Do you endorse LIFT and the Local Option Sales Tax?
No I do not endorse LIFT. What I do support is the elimination of the prevailing wage law that drives the costs of projects up 30% more for schools and government agencies.
Whether you are in support of LIFT or not, what projects do you see as a priority that could benefit from community funding?
The City of Elizabethtown found it to be more cost effective for the city residents to combine water companies with Hardin County Water District #2. This ultimately will keep rates lower for the citizens of Elizabethtown for the future.
In light of potential additional cuts at Fort Knox, will you endorse funding or One Knox? If not, what are you willing to do to protect the economic contribution of Fort Knox?
City of Elizabethtown has and continues to support Fort Knox. We belong to the CORE Committee which is responsible for the lobbing efforts in Washington, DC. We also wrote letters of support for Fort Knox recently during the letter drive and encouraged all of the citizens to do the same.
What are you recommending being done to bring new business to downtown Elizabethtown? What incentives should the City make available to existing business to expand and potential new business to come to the downtown area? Do you believe a change to the alcohol regulations should be made to stimulate interest in downtown development?
The city is taking the lead along with private developers in bringing new business downtown. We are partnering with City Visions for the study of downtown and what are the best options for a vibrant area. The city has and continues to offer the occupational tax rebate program for new businesses that locate downtown and has facade grants available as well. Our planning office has been very proactive in helping potential owners find ways of working with the existing properties available to achieve both safety and cost efficiency. The Home Rule Law will take effect in January 2015 and will change the alcohol regulations which will make a difference to downtown development.
Will you be a supporter of the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce? For the Mayor’s Office, will you attend the regular Board meetings?
The city belongs to the Chamber of Commerce. In fact we pay $3,000 a year to belong to the chamber along with providing meeting space, tables and chairs for the monthly meetings for only $25. I attend chamber meetings when my schedule allows and will continue to do so.
The Sports Park is now a proven creator of tourism and new economic activity for this community. Do you think that our community needs other forms of entertainment in order to entice these sports teams and their parents to come back to the park in the future? Do you know if tournament entries are on the increase or decline at the Sports Park and why? What needs to be provided in terms of governance of the Sports Park and new entertainment services and amenities for the visitors in our community to ensure the continued success of the Sports Park?
The Elizabethtown Sports Park is coming off of its best year yet. We have had more events and participants this year than any other. We are aware of the need of supporting venues to help provide entertainment and value for those that visit the park each year. The city has committed to building a new swimming pool that will add value for the citizens of Elizabethtown and sports park visitors alike. It is also very important that downtown Elizabethtown is revitalized and becomes a Thriving Hub of Activity for citizens and visitors. The Elizabethtown Tourism & Convention Bureau just completed a visitor experience assessment. This took a look at the city’s offerings currently available to visitors as well as it looked at the areas where we need improvement. The recommendations will be used by ETCB, City of Elizabethtown, and the public in an effort to enhance Elizabethtown -The City of Big Surprises.
Do you feel the Planning and Zoning Department needs to create a more streamlined and efficient process for both current and potentially new business? If not, what can businesses do to be better prepared for new development plans and applications? If yes, what are your recommendations for improved efficiency?
The City of Elizabethtown’s Planning and Development Department is one of a very few in the Commonwealth of Kentucky that has State Jurisdiction. This allows developers to submit their plans locally to be reviewed instead of taking them to Frankfort. It cuts the time in half. The Planning and Development Department establishes a time line for each set of plans to be reviewed and returned to the developer either approved or with changes requested. We currently are reviewing the plans in less time than established. We are still running into some time issues getting the plans reviewed in the Storm Water Department and we are working on improving this. What I find more than not is that Planning & Development informs the engineering firm of the changes needed and the engineering firm does not make the changes needed or fails to inform the developer of the needed changes. Here is a quote the engineer doing the Hobby Lobby Development on his experience with Planning and Development,
Ed- thanks very much. I know this was a pain in the neck to get all the last details
finalized and approved but I really appreciate it and I’m sure all the folks at GBT
appreciate it.
I also wanted to tell you what a great experience I’ve had with everyone at the city.
Everyone, including Kevin Blain at KY TC, has been extremely helpful and responsive
and the whole plan review and approval process has been terrific. Over the past 20
years, I’ve designed and permitted shopping center projects all over the east-
Pennsylvania, Indiana, Virginia and throughout the southeast- and the City of
Elizabethtown city staff has been one of the nicest and easiest to work with as any of
them.
Please extend my thanks to your entire staff. I hope I get the opportunity to do more
projects in the Elizabethtown in the future.”
Robert A McCann, p.c.
Haines Gipson & Associates
Consulting Engineering
What is your position on the potential closure of Woodland Drive near the Hospital?
What was requested, is not a closure of Woodland Drive. What was requested was a change in access point for Woodland Drive. Unfortunately this has gotten to be an issue with some that are upset with the operations of HMH more than a partnership in reaching a solution that is the best for Elizabethtown in the long run. The request comes for two reasons. First, the state has awarded money to be used in order to widen Cardinal Drive. As everyone knows this need is great and long overdue. In widening Cardinal Dr., it needs to line up directly with Diecks Drive. In order to accomplish this, part of the parking lot owned by Hardin Memorial Hospital is needed. HMH has agreed to give up the parking lot in exchange for a change in access to Woodland Drive from the most southern access point. This would allow HMH to expand the emergency room to in order to see and treat more patients. The city is looking at establishing an access point off of Cardinal Drive onto Woodland Drive and widening Layman Lane to accommodate more traffic access from North Dixie. We need a win win win solution, and that is what we are working towards and one that I will support. I can not do anything about the operations of the Hospital. I can’t do anything about the lack of communication concerning this project between HMH and Doctors located in the area. What I will do is do what is best for Elizabethtown in the long run. I understand the value of Hardin Memorial Hospital to Elizabethtown, Hardin County and the Region. It is the city’s largest employer, but more importantly they are a business located within the city. We have an obligation to help each and every business we can. Big or small, they all are providing jobs and services. I am convinced that we will not make 100% of those involved happy, but I am convinced that we will do what is best for Elizabethtown.
