WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY Tonight."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

TONIGHT WE DISCUSS CITY AND COUNTY ISSUES.

KENTUCKY'S CITIES AND COUNTIES FACE A WIDE VARIETY OF CHALLENGES AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO 2022: LOCAL TAX POLICY, INFRASTRUCTURE, JAIL FUNDING, WORKER SHORTAGES, AND MORE.

TO DISCUSS ALL OF THIS WE'RE JOINED IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO BY J.D.

CHANEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CEO OF THE KENTUCKY LEAGUE OF C LAURA WHITE-BROWN, MAYOR OF MOR JERRY SUMMERS, THE BULLITT COUNTY JUDGE/EXECUTIVE.

AND BRIAN TRAUGOTT, MAYOR OF VERSAI JOINING US BY SKYPE: BRAD SCHNEIDER, HENDERSON JUDGE/EXEC JIM HENDERSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CEO OF THE KENTUCK ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.

BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION WEEK WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE LATEST FROM WESTERN Kentucky.

THE DEATH TOLL IS 74 AND STILL GROWING AFTER THIS ORDINANCE DEVASTATED MAYFIELD, DAWSON SPRINGS, BOWLING GREEN, AND OTHER COMMUNITIES LATE FRIDAY AND EARLY SATURDAY.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR SAYS THE DEATH TOLL WILL GET bigger.

THE NATIONAL GUARD IS WORKING TO CLEAR ROADS, AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER.

PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL BE IN KENTUCKY WEDNESDAY TO SURVEY TH TODAY WE SPOKE TO SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE GROUND IN THE TOWNS AND COUNTIES AFFECTED.

FIRST WE TALKED TO STATE SENATOR WHITNEY WESTERFIELD OF HOPKINSVILLE.

STATE SENATOR WHITNEY WESTERFIELD, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY, RENEE.

>> SO SOME OF THE FIRST IMAGE THAT I SAW ON CABLE NEWS AND ELSEWHERE CAME FROM DRONE FOOTAGE THAT YOU HAD OF THE MAYFIELD AREA.

YOU LIVE IN HOPKINSVILLE, BUT YOU MANAGED TO GET SOME PRETTY REMARKABLE IMAGES OF THE DEVASTATION THAT I KNOW SEEING IT IN PERSON IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN US SEEING IT IN TECHNICOLOR, BUT IT WAS JUST BREATHTAKING TO SEE THE BREADTH OF THE DEVASTATION.

HOW DID IT STRIKE YOU?

>> THAT'S HOW I'VE DESCRIBED IT SEVERAL TIMES SINCE SATURDAY MORNING, WAS BREATHTAKING.

IT'S JUST A CHILLING AMOUNT OF DESTRUCTION, AND IT'S HARD TO FATHOM THE AMOUNT OF FORCE AND ENERGY THAT NATURE PRODUCED TO CREATE THAT MUCH DESTRUCTION.

YOU KNOW, I SPENT SOME OF MY TIME LATE FRIDAY NIGHT, EARLY SATURDAY MORNING IN A BASEMENT HERE IN NORTH CHRISTIAN COUNTY, AND WE WERE, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE THAT COULD TAKE SHELTER IN A CLOSET SOMEWHERE, NOT SURE IF THE TORNADO WAS GOING TO HIT OUR HOME BUT MERCIFULLY YOU THE DID NOT.

ONCE THE STORM -- IT DID NOT.

ONCE THE STORM CLEARED, I GATHERED MY GEAR, MY DRONE AND DROVE BEFORE THE SUN CAME UP IN MAYFIELD.

I WANTED TO OBSERVE THE DAMAGE FOR MYSELF.

I GOT TO DRONE IN THE AIR AND MET ANOTHER COMMERCIAL DRONE PILOT, A MAN I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS NAMED KEN HERRIN AND HE AND I TOOK TURNS FLYING MY DRONE OVER DOWNTOWN MAYFIELD AND CAPTURED THOSE IMAGES THAT ARE JUST JAW-DROPPING.

