REPORT | 2023 LTADD Legislative Priorities

Lincoln Trail Area Development District

Exciting things are happening in Central Kentucky! New economic development opportunities, continued local investment, and expanding education resources continue to grow our region; however, we cannot do it alone! The Lincoln Trail Area Development District (LTADD) needs the support of the Kentucky legislature to invest in our infrastructure, workforce, and communities.

London Executive Director

daniel@ltadd.org 270-982-5207 (O)

This resource is designed to put our district’s preeminent needs in one, easy-toconsume location. LTADD gathered this information by surveying elected officials and community stakeholders.

The QR Code at the end of this document will provide you with the contact information for everyone who participated in the survey. Please reach out to them directly if you have questions about their projects. Our office is also a phone call away if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your continued work to strengthen Central Kentucky. LTADD is grateful to partner with you.

Lincoln Trail Area Development District

Daniel London Executive Director

Daniel

Sewer/Waste Water Treatment

Adequate sewer and water treatment services remain a top priority for much of the LTADD. Increased demands from widespread growth in addition to needs created from the region's latest economic development have prioritized sewer service and waste water treatment for area local officials and organizations.

Breckinridge County

ExpandtheHardinsburgWaterTreatmentPlantforourcounty.

Although the City of Hardinsburg is in control of water in our county, there are many homes that do not have access to clean water, and expansion of water is a big issue for several citizens. Morefundingtohelpthemreceivewaterisamajorpriorityforus.

-Judge/ExecutiveMauriceLucas,BreckinridgeCountyFiscalCourt

The City of Hardinsburg provides water for most of Breckinridge County. Our current water treatment plant is nearing capacity, which limits our ability to recruit further commercial and industrial projects throughout the county. We have otherwise competitive industrial sites available and do not want to lose job opportunities forourresidentsduetoaninabilitytoprovidewater.

-MeredithDubree,ExecutiveDirectorofBreckinridgeCountyUnited

Grayson County

Receiving

One of the Grayson County Water District’s top priorities is to receive help with funding to provide assistance with completion of the lead service line inventory process to maintain compliance with DOW.

- Jeremy Woosley, Manager, Grayson County Water District

Grayson County Hardin County

Assistancewithpossibleinfrastructuregrowthintheeastend ofthecountyasaresultoftheBlueOvalSKBatteryPark. The Grayson County Water District will need funding to make the necessary infrastructure improvements required to support possible growth surrounding the construction of the BlueOval SK BatteryParkinGlendale.

-JeremyWoosley,Manager,GraysonCountyWaterDistrict Sewerexpansion.

-JamesP.Embry,MayorofCityofCaneyville

SewerfundinginVineGrove.

Financial support is needed to keep our rates affordable and competitive. Without financial support, it will be difficult for us to complete the needed improvements to support economic developmentinourregion.

-RobertWoosley,CityEngineerfortheCityofVineGrove Storm(drainage)fundinginVineGrove. Stormwater funding is needed to resolve long-standing flooding and erosion issues throughout the City. We recently implemented a new stormwater utility fee that has helped tremendously, but muchmoreworkandfundingisneeded.

-RobertWoosley,CityEngineerfortheCityofVineGrove

Hardin County

WaterinfrastructurefundingrelatedtothePirtleSpringWater TreatmentFacility.

EstimatedBudget:$20million

HardinCountyWaterDistrictNo.1hasidentified$20millionworth ofimprovementsforupgradestothePirtleSpringWaterTreatment Facility, including the facility’s transmission main. This funding wouldprovidevolumecapacityforgrowth.

-StephenHogan,GeneralManagerofHardinCountyWaterDistrictNo.1

WaterinfrastructurefundingrelatedtotheLouisvilleWater Company.

EstimatedBudget:$20million

HardinCountyWaterDistrictNo.1hasidentified$20milliontogo toward a transmission main and pump system interconnect with the Louisville Water Company. This funding would allow a supplemental connection for Hardin County, along with Meade CountyandFortKnox,andwouldallowaresilientwatersourcefor supportinggrowthforallofHardinandMeadecounties.

-StephenHogan,GeneralManagerofHardinCountyWaterDistrictNo.1

Waterinfrastructurefundingrelatedtopipereplacements.

