THE PULASKI COUNTY 2019 NEWSROOM

FOR MORE ABOUT PULASKI COUNTY ALSO VISIT THE SPEDA NEWSROOM

2019

Horse Soldier Bourbon announces 

$50 million expansion in Somerset-Pulaski County

Watch the Video Here

Two-phase project will add 56 jobs

An American bourbon distillery founded by members of the first U.S. Army Special Forces unit to enter Afghanistan following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks has announced it will expand in Somerset, launching a two-phase, $50 million project that will add 56 direct jobs and enhance an already thriving tourism industry. “We are so pleased and happy to announce that we’re coming home to our old Kentucky home, to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, to Somerset, to the great people of Pulaski County, where we’re going to make bourbon and continue to make history,” said John Koko, co-founder of American Freedom Distillery, which produces Horse Soldier Bourbon.

Indeed it is a homecoming for these veterans, many of whom were stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, during their service to the United States.

“Many of us spent decades living in Kentucky before we went off to serve,” Koko said. “When the attacks of September 11th happened, several of our guys were based out of Ft. Campbell and training along the Cumberland River, when they received word that the towers had fallen.”

In the weeks following 9/11, a small group of U.S. Army Special Forces entered Afghanistan on horseback. Their clandestine mission marked the first time U.S. troops rode to war on horseback since WWII. The hand-selected detachment of 12 Green Berets from the 5th Special Forces Group would later become known as the “Horse Soldiers.” The 2018 action war drama film 12 Strong is based on their story.

In 2011, a statue commemorating their historic mission — aptly titled “America’s Response” — was unveiled at Ground Zero, in New York City. Today, the bronze, mounted soldier serves as the symbol of Horse Soldier Bourbon.

“For many of our guys, Kentucky feels like we are ‘coming home’ as opposed to expanding to some place new,” Koko said. “Now that we’ve all retired, we are committed to chasing the American dream we fought so hard to defend.”

When elected in 2018, Somerset Mayor Alan Keck made recruiting a bourbon distillery to the community one of his top priorities.

“I have always believed that we have something incredibly special here in Somerset and Pulaski County,” Keck said. “With over 4 million visitors a year coming to visit Lake Cumberland, Somerset is already uniquely positioned to become a premier destination city with the addition of the Horse Soldier Bourbon distillery.

“I am grateful that the Horse Soldier Bourbon team not only sees, but shares our vision to capture the possibilities that exist in Somerset,” Keck continued. “By choosing Somerset, they are choosing not only a city, but a family. I could not be more proud to welcome them home!”

Somerset-Pulaski County Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) President and CEO Chris Girdler commended Keck for his vision and outreach efforts to bring the bourbon industry to Pulaski County and for pursuing it with passion.

Horse Soldier Bourbon’s investment in Pulaski County will pay great dividends in long-term job creation, bolstering tourism, enhancing quality of life and place, and will put Somerset on the map for worldwide travelers visiting the Kentucky Bourbon Trail — all important pillars of SPEDA’s mission to make business about people, Girdler said.

“The Horse Soldier Bourbon team is a serendipitous match for our community and the entire Lake Cumberland region,” Girdler said. “We are grateful and honored that the HSB team chose Somerset and I know the community will be elated and welcome them with open arms. They plan on being a very active and engaged member of the community and I’m looking forward to others getting to know the amazing professionals from HSB.”

Girdler said Horse Soldier Bourbon’s presence in Somerset will be a tremendous asset to the community and the state of Kentucky.

“It has sincerely been an honor to get to know the team from Horse Soldier Bourbon and each one of them has served our country diligently and are true American heroes,” Girdler said. “It’s been exciting to follow their phenomenal success in the business world.”

In many ways, the HSB expansion sits at the intersection of tradition and innovation, Koko said.

“As an ultra-premium bourbon brand, we are committed to doing everything at the highest level — we adhere to tradition, but we understand the importance of innovation,” Koko said. “This requires working with the right people, in the right place, at the right time. We don’t believe in settling, that’s why this is the only place for us. In 2020, we are proud to return home to Kentucky. It seems only right that our next chapter is written in the same place where our journey first began.”

Additional details regarding the scope, scale, and timeline of Horse Soldier Bourbon’s $50 million investment in Somerset and Pulaski County will be released in the weeks ahead.

Read the official Horse Soldier Bourbon announcement.

 Read more: https://somersetkyleads.com/horse-soldier-bourbon-coming-t…/

 

SPEDA launches L.E.A.R.N. Academy, a public education leadership and entrepreneurship initiative

Professional-level, multi-session leadership course offered at Somerset High School

By Julie Harris     Education, Programs + Initiatives

SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (December 4, 2019) — The Somerset-Pulaski County Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) has launched a new leadership and entrepreneurship program at Somerset High School that immerses students in real-world business experiences and teaches them important skills to be successful in the workforce.

SPEDA partnered with BEST Edutainment President and CEO Brian Simmons to develop and facilitate the curriculum for its L.E.A.R.N. Academy (Leaderpreneur Entrepreleader Appreciation and Respect Nexus), which utilizes behavior-based professional development sessions and experiences with corporate leaders and entrepreneurs to reinvent workforce development.

Simmons facilitated the first session Nov. 19. During seven two-hour monthly courses, students will learn, establish and practice real-world workplace skills and behaviors that are aligned with required Kentucky academic, employability and occupational standards.

The idea for a public school initiative gained momentum recently when students in the Somerset High School Career Pathways program visited SPEDA’s headquarters. After speaking to business and marketing teacher Debbie Harris, SPEDA President and CEO Chris Girdler said he was inspired to pilot a comprehensive, professionally developed training program that would bring engaging workforce experiences to her students. 

“As we make business about people at SPEDA, we have to address the breadth and depth of the challenges that we are seeing with candidates entering the workforce,” Girdler said. “The students in our community need to be equipped with the skills and behaviors that will be needed in order to be successful in the evolving workplace in our community and globally.”

Harris said she was pleasantly surprised by the idea. 

“After visiting the SPEDA office, I just felt that the students could benefit more if they had more time to ask questions and actually experience the situations of work and life,” she said. “We are very excited to work with SPEDA and BEST Edutainment to provide our business and marketing students a leadership program that will help give them the knowledge and motivational tools to be successful leaders in our community.”

Girdler turned to Simmons to help develop the L.E.A.R.N. Academy because of Simmons’s detailed workforce management, curriculum instructional design and facilitation experience. A Somerset resident and Society of Human Resources Senior Certified Professional, Simmons leads an organization that creates, designs and presents impactful keynote presentations, conference workshops and sessions, customized instructional courses for businesses and broadcast media shows that are educational, engaging and entertaining. 

BEST Edutainment is regularly featured on CBS television affiliate WKYT’s Kentucky Newsmakers, and has a client roster that includes Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Kentucky, Applied Behavioral Advancements, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, UK Federal Credit Union, Somerset/Pulaski Co. Chamber of Commerce, Secure KY and the Kentucky Bar Association.

