Beech Tree News Network

A small but dedicated group of local officials, citizens and community supporters braved the rain earlier today - Saturday, November 21 - to take part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Butler County Senior Center. The project, which has been in the works for the last several years, is moving forward with funding from a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (C.D.B.G.).  The grant, secured through a partnership with the Barren River Area Development District (B.R.A.D.D.), will combine with financial and in-kind support from local government to foot the bill for the approximately $625,000 facility.

Butler County Judge Executive David Fields welcomed those in attendance.  Judge Fields thanked all who have worked on making the project a reality, as well as expressing appreciation to Jones Funeral Chapel for providing the much-needed tent on a rainy day.   

"This is a beautiful spot and Butler County is proud to be moving forward on this project," said Fields.

The judge specifically thanked local resident Iris Moore, who has served on the committee for this project.

"We appreciate all that Iris has done to help with the senior center," added Fields.

Judge Fields introduced First District Magistrate Stevie Givens, who spoke briefly about the projects.  Givens thanked the governor's office for their commitment to the senior center project. 

"The judge and I have (and others) have worked over three years on this with the governor's office and they've really helped Butler County," said Givens.

Magistrate Givens then introduced Butler County native Larry Bond, Chief-of Staff for Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear.  Bond's sister, Sharon Johnson, serves on the Morgantown City Council. 

Bond spoke for several minutes about the senior center project and his eight years of public service in the Beshear administration. 

"We were able to secure a 1/2 million dollars for the project," said Bond, who described the senior center as an important quality of life issue for Butler County. 

Bond indicated that in counties like Butler, which aren't really manufacturing/industrial counties and are more agricultural in nature, quality of life issues are especially important.

Bond briefly described his work with Governor Beshear over the past eight years.

"We took over during a recession and had to cut $380 million per year out of the state budget for a total of $1.6 billion," said Bond, "and we're leaving the incoming administration with a $350 million surplus.

Bond said the economy in the state is improving and unemployment is down but there are still places hurting.

"Unemployment in the state was at 14 percent but is now down to 4.9 percent," said Bond, who acknowledge that coal areas - east and west - have struggled.

Bond said he believes the biggest problem facing the state over the next ten years will be in workforce development.  He said Kentucky has many advantages including strong transportation infrastructure and benefits from being a "beautiful state in a great location." 

"Workforce development will be the most important thing to work on," added Bond.  "We've (the state) invested $46 million in transportation projects and $30 million in economic development incentives in Butler County." 

Bond connected workforce development and quality of life issues with what the Beshear administration has done regarding health care.

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has been recognized by President Obama for his work in implementing various components of the Affordable Care Act in the state, including state exchanges designed to help uninsured residents find health insurance they can afford.  

"I'm proud of what the governor has done.  Butler County had 22 percent uninsured residents and now that is down to 6 percent," said Bond, who said the Beshear administration has asked the incoming administration to "look at the facts, not politics" when it comes to health care in Kentucky. 

Bond thanked Judge Fields, Magistrate Givens and Morgantown City Council member Sharon Johnson - "my sister" - for their work on the senior center. 

"Sharon has been vigilant in making sure the needs of the city are heard in Frankfort," said Bond.  "This building will be an asset to the community and to the seniors it serves." 

Former Judge-Executive Hugh C. Evans said he was grateful that local and state officials followed through on the 231 road project, which was started in 2001. 

The property for the senior center is located just off 231 south near the Huff-Ingram Apartment Complex in Morgantown.  

Judge Fields recognized Wayne Hatcher, who sold the property to the county for the senior center. 

"We're proud to be a small part of this project," said Hatcher. 

DDS Engineering, LLC and Williams Associates Architects - both firms located in Bowling Green - were also recognized and had representatives on hand at the groundbreaking ceremony. 

Butler County native Melanie Hunt was present from DDS and is the civil engineer in charge of the senior center project.  Hunt said she was looking forward to working on the project.

John Williams, of Williams Associates, said his firm was proud to be selected for the project.  He gave a brief description of some aspects of the building, including a kitchen area, administrative spaces, and a computer center. 

Amy Scott, community development specialist for B.R.A.D.D. said final plans for the project will be approved in February.  B.R.A.D.D. was the primary grant writer for the project.  Scott said that according to the terms of the C.D.B.G., the senior center must be finished by December of 2016.