Hardin County Leadership
Government Day
Thursday, October 2, 2014
The Hardin County Leadership class started their Government Day off with breakfast and forums at Radcliff City Hall. Kentucky Representative Tim Moore was the first to talk to the class. He represents our area in the Kentucky Legislature and sits on the Natural Resources, Health & Welfare, and Veteran Military Affairs committees. He discussed with the class the ABC’s of leadership – A willingness to serve, Boldness, and Clarity of Vision.
Next, the class met with Radcliff City Council Members, Jacob Pearman and Edward Palmer. Edward Palmer, who is up for re-election in his third term as Council Member, moved to Hardin County in 1997 and works as a Pastor. His focus is on Juvenile Justice in the community. He serves on the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board and Ethic and Cultural Diversity Committee. Jacob Pearman, a North Hardin High School graduate, has worked his entire life in Radcliff. He was a Pastor for 18 years and is currently running for Radcliff Mayor. The two answered questions that the class had come up with. Some of these questions included:
- Questions 1 – How do you feel that you are making a difference by being on City Council?
- Question 15 – What do you think is Hardin County’s most positive asset to attract businesses to our county?
- Question 7 – What is the number of citizens represented per council member? (Nice trick question Anthony!)
- Question 2 – What are your thoughts on keeping dollars spent on extracurricular family activities here in Hardin County? i.e. Sports and Entertainment
The City Mayor’s Forum was next. JJ Duval (Radcliff), Blake Proffitt (Vine Grove) and William Ash (West Point) answered questions submitted about the class about their respective areas. Some of these questions included:
- Question 3 – Do you envision a future state of greater collaboration or merging of city and county governments? If so, what steps are needed to foster this goal?
- Question 13 – What are your top three issues you wish to address while in office?
- Question 5 – Do you have a contingency plan if Fort Knox loses its troops? How will it affect the area? Economy? Jobs? Population?
- Question 1 – What are you doing to attract new business and retailers to the area? How can we help?
The class traveled to Elizabethtown to meet with members of the Hardin County Fiscal Court. Judge Executive Harry Berry led the discussion about responsibilities of the Judge Executive and Magistrates. The following Magistrates were present for the discussion: Roy Easter (District 1), Lisa Williams (District 3), Fred Clem (District 4), Bill Wiseman (District 5), E.G. Thompson (District 6) and Dwight Morgan (District 7). Hardin County Attorney Jenny Oldham also took part in the discussion. Participants took turns answering questions submitted by the class, including:
- Question 5 – During the 12 years that you have been in office, how have you been able to keep the tax rate low?
- Question 19 – What values do you use to guide critical decisions?
- Question 1 – What are your thoughts on leveraging inmate labor to a great extent? If you’re in support, what additional tasks do you see them performing?
- Question 2 – What are the biggest backlogs in our Courts? What can local business leaders/citizens do to help expedite the process?
The class then traveled to Frankfort to visit our beautiful capital. Once there, Anthony forced everyone to huddle together for a group picture in front of the Capitol building.
The class heard from Kentucky State Representative Jimmie Lee while sitting in the representative chairs. We were able to take a picture with him in the Speaker of the House, Greg Stumbo’s platform.
The tour guide was the best the class could’ve asked for. She kindly reminded everyone to “watch your step” as we were walking past the stairs. She informed the class that we were from the “Town of Elizabeth.” She was extremely fascinated with “rotating symmetry” of the marble table in the state reception room. According to her, one of her tours wouldn’t be complete without pointing out the portrait of the “mutton chops” of one of the former Kentucky Supreme Court justices.
The class then walked underground to one of the Capital Annex meeting rooms and heard from Brad Richardson on the latest with Fort Knox. Colonel David E. Thompson was unable to join us due to a conflicting meeting. Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Manager of Public Affairs (aka “Paid Lobbyist”), Ashli Watts informed everyone about some of the legislation that did and did not pass from the previous session. She also explained some of the bills that the Chamber was backing in the hopes of getting passed in the upcoming session.
The trip ended at the Glen-Willis House. Everyone enjoyed a nice social time on the back porch before being served a finely catered meal and returning back to Elizabethtown.
Heather Haycraft
Student Success Advisor & Admissions Specialist
McKendree University – Radcliff Campus
1635 W. Lincoln Trail Blvd.
Radcliff, KY 40160
hnhaycraft@mckendree.edu
270.351.5003 ext. 1003
Adam Hinton
Loan Officer
1808 North Dixie Ave
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
ahinton@cecilianbank.com
270.737.1593
NMLS # 455717