Oldham County hears public praise and concerns about planned 225-acre Harrods Creek purchase; court holds closed session

Judge Executive David Vogel opened public comment at the Oldham County Fiscal Court meeting Oct. 21, 2025, where residents and conservation advocates addressed a proposed county purchase of 225 acres along Harrods Creek near Stewart Lane in La Grange.

The property — repeatedly described in the meeting as 225 acres and referred to by speakers as the Lawyers Overlook parcel — drew both support and concerns. Rick Fisher, who said he owns a five-acre cabin parcel within the mapped area, said he supports conservation but asked the county to reroute and clearly mark existing trails that currently cross onto his private land and to consult affected private residents before opening the property to the public. Fisher said a social-media remark attributing an opening “by the end of the year” to a county source provoked anxiety among nearby owners about parking, trail access and privacy.

Supporters urged the court to proceed. Nathan Oberg of Yeager Lane told the court the purchase is compatible with the county comprehensive plan and welcomed the conservation opportunity. Several written endorsements were read into the record by Mary Lowry and others, including a letter from Riverfields praising the acquisition as protection for the Harrods Creek watershed and academic commentary noting the parcel’s riparian value.

Mark Nassar, speaking from La Grange, cautioned that a hand-drawn map circulated in media is a partial depiction and recommended consulting the county GIS and survey stakes when resolving boundary and trail questions. Liz Burrows demonstrated one proposed public-health tool associated with opioid-response funding later in the meeting (see separate article): an emergency naloxone kit with an embedded instructional video and QR-code follow-up features that supporters said could be placed at strategic public sites.

After public comment the court voted to move into executive session “pursuant to KRS 61.81(1)(b) to discuss the future acquisition of 225 acres of property located at Stewart Lane in LaGrange, Kentucky,” with discussion limited to negotiation strategy, suggested contract terms and maximum purchase price. The court returned to open session and the judge stated “No action was taken” following the executive session.

The county did not announce a final purchase, a public opening date, or detailed trail-routing plans during the meeting. Residents who spoke asked that the county engage directly with adjacent property owners about trail alignment, parking and boundary markings before public access is announced or implemented.