EstimatedBudget:$10million

HardinCountyWaterDistrictNo.1hasidentified$10millionworth of improvements to replace failing and antiquated old cast iron pipes, many of which are over 70 years old. The funding will allow foraggressivereplacementsofthepipes,providingareliablewater distribution system for Hardin County, Radcliff, West Point, and supporttoVineGrove.

-StephenHogan,GeneralManagerofHardinCountyWaterDistrictNo.1

LaRue County

Wastewatertreatmentplant.

The City of Hodgenville’s plant has reached capacity, which limits ourgrowth.Theplantneedstobeupgraded.

-JimPhelps,Mayor,CityofHodgenville

Waterandsewerlinereplacement.

Many of the City of Hodgenville’s water and sewer lines are beyond their life expectancy. Many of these lines need to be replaced.

-JimPhelps,Mayor,CityofHodgenville

Newwaterplant.

A new water plant will supply water needed to meet demand for the LaRue County community for decades to come. It is time to work toward upgrading and preparing for our future to ensure qualitywaterisalwaysavailable.

-TimBartleyorJohnDetre,Manager,LaRueCountyWaterDistrictNo.1

Waterlineupgrades.

Moving water to customers is critical to everyone's health and wellbeing. The ability to fill tanks when needed is of utmost importance. Being able to supply water to other cities and water districtsisveryimportantaswell,includingtheCityofHodgenville.

-TimBartleyorJohnDetre,Manager,LaRueCountyWaterDistrictNo.1

New centralized Water tanks.

New water tanks are needed to centralize the storage and availability of water.his will allow us to better serve our customers.

- Tim Bartley or John Detre, Manager, LaRue County Water District No.1

LaRue County

Nelson County

Revision of the wastewater sludge removal permitting process. Revision of legislation to revise and update the permitting process for the removal and disposal of lagoon sludge at wastewater treatment plants is needed, particularly the permitting process for agricultural application for the sludge.

- Mayor J. Richard Heaton, City of Bardstown

Transportation Infrastructure

From fixing narrow roads to rehabilitating old bridges, transportation infrastructure is a top concern for many leaders in the LTADD. This is a major issue for leaders in rural areas of the community where residents rely on suitable infrastructure to travel to work, an issue that will be exacerbated as more large-scale employers arrive in the region.

Breckinridge County

Increased funding for road improvements.

Roads are still a huge issue for our county. Funding for road improvements needs to be consistent as the transition to electric vehicles moves forward. Highway 86 towards Hardin County is a priority for Breckinridge County. Expansion of funding for roads, especially for the Highway 86 project, would be a high priority for our county. A major concern is the loss of revenue as more electric vehicles are using our roads and less revenue is received from fuel sales at the pump.

- Judge/Executive Maurice Lucas, Breckinridge County Fiscal Court

Funding for Improvements to Highway 86.

Highway 86 is the primary route connecting Breckinridge and Hardin Counties. Hundreds of Breckinridge County residents who drive to Elizabethtown every day to work or to attend college use this road, which is so narrow and curvy it can be unsafe. The condition of Highway 86 has long been a hindrance to economic development in our county as well.

- Meredith Dubree, Executive Director of Breckinridge County United

Hardin County

Roadway funding (bridges and culverts).

The City of Vine Grove has numerous bridges and structures in dire need of replacement or rehabilitation. We currently have no funding allocated for these much-needed improvements.

- Robert Woosley, City Engineer for the City of Vine Grove

Conversion of Parkways (Bluegrass and Western Kentucky) to Interstates. Benefits to converting parkways to auxiliary interstate highways include:

Implementation of road design enhancements which might take decades to achieve otherwise

Improvements in parkway safety

Putting Elizabethtown on three different interstate highways which will enhance economic development efforts and new job creation

Putting cities like Bardstown, Leitchfield, and Lawrenceburg on an interstate highway for the first time, enhancing those communities’ economic development efforts

- Margy Poorman, President, Hardin County Chamber of Commerce

Washington County

Infrastructure and site development. We should continue to support infrastructure enhancement and site development programs such as the product development initiative to support communities in upgrading and developing new sites and infrastructure.

- Daniel Carney, Executive Director of Springfield-Washington County Economic Development Authority (SWEDA)

Veteran Affairs

Veteran Affairs

As a region bolstered by Fort Knox, veteran affairs is an important issue for leaders in the LTADD. Leaders are interested in several reforms to make the region even more accommodating to military veterans, from changes in tax codes to expansions in local air travel accessibility.

