The Woodford County Fiscal Court heard a proposal from Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Director Kenneth Johns concerning naming a road in Woodford County Park at its Tuesday, Feb. 24 meeting.

The proposal would designate as a new road the existing roadway from the entry into the park at the Woodford County Senior Center to the tennis court and dog park area. Johns explained this will have no impact on the road system and that the county road department already maintains these areas.

Johns explained the issue arose from County Administrative Assistant Emily Castle, Maintenance Department Director Rick Wade and Woodford County Emergency Management Agency Director Drew Chandler. The problems related to properly identifying the various county structures along the roadway on insurance policies and better identification of locations for 9-1-1 purposes. Right now, all of the structures have generic names instead of proper three- or four-digit addresses, said Wade.

Johns said he had conferred with the Versailles-Woodford County Parks & Recreation Department board and the management at the Rail Explorers and Bluegrass Railroad Museum, and all agreed it was a good move. They, too, had concerns relating to patrons finding their location, given that they are now addressed as Beasley Road.

Johns recommended the “new” road be named “Recreation Way,” as it relates to the recreational area. However, Woodford County Judge-Executive James Kay, recognizing it was a last-minute suggestion, proposed the name be John “Bear” Coyle Way. 

Johns said if that was the court’s decision, there would be no impact on the GIS department’s procedure, though he said his opinion was that “it (should) not be named after a political figure because of many different issues, but that’s the court’s decision.” 

With no objections, Kay said his office would reach out to the businesses there and Parks & Recreation to see if his suggested name would be acceptable and report back. Though it was hard to hear, someone suggested the road be named “Bumpy Bear Way,” given the existing road is a bit rough, which elicited big laughs with Kay chuckling, “I don’t know if the Coyles would appreciate that.”

Sammy Weese

The court honored Sammy Weese, who just won the Kentucky State Middle School Indoor Track & Field competition, becoming the most recent Woodford County state champion. 

“Sammy is just a wonderful young man. He just started this event last spring, and he will jump much higher in the future on the high school team,” said Head Coach Chavi Muniz. “He is active in several things, including being on the WCMS academic team. He is just a really well-rounded kid.”

Kentucky Senior Games

Due to the popularity and scenic nature of Woodford County, the Kentucky State Senior Games requested permission to hold its cycling road races here on Aug. 29. The route would begin on Kentucky Avenue and wind down McCracken Pike. There are 5K and 10K timed trials, and a 20K road race. The winners qualify for the National Senior Games.

As part of the event, the racers and supporters will be provided information about distillery tours and local restaurants, as well as informing families and farms who live along the route.

Though permission for cycling events is not technically required since those roads are open to cyclists, Kay, with no objections from the magistrates, said the county will support the event.

Contracts

Fiscal Court approved the Maintenance Department’s request to pay $17,550 to Eads Fence Company for the installation of an electronic gate at the entrance to the road garage. 

Ordinance

The court approved the first reading of an ordinance to accept Larland Lane into the county road system.

Treasurer’s Report

County Treasurer Melody Traugott reported the current flex account balance as $14,832,279.56. Traugott also advised the court that there was a significant outstanding balance owed by the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), related to the operation of the Courthouse and Annex, and she was reaching out to AOC to get those funds.