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Somerset group announces study of potential unified government WKYT-TV (Lexington)

Article was originally posted to the WKYT-TV (Lexington) Web site http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Somerset-group-announces-study-of-potential-unified-government-201456651.html

SOMERSET, Ky. (WKYT) – Somerset would become Kentucky’s third-largest city, if it and Pulaski County merged their governments.

Today a group in Somerset announced a study to see if a “unified” government should be explored.

The group Somerset-Pulaski County United held a news conference announcing a study to cost about $35,000 to simply examine the idea of a unified government.

The group is made up of dozens of people from all walks of life, government, and community. They say they simply want to study the idea of a merged government, but those behind the movement say if the unified government did happen, the benefits to the average citizen would be great.

The Somerset-Pulaski County United group says they will pay for a third of the cost. The Somerset City Council and Pulaski Fiscal Court will be asked to each pay a third of the cost.

Officials say the study will explore similar unified governments in Athens and Clarke County, GA., as well as communities in Nevada and Louisiana.

 

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Calling for a Unified Pulaski (Somerset) Commonwealth-Journal

 

Article was originally posted to the (Somerset) Commonwealth-Journal Web site http://somerset-kentucky.com/newslive/x2015918125/Calling-for-a-Unified-Pulaski/print.

BY BILL MARDIS, Editor Emeritus and KEN SHMIDHEISER, Managing Editor
Commonwealth Journal

Somerset —

A group of about 60 community leaders, clustered as Somerset-Pulaski County United (SPCU), is embarking on a study to determine if a consolidated or united government in Pulaski County would be more efficient and more responsive to the county’s 63,000 residents.
“This is a study, nothing more,” said SPCU chair and local developer Brook Ping. He stressed that simply conducting the study does not mean any local governments are unifying. Under Kentucky law only voters can determine whether local governments consolidate. And that will only occur after a formal plan is developed by an official Unified Government Commission whose members would be appointed by participating city councils and Pulaski Fiscal Court.
The unified government proposal was unveiled during a press conference held yesterday morning at The Center for Rural Development.
Briefly, the plan as explained by consultant L.B. Schmidt, president of Louisville-based L.B. Schmidt & Associates, SPCU would complete a study in about four months and present its findings to local governmental bodies.
Then, Pulaski Fiscal Court, Somerset City Council and governing bodies of Burnside, Ferguson and Science Hill by ordinance would create an official Unified Government Commission made up of between 20 and 40 members to plan a structure for a unified city-county government.
Pulaski Fiscal Court would appoint half the members of a Unified Government Commission, and the remaining members would be appointed by participating cities prorated on population.
Eubank, because its boundary extends into Lincoln County, would be prohibited by state law from participating in a unified government. Schmidt said he hopes some kind of agreement could be worked out so Eubank could feel a part of a united county government.
Any city can opt out of being a part of a unified government. “That means they won’t have a seat at the table,” observed Schmidt.
Under state law, a unified government would not affect school districts, existing taxing districts in the county, or local option areas. It would not alter boundaries of precincts and legislative districts. Unified government, if approved by voters, would vacate current political positions and establish a new governing structure.
A new Somerset-Pulaski County unified government would create Kentucky’s third largest city with a population of 63,700. It would be the first unified government of its kind in Kentucky. Metro governments in Louisville and Lexington were created under different statutes, although in principle the way they operate would be similar to a merged government here, according to Schmidt.
SPCU members believe that a government here passing the 50,000 population threshold would get “looks” from businesses and industries interested in locating in larger communities. They believe it would enhance the community’s economic development efforts and assist in creating new jobs.
“A unified government would greatly increase the county’s bonding capacity,” Schmidt said, noting that the City of Somerset is approaching its bonding limits.
Somerset, with its current population of 11,296, is the 33rd largest city in Kentucky. Unified, with a population of more than 63,000, Somerset, now a third-class city, would be the third largest city in the state, qualifying for 2nd-class status.
Ping pointed out that unification, if approved by voters, is a slow-moving procedure. He estimated it would take at least four years.
“Speaking with one voice will make it easier to provide for the community’s needs,” assured State Senator Chris Girdler, who spoke in favor of the study.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all of us to stop and do three things: (1) Examine how our current local government jurisdictions work by identifying strengths and weaknesses; (2) find out how unified governments have worked in other communities around the country; and (3) consider whether unified government might work for us.”
“I look forward to joining my fellow citizens in this process during the next few months as the study takes shape and I encourage everyone to keep an open mind,” said Girdler, who serves as deputy district director for Congressman Hal Rogers.
SPCU spokespersons said recent publicized disagreements between Somerset and Pulaski County had little or nothing to do with formation of the study group.
The first key to success of the planned study is funding. Ping said SPCU plans to raise a third of the necessary $35,000. Somerset City Council and Pulaski Fiscal Court will each be asked to contribute a third of the money next during their regular meetings next Monday and Tuesday, respectively, Schmidt said.
The recently formed SPCU is unique in its scope. Said one observer: “I’ve never seen such a diverse organization in Pulaski County.”
SPCU’s members represent all segments of the community. It includes agriculture, business and industry, education, elected officials, health care, law enforcement and public safety, professionals, religion and transportation.

