[{"_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",6566591,"mediaKeyId","3204163-e2551adfab11071cf1b8fc325e1f6097","parentId",3204163,"title","Fiscal Court approves $140,554 bank-stabilization project on Hidden Valley Road, KYTC to reimburse $100,000","audioSeconds",737,"startMs",7163000,"endMs",7900000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204163-e2551adfab11071cf1b8fc325e1f6097&start=7163&end=7900","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204163-e2551adfab11071cf1b8fc325e1f6097/thumbnail_7163000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6566591/Oldham-County/Kentucky/Fiscal-Court-approves-140554-bank-stabilization-project-on-Hidden-Valley-Road-KYTC-to-reimburse-100000","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566591-cef1e3c3ebc08c95517798ae1c442984/orig.mp4?Expires=1770425575&Signature=ZH3Tt3OTou9NN9~eskWDzM0Cogre-zkYI-Un~vuexmWqLqypYOnzGzX68b8zyexl8f~ykyK3i~C6ZtKVx8Y0qDSPfOJ6NSRJ7no4lP03OkDFFLohXTukoaAhjo4fZTqbb1k0frPSJeXZjmQr7fdF7oWnKL8IkJb0VLmGMr8V7oc-VucBC5VA-RYh~lfobzeHVqQqPsEbHIkYcK-r9GDK-DvK2GqMH0UJoURfwPqAwSR7cXoApiMopwhwUOBplw6-4Kp91wu~YuEOx5X54zMU7f4rMNoFi3zxprIbVxZewey9r4ovHMkHaxOzH2FaqYV1TwFmCdADqnThxSZ-alvf0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oldham County","date","2025-05-07T08:57:10Z","article","Oldham County Fiscal Court voted 8–1 to approve a bank-stabilization project on Hidden Valley Road after county engineers said the road’s streambank had advanced near the roadway and recent flooding underscored the risk.

County Engineer Jim Sullivan presented photos showing a stream meander and groundwater seepage near the pavement on a one-mile county-maintained segment north of Covington Ridge Road. Sullivan said the selected contractor, Guardian Retention Systems, can construct about 20 feet of 8–10 foot tall concrete segmental bank stabilization. The total estimate is $140,553.82; the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Department of Rural and Municipal Aid agreed to reimburse $100,000 after completion, leaving an estimated county share near $40,554.

The road committee recommended the work and Magistrate Zach Wilt moved approval; the motion passed, with Magistrate Mark Likens casting the lone no vote. Sullivan said the bank includes subdrainage to capture groundwater that emerges from the hillside and to reduce future erosion. He said the county used the state’s existing contract with the vendor so the project could move quickly without separate competitive bidding.

Why it matters: Hidden Valley Road is a county-maintained road accepted into the county road system in 1995; engineers said the bank erosion threatened the roadway and standard rock fill could be washed out by repeated flooding. The project is intended as a long-term stabilization to avoid recurring repairs.

Quote: “The intent will be to excavate some on the backside and build a wall so this no longer gets eroded by that stream,” Sullivan said.

