[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6067970,"mediaKeyId","3110436-2b85d0611fc3d677dffd1e86c184cdb4","parentId",3110436,"title","Fiscal Court adopts resolution opposing sale or renegotiation of Pearl Hollow Landfill property, 6-3","audioSeconds",1853,"startMs",3231000,"endMs",5084000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3110436-2b85d0611fc3d677dffd1e86c184cdb4&start=3231&end=5084","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3110436-2b85d0611fc3d677dffd1e86c184cdb4/thumbnail_3231000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6067970/Hardin-County/Kentucky/Fiscal-Court-adopts-resolution-opposing-sale-or-renegotiation-of-Pearl-Hollow-Landfill-property-6-3","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6067970-80a9b18c009f374c5a83c7bec681d762/orig.mp4?Expires=1770490010&Signature=cStMFMYJ450A6wDjy1fC2ESCdHM9GRUyKUqaivmPyjrl1jStnpXQOmnd4dPN--fmPTL5oXHa4TPZZf-6NrRIHrppJLxZCRYV2FqHpnDBqeOYGu7f7jkzual90tA9bBxh4V5MDVb1dSIJ-NbyAikGUQ3xmG-N4MHrhoGGm2uSilsQKzWrpcSrU6ZOr-Id~-86NriORtRkh7J-IHXSC-YrEp1OCucQrP8NSCAUONE~8NN514CR8H6tfgY3TWHbPPnKLhLi6zd9tnanhdBSipo2vsshy1VhCg3LKRbSPuWv0OAJkG-MAXHZKkfv4Zev8Lm1tPmQdLJTcIdV~QmCcWTfqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hardin County, KY","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","Hardin County Fiscal Court voted 6-3 on March 25 to adopt a resolution stating the county does not desire to breach or renegotiate the county’s existing landfill lease with Republic Services of Kentucky, and that it does not wish to transfer or sell county-owned landfill real estate for purposes other than landfill operations consistent with the lease agreement.

The resolution was introduced during the public meeting after a magistrate asked the county attorney for procedural advice on bringing a written resolution to the floor. The motion to adopt was made and seconded; after extended discussion the court took a roll-call vote with six votes in favor and three opposed. The clerk recorded: Klim—Yes; Hicks—No; Muse—No; Pennington—Yes; Saltzman—Yes; Thompson—Yes; Whitehead—Yes; Yates—Yes; Judge Hall—No.

The resolution text recited the property’s history: Hardin County purchased about 742 acres beginning in 1993 to meet long-term waste-disposal needs and later leased operation of the Pearl Hollow Landfill (the county’s landfill property) to Santac Environmental, now Republic Services of Kentucky, under a long-term lease executed following a 2019 bid process. The resolution concludes, in part: “Be it resolved that Hardin County does not desire to breach or renegotiate the terms of the current landfill lease with Republic Services of Kentucky. Be it further resolved that Hardin County does not desire to transfer, sell, or repurpose dedicated landfill real estate for any purpose other than landfill operations consistent with the lease agreement.”

Court debate was lengthy. Supporters of the resolution argued the county should preserve landfill airspace and long-term revenue and avoid a renegotiation that could reduce present income. Several magistrates said the landfill is a scarce county asset that could be needed by future generations, and they expressed concern that selling or otherwise repurposing county-owned landfill acreage would be fiscally imprudent and irretrievable.

Opponents said the contested acreage is about 380 acres outside the landfill’s currently permitted disposal footprint and raised a counterproposal to transfer that unused portion to the Hardin County Soil Conservation District so the district could pursue a grant from the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund to create a park with mountain-bike and walking trails. One magistrate said the district’s application could secure roughly $500,000 toward the project and noted stakeholders including Quail Forever and local mountain-bike groups had been part of earlier negotiations. Opponents argued the transfer could create green space without burdening county parks funding.

The record shows court members also debated liability and public-safety questions tied to trail use near active landfill operations, the potential need to renegotiate the county’s existing operating lease with Republic Services if any land transfer proceeded, and the adequacy of information presented prior to the vote. One magistrate said they had not seen the resolution until the meeting and urged more time to negotiate; others said the court had already directed staff and committees to explore options and that continued work on the issue used county staff time without changing the court’s majority preference.

Earlier in the same discussion a motion to table the resolution was moved and seconded; that motion failed (three yes, six no) on a roll call. After further discussion the final adoption motion passed 6–3. The approval was recorded as a formal resolution of the court; the clerk will include the adopted resolution in the county record.