 

 

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Proposed merger of Somerset, Pulaski would produce state’s third largest city Lexington Herald-Leader

Article was originally posted to Lexington Herald-Leader Web site http://www.kentucky.com/2013/04/04/2586569/merger-of-somerset-and-pulaski.html

By Greg Kocher — gkocher1@herald-leader.com
SOMERSET — With fewer than 12,000 residents, Somerset ranks 33rd in population in Kentucky. But if the city plus three others — Ferguson, Science Hill and Burnside — consolidates with Pulaski County into one government representing more than 63,000 residents, it would rank as the third-largest in the state, behind only Louisville and Lexington.
On Thursday, a newly formed group announced that it will seek funding for a study to look at the pros and cons of merging Pulaski County and the four municipal governments.
Somerset-Pulaski County United, a group of 56 residents representing a cross-section of the community, said they will approach Pulaski Fiscal Court and Somerset City Council next week to seek help in financing the study.
How far this effort will go is unknown, and members of the steering group acknowledged that efforts to consolidate governments elsewhere in Kentucky were defeated at the ballot box.
Nevertheless, state Sen. Chris Girdler, R-Somerset, said “the time is now” to study the issue of consolidated government.
“I believe some form of unified government can make this community stronger and a better place to live,” Girdler said. “However, it is imperative that we have more information so that we can make an informed decision.
“We live in a global marketplace, and we want to do everything we can to give Pulaski County a competitive advantage,” Girdler said.
A merged community of more than 63,000 people might attract more attention from businesses and industries and could bring more jobs to the area, Girdler said.
It also would give the community one voice and make it easier to seek grants and appropriations in Frankfort and Washington, D.C.
Moving from “micropolitan” to “metropolitan” status would enhance the community’s job-creation efforts and would create new opportunities for state and federal grants to help the community as a whole.
Some researchers have questioned whether a merger delivers significant savings. Studies of Jacksonville, Fla.’s consolidation with Duval County and of Miami’s merger with Dade County found that costs actually rose post-consolidation “as new bureaucracies emerged,” the Wall Street Journal reported in 2011. The paper also cited a 2004 study by Indiana University’s Center for Urban Policy and the Environment that found that costs creep back in and offset the savings of job cuts.
Material given to reporters Thursday by Somerset-Pulaski County United acknowledged that “while unified government may not save money, it will spend money more efficiently and help to hold down the rising cost of providing government services.
“Somerset-Pulaski County United is raising private contributions for one-third of the study’s $35,000 cost, said Brook Ping, a local developer and chairman of the group. The city and the county will be asked to contribute $11,600 each.
The cities of Burnside, Ferguson and Science Hill have been informed about the effort and could theoretically merge with Somerset and Pulaski County. The city of Eubank probably won’t be allowed to merge because it straddles the Pulaski-Lincoln line. Although a city can cross county lines, a merged government cannot under state law.
Ping emphasized that conducting a study does not mean that any local governments are consolidating. Under Kentucky law, only voters can determine whether local governments should merge.
Lexington and Louisville are the only merged city-county governments in Kentucky. Lexington voters approved merger in 1972; Louisville voters, in 2000. But voters rejected merger proposals in Franklin and Scott counties in 1988, in Daviess and Warren counties in 1990, in Taylor County in 2002, in Franklin County again in 2004, and in McCracken County in 2012.
The SPCU has a proposal from L.B. Schmidt & Associates LLC, a Louisville consulting firm, to conduct the study, which would compare existing forms of government to a unified government. The study would look at other cities across the country that have consolidated, including Lexington and Louisville.
The study would take about four months. The Schmidt firm would then present its findings to the community and make a recommendation on whether to pursue a unified government.
If the community decides to pursue a merger, the mayor and county judge-executive would jointly determine the size of a unified government commission, which would have 20 to 40 members.
That commission would develop a legal plan of unified government within two years of the commission’s appointment. If a majority of the members were unable to agree on a plan for unification within two years, the commission would dissolve.
If, on the other hand, the commission came up with a plan, it would hold public hearings to address questions from residents.
After its final public hearing, the commission would vote on the proposed plan and then submit it to voters. If the unification plan were rejected by voters, another vote could not be held for five years.
Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler and Pulaski County Judge-Executive Barty Bullock were out of town Thursday could not be immediately reached for comment.
Greg Kocher: (859) 231-3305 Twitter: @HLpublicsafety.