Ending: With state reimbursement covering the majority of costs, the county will schedule construction and execute the agreement with the contractor; Sullivan told the court he expected the state reimbursement after project completion.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Oldham County Fiscal Court May 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County engineers will install a segmented concrete bank stabilization to protect a county road where a stream had encroached on the driving surface. Project cost is $140,553.82; KYTC will reimburse $100,000 and the county share is about $40,554.","taxTitle","Oldham County, Kentucky","taxId",72448,"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},6566595,"Oldham County Schools boost pay, facilities spending; superintendent outlines upgrades and enrollment trends",1219,2132000,3351000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204163-e2551adfab11071cf1b8fc325e1f6097&start=2132&end=3351","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204163-e2551adfab11071cf1b8fc325e1f6097/thumbnail_2132000.jpg","/articles/6566595/Oldham-County/Kentucky/Oldham-County-Schools-boost-pay-facilities-spending-superintendent-outlines-upgrades-and-enrollment-trends","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566595-59433c03a8413579de1b81ed2f7ad22c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770425575&Signature=WCZPMd53SgxKRQWJbCfiG7oybwX0OhzjiQrIbCYynKoP5bwB7B46g~VSykpp6lyXMesTSmYM-oPUlKZJZ0XrkIqP29SkxinDN3-fT9Tr-R9U54~43yRievMfO6N376Riy~9oO9hYTK5R7Aq4SIOtoSsj-dYpkLMelMvYV2GXRHTztlAVc1zcWw86CWamvriNZnLpsYKNlr5hwwE3aqUs-Ra4OAdQcCop8svF86OtALQEhCx9zHXPp94vWJb8RhOUXEbCHFZb5~gxNsWsSD2R1J6Q9Ipz1SRArJtJJT2HyJ278pqvaMFshbyiroBaJoeKGOrB6vecOgD6Kjm8cQiX2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Jason Radford, superintendent of Oldham County Schools, told the county fiscal court on Thursday that the district has invested heavily in employee pay and buildings and described plans for construction and program expansion.

Radford said the district has increased salaries by 12% over the last three years and provided about $8 million in one-time stipends during that period. For the coming year, the board approved a 5% raise for all teachers and an additional $2 per hour for classified staff; the district also raised starting pay for first-year teachers to just under $49,000, Radford said.

Nut graf: The superintendent framed the increases as part of recruitment and retention efforts and described capital plans for multiple campuses — a new facility for Buckner High School, a major renovation at South Oldham High School, a core renovation at Oldham County High School, playground improvements and campus beautification. He also outlined program investments including a virtual school and increased career and technical education staffing.

Key details: Radford told the court the district now serves about 12,000 students (K–12 plus preschool) and that staffing ratios the district uses for classroom teachers remain more favorable than the state-recommended ratios: Oldham County allocates roughly 23.2 students per classroom position for grades K–12 where the state ratios range from 24 to 31.

Program and budget highlights: Radford said the district used carry-forward (one-time) funds to provide $100 per student to schools for technology and $100 per student for students who receive free and reduced-price lunch, to be decided annually. The board also allocated funds to reduce student fees by $40 per student next year. The district plans to add an allocated staff member at each middle school (four positions, roughly $260,000) to support career-pathway curriculum and to increase stipends for extracurricular coaches and to add stipends targeted to staff who work with students with the most severe disabilities (teachers +$7,000; support staff +$3,500), Radford said.

Facilities: Radford described the Buckner project as a roughly two-year effort that will add a gym seating about 4,000 and new classrooms, plus a new Little Colonels preschool facility and career-technical space. South Oldham will receive a multi-year renovation that Radford estimated will add 24 classrooms; Oldham County High School needs HVAC and plumbing upgrades and other core renovations. He said the district is working to identify a site for a new LaGrange Elementary School and emphasized that community feedback favored retaining LaGrange Elementary in the town.

Data center and revenue impacts: Radford told the court the district had not been contacted directly by data-center developers. He also presented an analysis he previously shared with the board estimating that a hypothetical $1 billion local investment would generate about $8 million annually for the district under current local tax rates, but would reduce SEEK state aid by an estimated $4 million — a net projected gain of roughly $4 million before any state or local incentives or abatements are negotiated.

Quotes: “We want to engage, empower and elevate the experiences of our families and our community,” Radford said. “Every student deserves the very best opportunity.”