Development District

Eliminateincometaxonmilitaryretirement.

In the fight for talent, Kentucky employers regularly seek out military veterans and military retirees to meet their workforce needs.Kentuckypridesitselfonbeingamilitary-friendlystate,yetit continues to tax military retirement income when so many other statesdonot.Thatmatterswhenretireesconsiderwheretheywant to call home following their military service. We recognize that Kentucky is moving toward the elimination of income tax entirely, however, in this time of tremendous economic growth, it would serve the commonwealth well to put forth legislation that eliminatesthetaxonmilitaryretirementincome.

-JamesT.Iacocca,Brig.Gen.,U.S.Army(Retired)President/CEO, KnoxRegionalDevelopmentAlliance

Development District

Eliminate the vehicle tax military service members have to pay on vehicles they purchased before they moved to Kentucky. When active duty service members purchase a vehicle in Kentucky, they don’t have to pay Kentucky sales tax. However, when they register a vehicle that they purchased in a different state that has a lower vehicle sales tax rate than Kentucky, the service member has to pay the difference. It seems counterintuitive to place this additional financial burden on our military. It is not tax revenue that Kentucky would have otherwise realized had the vehicle been purchased in the commonwealth and it is an unanticipated costly expense for service members.

- James T. Iacocca, Brig. Gen., U.S. Army (Retired) President / CEO, Knox Regional Development Alliance

Fund a feasibility study to expand capacity of the Elizabethtown Regional Airport /Addington Field. KRDA, in partnership with the Elizabethtown Airport Board, the Elizabethtown/ Hardin County Industrial Foundation and the City of Elizabethtown, supports the expansion of the Elizabethtown Regional Airport (EKX). The Elizabethtown/Fort Knox MSA, which is experiencing unprecedented economic growth with the new BlueOval SK Battery Park, NUCOR Steel, Kruger Packaging and numerous other manufacturers. Growth at Baptist Health Hardin, as well as new and expanding missions at Fort Knox, would also benefit from expanded capacity at EKX. An expanded runway would directly support Fort Knox deployment operations. Funding of a feasibility study is needed to move forward with EKX expansion.

- James T. Iacocca, Brig. Gen., U.S. Army (Retired) President / CEO, Knox Regional Development Alliance

Tax Codes

Tax Codes

LTADD leaders are prioritizing changes in state tax codes, addressing taxation on everything from bourbon barrels to gas.

Hardin County

CreatingaCompetitiveTaxClimateforBusiness.

The state has taken steps to make Kentucky more competitive by making reforms to business taxes and a system to reduce and eventuallyphaseoutindividualincometaxes.

-MargyPoorman,President,HardinCountyChamberofCommerce

Meade County

Utility rates.

An annual rate increase allows utilities to raise their water rates annually based on an inflation index chosen by the Legislature or the Public Service Commission without having to pay the costs of a full-blown rate study.

- Brett Pyles, General Manager, Meade County Water District

Water tax and tax collection. Water districts provide safe drinking water which is essential to life. Water should not be taxed nor should water districts be "tax collectors" for the local schools.

- Brett Pyles, General Manager, Meade County Water District

Meade County

Nelson County

Bourbon Barrel Tax.

Impact: ~$9 million to Nelson County; ~$210K to Bardstown

It is imperative that the Bourbon Barrel tax remain in place, or an alternative form of payment be implemented. This will ensure that Nelson County’s schools, courts, sheriff's office, libraries and extension service will still receive the $8.6 million in funds provided by this tax.

- Mayor J. Richard Heaton, City of Bardstown

It is important to leave this tax in place as there are projects we have done with revenue promised to us by the distilleries themselves. These warehouses contribute very little otherwise. We are counting on the revenue from stored spirits.

- Daniel Carney, Executive Director, Springfield-Washington County Economic Development Authority (SWEDA)

The Bourbon Barrel Tax issue is very big to Nelson County.

- Former Judge/Executive Nicky Rapier, Nelson County Fiscal Court

Washington County

Restructuring of road tax formula.

Restructuring the road tax formula would increase revenue that would be used to enhance roadways throughout the Commonwealth.

- Judge/Executive Timothy E. Graves, Judge/Executive, Washington County Fiscal Court

Development District

Eliminateincometaxonmilitaryretirement.