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Radcliff to hold town hall meeting on unification The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise

Article originally posted to The News-Enterprise Web site: http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/radcliff-hold-town-hall-meeting-unification

By Marty Finley
Thursday, August 9, 2012 at 4:07 pm (Updated: August 10, 6:26 am)

Radcliff is wading back into the waters of unified government.

Mayor J.J. Duvall has organized a town hall meeting 6 p.m. Aug. 27 at Colvin Community Center with Hank V. Savitch serving as the guest speaker.

Savitch, a professor of urban and public affairs at the University of Louisville, published an analysis last year of the merger of Louisville and Jefferson County governments into a consolidated metro government in 2003. Savitch’s study, which was commissioned by state Rep. Darryl Owens of Louisville, found the merger failed to accelerate job growth and economic development as promised and was unsuccessful in streamlining government services.

Owens, an opponent of merged government, commissioned the study as a supplement for the task force appointed by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer to study the effectiveness of consolidated government in Kentucky’s largest city.

Duvall said he wants to present an alternative view on unification from an expert who has studied consolidated governments for years and can present quantifiable data rather than opinion.

“He has told me his opinion won’t factor in,” he said of Savitch.

Anyone in a leadership position asked to vote on creating a unification commission should attend the meeting or recuse themselves from the process, Duvall said.

In addition to the Louisville report, Savitch is a former co-editor at the Journal of Urban Affairs and former president of the urban section of the American Political Science Association. He also has published nearly a dozen books or monographs on urban development, public policy and regional governance, according to Radcliff.

Radcliff City Council approved a resolution opting out of all formal discussions about unified local government after publicly challenging Hardin County United, the volunteer organization that drafted the report on the merits of unification.

In one exchange last August during a forum at Meadow View Elementary School, Duvall and Radcliff Councilman Edward Palmer asked for demographic information of the group surveyed by HCU about unified government to determine where the majority of respondents lived. Palmer said this information was pertinent to city leaders because they needed to know how Radcliff residents responded.

Luke Schmidt, a consultant for HCU, sent the survey to more than 100 community leaders across a cross section of fields, including elected officials, educators, plant managers and agricultural representatives. The study found roughly 90 percent of respondents believed unified government should be studied.

Schmidt said he promised respondents the information would remain confidential and refused to release the documents, which furthered the divide between HCU and Radcliff.

Following Radcliff’s decision to opt out of unification, Palmer and other council members expressed interest in hosting its own town hall meetings and public forums on unification as a means of due diligence but also to ensure HCU cannot use their lack of action as a weapon.

Duvall said Savitch’s study of Louisville government is relevant to the discussion in Hardin County because HCU has pointed to Louisville as an example of a successful merger.

Duvall said proponents of the Louisville merger and HCU also have argued the same points when promoting unification, including an expanded state and national profile, the ability to speak with one voice and an increase in economic development.

“I think we need to hear a different view that’s not opinion or (not) someone that’s a paid consultant but is based on facts and numbers,” he said.