I MEAN, THERE ARE ENTIRE STRETCHES OF DOWNTOWN THAT JUST AREN'T THERE ANYMORE.

AND IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE.

I'VE BEEN TO MAYFIELD LIKE ANYBODY ELSE FROM WEST KENTUCKY, ANY NUMBER OF TIMES IN MY LIFE, AND IT'S UNRECOGNIZABLE.

OTHERS HAVE DESCRIBED IT AS WHAT LOOKS LIKE A BOMBING RAID IN WORLD WAR II, AND I'D HAVE TO AGREE.

I MEAN, THERE'S JUST SO LITTLE LEFT AS FAR AS CHRISTIAN COUNTY GOES.

WE HAVE NO FATALITIES IN CREAN COUNTY, THANK GOODNESS.

THOSE OTHER COMMUNITIES CAN'T SAY THE SAME.

AGAIN, REALLY COMING INTO MAYFIELD, EVEN A COUPLE OF MILES AWAY FROM THE CITY CENTER, THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AT THE AIRPORT WHICH IS A COUPLE MILES OUTSIDE OF TOWN.

THE HANGARS WERE DESTROYED, PLANES UPSIDE DOWN, PLANES PULLED AND BLOWN OUT OF THEIR HANGARS.

JUST THE AMOUNT OF DESTRUCTION, I MEAN, I WENT UP AND DOWN THE AIRFIELD STRIP THERE, THE ACTUAL RUNWAY BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T ANY PLANES COMING IN AT THAT TIME EARLY SATURDAY MORNING, AND THERE WERE PIECES OF WOOD FROM HOMES, NO TELLING HOW FAR AWAY, WITH NAILS STICK YOU CAN ON THE RUNWAY AND AROUND THE RUNWAY.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE HOW MUCH DAMAGE THERE'S BEEN AND IT WILL TAKE YEARS FOR MAYFIELD AND DAWSON SPRINGS TO RECOVER.

>> Renee: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS HEARTWARMING IS E. SEEING HOW KENTUCKY GALVANIZES BEHIND OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND TO SEE YOU AND OTHERS WHO ARE IN THESE OFFICIAL CAPACITIES WRAP YOUR ARMS AROUND YOUR FELLOW COLLEAGUES WHO ARE DEALING WITH THIS ON A VERY INTIMATE PERSONAL LEVEL THEMSELVES, AND CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE UNBRIDLED SPIRIT OF WEST KENTUCKY AND WESTERN KENTUCKY AND HOW IT WILL -- IT WILL REBUILD.

>> IT IS UNBRIDLED SPIRIT.

THE THE REACTION FROM EVERYONE ACROSS THE WEST KENTUCKY REGION, ACROSS THE REST OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND RELL, RENEE, ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN SWIFT AND GREAT.

IN FACT, I GRIN THINKING ABOUT IT IF IT WAS JUST LIKE A YES AND IT'S SUCH AN EXCITING MOMENT.

I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE MAYFIELD EARLY SATURDAY MORNING, AND I'M SITTING AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE AIRPORT, AND I HAD TO WAIT FOR A LINE OF CONVOY OF ELECTRONIC CO-OP UTILITY TRUCKS COMING.

I MEAN, IT WASN'T 9:00 IN MORNING YET AND THERE WAS A SLEW OF THEM COMING IN, AND I KNEW THAT THOSE FOLKS AND SO MANY OTHERS FROM AROUND KENTUCKY AND THE REST OF THE WORLD ARE STARTING TO JUST PILE ON MAYFIELD AND HELP.

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS DIGGING THINGS OUT, RESCUING PEOPLE, RETRIEVING THINGS, GETTING THINGS BACK CONNECTED AGAIN, GETTING POWER POLES BACK UP, AND SELF-SERVICE RESTORED AND WATER RESTORED AND ALL THE THE THINGS THAT YOU AND I ALL TAKE FOR GRANTED UNTIL A TORNADO COMES AND TROYS DESTROYS ALL THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

BUT IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THAT.

