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Hardin County’s Choice: Become super-city, or keep individuality? (WDRB-TV)

ELIZABETHTOWN, KY. (WDRB)— Become a Kentucky super-city, or keep individuality intact? Some cities in Hardin County are deciding they would rather stand alone.

It’s an uphill battle for Hardin County United, trying to convince six cities to merge — and Radcliff is already saying “no.” That leaves Elizabethtown, Vine Grove, Upton, Sonora, and West Point in the mix.

Elizabethtown Councilman Larry Ashlock says, “The thing about what I’ve heard from individuals is sort of the old saying, ‘If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.’”

Elizabethtown leaders aren’t getting good vibes from residents. Tim Walker, Elizabethtown Mayor, says, “The questions they ask is, ‘Well, what would be the benefits if we merged? What services would we receive that we’re not receiving now?”

The merger would create the third largest community in the state, making it easier to receive money, and with a bigger voice in Frankfort and D.C.

Here’s how it would work: Hardin County United informs the public at a series of events, such as a recent Rotary meting. Then the town councils would decide if they’re interested. That would create a commission in Hardin County to develop the plan.

But voters would have the final say.

Luke Schmidt of Hardin County United says, “All we’re asking is for people to give it a chance. Let us put the commission together.”

“I feel that what we have now works, I think it works now,” said Walker, “and I’m just not convinced of the positives at this time.”

Another complaint — residents don’t want to lose their town’s identity.

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HCU consultant explains unification review process The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise

Guest column by Luke B. Schmidt, consultant to Hardin County United

 

Hardin County’s citizens have a unique opportunity. Hardin County has the opportunity to unify its existing good local government and become one of the largest and most progressive communities in Kentucky.

However, before the citizens will be able to consider and vote on whether or not the community should unify, a specific plan first must be developed. Under Kentucky law, this plan only can be developed by what is called the unification review commission.

Let’s be clear: Only the voters of Hardin County can consider and approve unified government.

Hardin County United cannot impose unified government.

Hardin Fiscal Court and the six city councils cannot approve unified government.

But in order to get to the heart of the matter, HCU is asking each of the local government entities to approve an ordinance to create the unification review commission.

Approval of the ordinance does not mean that Fiscal Court or any of the city councils are endorsing (or creating) unified government. It simply means that they are willing to give voters the opportunity to consider unified government at the ballot box.

Once approved and sworn in, commission members will do the hard work of actually developing a detailed plan. The commission will hold a series of meetings (all open to the public) to develop, step-by-step, the plan for a unified Hardin County. This plan will spell out just exactly how Hardin County could be governed under a unified form of government.

Upon completion, the plan will be presented to voters. Residents will have ample opportunity to read and study the plan and decide for themselves as to whether unified government is the direction that the community should take going forward.  Again, only the voters of Hardin County can make this decision – not HCU or the local government entities.

As the consultant to HCU, it has been my privilege during the past 14 months to work with HCU’s governance subcommittee as it has carefully reviewed and considered the issue of unified government for Hardin County. During this time, the subcommittee has met with representatives of various groups, including law enforcement, fire protection, Fort Knox, state elected officials as well as federally elected officials. We received valuable input from each group.

In addition, and as part of the fact-finding process, the governance subcommittee met with former Lexington Mayor Foster Pettit and former Louisville Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson, both of whom served prior to and following the unification of each of those cities.

Much of what we have learned can be found by visiting HCU’s website (www.hcu.lbschmidt.com) and by clicking on the large blue button on the home page which will take you to the special section that HCU has created on unified government, including frequently asked questions.

The News-Enterprise recently asked in an editorial “Can it hurt to talk about something new?”

HCU believes that now is a good time for the community to engage in a fully open discussion about unified government and its potential benefits. This begins with the creation of the unification review commission and its development of a plan. There really isn’t any risk whatsoever to the community when it comes to developing the plan and learning what unified government could look like.

The process ends with the voters who will decide if the plan is in the community’s best interest.

Luke B. Schmidt is president of Louisville-based L.B. Schmidt & Associates and is serving as a consultant to Hardin County United.

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Hardin County could become KY’s 3rd largest community (WDRB-TV)

By: Rachel Collier – rcollier@fox41.com

HARDIN County, Ky. (WDRB Fox 41) — Hardin County is one step closer to becoming the third largest community in Kentucky, but there’s still a lot of work to be done before it could happen.