The meeting has attracted attention farther south. Elizabethtown Mayor Tim Walker said he is reading Savitch’s study and has forwarded it to Elizabethtown City Council.

“I plan on being at the meeting on Aug. 27 and I hope the council will be too,” Walker said.

Elizabethtown has taken no action to opt out of unified government but the majority of the council has been critical of the plan.

Hardin Circuit Judge Ken Howard, chairman of the HCU governance subcommittee, has said either Elizabethtown or Radcliff must opt in for unification to be viable.

Hardin Fiscal Court is scheduled to hear first reading of an ordinance Tuesday to establish a unification review commission, whose members would be appointed by participating governments and be tasked with drafting a charter Hardin County residents would vote on.

Should the county approve the creation of the commission, HCU would move to the six cities requesting their participation.

Marty Finley can be reached at (270) 505-1762 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (270) 505-1762      end_of_the_skype_highlightingormfinley@thenewsenterprise.com.

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County to tackle first reading on unification review commission The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise

 

By Marty Finley
Thursday, August 9, 2012 at 3:57 am (Updated: August 9, 3:48 pm)

Hardin Fiscal Court takes the fate of county unification into its hands starting Tuesday.

Hardin Judge-Executive Harry Berry said the first reading of an ordinance establishing a unification review commission tentatively is scheduled for Tuesday’s meeting of Hardin Fiscal Court at the H.B. Fife Courthouse in Elizabethtown. Approval of the commission would put in motion the mechanism to draft a charter for unified local government.

Hardin County United, the volunteer organization lobbying for the commission, appeared before Fiscal Court for a second time in June, but no formal action has been taken as magistrates gather information and hear from constituents.

HCU wants to present the charter to Hardin County voters by November 2014, and a plan only can be issued by the committee, a 20-to-40-member body appointed by participating governments. The appointment of the commission is not a vote in favor of unification, but creates a designated body to flesh out what unification would look like in Hardin County, HCU officials said.

Under state law, the county and at least one city must partner to form a unified government.

Ken Howard, chairman of the HCU governance subcommittee, said Wednesday he has been pleasantly surprised by responses he has heard. HCU officials installed an online mechanism allowing residents to send their opinions directly to local officials, and Howard estimated more than 200 individuals have sent responses in support of the commission to county officials.

The biggest hurdle, Howard said, is educating residents the commission’s purpose. Once learning the commission would give them a chance to vote on unification, support was generated for the endeavor, he said.

But input from county magistrates contacted by The News-Enterprise was mixed.

Magistrate Doug Goodman, whose district represents parts of northern Hardin County, said he has received negative feedback about unification from hundreds compared to small pockets of support.

“It’s just not a good feeling in the north end of the county right now regarding unification,” he said.

Goodman said he is unsure how he will cast his vote for the commission, but he said he fears Radcliff and northern Hardin County may get the “short end of the stick” if a unified government materializes. The county already has attempted a commissioner form of government, which he declared a “flop,” and he said unified government likely would leave parts of the county without proper representation.

Even now, he said, the northern part of the county has failed to secure its rightful share, including state funding for infrastructure improvements tied to the Base Realignment and Closure initiative and a county recycling trailer lobbied for by Goodman, Magistrate Roy Easter and Radcliff City Council.

“We got all this BRAC money and we got pennies in Radcliff,” he said. “We’re sitting right on top of Fort Knox.”

Radcliff Mayor J.J. Duvall has said he will release details today on a public unification forum hosted by the city later this month. Radcliff has been the most openly critical of unification since HCU introduced the plan, and the council approved a formal resolution last year opting out of any future unification plans or discussions.

Magistrate Fred Clem declined to comment on his decision or views about the commission in advance of the first reading, but he said the input he has received from constituents has been decidedly mixed with a larger percentage speaking negatively about unification during face-to-face conversations.

Magistrate Lisa Williams, on the other hand, said she has received an overwhelming share of supportive responses regarding unification, particularly from business owners, Hardin County Chamber of Commerce members and other economically minded people.

“I have been swamped with responses,” she said.

Williams expressed excitement for the possible benefits of unification, including an expanded profile as one of the largest cities in the state.

“Anything that creates jobs, I’m in favor of,” she said.