AS TRAGIC AS THIS WEEKEND HAS BEEN, IT'S GREAT DO KNOW THAT WE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER AND WE CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND NO ONE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS HAS GIVEN ONE RIP ABOUT WHO YOU VOTED FOR OR WHAT PARTY YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU ARE, WHERE YOU LIVE OR WHAT YOU DO.

DOESN'T MATTER.

WHAT MATTERS IS GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO A SENSE OF NORMALCY AND GETTING THEM TAKEN CARE OF, GIVING THEM SHELTER, AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE SEEN, AND I'M THRILLED BY THAT.

>> YES.

HERE HERE TO THAT.

WELL, AND, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY DOES THIS COME ON THE EVE OF THE HOLIDAYS, WHICH MAKES IT EVEN MORE TRAGIC, BUT WHEN YOU ALL OF THE LAWMAKERS GO BACK TO FRANKFORT JANUARY 4th OF 2022, WHERE WILL THIS FIT IN OR DOES IT FIT IN TO THE ISSUES THAT YOU WILL BE ADDRESSING?

DO YOU SEE THERE BEING SOME ACTION FROM FRANKFORT TO HELP IN SOME WAY?

>> I THINK THAT GOES WITHOUT SAYING.

I THINK IF YOU HAD ASKED THIS QUESTION A WEEK AGO, THE TOPICS WOULD HAVE BEEN BUDGET, BUDGET, AND BUDGET.

BUT A NORMAL BUDGET.

WE'DING TALKING ABOUT ARPA DOLLARS AND WE'D BE TALKING ABOUT REDISTRICTING.

I THINK ALL OF THOSE THINGS GOT SHUNTED ONE SPOT DOWN ON THE LIST, AND I KNOW FOR THE WEST KENTUCKY REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS, THIS IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF WEST KET AND AFFECTED COMMUNITIES HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO BUILD BACK, TO RECOVER AS BEST THEY CAN, AND I KNOW A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES HAVE ALREADY BEEN GREEN LIT THROUGH EXECUTIVE OFFICER ORDERS AND OTHER ACTIONS.

I FULLY EXPECT THE LEGISLATURE TO COME FORWARD WITH SOME SORT OF OR AT LEAST I HOPE, AND I HAVEN'T SPOKEN WITH SENATE LEADERSHIP ABOUT THIS MYSELF, BUT MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN CREATE SOME SORT OF AN AID PACKAGE OR DO SOMETHING TO HELP THESE COMMUNITIES GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

>> THANK YOU, SENATOR WHITNEY WESTERFIELD.

APPRECIATE YOU, SIR.

SO TO OUR PANEL, JERRY SUMMERS, I'LL BEGIN WITH YOU.

BULLITT COUNTY ALSO SUFFERED SOME DAMAGE BUT NOT PERHAPS TO THE EXTENT THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT IN YOUR WESTERN NEIGHBORS.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO TELL AS A ABOUT IT.

>> WHAT BULLITT COUNTY HAS ENDURED.

>> WE WERE BLESSED, BUT WE HAD SO MANY TREES THAT WERE KNOCKED DOWN ONTO OUR ROADS.

OUR WORKED LITERALLY TIRELESSLY THE ENTIRE NIGHT AND WE HAD DOWNED POWER LINES IN THE WESTERN AND EASTERN PART OF OUR COUNTY AS WELL.

AND WHAT WE ARE DOING MOVING FORWARD, WE PUT TOGETHER A WEEK OF CLEANUP, SO WE CAN REACH -- WE CAN REACH OUT TO THOSE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY LIKE WHAT WE DID WITH COVID.

WE HAD A MASS INITIATIVE TO BEGIN WITH, AND WE WANT TO BE ON TO SUSTAIN THAT INITIATIVE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY WORKING WITH OUR, WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY ARE OUR PARTNERS AT UPS AND OTHERS WHO DO A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION IN BULLITT COUNTY.