“Brian and I worked on a few smaller projects together over the past several months and we were able to often voice the same visions and thoughts about workforce development, specifically in Somerset,” Girdler said. “I’ve seen Brian’s work. His style of facilitation and his interactive exercises resonate with the students. He also encourages them to take positive action and make decisions based on knowledge gained during his keynote presentations and workshops. We received positive feedback immediately after completion of the first session with 38 students.”

Simmons said he was excited to create another learning academy environment from the ground up. 

“When Chris and I initially discussed the project, I knew we were creating a platform that could exist and benefit the community long after we’re gone if done properly. That’s what prompted the idea of an academy,” he said.

The inspiration behind the L.E.A.R.N. acronym begins with the idea that a leader must possess entrepreneurial skills just as an entrepreneur must possess leadership skills to be successful, Simmons said. In two separate surveys that measured the most wanted attributes in the workplace, appreciation and respect were No. 1 on their respective lists. A nexus is a connection or link of the people, theories and ideas within the academy.

Should this pilot program continue to succeed, Girdler said he hopes to introduce the L.E.A.R.N. Academy to Pulaski County and Southwestern high schools in the 2020-21 school year.

“I love Brian’s vision and purpose for the L.E.A.R.N. Academy and look forward to helping him and others in our southern Kentucky area achieve their professional and personal goals in life while changing the world for the better,” Girdler said.

For more information about the SPEDA L.E.A.R.N. Academy or how to get involved, contact Brian at brian@bestedutainment.com or Girdler at chris@speda.org.

Article also available on the SPEDA WEBSITE

SPEDA L.E.A.R.N. Academy partners, from left, Casey Rexroat, Elizabeth Schroer, Brian Simmons, Debbie Harris and Chris Girdler.

SPEDA announces expansion of inmate training program

CRITICAL will provide soft-skills, technical training to inmates
and help them navigate the job application process
 
SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (November 22, 2019) — The Somerset-Pulaski County Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) introduced industrial leaders to an evolving initiative Thursday to grow Pulaski County’s workforce while also helping incarcerated men and women gain a new start on life when they are released.
 
During the second installment of SPEDA’s Industrial Leaders Breakfast series, more than 50 leaders representing 26 Pulaski County businesses listened as those involved in implementing the CRITICAL program — Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Inmates Transforming Individuals, Community and Livelihoods — described its purpose and encouraged local businesses to participate.
 
This three-phase program will offer soft skills and technical training to inmates at the Pulaski County Detention Center, while also creating a transformational center inside the jail where employees can learn about job opportunities available and interview. 
 
Inmates who complete the program will receive 30 days off time served. And by being better prepared to reenter the workforce, they are less likely to return to jail, SPEDA President and CEO Chris Girdler said.
 
“We must do our best to help those incarcerated,” Girdler said. “This is a pool for our workforce. Where else can you go to get a built-in pool of employees to train, while also making a difference in their lives?”
 
Pulaski County Jailer Anthony McCollum told the crowd that Pulaski County has one of the two most overcrowded jails in the state. In lieu of building a new jail that would be costly to taxpayers, he began to look for alternatives.
 
“I got to thinking, there has to be more that we can do,” McCollum said. “Working together as a community, we can solve problems. I knew as a community if we bonded together, we could figure it out.”
 
It wasn’t long before Girdler approached him about partnering on this project. “I said, ‘You know, that’s exactly what I’ve been looking for,’” McCollum said.
 
The initiative began in August by implementing soft-skills training at the jail. The curriculum, developed by human behavior and organization dynamics expert Greg Coker, teaches inmates important interpersonal skills — communication, team-building, problem-solving, leadership and work ethic — vital to successful collaboration in the workplace.
 
But Girdler, McCollum, and Somerset Community College (SCC) Vice President of Workforce Solutions Alesa Johnson have had plans to expand the program from the beginning. 
 
Johnson explained to the group the pathway inmates in the CRITICAL program will take. It begins with the already existing soft-skills training. Once an inmate starts that curriculum, then CRITICAL leaders will determine if that inmate also needs technical training to learn a specific industry skill. Welding, industrial maintenance, concrete finishing or information technology are examples of these types of training, Johnson said. If the answer is yes, the inmate will meet with an adviser and begin a college course track to earn the appropriate certification. If the answer is no, the inmate will instead take professional skills courses to further prepare them for job interviews. 
 
After these two phases are complete an adviser will send the inmate’s resumé to potential employers. The inmate will interview until hired and will begin working until his or her release. If jobs are not immediately available, CRITICAL will provide training for the inmate on support services so he or she is successful in getting a job after release.
 
Knowing what types of jobs might be available is vital to this program’s success, Johnson said.
 
“We’re asking you, do you support this as a community?” Johnson said. “We feel very strongly that we want to give people that we can a second chance. … We’ve got to find out who is willing to work as a partner with us, and then we want your feedback on if there are jobs that they can do and offer those to the inmates.”
 
Johnson has applied for a $300,000 Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) innovation grant to help kick-start the program. If awarded, funding will help provide advisers and coaches, transportation, and construction trade classes, Johnson said.
 
Partnerships are already being created with educational institutions to expand the program, including Eastern Kentucky University, which is one of only 26 sites across the country that is an authorized Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) education institute. EKU is already working with federal prisons in McCreary County and Manchester, where 35 to 40 inmates a month are exiting these prisons through a similar program.
 
“It’s extremely important for your employees to be safe and to know safety in every aspect,” said Mardi Montgomery, senior executive director of workforce development for EKU. “EKU is extremely willing to come and partner. We want to see this happen in this community and replicate it in other communities.”
 
In addition to the soft-skills curriculum used at the jail, Coker provides coaching and training programs that focus on purpose and engagement as a catalyst for personal transformation. He told the group that Somerset has the opportunity to be a model for Kentucky and the nation by implementing this program. 
 
“With the reentry program we’re talking about, there are a lot of women and men who look a lot like you and me,” Coker said. “There’s a lot of them out there that have the skills, talents, desire and motivation that you and I do to get employed. If we don’t hire them in six months, guess what? The odds of them going back are pretty high.”
 
Johnson, McCollum and Girdler encouraged businesses to consider being a partner in the program to offer jobs to inmates who complete the program. For more information about CRITICAL or how to get involved, contact Johnson at alesa.johnson@kctcs.edu or Girdler at chris@speda.org.

Team Modern approaches Valley Oak expansion with optimistic energy

By Julie Harris     November 6, 2019                      SPEDA.ORG

One of Pulaski County’s most storied and successful businesses announced today it will relocate to the Valley Oak Technology Complex, engaging in a multi-million dollar expansion and adding to the community’s workforce.

Team Modern, owned and operated by the Ray family, has purchased the former Safe Auto office building on Valley Oak Drive and is finalizing construction plans to build a 115,000-square-foot distribution center on 70 acres adjacent to the building to serve its distribution division. The distribution center will increase Team Modern’s freezer/cooler capacity for its growing food service business and will allow product movement and sortation to be automated, which Chief Financial Officer Michael Ray said is critical to remain viable in a competitive marketplace.

The new facility will allow Team Modern to maintain its more than 200 current jobs and provide a platform to add 20 to 40 jobs in the future.