Williams also believes county officials should make the “progressive” choice of forming the commission and allowing voters to have the final say on unification.

“I think it’s our duty to at least move to the next phase and draft a document,” she said.

Magistrate Garry King said he was “noncommittal” about the creation of the commission but said most of the constituents who have contacted him by email or spoken to him in person have been critical of the idea. He said Tuesday should be interesting.

“I really don’t know right now how it’s going to go,” he said of the vote. “It’s going to surprise me. I think it could be close.”

The initial push for unification by HCU was delayed when officials found a flaw in state legislation that could entrap cities within a unified government even if they voted against it.

With the aid of state legislators representing Hardin County, HCU successfully lobbied to change state law governing unification to ensure cities would have a right to opt out of a unified government if the majority of their residents rejected the charter at the polls. The law also has improved in that it has created a voting bloc for rural Hardin County, Howard said, meaning unification must receive majority support in unincorporated Hardin County to pass.

Howard said he is not concerned about Fiscal Court’s vote.

“I trust our elected representatives to make an informed decision that works best for everybody,” he said.

Marty Finley can be reached at (270) 505-1762 or mfinley@thenewsenterprise.com

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Central Kentucky County, City to Decide if Merger Talks Continue WKYU (Western KY Univ. NPR station)

Leaders in Hardin County and Elizabethtown will decide in coming weeks whether to pursue merger talks. Ordinances establishing a unification review commission must pass Hardin County Fiscal Court and the Elizabethtown City Council.

“By law, the minimum legal requirement is that we have approval to form the commission by the county court and the largest city in the county, which in this case, would be Elizabethtown, says consultant Luke Schmidt.

If approved by those two bodies, ordinances would eventually go before each of the five remaining incorporated cities in Hardin county, which include Radcliff, Sonora, Upton, Vine Grove, and West Point.

Voters will ultimately decide if city and county governments merge when the question is put on the 2014 ballot.  In the meantime, the unification review commission will develop a plan for merged government that will deal with issues such as tax rates and the makeup of a metro council.  The commission will consist of 20 to 40 citizens appointed by the participating governments.

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Unification back on the table The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise

HCU logo_3Article originally posted to The News-Enterpise Web site http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/unification-back-table

By Marty Finley
Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 1:36 am (Updated: June 3, 9:45 am)

The call for a unification review commission may have been quiet in recent months, but Hardin County United is ready to resume its push

After successfully lobbying for changes in state law regarding approval requirements for unified city/county government, HCU officials plan to reconnect with the seven local municipalities. Its goal is to secure support for forming a commission and appointing members to draft a unification plan and charter to be presented to voters by November 2014.

No dates have been scheduled, but Ken Howard, chairman of the HCU governance subcommittee, said he believes it will try to start scheduling meetings this month — beginning with Hardin Fiscal Court.

A unified local government in Kentucky requires participation of the county.

“It just makes logical sense to start with Fiscal Court,” Howard said.

Luke Schmidt, a consultant for HCU, said officials will approach the county and six cities with a short update on the merits of unification. The organization argues it would allow the county to leverage the size of its population to improve its profile at state and national levels, boosting its competitiveness in the global economy.

Howard and Schmidt also have argued a unified government would streamline government functions by eliminating duplicate  services.

Schmidt said HCU plans to update officials on changes in state law and how those would affect Hardin County.

“We want to make sure they understand the ramifications of it,” Schmidt said.

Several local officials, Hardin Fiscal Court in particular, were reluctant to form a commission when first approached by HCU because of ambiguity surrounding sovereignty of a city’s vote. HCU suspended its campaign to ensure a city would not be dissolved into a unified government if a majority of its residents voted against a unification charter.

County legislators, led by Rep. Jimmie Lee and Sen. Dennis Parrett, introduced new language to the Kentucky General Assembly, which moved through the general session with unanimous support.

Howard said the changes in state law put old concerns to rest but also provide Kentucky a better piece of legislation because the new law includes a safeguard that is fair to everyone. Howard said if unincorporated portions of the county reject unification during a referendum, the unification plan would fail to pass.

“I think that’s really important,” he said. “It can’t be pockets of support.”

Schmidt and Howard said HCU also plans to create an online presence to provide residents an avenue to share opinions on unification with elected officials.

