Here’s a quick recap of a few exciting things happening in Your Boone County. Have suggestions on what you want to read about? Share your ideas with us!

6-Year State Highway Plan Updates
Every two years, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) updates its 6-Year Highway Plan. (The Highway Plan is updated at the same time as the State Budget.) Here’s how that process works:

• Beshear released a Recommended Transportation Plan on January 17.
  • View the Governor’s recommended plan.
• KYTC presented the Recommended Plan to the House Transportation Budget Committee on January 29.
  • See which representatives serve on the Committee.
• The House of Representatives will review, adjust or approve the Plan as they see fit. Changes can include:
  • Existing projects can advance through the timeline.
  • Existing projects can be removed from the plan.
  • New projects can be added to the plan.
• Once it’s approved by the House of Representatives, it goes to the Senate for the same process.
• The House and Senate work together to approve any additional changes.
• The Plan goes back to the Governor for his approval or veto.

Throughout this process, Boone County leadership and staff are closely monitoring changes to the plan and advocating for projects that will help improve our citizens’ quality of life. The Transportation Plan should be finalized by the end of this legislative session, which ends April 15. You can learn more about the legislative process, and share your concerns and priorities with your state legislator or by contacting Boone County Fiscal Court at 859-334-2100.

Fiscal Court Meeting: Tuesday, February 6 at 8:30 a.m.
The next Fiscal Court meeting is this Tuesday, Feb. 6. The meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. in the Fiscal Courtroom at the Boone County Administration Building, located at 2950 Washington Street in Burlington. You can attend the meeting in person, watch from home on Spectrum Cable Channel 200, Fioptics Channel 831 or through Community Access TV. You can also watch the livestream from online. Archived footage from past meetings are also available.

This week’s agenda includes several items, including:

• Julie Kirkpatrick, President & CEO and Josh Quinn, Product Development Director with meetNKY (NKY CVB) will provide an update on regional tourism.
• Several ordinances will have their second reading, including an ordinance that, if approved, would establish a Transportation Improvement District (TID). There will also be three second readings for a zoning map amendment. (Ordinances become enacted after the second reading if they receive at least three votes in favor. The Judge/Executive and three Commissioners are the only four voting members of the Fiscal Court.) You can learn more about the second readings in the agenda linked below.
• There will also be a presentation and potential first reading of an ordinance for a zoning map amendment to allow the development of 196 detached single-family, two-family, and attached single-family dwelling units on Hathaway Road in Union. (No vote is held at a presentation/first reading. This provides the opportunity for the Fiscal Court and interested parties in attendance to learn more about the project, ask questions, and hear from those in favor of or against the project.)
• A vote will also be taken to award a bid for the Rural Water program, which would approve the contractor to begin work on delivering water to Green Acres Lane, Howe Road and Perry Lane.
• Approval to award a construction bid for the Dublin Drive Sidewalk Project. This will allow pedestrians to safely walk along Dublin Drive and Dublin Place from Frogtown Road to Irish Way.

Watch the archived footage from the meeting.

Animal Shelter Progress Update
The Ron and Sherrie Lou Noel Boone County Animal Shelter is nearly completion! Staff will begin moving in mid-February. The anticipated public open date is March 1, construction allowing. The Animal Care and Control staff – and the animals in our care – are eager to call the new building home. The new location has several exciting new features that will benefit the pets of Boone County and their owners. Learn more about the new shelter.

As our staff move furniture, supplies and – of course – animals into the new shelter, please keep in mind that some services will be limited. We will be unable to accept surrenders and will not be open to the public for adoptions. You can always reach the Animal Care and Control team at 859-586-5285 during office hours or at 859-371-1234 for after-hours emergencies.

Stay tuned for more updates – including the official opening of the new shelter and an official grand opening celebration.