>> AS POWER BEEN RESTORED TO NOSE OF THE BUSINESSES AND RESIDENCES?

>> POWER HAS BEEN RESTORED EXTREME IN THE RURAL AREA TOWARD FORT KNOX.

>> I WANT TO GO TO MR. JIM HENDERSON WHO IS JOINING US IN SIM ZONE COUNTY, AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE WHY SIMPSON COUNTY, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE JUST MADE A TREK IN AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US FROM MAYFIELD.

SO, SIR, I WANT TO GET YOUR ASSESSMENT OF WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN AND THE ACTIVITIES ON THE GROUND THERE.

>> SURE.

AND, REN SAY, I THINK SENATOR WESTERFIELD DESCRIBED IT ROW.

IALITY.

WYE SAW PEOPLE PEOPLE DOING WHAT THEY DO BEST IN TRAGEDY.

THEY COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER.

WE SAW A LOT OF THAT.

I HAD A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY GO THROUGH CA HE WILL COUNTY TODAY.

I WAS IN WARREN COUNTY YESTERDAY AND GRAVES COUNTY LATER TODAY, AND ALL THREE COMMUNITIES THAT I WAS IN JUST THE OUTPOURING OF VOLUNTEER WORK AND EFFORT WAS TREMENDOUS.

THE RESILIENCY OF PEOPLE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES IS STRONG.

I GOT A CHANCE TO VISIT WITH COUNTY OFFICIALS, IN PARTICULAR IN CALWELL AND GRAVES TODAY.

YEAH, THEIR STILL A LITTLE BIT IN SHOCK.

YOU DO NOT PREPARE FOR THIS NO MATTER HOW MANY YEARS YOU'VE SERVED IN PUBLIC LIFE.

WE HAVEN'T HAD THESE KIND OF THINGS HAPPEN TOO OFTEN THANK GOD.

IT IS DEVASTATING.

IR KNOW J.D., SOME OF HIS TEAM'S BEEN DOWN THERE AND WE'RE GOING TO CRISSCROSS OR OVERCROSS OUR PATHS THIS WEEK, HE AND I.

AND HE AND I WERE TALKING EARLIER TODAY, I MEAN, PICTURES AND THOSE THINGS REALLY DON'T EXPLAIN IT IN A WAY THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE.

YOU HAVE TO ALMOST SEE IT TO UNDERSTAND THE DEVASTATION, AND IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

INDESCRIBABLE.

>> J.D.

CHANEY WITH THE LEAGUE OF CITIES, THIS WAS A INQUIRE WAS GOING TO ASK YOU.

THERE IS THERE A TRAINING FOR CITY OFFICIALS, AND I COULD ASK THE SAY.

MR. HENDERSON FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS, ABOUT HOW YOU PREPARE FOR THIS LEVEL OF DISASTER?

>> NO.

NO.

THERE'S TRAINING, BUT I DO NOT -- I THINK THE GOVERNOR DESCRIBED IT WELL TODAY, THAT IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE, THAT SOME THINGS LIKE THIS IS JUST SOMETHING YOU REALLY CAN'T BE PREPARED FOR.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE WHAT YOU SEE IN MAYFIELD WITH A COMPLETE WIPE-OUT OF THEIR ELECTRIC UTILITIES AND THEIR WATER UTILITIES AND ALL THAT MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOU KNOW, YOU THINK OF WHAT CITIES AND COUNTIES EXIST FOR, AND IT IS TO PROVIDE THAT EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

WELL, THOSE THAT ARE TYPICALLY EQUIPPED TO PRESERVE THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE HAVE BEEN CRIPPLED NOW.

AND SO THERE'S TRAINING ON HOW TO DO THAT, BUT THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS IS SOMETHING I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE CAN BE ADEQUATELY PREPARED FOR BASED ON WHAT WE'RE SEEING AND HEARING.

