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Residents press for paved roads and cell coverage; public works outlines bridge, asphalt and FEMA plans
Summary
Hidden Valley residents told the Bourbon County Commission that poor road conditions and lack of cellular service impede emergency response and daily life; Public Works outlined near‑term bridge and asphalt work, KDOT timelines and FEMA reimbursement uncertainty.
Residents of Hidden Valley and other northwest Bourbon County neighborhoods told the commission Aug. 12 that failing rural roads and poor cell coverage create safety and economic hardships.
"We have 100 full time residents in Hidden Valley. It cannot go unpaved," said Katie Bowersman of Hidden Valley Lakes, describing repeated vehicle damage and long ambulance response times that leave neighbors "at the mercy" of family members during medical emergencies.
Bowersman asked the county to consider placing a communications tower on the Hidden Valley dam to improve first‑responder radio coverage and to attract cellular carriers. County staff said they were exploring tower sites and would need coordination with the homeowners association.
Public Works Director Eric gave the department update: utility permits for fiber work in the Fulton and Devon area were recommended for approval; the bridge at 160th and Fern is near completion with an expected opening to through traffic the following week (weather permitting), and the bridge at 60th & Grand is scheduled to go out to bid in February 2025 following plan adjustments with KDOT.
On rural pavements, Eric said the asphalt program has roughly one mile of base coat left on Eagle Road before the surface coat is applied and noted that Yale Road would be "rough" and dusty because crews needed to rebuild a subbase. He also warned that county sales tax revenue declines will constrain how much can be paved this year and next.
Eric also updated the commission on FEMA coordination, saying the county is "gathering all of our paperwork" and that reimbursement could take "weeks, months, or a year or two." He said the county is prepared to submit projects for reimbursements but that timelines are uncertain.
What's next: Staff said decisions about which roads to program next year will be made in a March work session and will depend on revenue and commissioner priorities; residents were encouraged to participate in local meetings and coordinate with staff on potential tower sites.