In the fight for talent, Kentucky employers regularly seek out military veterans and military retirees to meet their workforce needs.Kentuckypridesitselfonbeingamilitary-friendlystate,yetit continues to tax military retirement income when so many other statesdonot.Thatmatterswhenretireesconsiderwheretheywant to call home following their military service. We recognize that Kentucky is moving toward the elimination of income tax entirely, however, in this time of tremendous economic growth, it would serve the commonwealth well to put forth legislation that eliminatesthetaxonmilitaryretirementincome.

-JamesT.Iacocca,Brig.Gen.,U.S.Army(Retired)President/CEO, KnoxRegionalDevelopmentAlliance

Eliminate the vehicle tax military service members have to pay on vehicles they purchased before they moved to Kentucky. When active duty service members purchase a vehicle in Kentucky, they don’t have to pay Kentucky sales tax. However, when they register a vehicle that they purchased in a different state that has a lower vehicle sales tax rate than Kentucky, the service member has to pay the difference. It seems counterintuitive to place this additional financial burden on our military. It is not tax revenue that Kentucky would have otherwise realized had the vehicle been purchased in the commonwealth and it is an unanticipated costly expense for service members.

- James T. Iacocca, Brig. Gen., U.S. Army (Retired) President / CEO, Knox Regional Development Alliance

Special Projects

Special Projects

A few other key issues were also prioritized by LTADD leaders, such as workforce development, addiction recovery services and pandemic preparedness.

Breckinridge County

Expanded access to broadband throughout the county. More funding to expand internet access throughout the county is a major issue to our county. We are a huge county and many areas still do not have access to dependable internet service as more people are working from home.

- Judge/Executive Maurice Lucas, Breckinridge County Fiscal Court

Increased Funding for the Breckinridge County Area Technology Center. The Breckinridge County Area Technology Center has been preparing students for successful entry into the workforce for over 50 years. The school's programs, including machining, welding, industrial maintenance, and nursing, have continuously adapted to best suit the needs of regional employers. However, they are operating on impractically small budgets, which limits the opportunities our staff can provide for students. The economic growth our region has seen over the past few years is not sustainable without a well-trained workforce. It is imperative that we properly fund this school and all of Kentucky's Area Technology Centers.

- Meredith Dubree, Executive Director, Breckinridge County United

Breckinridge County

A new Public Works Facility with a break room, restrooms, and storage for equipment.

At present, the city has a maintenance building that lacks many things that are needed present day. A facility that would be able to hold a break room, restrooms, and storage of equipment is much needed for the employees of the city and to keep our equipment safe from the elements.

- Former Mayor Yvonne Kennedy, City of Irvington

Hardin County

Solving Workforce Issues. several areas are being addressed to reduce barriers for many people to join (or rejoin) the workforce: such as transitioning off public benefits (Benefits Cliffs), child care options of affordability and availability of day care and working through an employer-led benefit program, as well as recovery and re-entry from substance and criminal background with expungement and fair chance opportunities-

- Margy Poorman, President, Hardin County Chamber of Commerce

Breckinridge County

Washington County

Workforce development.

We must continue to support measures that enhance workforce development, and increase the workforce participation rate in Kentucky. This includes supporting areas such as childcare and affordable housing.

- Daniel Carney, Executive Director, Springfield-Washington County Economic Development Authority (SWEDA)

Breckinridge County Washington County

Infrastructure and site development.

We should continue to support infrastructure enhancement and site development programs such as the product development initiative to support communities in upgrading and developing new sites and infrastructure.

- Daniel Carney, Executive Director, Springfield-Washington County Economic Development Authority (SWEDA)

Addiction recovery facilities.

I would like to see legislation passed requiring drug treatment facilities with over 100 beds to have fencing on their property. The facility also should be required to transport patients that are wanting to leave. I feel this could be enforced by restructuring the state license requirements for these types of facilities.

- Judge/Executive Timothy E. Graves, Washington County Fiscal Court

Paramedic shortage.

Look for creative ways to enhance/promote paramedic training in our state. Also, allowing for the re-employment of retired paramedics without being penalized by the retirement system.

- Judge/Executive Timothy E. Graves, Washington County Fiscal Court

Thank you to all the elected officials and community stakeholders who provided feedback for this resource. This is just a sampling of the feedback, and we look forward to updating this document throughout the year. To see all the feedback, please scan the following QR Code or visit the website.