“It’s a good problem to have, but we have completely outgrown our current facility,” Michael Ray said. “We knew we could not continue to grow and service our customers with our current real estate. Our growth and our food service focus demanded that we find new space, and we have been very blessed that this project fell together to allow us to do that.”

Taking care of existing businesses, improving the local workforce and creating an environment that that is desirable for expansion are top priorities for the Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA), President and CEO Chris Girdler said.

“The Ray family has been a staple of the Somerset and Pulaski County community for many decades and we are so excited for Team Modern and the community as a whole with the announcement of their expansion,” Girdler said. “This is a tremendous project that has amazing short- and long-term benefits. We, as a community, stand solidly behind this three-generation company and are proud of the work they do every day.”

Michael Ray expressed appreciation for SPEDA’s dedication to existing businesses and this project.

“We are thankful to Chris Girdler and the SPEDA organization for their continued assistance and support,” he said. “It has been a long road and they have been very patient with us through the process.”

The Team Modern story begins in the early 1960s with Bill Ray and a single jukebox in Danville, Kentucky. Enough nickels led to a second jukebox, and the rest is history. Bill Ray moved to Somerset in 1965 and built his company, Modern Vending, on a tradition of focusing on the needs of the customer and caring about people. Modern Vending is now one of the largest independent, family-owned wholesale distributors in Kentucky.

Grocery distribution was added in the late 1980s, and is now the largest part of the business, serving convenience stores and related customers in six states from the company’s distribution center in Somerset. Team Modern now operates five divisions, all headquartered in Somerset: Modern Amusement, Modern Vending, Modern Distributors, Modern Signs & Graphics, and Modern Equipment Sales & Service.

Today, Jerry, Mickey and Michael Ray represent the second and third generations of the Ray family who are moving the company into the future.

“We wish dad could have been here for this project,” Team Modern Owner Mickey Ray said. “It was years of his work and financial guidance that put us in the position to be able to consider something like this. Dad was the ultimate entrepreneur and loved nothing more than making a deal. This is certainly a big deal for Modern and he would have certainly been up for the challenge.”

Team Modern Owner and President Jerry Ray said he is appreciative of the way the community has rallied behind the company. “For a family-owned company to undertake a project of this size requires a lot of support and guidance,” Jerry Ray said. “The local community and its leaders have been very supportive in helping us make this project a reality.”

Somerset Mayor Alan Keck reciprocated that gratitude for what Team Modern brings to the community.

“This amazing family success story paints a beautiful picture for what we want in our community,” Somerset Mayor Alan Keck said. “I am thankful and honored they would choose to expand and do so in our area. This is a huge investment, commitment and new career opportunities for our citizens. I appreciate the Ray family and their entire team.”

Pulaski County Judge-Executive Steve Kelley said he is thrilled to see a local company prospering.

“Team Modern has been and continues to be an industry leader, and we want to continue doing whatever it takes to help them grow in our region,” Kelley said. “Thank you to management for placing your confidence in the people of Pulaski County to grow your business. And thank you to all the state and community partners that worked together to make this expansion a reality. We are proud of all your success.”

Michael Ray emphasized the importance of the Modern team in the company decision, “We believe in our team.  That’s why we are comfortable with this type of investment.  One of our company values is Optimistic Energy, and I think it describes our culture.  We have a really smart, hard-working team that believes we can succeed in whatever we do.  That positive energy gives us the confidence to move forward.”

For more information about Team Modern, its story and divisions, visit teammodern.com.

It's now clear why Pulaski needed SPEDA

article by Jeff Neal – Commonwealth Journal
Link to Commonwealth Journal article

When discussions began a few years ago about a new economic development group taking shape in Pulaski County, many people wondered why.

After all, the Somerset-Pulaski County Development Foundation was already in place.

So why make a change?

Well, maybe now we have an inkling as to why moving from the old group to SPEDA (The Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority) was visionary, indeed.

On Friday, SPEDA President and CEO Chris Girdler revealed that, during the course of the transition from the old foundation to SPEDA, certain “financial discrepancies” that pointed to “an overall case of mismanagement” by the old group had reared their heads. It was so alarming that Girdler, the SPEDA board and the old foundation’s board of directors took their findings to the Kentucky State Police, which is currently investigating.

Who knows what will be revealed in the coming weeks.

But it’s now clear that the City of Somerset and Pulaski Fiscal Court took a step in the right direction by moving away from the old way of doing things.

In short, the old foundation was a disaster waiting to happen.

As Pulaski County Judge-Executive Steve Kelley pointed out, the old foundation had a self-appointing board of directors, which allowed for virtually no accountability to the taxpayers — even though the foundation was funded with taxpayer money.

And, quite frankly, the results the old foundation was producing didn’t match up to the tax dollars being thrown its way.

So Kelley began looking for a new way. Although the formation of SPEDA sputtered in 2017 when then-Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler showed some hesitation, the group took off with Alan Keck’s election last year.

With SPEDA, there is transparency — which is in direct contrast to how the old foundation did business. The SPEDA board is appointed by Kelley and Keck, with the two local leaders also playing a key role as SPEDA board members. The board, in turn, hired Girdler as its leader.

Girdler is accountable to his board, which is in turn accountable to the city and county, which in turn is accountable to you, the taxpayer.

I don’t know what type of allegations will come to light with the KSP probe into the old foundation.

But I’m confident the type of misuse being investigated now will not happen under the new regime. There are too many checks and balances, and you will not see the loose oversight we had in the past.

When a group operates in the darkness, then darkness will often seep into its business. It’s sad, but it’s also true.

That’s why Girdler, Keck and Kelley are working so hard to make SPEDA a polar opposite of what we had with the old foundation.

“SPEDA will continue its mission to work diligently to promote our great community and demonstrate that our economic model will improve the quality of life for all of our citizens while also continuing to abide by the charge given us by Mayor Keck and Judge Kelley to accomplish more with less, be transparent in all our actions and be able to quantify our work,” Girdler said.

Simply put, that means the new way will involve you and will ultimately be accountable to you.

That’s the way it always should have been.

If you think transparency and accountability are not crucial, just wait and see what this investigation reveals. It may just be proof positive that we never want to move backwards in economic development.

JEFF NEAL is the Editor of the Commonwealth Journal. Reach him at jneal@somerset-kentucky.com.

Commonwealth of Kentucky Governor’s Office 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hollaender to Locate First Kentucky Operation in Somerset                                                                View News Release in PDF format 
Railing manufacturer plans to create 16 jobs

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 2, 2019) – Handrail manufacturer Hollaender Manufacturing Co. plans to set up an operation in Somerset with a $667,000 investment expected to create up to 16 full-time jobs, Gov. Matt Bevin announced today.

“Hollaender Manufacturing Co. has a long track record of success, and we are grateful that the company has selected Somerset for its first Kentucky location,” Gov. Bevin said. “This will be a beneficial project for the skilled local workforce, with the potential for growth and an even greater impact in the future. We are excited to see what lies ahead for Hollaender here in Kentucky, America’s center for engineering and manufacturing excellence.”

