Hardin County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hardin County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Opioid funding for Drug Court and Sheriff's Office
The county officially joined the latest round of the national opioid settlement, which means additional settlement dollars coming to Hardin County to help with opioid-related costs and services.
Hoover Hollow Road emergency repair
Resolution 2026-179 would enroll the county in the state's Emergency Project (3%) Program to help pay for emergency repairs on Hoover Hollow Road.
ADA Website Compliance Software
The county bought Siteimprove software to get its website ADA-compliant by the federal deadline — part transparency for residents with disabilities, part avoiding compliance trouble.
TRACERS Search and Rescue Grant
The county's volunteer rope-and-cave rescue team, TRACERS, landed a ~$2,700 state grant to replace aging gear — and it costs the county nothing since it's a pass-through.
FY 2026-2027 Budget Amendment No. 2 (Ordinance 347-2)
Judge Taul's proposed $62.5 million budget holds the property tax rate at 10.8 cents, gives county workers a 2% COLA, and spends $905K on new EMS equipment. It leans on $2 million a year from the old hospital sale payout — and jail subsidies keep climbing with no state help in sight.
General Election Voting Information
Clerk Smith cleared up news confusion about 11 Hardin County-linked voters near the Jefferson County line: they actually live in Jefferson County and were misrouted due to a West Point zip code. He urges everyone to double-check their registration before November 3.
RAVE Alert Mass Notification System
Magistrate Yates flagged that wrong information went out on county email and Facebook twice in a month — including during a Radcliff incident — and wants it fixed before a real emergency makes it dangerous.
Drought Conditions and Potential No-Burn Order
Hardin County is close to enacting a full no-burn ordinance because of drought — neighboring counties already have. Until then, the state burn law applies: no burning before 6 p.m., and stay 150 feet from wood lines.
Berrytown Road Drainage Structure Repairs
A $160,000 drainage repair project on Berrytown Road got the green light, with the state picking up $80,000 through an 80/20 match program.
Countywide ban on pet sales in parking lots and flea markets
The county is joining a small club — reportedly one of only two Kentucky counties — moving to require pets be sold only by reputable breeders and to steer residents toward shelter adoptions. First reading passed; a second reading and hearing come before it's final.
White Mills Bridge repair contract signed
State inspectors shut down the historic White Mills Bridge over safety issues — a surprise, since it wasn't on the county's repair list. Residents in that area face detours while further testing determines whether repairs are possible.
Detention center inmates serve the community
Detention Center inmates logged 11,536 work hours in July — cleaning 118 miles of roadside and completing a Lincoln Elementary workout project that's already being used by schoolchildren and inspiring future projects.
Temporary moratorium on data center rezonings
The county updated its zoning rules to match state law: neighbors within 1,200 feet will no longer get mailed notice of zone changes — only adjacent owners — though the Planning Commission promises extra notice via its website. An invalid non-listed-use process a judge struck down in 2022 was finally removed.
November general election preparation
With 98 days to the general election, the Board of Elections voted to add a polling location for early voting and Election Day, pending state approval — reflecting heavy turnout interest after the May primary.
$100,000 Middle Creek Road resurfacing
The county is applying for a new state Grant Pool Program match of $100,000 for Middle Creek Road; the full project runs about $280,000, leaving the county to cover roughly $180,000.
Closure of Spurrier Alley in White Mills
A 168-foot strip of undeveloped alley — really just part of a property owner's yard — was officially closed, merging eight lots into one. It never was a usable road and portions nearby were closed back in 2006.
$848,000 purchase of EMS cardiac monitors
The court is adding about $1.2 million to the budget, with roughly $900,000 replacing EMS cardiac monitors that reach end of life this year. That's frontline equipment paramedics use on every serious call.
Hardin County History Museum operations
The museum reported visitors from 38 states and four countries, a Heritage Day fundraiser October 10 at Freeman Lake Park to save the Lincoln Heritage House, and building upkeep needs — including a stubborn roof leak and extra security cameras after a July 4th vandalism incident.
State road aid and grant funding
The county is getting over $600,000 in state road funds for eleven roads with only a ~$150,000 local match, plus a major FEMA reimbursement for flood-damaged Stovall and Hall Roads. A new Glendale government complex also received $6.5 million in state funding, available July 2027.
Special Purpose Government Entity Tax Rates
Three taxing entities told the court they're keeping rates flat: Extension stays at 1.8 cents, Soil Conservation takes the compensating rate, and the Health Department holds at 2.2 cents per $100.
Interstate Emergency Responder Safety
A Upton fire truck was hit on I-65 with no injuries, and Emergency Management is pleading with drivers to move over and slow down near emergency scenes — and to sign up for RAVE weather alerts.
Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (First Reading)
A first reading of a zoning text amendment covering definitions, the map amendment process, board of adjustment powers, and procedures for non-listed uses. The final vote happens at the September meeting, so residents still have time to weigh in.
Veterans-Themed Ambulance Wraps Donation Account
A new donation account lets residents personally chip in for veterans-themed ambulance wraps — magistrates are already lining up to donate. It's a feel-good item that honors local veterans.
Procurement Threshold Increase
An administrative code update raises the no-bid purchase threshold from $40,000 to $50,000 to match state guidance, and adds rules for small purchases and IT software subscriptions.
Road Surfacing Funding for Upton and Rhudes Creek Roads
The court approved $314,000 in flex funds for bit surfacing on Upton Road and W. Rhudes Creek Road — smoother drives for folks in that part of the county.
