By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
EastPark, the development center along the Industrial Parkway between the intersection with the I-64 corridor in Carter County and the train yards and river port near Wurtland in Greenup County, has been promoted and supported by the three counties that touch portions of it since its inception.
But despite the support of the Carter, Boyd, and Greenup County fiscal courts and their adjutant bodies, growth along the corridor has been slow.
The much hyped, but ultimately abandoned, Braidy Industries development was one of the last major projects to be announced for EastPark – though ground was broken earlier this year on a new training center at the IKORCC carpenter’s and millwright’s union hall.
The skilled labor to construct any future growth along the corridor is here and ready to do so. So perhaps a new move by the counties involved to broaden EastPark participation to Lawrence and Elliott Counties, their partners in the FIVCO area development district, could inject the kind of fresh energy that could spark additional growth.
That’s the hope, at least, of Carter County judge executive Brandon Burton and the fiscal court magistrates, who voted in a special session last week to amend the contract for the EastPark Interlocal Agreement to add the other two counties to the list of partners.
Burton said he has already spoken with the judges in those two counties, and is optimistic for the opportunities they can bring to the table.
In other action the court approved the signing of a spay and neuter contract for the animal shelter and awarded bids for surplus jail vehicles. The cost of the spay and neuter contract was $1,212 for 12 months. A total of $750 was bid for three surplus vehicles; $200 for a Crown Victoria, $250 for a second Crown Victoria, and $300 for a Chevy pickup truck. The three bids were the only bids received and no minimum bid was set, so the bids were awarded as received.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