Hollaender leadership selected a 12,000-square-foot facility in Somerset for its new location in an effort to better serve existing and future customers. The company will manufacture its line of Speed-Rail® mechanical fittings at the location. Hollaender’s investment is expected to cover the cost of new equipment to meet current production requirements. The facility also provides the opportunity for future growth based on increased customer demand.

“We are extremely excited about our new manufacturing operation in Somerset,” said Marc Cetrulo, president and COO of Hollaender. “After an extensive search that included several states, we felt the skilled labor force in this area will provide a tremendous boost to our long-term growth plans. We are extremely grateful to all those at the state level and in Pulaski County who worked so hard to bring this plan to fruition.”
Since 1946, Hollaender has operated as a family owned business based in Cincinnati. Its primary products include structural pipe fittings and handrail systems. The company’s products are used in a wide variety of locations, including Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral, US Army Corps locks and dams, Kings Island and Six Flags Disney World, as well as offshore oil platforms and power plants around the world.

Sen. Rick Girdler, of Somerset, thanked the company for its decision to locate in the area.

“It is always a privilege to announce new investments and job opportunities for our district,” Sen. Girdler said. “With a rapidly growing demand for manufacturing, I would like to extend my gratitude to Hollaender Manufacturing Co. for this much-welcomed investment to Somerset and the commonwealth.”

Rep. David Meade, of Stanford, said the project is reflective of continued economic growth.

“I’m thrilled to see this exciting new manufacturing announcement in Somerset, which is the latest sign that our economy is on the upswing,” Rep. Meade said. “This investment has the potential to be a shot in the arm for our part of the state, and I look forward to seeing it get off the ground.”

Somerset Mayor Alan Keck said the company provides a great opportunity for the local workforce.

“We are grateful and excited Hollaender chose to locate in Somerset. They are bringing high quality jobs and providing living wage career opportunities,” Mayor Keck said. “I fully trust our workforce will meet their needs and hopefully grow and develop alongside this great family business.”

Pulaski County Judge-Executive Steve Kelley said officials will work to ensure the company has an opportunity to grow locally.

“I am thrilled to welcome Hollaender to Pulaski County. We anticipate a long and prosperous partnership, and we stand ready to assist them however we can to help them reach their goals,” Judge-Executive Kelley said. “Thanks to everyone who has helped make this venture a reality.”

Chris Girdler, president and CEO of the Somerset-Pulaski County Development Authority, said he expects great things from the company in the years ahead.

“I’ve enjoyed getting to know Marc Cetrulo, Donald Spillane and the team from Hollaender, and we, as a community, are very excited to welcome this family owned business to Somerset and Pulaski County,” Girdler said. “I believe this is the first of many more jobs that Hollaender Manufacturing will be bringing into our region and I know they will be impressed with our workforce. Much appreciation to Gov. Bevin, Mayor Keck and Judge Kelley for their support of our efforts to attract this great company to Somerset.”

To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) on Thursday preliminarily approved a 15-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $300,000 in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $667,000 and annual targets of:
• Creation and maintenance of 16 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 15 years
• Paying an average hourly wage of $26.47 including benefits across those jobs
By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.

In addition, Hollaender can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies can receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives.

For more information on Hollaender, visit www.Hollaender.com

A detailed community profile for Pulaski County can be viewed here.

Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion on Facebook, follow on Twitter and watch the Cabinet’s “Now you Know” video on YouTube.

Article by Janie Slaven – Commonwealth Journal

Friday the 13th was a lucky day for kids visiting Pulaski County Park.

County officials welcomed Lisa Evans, Environmental Scientist V with the Kentucky Division of Waste Management, to the park Friday morning to see the completion of a “poured-in-place” rubberized surface to replace wood chips at the playground serving Shelters 6-8.

“I am excited to be here and happy to see the project completed,” Evans said. “Thank you to Pulaski County. I hope everyone enjoys the new playground surfacing.”

The $29,040 project was funded through a Crumb Rubber Grant the state agency awarded back in May. Composed of waste tires, the new surface from Bluegrass Recreational Products has a spongy feel that can better absorb the impact should a fall occur.

“It’s always exciting for us to accomplish goals,” Pulaski County Judge-Executive Steve Kelley said. “This new safety surfacing is just one of many projects we are working on around our county. We are thankful to have great working relationships with the state, our Solid Waste Department, and our local contractors, in obtaining this grant and completing the project.”

Though the grant program has been around since 2004, funded through a $2 fee on new tire purchases, Evans noted that it wasn’t opened up to poured-in-place projects until last year.

“It’s a very competitive grant,” Evans said. “Our first year we received 20 applications totaling over $700,000 with the Division funding $300,000.

“In 2019, we received close to $1.6 million in grant applications to fund $500,471 to 23 entities,” she continued, “which included seven poured-in-lace playgrounds, two poured-in-place walking trails, one playground with rubberized mats, and four landscaping projects.”

This year also marked the first year for benches and tables made from waste tires. Evans noted that nine of these projects were awarded statewide.

County buys former BB&T branch for clerk's motor vehicle department

article at http://Somerset-Kentucky.com 

Janie Slaven | CJ   –    Pulaski County Government closed Thursday on the purchase of the former BB&T branch on North Main Street in downtown Somerset. Current plans are to house the Pulaski County Clerk’s department for motor vehicle licensing.

The Office of Pulaski County Clerk will soon be managing three locations.

On Thursday, county officials closed on the purchase of the former BB&T branch on North Main Street just a few doors down from the Pulaski County Courthouse.

Back in May, when Fiscal Court first approved putting down a $10,000 option on the property, Judge-Executive Steve Kelley announced plans for County Clerk Linda Burnett’s motor vehicle licensing department (MVL) into the building.

 

Last Tuesday during the regular Fiscal Court meeting, magistrates approved a short-term loan (no more than 120 days) to complete the purchase at $535,000. The loan was required because the bond the county had issued for that and other purposes won’t be completed until mid-October due a delay with the Kentucky Department of Local Government.

County Attorney Martin Hatfield advised he’d spoken with BB&T attorneys about extending the closing deadline but was told the sale needed to be completed in this financial quarter. Kelley assured the court the loan would be repaid when the bond proceeds arrive.

“We are working with Linda now to put our plans into motion,” Judge Kelley said Friday after closing. “It will be a huge benefit to our citizens to have a stand-alone [MVL] building with more parking and eventually a drive-through. It’s exciting to see a beautiful vacant building be repurposed for the public’s benefit.”

Burnett also expressed her excitement over the building.

“I hope everyone will be as excited as I am,” she said Saturday. “I know my staff sure are. It means a whole lot of changes with three locations to manage, but it’s a good thing for us and the public.”

 

The county clerk estimated that it would be sometime after the new year before relocation of the motor vehicle licensing department (plus any other departments the office may decide to move) can take place.

“That’s my goal,” Burnett said, noting that she and her office won’t be able to fully focus on the project until they get the November General Election for state offices in the books. “We haven’t really decided what other departments may move or what really needs to be done. I know that we’ll have to add counter space.