Ending: Radford answered questions about facilities, school traffic and enrollment trends; he said enrollment has leveled after a dip in 2022 and the district is monitoring growth that could require additional school capacity in the coming years.","School Superintendent Dr. Jason Radford updated fiscal court on teacher pay increases, new programs and major facility projects including Buckner High's replacement, South Oldham renovation and potential new LaGrange elementary; he also provided budget and enrollment context.",{"_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},6566599,"Oldham County moves toward 150-day moratorium on data centers, hires outside counsel for appeal",446,4754000,5200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204163-e2551adfab11071cf1b8fc325e1f6097&start=4754&end=5200","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204163-e2551adfab11071cf1b8fc325e1f6097/thumbnail_4754000.jpg","/articles/6566599/Oldham-County/Kentucky/Oldham-County-moves-toward-150-day-moratorium-on-data-centers-hires-outside-counsel-for-appeal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566599-50c58aa7503c253b54b739ac6bbf29fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770425575&Signature=LcZf2m3asLTO7SvAg6t9N8AWL7Rvki5DbJUlu~cqfZyxBxrP8u2c~2YbPWma75J6ethqNyW1hlRKBva3fFVMGzAcWQCEKk243f9xrW8An6NJpvvjZMG314tAFNjLUcKTVxqao2z6OGmAgyHwKRu~WQncQmlw-wLyUbWw1nBqM9yPBAD2olsm~OeHLgOSAxRNpOCx956TFKz5ogFqARP3F6F09C84OJQq6ktk7-IqpjVCIF1aF5npt1olaFJHiZzBQ3mPwDZeeFkyxjGxTAp2wTP51dM4wdPlGl-tDAuR0KwhtoZQEZxko-c2MIySybc6yp3HYr-KoEl7NXNELFjUBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Oldham County Fiscal Court on Thursday signaled a pause on new data-center development while county officials pursue zoning changes and respond to a legal appeal over how one proposed site was classified.

The court asked planning staff to draft a 150-day moratorium on data centers and scheduled the proposed ordinance for the planning commission’s May meeting, Oldham County Planning and Development Director Ryan Fisher said. Fisher told the court it is possible the fiscal court could take a first reading as soon as its first meeting in June, with a second reading and public hearing to follow later in the month depending on publication deadlines.

The moratorium would temporarily halt new permits and give the county time to craft zoning language and definitions specific to “data center” uses, Fisher said. He told the court staff has reviewed three possible definitions and a study/review committee is meeting to develop recommended zoning language.

Why it matters: Several members of the public and magistrates have raised concerns about siting large data centers near residential and agricultural land. The moratorium would give Oldham County time to set rules about where data centers can be located and what conditions apply before additional proposals move through the permit process.

The action follows growing public attention after a company inquired about a site in the county; Judge David Vogel said the company approached the county and the proposal became public as part of the standard review process. The court also acknowledged it previously held an April closed-session discussion about potential incentives for a data-center project and accepted an opinion from the Kentucky Attorney General finding that that executive session should not have occurred.

Legal appeal and outside counsel: Separately, Planning and Development’s administrative decision to treat the recent application as a “private utility” was appealed by a community member. Because County Attorney Barry Baxter has a prior attorney-client relationship with the appellant, the fiscal court voted to retain outside counsel to avoid a conflict of interest. The court approved hiring Vaughn Pettit Legal Group to assist planning, at rates listed in the contract packet (partners $180/hour, associates $160/hour, paralegals $100/hour). Baxter confirmed the firm regularly represents planning commissions and similar matters.

Procedure and next steps: Fisher said the planning commission will hear the moratorium proposal on May 27. If the commission approves language, the fiscal court could take up a first reading on June 3 and a second reading and public hearing later in June, depending on publication deadlines. The judge and staff emphasized that the moratorium and zoning updates would not necessarily stop the current application from following existing administrative or appeals processes.

Quotes: “We are trying to get our head around this,” Judge David Vogel said, adding the goal is to “take a breath” and craft appropriate rules.

Ending: The planning commission hearing is scheduled for May 27; the fiscal court indicated it intends to follow with readings in June pending legal and public-notice requirements.","Fiscal Court signaled a pause on new data-center approvals while planning staff and attorneys prepare to defend a recent classification and an appeal of that decision. Planning director said a moratorium ordinance is on the planning commission agenda with quick turnaround possible.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Fiscal Court approves $140,554 bank-stabilization project on Hidden Valley Road, KYTC to reimburse $100,000

Oldham County Schools boost pay, facilities spending; superintendent outlines upgrades and enrollment trends

Oldham County moves toward 150-day moratorium on data centers, hires outside counsel for appeal