Todd Fiscal Court on Friday morning heard an update on state road projects and learned about efforts to bring back jail inmate work crews to the community to pick up litter and other duties.
Lucas Gilliam with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says they’re using funds from last year’s budget to soon begin repaving work on US 79 from the railroad crossing to KY 848—improvements that will be welcomed by those working and transporting goods to and from Novelis.
Chief Engineer Joe Plunk says the contracts have to be signed by the summer of next year for replacements of the four bridges along US 79 between Tennessee and Russellville. Those replacements are funded by a federal BUILD grant that will pay for widening of 79 for trucks servicing Novelis and Logan Aluminum.
Rural Secondary Road Funds will be used on resurfacing about four miles of Butler Road extending east from the Christian County line, resurfacing about a mile of KY 848 from US 79 to the railroad crossing and drainage and shoulder enhancements on Butler Road from near Tabernacle Road to Allegre Road.
Jailer Jeff Penick has submitted plans to the Department of Corrections and Todd County Health Department to revive the inmate work program in three crews—a north Todd, south Todd and state crew. The state crew would focus on cleaning up litter on major roadways and Penick says the other crews would clean up parks and litter along some county roads in higher population areas.
The crews would be kept separate and protocols would be in place to keep the inmates healthy, assuming the proposals are approved.
Meanwhile, Judge-Executive Todd Mansfield encouraged everyone who is eligible to get their COVID-19 vaccine, noting it’s the quickest way to get back to normal.
Fiscal Court approved an agreement to allow the City of Elkton to formally annex B. White Road south of US 68 and all of Beckham Road.