“We’ll have plenty of parking without people having to worry about the crosswalks or walking halfway through the courthouse to get on the elevator,” she added. “People will love it.”

9/10/2019
American Heart Association.
Two UK watches were donated by Diamond Design and were raffled off to raise money for the American Heart Association fund drive.
David Muse won the Men’s Watch and Deanna Stillmen won the Women’s watch.

Somerset Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce August 2019 Luncheon.
The Speaker for the Luncheon was Chris Girdler of SPEDA
“Somerset Pulaski Economic Development Authority”

2019 MUD MAYHEM AND FUN 5K at Pulaski County Park

Nearly 800 recycled tires used in repaving Thurman Road

By JANIE SLAVEN  Commonwealth Journal

Two months after Pulaski County was awarded a $101,490 grant from Kentucky’s Division of Waste Management, road crews were out Tuesday repaving a mile of Thurman Road with rubber-modified asphalt made recycled tires.

According to Pulaski County Judge-Executive Steve Kelley, nearly 800 tires were used for the project — which involves testing the material alongside traditional asphalt to assess its durability over two years. “That’s saving our landfills and possibly giving us a better road,” he noted.

Pulaski County Recycling and Solid Waste Center Coordinator Danny Masten explained that the potential benefits of using asphalt made from crumb rubber include better traction and water-shedding properties. For those reasons as well as the obvious environmental value, he continued, the grant has become one of the most competitive in the state with only five counties being selected for that the last round in May.

For testing purposes, the state is looking for roads with in high traffic areas. With Thurman Road including a number of residences as well as connecting Oak Hill Road to West Ky. 80, it fit the bill perfectly.

“The state was excited by what they saw in Thurman,” Masten said. “Our application had been turned down the year before, so this time we keyed into a road we thought the state would want [to study] and could most help the community. It’s a neat project, not only because of the number of tires used but because of the road advantages.”

 Future is bright without annexation — Commonwealth Journal 

Article by Janie Slaven | Commonwealth Journal

A better Pulaski County. A better place for you and your family. This has been, and will be my goal as your County Judge Executive. Living my whole life here, I have seen tremendous growth, and have seen so many changes, both good and bad, that have brought us to the place we are. I remember a nearly empty Highway 27. I remember driving gravel roads to nearly everywhere in our county. I remember shopping at Ben Franklin’s, Western Auto, A&P, Cooper Brothers, and many other “gone but not forgotten” businesses of my childhood. We have come a long way for certain. Nostalgia is a wonderful gift from God that always brings a warm smile to our faces. As good as those days were, I believe we are living in the best of times. There are so many opportunities within our reach that we have never seen before. We are growing steadily at around 2%-3% per year. Our unemployment is at historical lows. Our property values are growing. Tourism is thriving. We have recently heard the news of two four-year colleges starting here, a national park, a $60 million highway infrastructure project, a new economic development authority (SPEDA) that will transform our economy, a new industrial park with possible tenants waiting, top-ranked schools. The list goes on and on. Our future is even brighter. We are on the verge of an economic awakening here like we’ve never seen before. Pulaski County is poised to become the clear and undisputed economic leader in Southern and Eastern Kentucky.

 

So let me shift gears, and warn my beloved people of a potential pitfall. Growing pains. Any growth brings with it new challenges. Increasing population requires more investment in roads, emergency services, utility infrastructure, and many other government services. As governments try to balance the increasing costs of services with the desire for low taxes and limited government reach, there will be friction among its people. The keys to sustainable growth are trust, managed expectations, and fair and equitable treatment to all involved. These are the foundations of a government for the people, by the people. It is what makes our country great.

I applaud Mayor Keck for his bold vision for the City of Somerset. He is certainly forward thinking, and trying to strengthen Somerset and our region for years to come. He is very transparent, so he deserves our trust. He is doing his best to educate the public, and thereby manage our expectations. The old cliche, “two out of three ain’t bad” fits many situations, but in this very sensitive issue of non consensual annexation, I believe the third point is the most important, and the one that is missing. If this annexation is successful, there will be winners and losers. Many people have worked very hard to achieve their dreams of becoming property owners in areas where there is limited government. My heart would break for those individuals who would surrender what they worked so hard to achieve. As your Judge Executive, I can confidently say that county finances would be adversely affected, and “stable” government services would be disrupted. We depend heavily on occupational tax revenues, insurance premium taxes, and state road funds to provide every county service available. Our volunteer fire departments would suffer, our smaller municipalities (Burnside, Ferguson, Science Hill and Eubank) would suffer, our county parks would suffer, our first responders would suffer, the list is long. I cannot support this idea of non consensual annexation primarily for these reasons.

In summary, we have so much momentum in Somerset and Pulaski County, I would hate to see it stifled for any reason. After weighing the pros and cons of annexation, specifically non consensual annexation, I am not convinced that it is in our county’s best interest. And I am convinced that some will lose at the expense of others. This shouldn’t be. We can all move forward together on our current path. Regardless of what develops in the coming weeks and months, however, I encourage everyone involved to love one another, be forgiving of one another, and purposefully build one another up rather than tear one another down. That is what our Lord Jesus has commanded us to do.

Magistrates announce opposition to Keck’s annexation plan 

Following Wednesday's meeting of Pulaski County Fiscal Court, all five magistrates announced their opposition to Somerset Mayor Alan Keck's proposal to annex certain areas into the city. Pictured from left are Mike Wilson, Mike Strunk, Mark Ranshaw, Jimmy Wheeldon and Jason Turpen.

Article by Janie Slaven | Commonwealth Journal

The biggest issue at Wednesday’s special-called meeting of Pulaski County Fiscal Court was nowhere on the agenda.

Moved from the second Tuesday due to scheduling conflicts, most of the meeting was devoted to departmental reports. It was after the meeting adjourned that all five magistrates jointly announced their opposition to Mayor Alan Keck’s proposal to annex “unincorporated Somerset” into the city limits proper.

Mayor Keck first pitched the nascent plan to county officials at their June 25 meeting, the morning after he’d advised his own city council of his intentions. At the time, few details were available — with the mayor asserting that he wanted to start a dialogue about increasing Somerset’s population to 20,000 in order to further spur economic growth. Following that meeting, most magistrates were taking a wait-and-see approach to the issue.

As more details have begun to emerge, particularly with the release of a map with the affected areas, the magistrates decided it was time to collectively announce their opposition.

“We are all in agreement that we are against the annexation,” District 4 Magistrate Mark Ranshaw said on behalf of the group. “We want to encourage everybody in the affected areas to come out and voice their opinions. We understand that it’s not only going to hurt the affected area but it will hurt everybody in the county indirectly.”

While Mayor Keck has tried to keep the emphasis on the idea that everyone can benefit from economic growth, the “hurt” magistrates are referring to involves higher tax rates for residents potentially annexed into Somerset and loss of corresponding tax revenue for Pulaski County as a whole. That loss of revenue would most likely be made up either through budget cuts or increasing county tax rates.

“We encourage everybody to get involved, whether they are for or against it,” Ranshaw continued. “This is one of the biggest issues this county has seen in a very long time.”