A yellow shaded area shows where the majority of Hardin county residents live. “You have 85,000 people (in that area). That is easily the 3rd largest community in the state of Kentucky,” said Luke Schmidt, of Schmidt and Associates Consulting Firm.

Because the boundaries are dividing the cities, it is not the 3rd largest. Take those boundaries down and you have strength in numbers. In the past year, Luke Schmidt’s consulting firm has traveled to merged cities in Georgia and even to Lexington and Louisville. He says his team has learned that merging would be a plus for Hardin County, as well.

Hardin County United first needs to convince six city councils that merging is the right thing to do. Those cities are Elizabethtown, Radcliff, Vine Grove, West Point, Sonora, and Upton. “If any of the communities choose not to participate, they’re essentially left out of the process,” said Schmidt.

If those city councils decide to come up with a merger plan, voters have the final say. Hardin County Circuit Court Judge Ken Howard says the merger would streamline government and use tax dollars more efficiently.

But there is still a long road ahead.  After all, it took Louisville three tries to merge.

The first informational meetings are next week. For local government officials, it is Wednesday at Hardin Memorial Hospital at 5:30PM.

The community forum is Thursday at John Hardin High School’s Performing Arts Center at 4:30PM.

If city councils approve, the public will vote in November of 2012.

If it is approved by voters, the merger would take about two years (2014) to go into effect.

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Hardin County United Launches Unified Government Initiative (Press Release)

 

HCU logo_3Press Release

Contact:
The Honorable Ken Howard
Hardin Circuit Court Judge
270.763.2519 

Luke B. Schmidt, President
L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC
502.292.2898

Hardin County United Launches Unified Government Initiative

Effort Will Create Kentucky’s Third Largest Community, New Clout in Frankfort and Washington, and Streamline Government; 

HCU to Request the Appointment of a Unification Review Commission

 

Elizabethtown, Kentucky (July 29, 2011) – Hardin County United (HCU) today launched an initiative to develop unified government in Hardin County by announcing the findings of its year-long examination of the issue.

During the past year, HCU commissioned a study of unified government which was conducted by Louisville-based consulting firm, L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC.  HCU’s Governance Subcommittee, chaired by Hardin Circuit Court Judge Ken Howard, conducted community leadership meetings with groups representing law enforcement, fire protection, Fort Knox, state elected officials and federal elected officials. HCU also received presentations from former Louisville Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson and former Lexington-Fayette Urban County Mayor Foster Pettit on the issue of government unification.

Upon review of the issue, both HCU’s Governance Subcommittee and Steering Committee reached consensus and agreed that Hardin County would be well served with unified government, citing the following benefits:

  1. The ability for the community to speak with one voice and more efficiently target grants and appropriations which will benefit the entire community while improving the community’s standing and stature in Frankfort and Washington, D.C.,
  2. The attainment of a new level of clout that will assist the entire community with economic development, the creation of new jobs and which will create Kentucky’s third largest community,
  3. Streamlined government which will result in the more efficient delivery of government services to all citizens, and,
  4. The achievement of economies of scale which will result in the more efficient use of public resources (tax dollars)

“Hardin County is fortunate to have good local government in place,” said Ken Howard.  “The real opportunity here is to take local government to the next level, to capitalize on the growth opportunities presented by base realignment and ongoing Army restructuring at Fort Knox and the Glendale mega site.”

“Unified government won’t necessarily save money, but what it will do is organize government more efficiently and eliminate duplication of effort,” said Howard.  “Our research indicates that the rate of growth in the cost of public services has been shown to be reduced in unified governments, thereby reducing the need for frequent tax increases.”

The Hardin County Unified Government Study examined Hardin County’s existing local government structure along with five communities in Georgia and Kentucky that have been through the unification process.  Some of the key findings from the Study include:

  • Hardin County, a community of 105,000 people, is governed by 94 government jurisdictions, county and municipal departments, utilities, boards and commissions

(By comparison, In the case of Columbus and Muscogee County, Georgia prior to unification, the community was governed by 44 jurisdictions and departments; with unification, that number was reduced to nine primary departments)

  • Significant duplication exists between County government and the six municipal governments in terms of workers and budgets
  • In spite of the fragmented manner in which the community has developed, a significant urban core has emerged in Hardin County between the three principal cities – Elizabethtown, Radcliff and Vine Grove – and the rapidly developing unincorporated areas of Cecilia, Glendale and Rineyville
  • If this area had no immediate boundaries, its population would total 85,000 people and it would easily be Kentucky’s third largest city (see map which accompanies this release)
  • Competition for support of issues, grant/appropriation requests, etc., exist in counties with more than one local government jurisdiction – would this process be better served with one request from a unified government speaking with one voice?
  • In the case of each of the five unified communities which were examined, the communities were able to streamline government, mitigate future cost increases and increase their standing and stature (clout) in their respective state capitols and in Washington, D.C.