Ending: Court members said the decision resolves the current application process with the Soil Conservation District and the pending grant application, and they directed court staff to proceed consistent with the adopted resolution. The court did not adopt alternative park proposals or a different transfer at this session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fiscal Court Meeting - March 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Hardin County Fiscal Court on March 25 adopted a resolution, by a 6–3 vote, stating the county does not wish to breach or renegotiate its landfill lease with Republic Services or sell landfill property for non-landfill purposes.","taxTitle","Hardin County, Kentucky","taxId",4632,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6067975,"Consultants: Hardin County should adopt countywide EMS/fire strategic plan, pursue daytime paid coverage and capital funding",1627,962000,2589000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3110436-2b85d0611fc3d677dffd1e86c184cdb4&start=962&end=2589","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3110436-2b85d0611fc3d677dffd1e86c184cdb4/thumbnail_962000.jpg","/articles/6067975/Hardin-County/Kentucky/Consultants-Hardin-County-should-adopt-countywide-EMSfire-strategic-plan-pursue-daytime-paid-coverage-and-capital-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6067975-e688b3ba53705a443f47fb3b3f823c76/orig.mp4?Expires=1770530107&Signature=GHwEPxQAA0cp4WRZ4hp-MdvwHblgviB9PNLt3ilfBr5XsP~7yY-V7cXjiX3Jrb6gNT8jdg~hLLXaGQ7-lz7ycy0jUqv~MU3jFA6~IjfnZeuI7k6KX0pbquLGjAJ0nv3f3VSDhvLMVJCn68ebIMOULz2dwvwm7btipCQMAalH~zgAi-T4dXu3c1g3qHh0e0I4HjjAoUfMbQmpPyH8WNy88JIH6im~GTOsJjEVSl~vubiR50f5a7LTQObpChWxS90e9hj-2fhmvvSzf-geb7NLXfm9Dw5vBDKoyg1YUyz~YOp3KGgCd0Tu7Jt3d6LQS9pQPBcG7McVqY1o8b-uWefY1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Emergency Services Consulting International presented to the Hardin County Fiscal Court on March 25 the results of a multi-month review of the county’s volunteer fire departments and countywide emergency medical services, concluding the county should develop a single strategic plan, modernize records and dispatch systems, and create targeted daytime paid response to address rising demand and aging equipment.

The consultant, Jeff Stone of Emergency Services Consulting International (ESCI), told the court ESCI reviewed governance, station infrastructure and equipment, and five years of call data from February 2019 through February 2023. “We were brought on by the county to evaluate the emergency services here in Hardin County, specifically the fire departments and the EMS system,” Stone said. He said ESCI used national standards and best practices to benchmark local service delivery.

The consultants found 11 volunteer fire departments serve unincorporated Hardin County (Elizabethtown and Radcliff operate separate career departments) and that most volunteer stations lack living quarters for 24-hour staffing. ESCI’s apparatus assessment rated many fire vehicles as aging or secondhand and identified about 37 pieces of fire apparatus likely needing near-term replacement. By contrast, EMS has recently modernized much of its ambulance fleet, Stone said.

ESCI quantified call volumes and travel times, noting Hardin County EMS operates about eight ambulances and responds to roughly 18,000 calls a year across the county (including Elizabethtown and Radcliff). Using historical trends, ESCI projected EMS call demand could nearly double by 2050, to roughly 33,000 calls annually if growth continues. Stone said six ambulances are at or near a 30% “commitment factor” threshold—an operational marker indicating units are frequently unavailable because they are already on other runs.

ESCI recommended immediate and short-term actions (next two years): convene the county, volunteer fire departments, EMS and 9-1-1 to create a shared strategic plan and mission; adopt common performance and outcome measures for EMS beyond simple response times; evaluate funding measures, including Kentucky emergency-services levy options; standardize records management and computer-aided dispatch (CAD) incident numbering; and pilot daytime paid or part-time response vehicles (quick-response vehicles or QRVs) at high-demand stations.

The consultants gave an illustrative cost for a two-person daytime firefighter/paramedic shift (about $240,000 annually for one staffed location) and modeled a potential levy/subscription structure. ESCI said the county currently receives about $830,000 annually from the subscription service and provides roughly $370,000 in in-kind support, a combined approximate total of $1,100,000 for emergency services funding. ESCI presented one levy scenario that would increase revenue to about $3.5 million annually (residential 3¢, farm 5¢, commercial 6¢, per the consultant’s example), which ESCI said could expand service delivery and create a capital-improvement fund for apparatus replacement.

Stone highlighted long lead times and high prices for apparatus as a constraint: “A fire engine can take about two years to deliver and costs roughly $1 million; a ladder truck can take four years and cost about $2.5 million,” he said. ESCI encouraged a countywide capital-improvement plan and shared fleet maintenance to realize economies of scale.