>> I WANT TO ASK OUR MAYOR WHO IS HERE WITH US, TWO MAYORS WHO ARE HERE WITH US, AND I'LL ASK YOU, MR. TRAUGOTT FIRST FROM VERSAILLES ABOUT WHEN YOU'VE SEEN THE PICTURES AND YOU'VE READ THE STORIES AND KNOW THAT YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE IN SUCH DIRE NEED, WHAT IS DRUMMED UP IN YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU AS AN OFFICIAL CAN DO TO HELP?

>> OH, IT'S ABSOLUTELY HEART-WRENCHING.

IT'S UNIMAGINABLE TO SEE THOSE IMAGES THAT SENATOR WESTERFIELD CAPTURED WITH HIS DRONE, AND TO KNOW THAT JUST IMAGINE WHAT THAT HELPLESS FEELING WOULD BE AS A LOCAL OFFICIAL TRYING TO COMFORT AND PROVIDE THE, AS J.D.

SAID, THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, AND REALLY HAVE YOUR HANDS TIED.

>> MAYOR LAURA WHITE BROWN, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT FROM MOREHEAD.

SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

I KNOW THERE WAS SOME, SOME REMNANTS OF THE WEATHER THERE IN YOUR COUNTY, BUT -- AND CITY.

TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU ARE HELPING OTHERS NOTE SO FORTUNATE.

>> I THINK ONE THING THAT'S BEEN MOST REASSURING IS THAT WHILE WE HAD MISSOURI MODERATE DAMAGE IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS OUR REGION COME TOGETHER, HOW CAN WE HELP?

WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

WE'VE SEEN EVERYTHING FROM REGIONALLY THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS COME TOGETHER TO PLAN ON SENDING BUSES DOWN WHEN THEY'RE READY FOR CERTAIN DONATIONS.

WE'VE SEEN THE SAME WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES.

J.D.

AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ALL WEEKEND ABOUT HOW CAN WE GET EMERGENCY VEHICLES THERE, AND SO THAT IS THE FOCUS IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE RIGHT NOW.

>> JUDGE SCHNYDER WHO IS JOINING US BY SKYPE FROM HENDERSON, SAME QUESTION TO YOU, SIR.

>> REALLY WEST RESPONDED IN AN AMAZING WAY.

IT IS UNIMAGINABLE.

WE'VE SEEN -- AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING THAT UP HERE IN HENDERSON COUNTY WE WEREN'T EVEN TOUCHED HARDLY.

WE HAD NO POWER OUTAGES.

WE HAD NO INTERNET OUTAGES.

WE HAD NO DEATHS, NO DESTRUCTION.

AND I THINK A LOT OF US HERE ARE ALMOST FEELING SURVIVOR GUILT AT THIS POINT BECAUSE WE WANT TO HELP, WE WANT TO DO WHAT WE CAN, BUT THE FACT THAT A TORNADO LOOK THIS CAN AVOID YOUR COUNTY AND DESTROY THE ONE NEXT TO IT JUST BOGGLES MY MIND, BUT WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN LIKE EVERY OTHER COUNTY IN KENTUCKY, AND SATURDAY NIGHT -- EXCUSE ME -- FRIDAY NIGHT, MY MAIN CONCERN WAS REACHING OUT TO MY JUDGE/EXECUTIVE FRIENDS, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE LIKE JUDGE WHITFIELD IN HOPKINS COUNTY.

LARD TO GET AHOLD OF THEM.

WE WORRIED ABOUT THEM AS PEOPLE.

AND THEY ROSE TO THE OCCASION IN A HORRIBLE SITUATION, SO I'M PROUD OF THEM ALL.

WE APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP FROM ALL THE COUNTIES IN WEST KENTUCKY AND IN OUR REGION.

>> YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT COULD BE YOUR TURN, RIGHT, TO DEAL WITH SUCH LEVEL OF DEVASTATION.

WE DID CATCH UP WITH A FRIEND, MR. STEVEN ELDER, WHO MANY IN THIS AUDIENCE MAY KNOW.

HE WAS THE POLITICAL ORGANIZER FOR THE FANCY FARM PICNIC, AND HE IS A RESIDENT OF MAYFIELD AND SHE R. HE SHARED WITH US EARLIER TODAY.

