the replacement and widening of the culvert because of school buses that enter and exit JD Buchanan Road.  The construction of the bridge on Brown Badgett Loop that is in the design phase at this time will increase the amount of traffic being traveled on this road.  There will be hundreds of high school students traveling this highway to and from school.  Novice drivers face challenges to safe driving, and a road this narrow with no shoulders is a major concern of the County.

For more information, call the Hopkins County Judge-Executive’s office at 821-8294.

Legislative Priorities Submission: Center Street-Island Ford Connector Road

Submitted by: Ershig Properties

This proposed artery has been on the wish list of Madisonville for many years. Having been involved in the southern most section of this 2 mile roadway with the proposed development of Mid Town Commons we have concentrated our efforts to work with the local and state governments to bring this artery to fruition.  The realization of this new transportation system will open doors to development of restaurants,  expanded retail shopping, service and industry development and expectations of over 200 jobs per year for many years to come. This artery also helps bring the community together as a safe transportation route, being an alternative to Main Street and I-69.

In order to achieve the realization of this artery the City, County, State and the Private sectors must work together.  Without the full cooperation of all above parties this can not be achieved.  It is my belief we are nearing the finish line to successfully bring this together. Should this total support be accomplished within the very near term our company will continue to represent a strong advocacy as well as offering a capital contribution.  The continued support of the Chamber is important.  

Madisonville deserves continued progress and the pursuit of a better quality of life.

Contact:
Greg Poole, Construction Manager
Ershig Properties, Inc.
P.O. Box 1127
Henderson, Kentucky

Legislative Priorities Submission: Hopkins County Regional Sports Complex

Submitted by: Regional Sports Complex Development Board

The Regional Sports Park being developed by the Hopkins County Fiscal Court in cooperation with the Hopkins County Tourism Commission has been the number one priority in past years for the legislative priorities of the Madisonville Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce and it is hoped again that this would be a major, if not the number one, priority of the Chamber of Commerce.

The Regional Sports Park Development Board and the Fiscal Court see a two-fold benefit of the Park.

The first benefit is the economic development benefit.  The Hopkins County Tourist & Convention Commission has documented through its surveys and investigation the hosting of tournaments will create an economic boom to our economy and particularly our service industries including hotels, restaurants, and gasoline stations.  These dollars being brought into our community will then circulate into other businesses in our community.

The second benefit of the park remains improved quality of life.  It is sad that at the end of 2011 that we as a county continue to fall further behind more aggressive and successful communities in the state of Kentucky that are developing sports parks including the communities of Elizabethtown, Owensboro, and Bowling Green.  The quality of life issue will not only impact those that are living here now, but will also impact those who look to relocate in our community.

For more information, call Keith Cartwright at 821-6165.