Court members asked clarifying questions about averages and thresholds for response times and commitment factors; Stone confirmed the response-time data are averages from the five-year dataset and clarified the commitment-factor thresholds that triggered concern. He also identified two local growth drivers that could raise emergency-service demand: the BlueOval SK electric-vehicle battery plant (partially brought online) and increased truck traffic on I-65.

Stone said ESCI will meet more extensively with individual fire chiefs the following evening and had already briefed elected officials in a two-hour session prior to the court meeting. ESCI’s written recommendations include medium-term items (common operating guidelines, unified training and inspection functions) and longer-term options (in roughly 10–15 years, evaluate consolidation or cooperative service models if growth and service demand warrant).

The presentation concluded with a court discussion about funding options, daytime staffing pilots and the importance of a countywide strategic planning effort to coordinate volunteer and paid resources.

Ending: ESCI said it will continue outreach with local chiefs and stakeholders; the firm provided detailed appendices and analytics to county staff and planned follow-up meetings. Court members did not vote on any formal changes following the presentation but directed further internal discussion and recommended a follow-up review with department leaders.","Emergency Services Consulting International presented a wide-ranging review of Hardin County volunteer fire departments and EMS operations, recommending a unified strategic plan, data systems, daytime paid responders and a capital-improvement funding plan to address aging fire apparatus and rising demand tied to local industrial growth.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6067965,"Hardin County EMS reports steady collections, passes state inspection; 9-1-1 center adds text-to-911 capability",317,2816000,3133000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3110436-2b85d0611fc3d677dffd1e86c184cdb4&start=2816&end=3133","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3110436-2b85d0611fc3d677dffd1e86c184cdb4/thumbnail_2816000.jpg","/articles/6067965/Hardin-County/Kentucky/Hardin-County-EMS-reports-steady-collections-passes-state-inspection-9-1-1-center-adds-text-to-911-capability","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6067965-23386e6f2da9a5f0087588a7d2d289f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770530107&Signature=PUBkCrIxWWGi5zccmtLQvzJN2kLHXOF-06QYanbdEP2djxyut3HCndEqJYJcgMGW3M4MvvXWXiAszv1FqiRGGOXLyaU6kvq5AffsJuHbLhkgfkuMusAu~ssjvDDa~uShng7BU48sgmZ0G4YtLBFTriYCviyc8hMEUr05E06S01IkvkLg2JyyNLm3QrEf~HcusyHTOGM3j~RjM~ODwxwRwkE8P5EmC7WfasN5zTD5xjbg724IBzJI6x9zVuduLzBY1s61K-ws7ce7dHroLVpZ1OMJlVgLpuFuAMSf1DnurQ5z2GOiUhfVVjhx2645QaeIaCfo2~K1HYFULzcti79bpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hardin County EMS reported 1,310 runs in February, of which 1,291 were 9-1-1 responses; the department collected $554,070 in revenue for the month and reported fiscal-year-to-date run volume of 11,077. EMS Director Mark Peterson told the court the department’s annual Kentucky Board of EMS inspection was completed last week with zero deficiencies.

Peterson said monthly collections were below a year-ago figure that had included a large reimbursement but that year-to-date EMS revenue remains ahead of last year by roughly $274,000. He also told magistrates that bad debt from patient billing remains a challenge; while collection has improved with a new billing company, he said returns from accounts sent to collections are limited.

The county’s 9-1-1 center reported it answered 3,662 9-1-1 calls in February, created 4,804 CAD reports and handled 4,953 administrative calls. Dispatch statistics for the month include 1,424 EMS dispatches, 424 fire runs and other agency activity; Elizabethtown accounted for 34.4% of local fire runs in February, the comm center reported.

The 9-1-1 speaker announced the center had enabled text-to-911 service within the past two weeks and said text reports are triaged the same as voice calls. The center also noted it is “NextGen compliant,” which enables improved cell-phone location data and modernized capability for text and other data-enabled 9-1-1 contacts. The speaker recommended the county help publicize the new text-to-911 option, particularly for citizens who are hard of hearing or in situations where calling is unsafe.

Ending: EMS and 9-1-1 asked the court to note the inspection results, continued revenue monitoring and the new text-to-911 capability; no court action was taken on either report.","Hardin County EMS reported February dispatch and revenue figures and confirmed it passed the Kentucky Board of EMS inspection with zero deficiencies; the county 9-1-1 center reported February call volumes and announced text-to-911 service and NextGen compliance.","actionData","errors"]

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Fiscal Court adopts resolution opposing sale or renegotiation of Pearl Hollow Landfill property, 6-3

Consultants: Hardin County should adopt countywide EMS/fire strategic plan, pursue daytime paid coverage and capital funding

Hardin County EMS reports steady collections, passes state inspection; 9-1-1 center adds text-to-911 capability