Bigger, more accessible entrance being planned for Whitley County Fairgrounds

A larger, more accommodating entrance could be added to the Whitley County Fairgrounds in the near future, as the beginning steps have been set in motion.

During the Whitley County Fiscal Court’s regular monthly meeting last week, magistrates approved the hiring on an engineering firm that will work with the county in attempting to create a new entrance on Stark Lane. 

Whitley County Judge/Executive Pat White said that the firm will be consulted to determine property lines and ownership around the road. This will help with plans that will be necessary to move forward with the project.

“Some of the properties involve heirships and a lot of different owners and there’s a formal process under Kentucky law about reaching out to them. So, usually if the highway department or somebody is trying to acquire land, they will hire a firm or they have staff that does this to comply with that process.”

Magistrates’ approval did not include the acquisition of property. Once property lines and ownership are determined, the fiscal court could then move forward with attempts to acquire the needed land.

Currently, plans for the project would be to realign the existing roadway to allow easier access for more vehicles and larger vehicles, such as tractor trailers.

“When we have big events, we end up with big traffic jams because you can’t get enough people in through the current two roadways that enter the property,” said White. “We’d like to build a big, wide entrance where you can bring a lot more cars and has some other lanes of traffic coming in—make it a little more accessible to the public.”

White said that the cost for hiring the firm was $14,500.

In other fiscal court business:

– A resolution was approved allowing the county to apply for a grant to upgrade the CAD system at Whitley County E911. The CAD system is what is used to map the county’s roadways for emergency services. White said that if the monies were to be received, it would be a “significant upgrade” to E911’s current system.

The amount of the grant is expected to be $149,994.

– Magistrates authorized the county to join a lawsuit against the Kentucky Department of Corrections. 

The lawsuit currently includes several other counties, as well as the Kentucky Jailer’s Association, and is seeking injunctive relief regarding the classification of state inmates and associated costs owed to counties by the state.