“Unification has provided major benefits to the communities that have been through the process,” said Luke B. Schmidt, consultant to HCU.  “In every case, communities came together through unification and began speaking with one voice and the net result has been increased clout with state and federal governments, expanded economic development and increased representation for all citizens through unified government councils.”

“Unified government leads to less parochialism and forces government to conduct a ‘big picture’ analysis of issues with more progressive outcomes,” Schmidt continued.  “We found out that economic development prospects like to deal with one government, and in the case of Lexington, unified government is one of the four cornerstones that help to sell Lexington as a place to do business.”

Going forward, HCU plans to take the leadership role in educating and informing the Hardin County community and each government entity about the facts of unified government by speaking to various groups and interested parties.

HCU is hosting an information session open to all elected local government officials on Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at Hardin Memorial Hospital’s fifth floor conference room beginning at 5:30 PM.

Citizens are invited to HCU’s community forum which will be held on Thursday, August 4, 2011, at the Hardin County Performing Arts Center at John Hardin High School, 384 W.A. Jenkins Road, Elizabethtown, and beginning at 4:30 PM.  Interested citizens are encouraged to attend.

HCU also plans to approach each local government entity beginning in September and request the passage of an ordinance which will create a Unification Review Commission (pursuant to Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapters 67.900 – 67.940).  Members of the Commission (which will include between 20 and 40 citizens) will be appointed by those local government entities that choose to participate.  The Commission will be charged with the task of developing a specific plan of unified government which will be presented to the voters to approve in November 2012.

Additional information on this issue can be found on HCU’s Web site (www.hcu.lbschmidt.com).

Hardin County United (HCU) was established for the purpose of examining the various strategic goals which were established by the Hardin County Vision Project in 2010.  The intent of HCU is to prioritize the goals and to develop implementation strategies.  HCU’s leadership team includes Hardin County Judge/Executive Harry Berry who chairs the Steering Committee; Hardin County Chamber of Commerce President Brad Richardson, who chairs the Community Development Subcommittee; North Central Education Foundation President/CEO Al Rider, who chairs the Education Subcommittee; and Hardin Circuit Court Judge Ken Howard who chairs the Governance Subcommittee.  Luke Schmidt, President of L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC, provides management and consulting services to HCU.

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Hardin Co. Considers Unified Government WEKU-FM (Eastern Kentucky University Public Radio)

Article originally posted to WEKU-FM Web site: http://weku.fm/post/hardin-co-considers-unified-government

Hardin Circuit Judge Ken Howard told a roomful of elected officials Wednesday that Hardin County is in an age of prosperity and growth, which is the perfect time to consider looking at a unified local government. Without a crisis hanging over their heads or their backs against the wall, a more reasoned and careful examination of unification can be taken, he said. Howard, chairman of the Hardin County United Governance Subcommittee, partnered with consultant Luke Schmidt to walk elected officials through a comprehensive study Schmidt’s firm conducted that analyzed five unified governments in Georgia and Kentucky.

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Hardin County United joins alcohol push The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise

Article originally posted to The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise Web site directed to:http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/hardin-county-united-joins-alcohol-push

By Marty Finley

Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 4:27 pm (Updated: March 24, 10:06 pm)

Another prominent Hardin County entity has emerged in favor of placing increased alcohol sales to a public vote.

Hardin County United formally endorsed the efforts of Yes for Economic Success, arguing the debate is one of economic development and should be taken to voters to decide.

Y.E.S. is a collective of local organizations and residents working to change existing alcohol laws in Hardin County because, Y.E.S. argues, they are unnecessarily stringent and an encumbrance to business growth.

In an effort to revise the laws, Y.E.S. is leading concurrent petition drives in Elizabethtown, Radcliff and Vine Grove to authorize a local option election in the three cities at the same time.