If cities are open to the idea, HCU will propose ordinances to create a commission and appoint members. Inclusion in the commission does not lead to a merger, Schmidt said, because voters must decide on unification at the polls.

Howard said HCU hopes to have a commission in place to allow plenty of time for members to work on a plan before the 2014 election. A plan can take one to two years to put together, depending on the community.

“There is a large amount of work that needs to be done to put a plan together,” Schmidt said.

But Schmidt argued the commission’s formal deliberations are the only way to know what a unified structure in Hardin County would look like. During the first push for unification, residents asked a slew of questions, wondering how taxes would be structured and public safety impacted by a unified government.

“All good questions,” Schmidt said. “But we can’t answer them because we don’t have the commission.”

Radcliff Councilman Edward Palmer attended a recent HCU meeting and said he wants Radcliff to hold its own forums on unification to gather input. Radcliff is the only city in the county to formally opt out of the commission and Palmer said he did not want HCU to be able to use the city’s decision as firepower when arguing for unification.

Marty Finley can be reached at (270) 505-1762

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Hardin Co. Merger Proponents Say New Bill Should Ease Residents’ Concerns WFPL-FM (Louisville NPR)

by Gabe Bullard on January 23, 2012

Proponents of a merged government in Hardin County hope to put the issue on the ballot this year.

Advocates say combining Elizabethtown, Vine Grove and Radcliffe with Hardin County’s unincorporated areas and other cities would be a boon to economic development. The governments can merge under the same state law that allowed Lexington and Fayette County to consolidate in 1974. (The law that allowed the Louisville-Jefferson County merger applies only to first class cities.)

But, to assuage any concerns from residents, merger proponents are championing legislation in Frankfort that would allow individual cities to opt out of the merger if a majority of residents oppose consolidation. If that happens, the cities would seemingly either fall under the governance of an entity they opposed or exist without a county. Before the public can vote on the matter, officials will have to figure out how an independent city would interact with the merged government that surrounds it.

“At this point, it’s kind of hard to say exactly,” says Hardin County United spokesman Luke Schmidt. “For example, how would emergency medical services be provided? Today, county government provides emergency medical service throughout the county.”

Schmidt says the merger agreement should spell out any questions about independent cities.

“We’d like to have it on the ballot this November,” he says. “This being a presidential election, we’ll have a high turnout of voters to begin with and we think that’s important. But we want to do the plan the right way. If that requires more time and we can’t make it, we’ll push it to the next election.”

He expects the document to be finalized in time to have it on the ballot in November, but says there’s no official deadline, and the vote could happen in a following year.

 

 

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House passes HB 190 in a unanimous vote The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise

 

Article originally posted to The News-Enterprise Web site http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/house-passes-hb-190-unanimous-vote

House passes HB 190 in a unanimous vote

Unification clarification awaits approval from state Senate

By Sarah Bennett
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 3:42 pm (Updated: January 19, 10:33 pm)

The Kentucky House of Representatives passed House Bill 190 Wednesday in a unanimous 94-0 vote.

The bill’s primary goal was to clarify the language of the existing unification law, said Luke Schmidt, consultant for Hardin County United.

Introduced by Rep. Jimmie Lee, D-Elizabethtown, and co-sponsored by Rep. Tim Moore, R-Elizabethtown, HB 190 ensures a city will be exempt from joining unified government if the majority of its residents vote against unification.

Rep. Darryl Owens, D-Louisville, and Rep. Arnold Simpson, D-Covington, also co-sponsored the bill, according to a news release.

Schmidt said this was a problem identified when HCU began presentations to county residents last fall. The organization has been adamant a city’s majority vote would be respected, he said.

The bill now moves to the state Senate, and Lee said Thursday the senate will hear its own bills first before it reviews those passed by the House.

“I don’t think we should start to worry if they don’t begin discussing it immediately,” he said.

Lee said it’s notable the bill passed unanimously in the House, adding it appears there is enough interest across the state in exploring the unification tool.

Schmidt said the 94-0 vote in the House is a “terrific margin,” which he sees as indicative of bipartisan support in the state legislature.

Sarah Bennett can be reached at (270) 505-1750 or sbennett@thenewsenterprise.com.