Surplus ambulance transfer to Sonora Fire Department
An old county ambulance is heading to the Sonora Fire Department, boosting emergency medical response in the southern part of the county at no acquisition cost to the department.
Animal Shelter Programs and No-Kill Status
The shelter is back at a 90% live release rate — no-kill territory — with a booming volunteer program, a new dog day-out program, and about $15,000 in Best Friends donations.
Flood damage and reactive road maintenance
Repeated storms and flooding — including a late-June flood on Miller Road — have consumed about a week of the road department's planned maintenance, leaving crews mostly reacting to damage instead of doing routine work.
Sheriff's Special Response Team and Battle Drive Incident Response
The Sheriff's Office formed a ten-member Special Response Team, trained at a premier Indiana tactical facility, and deployed it the very next night in a domestic shooting that ended with the suspect found deceased. No deputies or civilians were hurt.
Sheriff's surplus vehicle to Hardin County 911
A surplus sheriff's vehicle is being transferred to the county's 911 service at no cost, thanks to the sheriff's office.
EMS training grant award
Hardin County EMS landed almost $55,000 in grant money — no local match — to buy new CPR mannequins, airway training dummies, and upgraded cameras, mics, and speakers for the training room. That means better-trained medics responding to your 911 calls.
Blue Oval revenue losses and accountability
Ford is officially taking over the BlueOval SK battery plant operation at Glendale, and the county had to transfer the industrial revenue bonds to match. This locks in the massive industrial investment and jobs promise for the Glendale area under Ford's name.
Springhaven domestic violence program closure
Springhaven, the domestic violence shelter serving Hardin County and seven other counties, closes June 30. State funding for services continues under a new arrangement starting July 1, and victims will still have someone to answer the hotline. Community leaders meet July 20 to pursue a permanent solution.
County cybersecurity and jail healthcare contracts
The consent agenda included a cybersecurity managed detection and response contract with Arctic Wolf (which absorbed the county's prior vendor), a jail healthcare services agreement for the coming fiscal year, and a consultant to help capture additional Medicaid ambulance reimbursement funding.
EMS Crisis to Care Grant Application
The county will apply for a fully reimbursed ~$60,000 grant to buy EMS training equipment, beating a June 12 deadline.
Engineering services contract spending
Magistrate Saltsman reported the county's $80,000 engineering services contract with Lincoln Trail ADD is on pace: $25,745 billed over six months, including $2,607.45 for May.
New Type 1 ambulance purchase
The court approved a $318,500 bid for a new Type 1 ambulance through the consent agenda — the going price for an ambulance these days, as Judge Taul put it.
Road Supervisor leadership transition
Longtime Road Supervisor Dwight Morgan retired and Michael Steck was unanimously appointed to fill his unexpired term. Magistrates credited Morgan with stretching limited staffing, upgrading equipment, and fighting for road employee pay.
May primary election turnout and polling access
Clerk Smith reported 19.24% turnout with about 15,800 voting, and revealed a close call: a state road closure nearly blocked the county's busiest polling place, reversed in 15 minutes after calls to Senator Deneen.
FLOCK camera data-sharing agreement
A new MOU lets Hardin County E-911 and Radcliffe Police share footage data from FLOCK cameras in the area — approved quietly on the consent agenda.
EMS State Inspection Results
A 2024 independent evaluation found aging apparatus, declining volunteerism, and unsustainable funding — some trucks are 25-40 years old. A citizen urged the court to restore the cut deputy director position and find long-term funding; the state's $6.5 million Glendale offer is far short of total build and staffing costs.
BRIC Grant for Community Storm Shelters
The county got approval to apply for a federal BRIC grant to build two above-ground community safe rooms at $355,000, with the county's share capped at $89,000 if no other grants offset it.
Cecilia road closings for church expansion
North Mill Street and a chunk of Federal Street in Cecilia will be closed and turned over to Cecilia Baptist Church for a building addition. Most pavement stays as parking, and the drive widens from 12 to 21 feet, which should slow cut-through traffic.
Elected officials' salaries for next term
The court set pay for elected officials for the coming four-year term. Magistrates have had no raise since 2015 — a decade-long freeze that's saved taxpayers more than $300,000.
Co-op/intern position and volunteer transparency
A job description for a county co-op/intern got sent back to committee after magistrates learned the county already has an unpaid volunteer in Engineering that most didn't know about. Magistrates want to be told whenever unpaid workers are on the job.
Rise in suicides reported by Coroner
The coroner's office handled 1,193 cases in 2025, with overdoses still the top accidental cause of death and suicides rising. Coroner Elmore warned about a new synthetic opioid derivative, chlorphine, whose effects and Narcan response are still unknown.
House Bill 557 jail funding reform
The bill that would have required the state to pay more toward housing state inmates died in committee. Counties still get $35.34 a day per state inmate while the state prison system spends about $122 — leaving local taxpayers to cover the gap.
Water district infrastructure and grant projects
Both water districts reported strong years: new water lines on unserved roads, tank construction, lift station renovations, and millions in grant funding — plus tech that caught burst pipes before customers got hit with huge bills.
Volunteer fire department staffing strain
Half of March's 238 fire calls required mutual or automatic aid as daytime volunteer availability has collapsed. Chiefs are asking residents to consider volunteering.
County library recognized statewide
Hardin County Public Library Director Laurel Tabaka received the Kentucky Public Library Association's first-ever Librarian of the Year award, credited with a $3.8 million renovation completed with zero closure days and a resource hub for Fort Knox military families.