Ranshaw is directly affected as he lives in Southern Hills. The proposed area affecting District 4 encompasses enough of East Ky. 80 to include the “Garner property” which is currently being eyed for development as a new industrial park.

In a Facebook post prior to Wednesday’s Fiscal Court meeting, Ranshaw stated he might have to rethink the county’s purchase of that property if it comes to cutting SPEDA (Somerset Pulaski Economic Authority] funding in order “to offset loss of revenue to the city.”

In District 1, represented by Magistrate Jason Turpen, the affected areas include residents living within the Ky. 914 circle such as portions of Oak Hill and Slate Branch.

In District 5, represented by Magistrate Mike Strunk, the affected areas include Green Meadows, South Ridge and South Fork subdivisions. Strunk had noted last month that some Green Meadows residents could support annexation if it involved sewer service. However, those types of utilities have not been directly addressed as yet.

District 3 Magistrate Jimmy Wheeldon said the affected area he represents includes Ky. 39 from Eagle’s Nest up to Buck Creek and then out toward Shopville.

“I think it actually affects mine [District 2] very little from what I’ve seen,” Magistrate Mike Wilson noted, but he’s as firm in his opinion as his colleagues.

The magistrates noted that the map currently circulating is a tentative one, with Ranshaw noting that Barnesburg Road hadn’t been included before the map was released Tuesday.

“There are still other areas that [Keck] discussed earlier that could still be included,” he asserted Wednesday morning.

According to Turpen, who had met separately with Mayor Keck, earlier discussions also included Patterson Branch and Ferry Road. In a message posted on Facebook later Wednesday afternoon, Turpen said that while he can’t blame the mayor for wanting to improve Somerset, he feels that annexation is the wrong way to go about it.

“For the first time since I have been in office the city and county have had a great working relationship and we have gotten so much accomplished in such a short time,” Turpen wrote. “The Mayor has told me that he didn’t want to do this if it was not what the residents wanted. I would bet that if they polled all landowners and residents in just the areas that are being affected it would be close to 80-90 percent against. And I wouldn’t be surprised if that number was higher. I still think you can grow the city by concentrating on small areas that show interest and sell the idea to them.…

“I believe this annexation is driving a wedge between the City and County. A strong and growing Pulaski County means more people working and spending money in Somerset. A strong Pulaski County feeds a strong Somerset. I think you will see growth in Somerset through new investments and as Somerset continues to improve you will have more interest in residents wanting to be annexed into the city. This annexation talk has put everyone back in the US against THEM mentality and it is not good for us as a community. I feel confident that in the end the Mayor and City Council will make the right decision and stop this before it gets started…,” he stated.

Legally, Fiscal Court has little say in this particular annexation process. Should Somerset City Council ultimately pass an ordinance to get that process underway, the magistrates have discussed the possibility of formally passing a resolution in opposition.

“If and when it’s ever presented to Council, we’ll decide what we want to do then,” Ranshaw said.

“We need to,” Wheeldon added.

In a separate statement (to be published on the Opinion Page in Thursday’s edition of the Commonwealth Journal), Pulaski County Judge-Executive Steve Kelley expressed his own reservations about the “non consensual annexation” while urging everyone to continue the forward momentum for the entire community as a whole.

In other business, Fiscal Court:

• approved two contracts for the Pulaski County Detention Center. The first presented by Jailer Anthony McCollum would allow the Somerset- Pulaski County EMS to provide services which could be billed at the Medicare rate rather than private insurance rate. The second would renew the county’s agreement with Telmate for inmate telephone services. McCollum noted that the rates wouldn’t change but the company has offered a $50,000 technology grant each year.

• authorized the Pulaski County Animal Shelter to apply for a Kentucky spay and neuter grant, which requires a county match. Animal Control Officer Adam Scales noted that last year’s grant covered procedures for 160 dogs and cats.

• approved the road work request with additions of speed limit signs for Doc Nichols Landing (15 mph) in District 5 and Elihu Cabin Hollow Road (25 mph) in District 4.

• heard presentations about events at Pulaski County Park on July 20. The morning will start out with the 2019 Mud, Mayhem & Fun Lake Cumberland Obstacle 5K Challenge with proceeds going to organizations such as the local American Cancer Society chapter and the Pulaski County Alzheimers Respite Center. Then around 1 p.m., the park will host its 5th Annual Christmas in July Festival.

County Budget Approved for New Fiscal Year 2019-2020

With the 2019-20 fiscal year starting tomorrow, Pulaski County Fiscal Court spent much of last Tuesday’s meeting finalizing the required documents and ordinances to begin the year.

Chief among those was the second reading of the 2019-20 county budget at $32,127,131. The budget allocates $17,822,830 to the General Fund; $5,098,086 to the Road Fund; $4,399,765 to the Jail Fund; $278,750 to LGEA Fund; $776,000 to the Fire Fund; and $1,751,700 to the Emergency Dispatch Fund.

“It has been signed off by the state local finance officer, and there were no changes,” County Treasurer Joan Isaacs advised the court.

Click to read full article on Commonwealth Journal website.  

Want to be a Fiber Optic Technician ? Here is a opportunity for training at the Center for Rural Development.  CLICK HERE NOW!

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, District 8

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Road work set to begin Monday at KY 1577, Grand Central Boulevard intersection in Somerset Motorist urged to use caution; traffic controlled by flaggers.

SOMERSET, Ky. (June 13, 2019) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) recently awarded a contract for a highway safety improvement project at the intersection of KY 1577 (Oak Hill Road) and Grand Central Boulevard in Somerset.

The project is scheduled to begin, Monday, June 17. Work will consist of grade and drainage improvements with asphalt resurfacing. Right and left turn lanes on Grand Central Boulevard and a left turn lane from KY 1577 onto Grand Central Boulevard will also be added. During construction, roadways may be reduced to one lane with traffic controlled by flaggers. Motorist are advised to use caution and expect delays when traveling through the area.

Hinkle Contracting Company, LLC was awarded the contract. Work is expected to be completed by August 1.

The starting date and duration of work may be adjusted for inclement weather or other unforeseeable delays. Motorists can access travel and traffic conditions

at http://goky.ky.gov or contribute their own reports at www.waze.com or via the Waze mobile application.

Traffic information for the District 8 counties is also available at www.facebook.com/KYTCDistrict8 or by following us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/KYTCDistrict8.

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Masten announces free household waste and tire disposal opportunities and much more

Pulaski County places fourth in state

Pulaski freshmen Morgan Ruckel and Hallie Young are both top archers in the state in their respective classes

By Steve Cornelius  —  Commonwealth Journal

LOUISVILLE – The Pulaski County High School team made a strong showing in this weekend’s National Archery in Schools Program State Tournament at the Kentucky Exposition Center. The Maroons shot a team total of 3,427 to place fourth overall out of 107 teams from around the Commonwealth.

The Maroons were led by freshman Morgan Ruckel, who shot a 295 to place fifth overall and was the top boys freshman archer. Freshman Hallie Young fired a 292 to place sixth overall and was the top female freshman archer. Senior Morgan Belcher shot a 289 to place 15th in the state.Freshman Gage Callahan shot a 289 to place 44th.