THANK YOU, STEVEN ELDER, FOR JOINING US BY PHONE.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> YES.

NO, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> RIGHT NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE DELIVERING GENERATORS OR IN THE PROCESS.

HELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED.

>> YEAH, WE CAME DOWN TO THE GARDEN APARTMENTS THAT JUST TOOK THE BRUNT OF THIS, AND I'M STANDING HERE IN THIS COMPLEX, AND IT'S JUST HORRIFYING.

IT'S TERRIBLE.

SOME PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY LOST THEIR APARTMENT HERE.

OTHER FOLKS ARE JUST HANGING ON.

THERE'S NO WATER.

THERE'S NO POWER HERE.

SO THEY'VE HAD THREE NIGHTS OF PROBABLY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, AND SO WE'RE PROVIDING THEM A LITTLE BIT OF POWER.

>> YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST ONES I SAW ON FACEBOOK POST THOSE EARLY MORNING PICTURES OF THE DEVASTATION AND THE DARKNESS.

AND THEN WHEN YOU REPOSTED SOME OF THOSE IMAGES DURING THE LIGHT HOURS, IT WAS JUST JAW-DROPPING.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER LIVING THROUGH THE ICE STORM AND JUST WANTING TO HELP, AND SO AFTER THE STORM CAME THROUGH, AND YOU COME OUT OF BASEMENT AND LOOKED OUTSIDE AND NOTICED WE WERE OKAY.

I HOLLERED TO MY NEIGHBOR AND HE WAS OKAY.

I SAID, WHERE DO PEOPLE GO?

THEY GO TO THE COURT SQUARE.

SO I WENT TO THE COURT SQUARE TO SEE HOW IT WAS, AND JUST JAW-DROPPING IMAGE, AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT I WAS SEEING IN THE WHOLE COUNTY, WHAT THE FORCE OF THIS STORM HAD JUST DONE TO MAYFIELD.

AND I KNEW THEN THAT IT WAS -- IT WAS JUST TOTAL DESTRUCTION.

AND HOW SAD THE IMAGES WERE THAT NIGHT, EVEN HOW MUCH MORE SAD THEY WOULD BE THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT AND JUST TOTAL DEVASTATION.

>> I CAN'T IMAGINE.

I KNOW THAT THAT COMMUNITY, I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO BE IN THAT COMMUNITY FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, JUST COVERING THE FANCY FARM PICNIC THAT YOU HELPED ORGANIZE IN THESE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS OR SO, AND I KNOW HOW CLOSE-KNIT THAT COMMUNITY IS.

HOW ARE PEOPLE HOLDING UP?

AND WHERE ARE THEY GOING IF THEY'VE LOST THEIR HOME AND THEIR POSSESSIONS?

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR THEM?

>> YEAH, WELL, THERE'S -- THERE ARE A FEW, AND IN FACT, WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED, FANCY FARM, THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL THERE WHERE THEY HAVE THE GREAT FRIED CHICKEN MEAL, AND BARBECUE THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THAT'S WHERE SHELTER IS BEING SET UP FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED TO STAY IN A WARM PLACE BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE POWER OUT THERE.

THE MAYFIELD HIGH SCHOOL IS ALSO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND STAY.

PADUCAH HAS OFFERED THEIR SUPPORT.

WE HAVE PUT PEOPLE UP IN OUR LOCAL HOTELS.

FOR A STAY.

PEOPLE WANT FOOD, IF THEY WANT WATER, THE GRAVES COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS HAS BEEN A LOCATION TO DISTRIBUTE THE DONATIONS BUT ALSO SEEING PEOPLE BRING THE DONATIONS IN, WE'VE BEEN SEEING TRUCK AFTER TRUCK AFTER TRUCK, BUSES AND EVERYTHING ELSE OF PEOPLE BRINGING IN DONATED GOODS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE ON BECAUSE EVEN IN MY HOUSE I MEAN MY HOUSE IS OKAY BUT I HAVE NO POWER, I HAVE NO WATER.

