The West Kentucky Coalition, an advocacy group made up of cities and counties from throughout the state’s western most area development districts, has determined its legislative priorities for the 2021 Kentucky General Assembly session. The issues on which the coalition focused were of broad general interest to West Kentucky communities and included possible solutions for state legislators or policy makers. They are:
1) ISSUE – Equitable distribution of Joint Funding Administration monies to West Kentucky area development districts. SOLUTION – Urge our state legislators to review and analyze DLG reports on the allocation of JFA funds and, if that research reveals inequities, push the JFA and the Department of Local Government to reevaluate its apportionments to assure the Green River, Pennyrile and Purchase ADDs receive more funding from JFA to help our counties and cities.
2) ISSUE – Completion of I-69, its spurs and its Ohio River bridge. SOLUTION – Vigorously defend funds currently in both the two- and six-year roads plans for I-69 projects, advocate for more, push the current and subsequent administrations to be aggressive in their construction deadlines and support Rep. Sal Santoro’s bill to increase funding for transportation infrastructure.
3) ISSUE – Protecting the viability of Ellis Park, Oak Grove Racing and West Kentucky horse farms. SOLUTION – Support clarifying current state statutes to unequivocally legalize Historic Horse Racing gaming facilities in Kentucky.
4) ISSUE – Creating more efficient, less-expensive methods to get law enforcement recruits properly certified. SOLUTION – Support independently created POP-certification programs in West Kentucky communities wanting to start them, or support funding and approval for a state-regulated certification program in West Kentucky.
“The coalition was created to more effectively express the needs and desires of communities in West Kentucky,” said WKC Chairman Jack Whitfield, the judge-executive of Hopkins County. “Our group was formed early this fall, so the Legislative Affairs Committee and the board didn’t have much time to research and settle on items of regional interest to present to our area’s legislators. But these four issues had the strong support of the board and would certainly help West Kentucky if they can be addressed. We also plan to send these priorities to all the members of the General Assembly to help them understand, and hopefully support, our priorities.”
In addition to Whitfield, WKC officers include Vice Chairman Greg Terry, the judge-executive in Carlisle County, and Secretary/Treasurer George Chinn, mayor of Hartford. Board directors are made up mayors, county judge executives or their designees from cities or counties who have formally joined the coalition. For more information about membership or becoming an associate member, contact Whitfield at (270) 821-8294 or judgeexecutive@hopkinscounty.net; or Greenville Mayor Jan Yonts at (270) 338-3966 or mayor@greenvilleky.com.
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