Barren Positions for Growth

 

By Allyson Dix, Managing Editor/Barren County Progress

Several large-scale development projects remain under consideration in Barren County, but progress on each will depend on securing funding at each  stage. Plans for a proposed sports complex, an agricultural expo center in Cave City, and a drive-in movie amphitheater in Park City are trying to move towards the design and planning phases, while also weighing financial commitments, infrastructure needs and broader economic impacts before advancing construction.

“We’re reaching out right now to get funding for the sports complex and we should know by April 15 if we’ve gotten that funding, and if we haven’t, we have to figure out do we do it or not? What’s the next plan and how do we go forward from here?” Byrd said.

For the ag expo center, if the $20M Senator Mitch McConnell added into the appropriations bill is approved for Barren County, the project design can be finished by June of this year.**  The land and the design has already been secured and if the federal funds are approved, the next phases of geotechnical work and site development can begin.

“The ag expo center will be a huge addition to our community from ag to entertainment events,” Byrd said, adding that patrons will help support other tourism through restaurants, shopping, and hotels.

The Park City project is a privately-funded endeavor, Byrd said. “I have met with an investment group that looks for investments, but we are not doing it until we have the money and the commitment.”

“None of these projects happens unless we get the money,” Byrd said, while remaining hopeful that they will. She is confident that if the projects come to fruition, each one will pay for itself within two years.

“It’s not about making money with any of these projects,” she said. “It’s about paying the bills and bringing opportunities and improving the qualify of life. That’s what all three of [these projects] are about.”

Beyond capital projects, Byrd points to continued economic development activity, such as Tate Floors and Union Coating and Chemical Industries, as well as the growth in retail and service businesses.

Byrd said no incentives have been given at this point to such industries from a county standpoint; however, the county could consider waiving some property tax. “They’re just excited to find a building that has expanded jurisdiction for quick permitting processes. It makes things so much smoother and easier for developers and industries.”

Byrd touched on the visions in place for expanding along the Trojan Trail corridor using sports games at Barren County schools increasing the number of people coming into the area on a regular basis.

“People come to our community from other counties such as a ballgame, and when they leave Trojan Trail, they will turn left to head back home,” Byrd said, noting the opportunities lost if more businesses were nearby.

From Marshall’s in Glasgow to Park City’s Ester’s Farm, Byrd said the excitement is overwhelming in seeing businesses continuing to move in and offer people a variety of options from dining to shopping. She notes the increased marketing efforts with tourism being tied to places like Barren River Lake and our proximity to I-65.

“We are understanding our worth,” Byrd said. “We have sold ourselves in marketing. Our marketing is top notch in our county.”

Barren County can expect infrastructure improvements to be a central focus, particularly roads and bridges. The county has expanded chip sealing and blacktop work, widened heavily traveled connector roads, and repaired two of its three major county bridges using outside funding.

Recent changes to office locations have happened, including consolidating the health department, the planning and zoning office, the contractor’s association, and the PVA at the new Barren County Development Center, creating a “one-stop shop” for related services.

Some other potential changes down the road once the judicial center is constructed and operational is to consolidate some of the offices into the old courthouse and other offices may relocate, like the county attorney’s office into the current county government building.

“We will move our offices to the courthouse with mine being on the third floor, the sheriff on the second floor, and the first floor will be a widened main entrance into the building, closing down the second-floor entrance currently in place,” Byrd said, adding that other ideas had floated like the public library utilizing the old courthouse.

She also said community members will see upgrades to the inner part of the Glasgow square around the courthouse in the Spring. Plans to replace all the sidewalks and replace everything except the steps connected to the courthouse leading to the second floor. Electrical access is also going to be installed, and with the opinion of local businesses, a ledged seating on one side of the courthouse were attempts to grow grass remain unsuccessful.

“The square is something to be proud of, and we want to continue to improve that,” Byrd said. “A city-county project, I love projects like this so everyone has a part in it, but the money for projects like this comes from the Office of Administrative Courts (AOC).”

Currently, Byrd said applications are being put together for funding to initiate the grain storage and cold storage facilities projects. The next step, if funding is secured, will be to complete a study and a design. Similar to the earlier projects mentioned, these will also move forward each step based on funding secured.

One of the challenges the county faced was a recent state audit, but Byrd said corrective measures have been implemented, including hiring a second person and investing in a “top-notch” private firm for annual audits.

The majority of the county’s expenses is the payroll and ensuring they invest in their people and departments is a priority for the whole county from safety to roads, Byrd said.

“People need to remember Barren County is a very big community even though it’s not a very big city, it’s okay for us to grow in regards to new businesses and opportunities because we have the people and people from other communities coming here,” Byrd said. “I love it; I think it’s great.”

** Since this interview, $20M in funding was approved for the next phase of the Cave City Ag Expo Center.