Hardin County Judge-Executive Harry Berry, chairman of Hardin County United, said Thursday that he respects alcohol use as an issue of personal choice. He said HCU’s steering committee voted to endorse Y.E.S. and its effort because it recognizes the issue as one crucial to economic development.

Berry said the county is giving up revenue to surrounding counties that allow alcohol sales because Hardin County residents are traveling and spending their money despite the inconvenience.

“The purchase of these products is happening whether it is allowed in Hardin County or not,” he said.

HCU also argues that being dry gives other areas a competitive advantage over Hardin County from a tourism perspective.

Luke Schmidt, president of L.B. Schmidt & Associates LLC, the consulting firm that conducted the Hardin County Vision Project and provides consulting services to HCU, said many of the cities Hardin County competes with have more accessible alcohol sales, everywhere from Bardstown and Bowling Green to Lexington, Louisville and Nashville.

Berry said loosening these restrictions could generate more interest in Hardin County as a tourism destination and attract new businesses.

Schmidt said it also could change a perception businesses may have in terms of quality of place. According to the statement released by HCU, the availability of alcohol in restaurants and pubs is important to developers looking at sites to place businesses.

“Changing the law will make it easier to open new establishments in the historic buildings in downtown Elizabethtown and Vine Grove and in commercial areas in Radcliff,” the HCU statement read.

HCU identified 24 strategic goals to consider as part of the Hardin County Vision Project that weighs core areas, from government to education and health care. Expanded alcohol sales is one of those goals.

Schmidt said the firm polled more than 100 community leaders about the alcohol issue and the response was overwhelmingly in favor of Hardin County going wet.

For example, when respondents were asked if they feel the dining and entertainment scene in Hardin County is robust, 72 percent voted no.

Further questioning revealed 67 percent of respondents felt current alcohol laws are cumbersome for development of new restaurants and entertainment venues and 90 percent of those responders felt the laws should be changed.

Both Berry and Schmidt said the research and polling data led to HCU’s decision.

“It seems consistent with the goals of Hardin County United,” Berry said of the endorsement.

Schmidt said HCU will not proceed as an active arm to market or promote the expanded alcohol effort but rather offer its vocal support to Y.E.S. in its role.

HCU is the latest in a long line of local organizations to endorse the effort, including the Elizabethtown Tourism and Convention Bureau, North Hardin Economic Development Authority, Elizabethtown Industrial Foundation, Elizabethtown Heritage Council, West Point City Council and all four county chambers of commerce, which recently united to form the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce.

But everyone is not crazy about the plan. Liquor store owners in Bullitt and Meade counties have said the emergence of package liquor stores and other alcohol-friendly venues in Hardin County could hurt businesses in nearby counties.

Some also have argued the Y.E.S. group is misguided in its belief that the expansion of alcohol will lead to large financial success. Pat Donnelly, an Elizabethtown resident and owner of Turnpike Liquors in Shepherdsville, said much of the revenue will be funneled out of the county because corporations will apply for most of the alcohol licenses. Meanwhile, taxes generated from the licenses will be minuscule, Donnelly said.

On another front, the Hardin County Christian Coalition has stepped out in opposition to the plan. Founder Will Stolz said the push for alcohol is an unimaginative way to produce revenue in the county and a faulty form of progression.

Hardin County, Stolz added, should strive to stand out from the crowd rather than join its neighbors.

Y.E.S. and HCU maintain gains will be found for the county should it reach a ballot and find voter approval.

“Research indicates millions of dollars are being left on the table in surrounding counties by Hardin County citizens when they travel to Bullitt, Jefferson, Meade and Nelson counties to purchase alcoholic beverages,” HCU said in its written statement. “It’s time to put these dollars in local cash registers along with the taxes that such sales generate.”

Y.E.S. needs to gather more than 3,600 signatures total to place the issue on the ballot. State law requires petitions from each city to have enough signatures from eligible voters to equal 25 percent of the voter turnout in the last general election. That translates to 1,990 signatures in Elizabethtown, 1,182 in Radcliff and 468 in Vine Grove, according to Hardin County Clerk Kenny Tabb.

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HCU Says Expanded Liquor Sales Will Help Econ. Dev. WFPL-FM (Louisville Public Radio)

Hardin County Group Says Expanded Liquor Sales Would Help Economic Development

Gabe Bullard March 24, 2011|

Petitions are being circulated in Hardin County to change the liquor laws in three cities.

