WOODFORD COUNTY FISCAL COURT honored the Kentucky State Runner-Up Woodford County High School girls track and field team, the highest team finish in school history. Back row, from left, Magistrates Mary Ann Gill, William Downey and Larry Blackford, WCHS Coach Derrick Johnson, Lucy Danks, Gabby Gampper, Magistrate John Gentry, Judge-Executive James Kay, Magistrates Darrell Varner and Jackie Brown. Front row, from left, Charla Gormley, Abigail Crowe, Allie Twehues, Avery Gill, Sophia Tucker, Addie Moore and WCHS Coach Ashley Swingle. (Photo by Melody Traugott)

 

By Scott White

Woodford Sun Staff

The Woodford County Fiscal Court at its Tuesday, June 9, meeting approved an expenditure of $102,795 for the construction of a pavilion, restrooms and parking lot at the Huntertown Community Interpretive Park (HCIP), which is likely to come out of the 2026-2027 budget. The court unanimously approved the request.

In 2022, the board of the Friends of HCIP (Friends) began work on one of its first significant projects since its creation in 2021, the construction of a pavilion along with rest rooms and a parking lot. The original estimate was $500,000. However, given the time it has taken the Friends to fundraise, obtain a state grant, work out site selection and prepare a formal bidding process for the work, that cost is now $686,900.

Friends board member Sioux Finney and Versailles-Woodford County Parks and Recreation Director Rich Pictor presented an overview of the project to the Fiscal Court in its request for the final funding piece. Pictor explained the original site had been relocated due to drainage issues, but that construction documents and drawings were ready allowing the Friends to receive five bids. Finney explained that the bids were opened and read aloud on May 27, and BCD, Inc. was awarded the contract as the low bidder.

Finney said the funding of the project will come from five sources: $125,000 from a Land & Water Conservation grant from the state; $50,000 from the Parks & Rec Department; $100,000 from the Friends (a doubling from its original commitment in 2022, which was $50,000); $226,545 from the Fiscal Court (approximately $124K of which has already been paid); and $185,355 from the City of Versailles (approximately $101K of which has already been paid).

Finney told the court that, assuming the request made to it was approved, then all that is left is for the city to approve the balance of its funding share, which will be presented at next Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

Finney also emphasized that HCIP “is very loved by this county.” She said that counters had been installed in January 2026 to accurately measure the number of pedestrians and vehicles that entered the park, and it showed in this five-month period: 7,300 pedestrians and 1,160 vehicles, which typically contain more than one person. She also said that polling and interviews with stakeholders and visitors showed that a pavilion was the number one requested amenity not yet at the park.

“Huntertown Park allows us to educate our community about its important African-American history and that people are using this historic landscape in significant numbers,” Finney said. “A pavilion, parking lot and restrooms will allow for reunions, get-togethers and family picnics.”

Magistrate Mary Ann Gill, who also serves as a member of the Friends board, pointed to the significant number of volunteers and volunteer hours of patrons and supporters who have transformed the former abandoned site into a remarkable new public park space. “So many volunteers and folks have a lot invested, as much as any park in Woodford County,” she said.

Magistrate Larry Brown, who, like Gill, has been involved from the beginning and also serves on the Friends advisory board, pointed out that the Fiscal Court made the very first contribution to the creation of the park, a $50,000 donation.

South Woodford Water District problems

Judge-Executive James Kay told the court that significant water issues causing lengthy boil water advisories hit customers of the South Woodford Water District last week, which lasted through early this week. Kay said the problems related to the contractor of All Points Broadband, which is installing the broadband cable in that area of the county, cut water lines. This, Kay said, was due to inaccurately located lines on the maps, or information provided to the contractor by the district.

Kay said that, aside from appointing its members, the court has no formal role in the district. Regardless, he said the county is working with the district, All Points Broadband and Woodford County Emergency Management to avoid a repeat of the problems.

Yokohama plant purchase

Prior to its regular meeting, the court met as a Committee of the Whole, which essentially operates as a court meeting since all magistrates are voting members of the committee. During the meeting, the court received a status report from the Woodford County Economic Development Authority’s (EDA) consultant Lucas Witt on the closing of the Yokohama plant purchase. 

Witt confirmed the closing is set for June 24, and that the EDA has been able to make good progress on identifying potential buyers of the property, which will satisfy the type of employer the City of Versailles and the Fiscal Court are seeking to move into the turnkey plant.

As it did on earlier votes to purchase the Yokohama plant along with the City of Versailles and EDA, the court split on its vote to approve the Woodford County attorney and judge-executive to review, negotiate and sign all documents required for the closing. The “nay” votes were Magistrates Gill, Darrell Varner and Jackie Brown, who have consistently questioned the purchase since it was first proposed.

Audit

The Fiscal Court accepted the annual independent audit, required by law, of the county. Kay pointed out that the audit opinion did not “have any comments or exceptions, and was a clean audit, and showed the financial position of the county was strong and good, reliable financial management.” 

Contracts

The Fiscal Court approved the following contracts or disbursements in addition to the HCIP: 

Pending approval by the court of the contract, $475,219.28 to Jackson Construction for the construction of a logistics facility building for the Woodford County Emergency Management Agency. Emergency Management Director Drew Chandler and Maintenance Department Supervisor Rick Wade explained they were recommending the much lower bid from Jackson Construction and that the county Maintenance Department will do the fit-up and other work, such as the plumbing and electrical. Gill asked several questions confirming the county was able to do the necessary work and the items that would still need to be contracted out, such as the plumbing needed to hook into the water source;

Young Farmer grants to 13 successful applicants approved by the screening committee, as well as six others, which simply need to be approved by the county tax office, which will require the formation of an actual business;

$2,000 to the Woodford County Fair Board;

$436,828 for renewal of the all-lines fund renewal insurance policy with the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo); 

$411,047 for renewal of the workers’ compensation insurance policy with KACo.