Jailer Boyd says goodbyes to Christian Fiscal Court

Christian County Jailer Brad Boyd said his goodbyes to Christian Fiscal Court Tuesday morning as magistrates also approved the beginning phases of replacing the county’s last remaining wooden bridge.

Boyd is retiring at the end of the month and thanked Judge-Executive Steve Tribble, fiscal court and the jail staff for working with him to help the facility operate as safely and efficiently as possible.

The county’s last wooden bridge is on Davis Road just south of the Hopkins County line. It’s a dead-end road with about five homes on the wrong side of the bridge that goes over the CSX railroad tracks.

The approximately 70-year-old bridge was closed after an inspection determined it to be unsafe and Fiscal Court voted Tuesday to hire HMV Professional Engineers to begin the bridge-replacement process.

Judge Tribble says some grant funds have been received and they’re applying for additional money. He believes CSX actually constructed and owns the bridge, but they deny any ownership.

While voting for the contract with HMV, Magistrate Jerry Gilliam requested that County Attorney John Soyars send a letter to CSX demanding they make repairs on their bridge.

Local farmer Brian Oatts spoke during public comments regarding proposed construction of a dam by the Surface and Storm Water Utility Board that would be on Little River near Russellville Road and the Bypass.

While engineers for the agency have assured Oatts his farm land will not be flooded by the dam when heavy rain falls, Oatts isn’t convinced, citing elevation numbers he’s found for the location of the dam and his own property.

He would like for Fiscal Court to intervene in some way, but Judge Tribble says it’s unclear if the county would have any standing as he believes the dam is being built on city-owned property. Oatts believes that even if that’s true, that the county airport property will still be flooded in some areas.

Christian County Animal Shelter Director Irene Grace says 307 cats and dogs found forever homes last month.

Squire Magaline Ferguson noted this year’s United Way of the Pennyrile campaign kickoff breakfast is set for 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 2.