Some of the 24 strategic goals identified by the Hardin County Vision project already are being discussed or are on the drawing board.
Article originally posted by The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise directed to:http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/work-under-way-some-vision-objectives
Work under way on some vision objectives
By Ben Sheroan
Friday, April 2, 2010 at 7:00 pm
By BEN SHEROAN
bsheroan@thenewsenterprise.com
Some of the 24 strategic goals identified by the Hardin County Vision project already are being discussed or are on the drawing board.
The topic of alcohol availability in retail stores and establishment of smaller neighborhood bars has been stirred in the community. The subject surfaced frequently in conversations with visitors on BRAC-related tours who expect to relocate to the area from St. Louis, Indianapolis or Alexandria, Va., as a result of Fort Knox’s new missions.
“It’s not a game breaker for them,” said Brad Richardson of One Knox. “But it does appear provincial.”
Luke Schmidt, a Hardin County native who coordinated the visioning process as a contract consultant, said the wet-dry issue “has evolved from a moral issue to an economic development issue. That’s the honest truth.”
Individuals and organizations including the Heartland Chambers Alliance prompted discussions of increased availability of alcohol sales and invited a leader of Danville’s recent campaign to move from “moist” to “wet” status to talk to their members.
Radcliff Mayor Sheila Enyart sees the topic as an essential element of growth.
“In order to have a vibrant economy, we’ve got to come out of the 19th century,” Enyart said.
In recent years, portions of Hardin County approved liquor sales at restaurants which seat 100 or more and derive 70 percent of their revenue from food. Any relaxation of alcohol limits would require approval through a special local option election.
A referendum to approve wet status also comes into play with the Vision project’s recommendations regarding downtown Elizabethtown. Proponents think creation of a retail, residential and entertainment district in the historic buildings in the city’s core would be enhanced by the availability of alcohol licenses for small bistros and pubs.
Based on his survey, Schmidt said the revitalization of downtown Elizabethtown received broad support from all sectors of the county — not just participants centered in Elizabethtown.
Steve Barno, planning manager in Radcliff, takes issue with the survey question, which he said directed the conversation at Elizabethtown by saying Radcliff has no traditional downtown.
“When you base your brainstorming session on the results of a survey that prefaced sections with ‘Radcliff does not have a downtown so we will talk about downtown Elizabethtown’ you may have a skewed view of reality,” Barno said.
Charlie Bryant, executive assistant of Elizabethtown city government, said he thinks government will need to take a lead in downtown redevelopment with cooperative private partners. But first, a clear focus for the historic city center must be determined.
“You have to decide on what your vision is and work toward that,” Bryant said.
Another quality of life suggestion already in the works is a community YMCA.
A founders meeting was held in November as organizers, including HCS Superintendent Nannette Johnston, decided to place an emphasis on programs over construction. Development of Y classes will introduce YMCA offerings to the community more immediately.
The only health care topic identified by the visioning research was certification for a trauma center at Hardin Memorial Hospital. That idea is being researched as part of an upcoming strategic planning process in preparation for the next hospital budget cycle, which begins in June.
Through collaborative agreements with Louisville and Lexington hospitals, HMH now stabilizes trauma patients and transfers them by emergency helicopters for the appropriate level of care, said Michelle Murphy, the hospital’s director of marketing.
Speaking on behalf of HMH President David Gray, Murphy said the hospital is researching both capital expenditures and operating costs required for a Level 3 or Level 4 trauma center. Any decision will be influenced by state and federal funding, which Murphy described as “in flux” because of state budget shortfalls and uncertainty about changes coming with the federal health insurance reform.
Ben Sheroan can be reached at (270) 505-1764