Also for Pulaski County, senior Madison Loveless fired a 288, sophomore Layla Blevins shot a 286, sophomore Noah Bekish shot a 285, and freshman Taylor Slone shot a 285.

 

Southwestern High School freshman Kaylie Tudor shot a 290 to place 10th in the state and second among freshman girl archers. Southwestern junior Joshua Thomas shot a 286 to place 87th. Somerset High School junior Elijah Crawford shot a 277 to place 273rd in the state.

In the middle school team standings, Northern Middle placed eighth in the state with a team total of 3,309 points. Southern Middle placed 17th with a score of 3,246.

Northern Middle seventh-grader Spencer Allen shot a 286 to place 20th in the state. Seventh-grader Ashlynn Vaught shot a 284 to place 29th. Sixth-grader Kaeden Worley shot a 280 to place 62nd in the state and sixth among sixth-grade boys. Seventh-grader Brooke Dolin shot a 280 to place 58th, eighth-grader Justin Hensley shot a 278, eighth-grader Chance Todd fired a 277, seventh-grader Blake Atwell shot a 275 and sixth-grader Matthew Hines shot a 275.

Southern Middle eighth-grader Logan Parriman shot a 286 to place 17th in the state. sixth-grader Madison Blevins shot a 280 to place 55th. Sixth-grader Ian Paris shot a 278 to lace 83rd and 7th among sixth-grade boys. Eighth-grader Nathan Vanover shot a 275.

Science Hill eighth-grader Baylee McQueen shot a 286 to place 11th overall and 7th among eighth-grade girls. Seventh-grader Jazlyn Durham shot a 276 to place 104th.

Somerset Christian School sixth grader Carter Pierce shot a 273.

In the elementary team standings, Nancy Elementary placed 14th in the state with a team total of 2,997 points. Science Hill placed 24th with 2,927 points, Shopville Elementary placed 25th with 2,926 points, and Pulaski Elementary placed 29th with 2,904 points.

 

Nancy fifth-grader Julie Patterson shot a 272 to place 21st in the state. fifth-grader Christine Webb shot a 270 to pace 28th.

Shopville fifth-grader Zach Eldridge shot a 275 to place 15th. Oak Hill fifth-grader Nick Burton shot a 276 to place 13th in the state and 2nd among .

Nancy fifth-grader Julie Patterson shot a 272 to place 21st in the state. Fourth-grader Christine Webb shot a 270 to place 28th and second among fourth-grade boys.

Northern fifth-grader Anastasya Sanchez shot a 270 to place 32nd in the state. Northern fifth-grader Belle Banner shot a 266 to place 40th. Pulaski fifth-grader Cohen Finley shot a 272 to place 29th in the state.

STEVE CORNELIUS is the CJ Sports Editor and can be reached at sports@somerset-kentucky.com. Follow him on Twitter at @CJSportseditor.

https://www.somerset-kentucky.com/sports/local_sports/pulaski-county-places-fourth-in-state/article_6d4a80ff-f45b-5e2c-9d49-f5afd1126774.html?fbclid=IwAR0fKqZs_pFYe2_oThXdQKMyIvo-d3CDW4lJMaZBS0t6rYg1swommkl06u4

 

Image Courtesy of the White House

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed the “John D. Dingell, Jr., Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act,” which brings the Mill Springs Battlefield and museum into the National Park System. Pictured three persons to the right of the president is U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers of Somerset, who worked to get that beneficial status for the Nancy-area battlefield in his home county.

The battle is over. It has been won. Mill Springs — and all of Pulaski County — emerge victorious. 

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump officially signed into law the piece of legislation which admits the Mill Springs Battlefield and Museum into the National Park System, the culmination of years’ worth of work on behalf of those local individuals dedicated to the preservation of the historic site in western Pulaski County.

“(Trump) was thrilled to do it, as was I thrilled to see it done,” said U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, Somerset’s own Congressman from the Fifth District who has fought the good fight in Washington on behalf of the battlefield. “This is a modern-day victory for a Civil War-era battleground that helped define Kentucky as part of the Union.”

The item concerning the battlefield was located in the bill S. 47, the “John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act.” This bipartisan package of over 100 public lands, natural resources, and water bills is the result of months of bipartisan and bicameral negotiations and provides Federal protections to millions of acres of Federal lands.

The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 92-8 on February 12th and passed the House on February 26th by a vote of 363-62.

Taking place largely on what is now commonly referred to as Zollicoffer Park in the Nancy area, referencing Confederate General Felix Zollicoffer, who died there, the Battle of Mill Springs took place on January 19, 1862. It was the second-largest battle to take place in Kentucky and had a significant impact on the momentum of the war.

“It was the first major Union victory win in the western theater which really turned things around,” said Rogers. “It stopped the southern forces from moving further north and changed the dimensions of the war.”

Rogers introduced legislation in January of 2013 to conduct a study regarding the feasibility of bringing the Mill Springs Battlefield site and its museum located on Ky. 80 into the nation’s National Park System. Doing so presents a number of advantages for preserving and promoting the historic grounds.

“This has been decades in coming,” said Rogers. “(The Mill Springs Battlefield Association) has to raise money to buy parts of land and piece them together. I was able to help them build the museum but this is the capstone.

“Making this part of the National Park Service will give it national recognition, national advertising,” he added. “I think it will bring a lots of tourists to the area, especially when there are large reenactments.”

It had previously been thought that the era of Civil War reenactments taking place at the battlefield was over, the last one being held in 2012. However, another national reenactment has been scheduled for November 1-3 later this year and will feature numerous events and attractions recreating life during the Civil War period — as well as the battle itself, of course.

“I went to one of those (reenactments) years ago,” said Rogers. “I was absolutely astounded at the size and scope of the reenactments. All sorts of cannon fire and explosions and volleys and reenacting the battle as it was then.

“This is a significant day for Pulaski County and Kentucky, and for the nation,” he added.

Bill Neikirk, who has been extremely active in the Mill Springs Battlefield Association (MSBA) over the years as a president and in other roles, was “very excited and very pleased” to see the bill signed.

“We really appreciate the work Hal Rogers and (U.S. Senator from Kentucky) Mitch McConnell did getting this signed for us,” he said. “It will be a big economic boon for Pulaski County. Any time you’re a national park, tourists will be coming in.”

Making the site a national monument and part of the national park system “means there will always be money there from the federal government to make sure they’re maintaining the battlefield in pristine condition,” said Rogers.

He noted that the bill will mean taking in around 900 acres of land acquired by the MSBA over the years and transferring it to the park service as well as the visitors center and museum. Additionally, the actual Mill Springs mill across the lake in Wayne County will be donated from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the park service “to create some interest in that.” Also taken in will be a couple of old historic homes that served as general’s headquarters during the battle.

Rogers said he’ll even donate the pen used by the president to sign the bill to the museum for posterity.

There is no indication yet on how long the transfers might take; Rogers said conversations are ongoing with the U.S. Department of the Interior about that.