The group Hardin County United is supporting efforts to expand restaurant and package liquor sales in Elizabethtown, Radcliff and Vine Grove. Vine Grove is currently entirely dry, and consultant Luke Schmidt—who has worked with the Food with Wine Coalition—says the other two cites allow limited liquor sales.

“Restaurants with at least 100 seats and with 70% of their revenue from food sales are allowed to sell liquor by the drink, however no package liquor sales are allowed,” he says.

Schmidt says more open alcohol sales would help the cities compete for residents and jobs as Fort Knox expands. These initiatives often face challenges from some businesses and religious-minded lawmakers. However, if enough signatures are collected through the petition campaign, the issue can be placed on the ballot in the three cities without going before any local legislative bodies.

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Hardin County United Supports Initiative to Change Alcoholic Bev. Laws (Press Release)

HCU logo_3Press Release

Contact:
The Honorable Harry L. Berry
Hardin County Judge/Executive
270.765.2350

Luke B. Schmidt, President
L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC
502.292.2898

Hardin County United Announces Support for YES for Economic Success (Y.E.S.) Committee’s Petition Drive,

Initiative to Change Alcoholic Beverage Laws in Elizabethtown, Radcliff and Vine Grove

Successful Petition Drive will Allow Voters to Express Their Views on an Issue that Supports Economic Development

 

Elizabethtown, Kentucky (March 23, 2011) – Hardin County United (HCU) today announced that its Steering Committee has voted to support the ongoing petition drive of the YES for Economic Success (Y.E.S.) Committee to gather signatures of registered voters in Elizabethtown, Radcliff and Vine Grove in order to allow for a referendum later this year and changing existing law to allow alcoholic beverage sales in all three cities.

Y.E.S. is a collaborative group of organizations and concerned citizens which is working to allow voters the opportunity to vote on changing the existing alcoholic beverage laws in all three cities.  While each campaign is separate, each campaign is running concurrently, allowing voters the opportunity to express their view on the same day later this year with the same ballot question.  To date, nine organizations in addition to HCU have endorsed the activities of Y.E.S.

“HCU fully respects the view that the consumption of alcoholic beverages is a personal choice,” said HCU Chairperson Harry L. Berry.  “However, HCU believes that it is entirely appropriate to allow voters to express how they feel about the issue and therefore we support the ongoing petition drive to obtain the required number of signatures to bring this issue to a vote in all three cities,” said Berry.

Members of HCU believe the issue of alcoholic beverage sales has become an economic issue.  Research indicates millions of dollars are being left on the table in surrounding counties by Hardin County citizens when they travel to Bullitt, Jefferson, Meade and Nelson counties to purchase alcoholic beverages.  It’s time to put these dollars in local cash registers along with the taxes that such sales generate.

Changing existing law to allow alcoholic beverage sales will enhance economic development efforts in all three cities. The availability of alcoholic beverages in restaurants, pubs, etc., is an issue which is often considered by professional site selection representatives and business decision makers to be a quality of place issue.  Changing the law will make it easier to open new establishments in the historic buildings in downtown Elizabethtown and Vine Grove and in commercial areas in Radcliff.

Finally, changing the law will make the community more competitive when it comes to attracting tourists along the I-65 corridor.  Most tourists would like a choice when it comes to the opportunity to consume alcoholic beverages.  Most of the communities that Hardin County competes with in the tourism arena, such as Bardstown, Bowling Green, Columbus, IN, Jeffersonville, IN, Lexington, Louisville and Nashville allow alcoholic beverage sales.

“Hardin County United was established to follow-up, prioritize and implement various strategic goals which were established as part of the Hardin County Vision Project in 2010,” said Luke B. Schmidt, President of L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC, the consulting firm which conducted the Vision Project and provides consulting services to HCU.

“During the Vision Project, we asked community leaders many questions pertaining to ‘quality of life/place’ including their views of the current dining scene.  Only 28% of the respondents found the dining/entertainment scene to be ‘robust,’” said Schmidt.

“When asked if current alcoholic beverage laws hinder the development of new dining and entertainment ventures, nearly 70% said YES.  For those who answered YES to this question, 90% said that the laws should be changed in order to attract new dining and entertainment ventures (and improve the quality of place for the community),” Schmidt stated.

Additional information on this issue can be obtained by visiting the Y.E.S. Web site (www.2011yes.com).

