JO LAUDERDALE, pastor of Living Grace Church in Versailles, was honored by the Woodford County Fiscal Court at its April 22 meeting on the one-year anniversary of “The Station,” a temporary shelter for those experiencing homelessness, which is also used as a warming station in winter and a cooling station in summer. In the photo, Lauderdale receives the resolution from Woodford County Judge-Executive James Kay with the Fiscal Court members. (Photo by Scott White)
Woodford County Judge-Executive James Kay entered an executive order on April 22 that formally renewed an emergency declaration made on April 5. The order exempts homes and structures damaged by the near-record flood waters from a variety of planning and zoning ordinances to make it easier for owners to begin the work of recovering from the flood — whether that is reconstruction, rehabilitation or demolition.
The Fiscal Court approved this action by passing a special ordinance incorporating the exemptions set out in the executive order.
County Attorney Alan George, who along with Kay, worked with Woodford County Planning Director Steve Hunter to identify the requirements that needed to be exempted, and emphasized that under Kentucky law, the Fiscal Court could enact this special ordinance that only required one reading and would go into effect on its passage . . . meaning, the ordinance is now the law.
“I want to make two important points,” Kay said. “Public health and safety will always be paramount and if necessary, override any exemption decision. And, we are not ‘withstanding’ any provision (in the ordinances) that could jeopardize our ability to continue to provide flood insurance or be a participant in the Flood Plain Administration Program.”
Magistrate Liles Taylor confirmed the exemptions were only available to flood victims, which Kay further clarified by saying, “The exemptions are intended only for flood victims to rebuild, if they want, their primary residence while rebuilding their lives. If the property is sold or conveyed, then the exemptions will no longer apply to that property.”
State of flood recovery
Woodford County Emergency Management Director Drew Chandler provided a status report on recovery and relief efforts since the Fiscal Court’s April 8 meeting. In addition to “hard data,” the court discussed the impact of President Donald Trump not declaring a major disaster declaration (MDD) yet, though the required application for an MDD was sent to the president with unanimous support from Kentucky’s congressional delegation and Gov. Andy Beshear.
In response to a question from Magistrate John Gentry, Chandler said, “The local FEMA workers simply do not know (if and when an MDD will be issued). This leads to a lot of uncertainty and right now I don’t have anything to share.” FEMA stands for Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Chandler pointed out the president did issue an MDD following the February 14 flood, and that the April flood “is clearly worse than the one in February. There is no reason based on the hard data for us not to receive an (MDD).”
He said the American Red Cross continues to operate a shelter at the Woodford County Senior Center and that some buildings have been able to be moved off the initial damage list, which totaled 250. He added that the current tally on structure damage is: 12 homes destroyed; 135 with minor damage; and, 19 otherwise affected.
Chandler said the county is now qualified for the Emergency Watershed Program, which will allow owners, voluntarily, to be compensated if they choose to not rebuild in the flood plain.
During the initial post-flood days, Kay, Chandler, Rick Hartley, with the Maintenance Department, and Road Department Supervisor Bo Wilson developed a county price contract for hauling debris. For qualified contractors with the appropriate equipment, debris removal is paid a flat $2,000 a day. Kay said the work is regularly checked by him, Wilson, Hartley and Chandler and that records of all dumpings are being maintained by solid waste.
The public was also reminded that the deadline for applicants for assistance from FEMA for homeowners and renters affected by the Feb. 14 flood has been extended to May 25.
Contracts, disbursements and bids
The court approved: the disbursement of $10,000 to the Woodford Foundation for temporary housing assistance related to the flood; the disbursement of $11,000 from the Opioid Settlement Fund to NET Device for the recovery intervention agreement previously approved; and, a disbursement of $7,500 to two contractors for debris removal.
The court approved two bid requests: the lights piece of the Woodford Theater Modernization Project; and, repairs to the stage floor in the same project.
Rural/Secondary
roads program
Casey Smith, an engineer with District 7 of the Department of Highways, presented the court with the county’s share of the rural/secondary roads program (also known as the “farm to marker” roads), which is funded with 22.2 percent of the motor fuel tax. The county has $453,000 available to it for fiscal year 2026. The projects approved by the court were projects on Steel Road, New Cut Road and Fords Mill. The court decided to retain the flex portion of those funds to be decided later.
Treasurer’s report
County Treasurer Melody Traugott reported the current balance in the money market account is $16,038,027.30.
Editor’s note: See page 7 for story on court’s action on in-family conveyances.