The Pennyrile Area Development District Board of Directors on Monday heard updates from local agencies and reports on legislative priorities from the Kentucky Association of Counties and League of Cities.
Jill Collins with the Area Agency on Aging says they’re exploring the option of utilizing the senior centers in the region as COVID vaccination sites in the future. The desire for meals through the pickup and delivery program in the region continues to grow, with over a quarter-million served during the pandemic in the nine-county region.
PADD received CARES Act funding to eliminate any waiting list for meals. Collins says she looks forward to when the local centers will be able to reopen and provide seniors with the ability to fellowship with one another, in addition to having a communal meal.
There is also federal funding being distributed to PACS to help pay utility bills that have gotten past due during the pandemic and PADD Associate Director Amy Frogue says families will be able to apply for $250 monthly for up to six months.
J.D. Chaney with the League of Cities and Shellie Hampton with the Association of Counties agree on their top priority for the General Assembly—raising the tax on a gallon of gasoline by a dime to increase the coffers for improving Kentucky’s transportation infrastructure.
Both entities are also encouraging lawmakers to formally legalize historical horse racing machines such as the ones in Oak Grove. Hampton highlighted expanding broadband coverage and increasing payment that jails receive for housing state inmates as priorities and both want COVID liability protections for governments, schools and businesses.
Jason Hasert would normally represent Senator Rand Paul at PADD meetings, but has been hospitalized with COVID-19. Rachel McCubbin says Hasert is off a ventilator and is doing better while recovering at Jennie Stuart.
Corey Elder with Congressman James Comer’s office says Comer is supporting complete reopening of the economy instead of another COVID relief package that’s under consideration.