Hardin County United (HCU) was established for the purpose of examining the various strategic goals which were established by the Hardin County Vision Project in 2010.  The intent of HCU is to prioritize the goals and to develop implementation strategies.  HCU’s leadership team includes Hardin County Judge/Executive Harry Berry who chairs the Steering Committee; One Knox Executive Director Brad Richardson, who chairs the Community Development Subcommittee; North Central Education Foundation President/CEO Al Rider, who chairs the Education Subcommittee; and Hardin Circuit Court Judge Ken Howard who chairs the Governance Subcommittee.  Luke Schmidt, President of L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC, provides management and consulting services to HCU.

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Hardin County United Posts Educational Roadmap to Web Site (Press Release)

 

HCU logo_3Press Release

Contact:
The Honorable Harry L. Berry
Hardin County Judge/Executive
270.765.2350

Luke B. Schmidt, President
L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC
502.292.2898

 

Hardin County United Posts Educational Roadmap to Web Site

Document Provides Unique, Detailed Overview of Educational Opportunities in Hardin County from Birth through Adult Education

 

Elizabethtown, Kentucky (February 3, 2011) – Hardin County United (HCU) today announced that it has posted the Hardin County Educational Roadmap on its new Web site (www.hcu.lbschmidt.com).  The Roadmap provides a detailed summary of virtually every educational opportunity available in Hardin County today.

The Roadmap is the first project to be completed by HCU and was developed and managed by the organization’s Education Subcommittee, chaired by Al Rider, President/CEO of the North Central Education Foundation.  The Roadmap is designed to serve as a resource for all citizens of Hardin County as well as employers and businesses and industries which might be contemplating a move to the community.

“Education has always been an important driver in this community,” said Al Rider.  “The Education Subcommittee wants to build upon the educational strategic goals adopted in the Hardin County Vision Project.  In order to do this, we agreed that we first needed to fully understand what educational opportunities currently exist in the community.  In doing this, we established a life continuum starting at birth and concluding with adult education.  Every opportunity is listed in this document.”

The Roadmap will significantly assist ongoing economic development efforts in the community.  Local economic development officials will now be able to provide detailed information on educational opportunities to companies that are considering expansion into Hardin County.

The benefits to existing citizens of Hardin County will be enormous.  For the first time in the County’s history, citizens will be able to go online and see a listing of all educational opportunities.  From birth through three years, the opportunities include such programs as Books for Babies, HeadStart, First Steps, etc.  Various public and private elementary and private school programs, such as gifted and talented, and special education are listed, along with adult education for later in life.

For those citizens who may be wishing to add to their current educational credentials, either through obtaining an associate or technical degree, a bachelor’s degree or even a master’s degree, they will quickly be able to see what is possible without leaving the community.  Degree opportunities range from an Associate Degree in Applied Science for such things as Business Administration, Accounting, Real Estate Management, etc., to Bachelor’s Degrees in Child Studies, Human Services and Counseling, Public Safety Administration, etc., to Master’s Degrees in Criminal Justice, Mathematics Education to Theology.

“In compiling the Roadmap, we learned that Hardin County has the largest number of institutions on a per-capita basis that offer post-secondary degrees in Kentucky,” said HCU Chairperson Harry L. Berry.  “This clearly becomes a selling point for our economic development officials.  There are nearly 340 post secondary credentials which can be earned right here at home,” said Berry.

“The development of the Roadmap fits right in with HCU’s mission,” said Luke B. Schmidt, President of L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC and consultant to HCU.  “One of the Vision Project goals is to develop a “leading edge” education platform in the community, beginning at Kindergarten and extending through post-secondary offerings.  The Roadmap clearly indicates that Hardin County has a lot going for it in terms of education, and it will help the community to identify gaps which might exist so that the platform can ultimately be strengthened.”

The Roadmap can now be downloaded by visiting HCU’s Web site.

Hardin County United (HCU) was established for the purpose of examining the various strategic goals which were established by the Hardin County Vision Project in 2010.  The intent of HCU is to prioritize the goals and to develop implementation strategies.  HCU’s leadership team includes Hardin County Judge/Executive Harry Berry who chairs the Steering Committee; One Knox Executive Director Brad Richardson, who chairs the Community Development Subcommittee; North Central Education Foundation President/CEO Al Rider, who chairs the Education Subcommittee; and Hardin Circuit Court Judge Ken Howard who chairs the Governance Subcommittee.  Luke Schmidt, President of L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC, provides management and consulting services to HCU.