McConnell said in a statement that he thanked his colleagues for passing the bill to “give these treasured lands the recognition and protection they deserve,” along with Camp Nelson in Jessamine County.

“The Mill Springs Battlefield Association has worked hard to preserve hundreds of acres of battlefield property and to educate the public about the history of the American Civil War and the Battle of Mill Springs,” said McConnell. “Thanks to this legislation, we are now one step closer to protecting and preserving this historic battlefield, which is important to the history of the Commonwealth and our Nation, and I want to thank Congressman Rogers for his leadership on this issue.”

https://www.somerset-kentucky.com/news/trump-signs-mill-springs-battlefield-into-national-park-system

Southwestern Lady Warriors WIN Region Championship

Congratulations to the Southwestern Girls, we are so proud of you!

  #pulaskiproud

LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN !

OFF TO RUPP ARENA

Southern Middle School 

The 6th Grade Blue Team raised money to help support the Pulaski County Animal Shelter.
They visited the courthouse 2-27-19 to present their donation.
  THANKS, GREAT JOB !!!

Chris Girdler in as SPEDA president

Board names Jeremy Bartley as legal representative

By CARLA SLAVEY  Commonwealth Journal

Chris Girdler is officially the CEO/President of the fledgling Somerset Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA).

The board voted at its previous meeting in January to appoint the former state senator, and on Thursday Girdler was on hand to formally accept.

“I want to pledge to you that I’m going to work tirelessly to improve our economic development efforts, our workforce development efforts, tourism promotion, community collaboration, and, really, everything that falls underneath business creation, expansion, retention and attraction,” he said.

Somerset Mayor Alan Keck said he appreciated that Girdler had agreed to take on the position.

“I’m thankful you’re willing to take the task on. We’ve had a lot of discussions, but hearing you say you accept it, it kind of is real.”

In a statement, other members of the SPEDA board weighed in on Girdler’s acceptance.

Board Chairman Brook Ping said, “Chris is a spectacular hire not just for SPEDA, but for the community as a whole. His work ethic is well documented and his love for Somerset and Pulaski County is exhibited in his life’s work. SPEDA is going to help lead our community and region into the future and I’m excited to be a part of this endeavor.

“Community collaboration is key to any area’s success and great things are going to happen for our area.” Ping said.

Keck added, “Chris is one of the most well connected and respected people throughout the business and political world in Kentucky. His hire elevates SPEDA’s prominence and stature immediately and he will be a dynamic leader.”

Board member and County Judge-Executive Steve Kelley said, “I am thrilled to have Chris lead SPEDA into a new era of economic development here in Pulaski County. SPEDA will be a very effective tool to stimulate and facilitate growth in industry and commerce. Chris is aggressive, intelligent, and a great communicator. I believe he is the perfect choice to harness all the potential here that will make us the leader in economic development.”

In addition to being elected senator for Kentucky’s 15th district in 2012 (a position he decided not to run for a second term), Girdler is a graduate of Southwestern High School and Eastern Kentucky University, where he earned a bachelor’s in Business Administration.

He previously served as the vice president of Sharpe Houseboats for five years, and is the founder and President of Possum Trot Investments LLC, an investment and consulting company.

Girdler stated his pride at being a seventh generation Kentuckian. He and his wife, Courtney, have two children, nine-year-old Charleston and three-year-old Channing.

During the SPEDA meeting, the board approved resolutions that give Girdler authority to act on its behalf as well as authority over financial needs, such as beginning the process to secure computer equipment and a domain name/website for the organization.

Keck said the website and other actions were vital to achieving the level of transparency the organization wants.

“One of the reasons we’re excited about SPEDA is the elevated level of transparency,” Keck said. “I know Chris feels the same way, and we believe in accountability in government. He needs the tools to succeed, but we want the public to have comprehensive access to what we’re doing.”

And while the board also approved the ability of the board to open a banking account, Kelley said it may be a few more days before finances are secured from county government.

“I know that mid-February there was supposed to be a payment to SPCDF [Somerset-Pulaski County Development Foundation] that, now that SPEDA’s going, it should come into SPEDA. But I haven’t heard when exactly when that happens.”

The board also approved the appointment of Jeremy Bartley as legal council. Chairman Ping thanked City Attorney John Adams for his work in the last few weeks.

“I want to thank John and all his efforts for getting us organized. … You went above and beyond,” Ping said.

 

SPEDA. Get ready Pulaski County! This is a new era in economic development. When we work together we are powerful. Your Mayor and I made the first financial contribution to the future of Pulaski County Prosperity. I know it’s only a token contribution, but I believe with my whole heart we are going to see great things in the coming years. Will you join us with your support and prayers? #pulaskiproud

New SPEDA board holds first meeting

Chris Girdler offered chance to lead new agency
By JANIE SLAVEN

Steve Kelley

Chris Girdler

Alan Keck

After two and a half years of fits and starts, the Somerset Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) charged out of the gate in its very first meeting Tuesday afternoon.

The new agency’s board was just finalized the night before with Somerset City Council’s approval of Mayor Alan Keck’s appointees — Michelle Allen, Cody Gibson and Forrest Spillman. They join Pulaski Judge-Executive Steve Kelley’s appointees — Brook Ping, Seth Atwell and Ron Pfaff — who were approved by county magistrates back in July.

Tuesday’s organizational meeting — expected to determine officers, regular meeting times, by-laws, etc. — was actually capped off by a vote to offer former State Senator Chris Girder the chance to lead SPEDA’s day-to-day operations as its President/CEO. The vote was unanimous except for the absence of Pfaff, who was out of town and couldn’t attend.

Girdler has an extensive background in both the public and private sector. He worked as an executive and CEO in the houseboat industry for many years in addition to running his own consulting and investment firm. Girdler left the private sector to serve as Congressional Aide and Chief of Staff for Congressman Hal Rogers. In 2012, he was elected to as State Senator for the 15th District.

According to Mayor Keck and Judge Kelley, the board hopes Girdler accepts the position and can develop a transition team made up of SPEDA members as well as members of the Somerset-Pulaski County Development Foundation — which has led industrial recruitment in the community for some 50 years.

“This transition team can be equitable by merging the experience of the Development Foundation with the vision and energy of the SPEDA board,” Kelley and Keck said in a joint statement. “We are optimistic and encouraged by the public support of SPEDA and are committed to sustainable results for our entire community.”

When Judge Kelley first announced the city and county were working to form a new authority back in June of 2016, he noted that the authority could serve as an umbrella organization that could address workforce development, tourism, entrepreneurship and other economic factors in addition to major manufacturing. SPEDA was created as a special purpose government entity via a city-county interlocal agreement in October 2017.

On Tuesday, members also approved Ping, a local developer, to chair the board with Allen, director of the Somerset-Pulaski Convention & Visitors Bureau, serving as vice-chair and accountant Atwell as secretary/treasurer. SPEDA’s next meeting is scheduled for February 7 at 3 p.m. in the Pulaski County Fiscal Courtroom.

NEWSROOM ARCHIVE