YOU CAN'T EAT THE FOOD ANYMORE.

SO NONE OF THE RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN SO YOU CAN'T TO GO A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT AND EVEN GET YOU A MEAL.

THERE'S NO PLACE TO EAT.

SO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT'S OFFERING TO SERVE HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD THING FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS HERE.

>> AND THE SCHOOLS, OF COURSE, MAYBE THEY WERE ALREADY CLOSING FOR THE HOLIDAY BREAK, BUT WE KNOW NOW THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO BE OPERATIONAL.

>> NO, THEY'RE -- I THINK THE SCHOOLS FOR THE MOST PART WERE UNDAMAGED, BUT NOW THEY'RE LOCATIONS TO DROP OFF GOODS AND WARM CENTERS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

>> WELL, STEVEN ELDER, THANK YOU FOR TAKING SOME TIME IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING TO HELP YOUR FELLOW MAN THERE, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU WERE SAFE AND YOUR FAMILY'S SAFE AND WE WILL CERTAINLY BE KEEPING THE LOVELY FOLKS OF MAYFIELD IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, SIR.

>> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH, RENEE.

APPRECIATE YOU ALL.

>> SO, J.D.

CHANEY, A WANT TO ASK YOU AGAIN IF YOU CAN OPERATIONALIZE WHAT YOU DO FIRST.

I MEAN, HOW DO MAYORS, THE MAYOR IN MAYFIELD, HOW DOES SHE GO ABOUT EVEN KNOWING WHERE TO START AND THEN STARTING THE PROCESS OF REBUILDING?

AND RESCUING?

>> THEY'RE LUCKY TO HAVE THE MAYOR AT THE HELM.

SHE KNOWS EVERYONE IN THAT COMMUNITY.

AND AGAIN, THE ADEQUACY OF TRAINING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, EVEN THOUGH YOU PLAN FOR EMERGENCY TRAINING, YOU CAN GET THAT.

SHE KNEW I THINK BY WAY OF HER HEART, SHE GOT HER CHIEF, POLICE CHIEF, HER FIRE CHIEF ASSEMBLED.

THEY'VE A GREAT STAFF, VERY SUPPORTIVE COUNCIL.

SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO PULL THEM TOGETHER, AND IT'S STILL ONGOING, JUST ANALYZING WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.

I'VE TALKED TO PROBABLY 100 CITY MAYORS THROUGHOUT THIS STATE WHO WANT TO DELIVER CRUISERS AND HELP WITH THOSE MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND PERSONNEL TYPE ISSUES, AND THE FLOW OF THAT, JUST GETTING THE LOGISTICS DOWN ON THE FLOW OF THAT, THEY DON'T HAVE A CITY HALL RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S A ROLE OF THE LEAGUE TO COME IN AND HELP THEM SET UP, AND THAT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT, AND HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THIS WEEK THEY HAVE A TEMPORARY CITY HALL SO THEY HAVE A BASE OF OPERATIONS.

>> WHERE WOULD THAT BE?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE A PARKING LOT, RENEE, WITH SOME MOBILE UNITS.

TO SET IT UP THERE.

AND HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE WEEK THAT'S SET UP.

BUT HAVING THAT PROFESSIONAL STAFF I THINK HAS BEEN KEY.

HER DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE VERY, VERY STRONG.

SHE'S BEEN HAVING -- PLAYING A ROLE I THINK OF OUTREACH TO THE CITIZENS, CONSOLING SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE, SO MANY OF HER STAFF HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES AND LOST LOVED ONES AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT, SO THE MAYOR HAS A ROLLE OF BEING A CHEERLEADER AND A RALLYING POINT BUT AT THE SAME TIME WHEN YOU'RE CEO OF CITY, YOU'VE GOT TO DIRECT THOSE OPERATIONAL ASPECTS.

AND THE STATE HERE, ONE THING WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED OR I DON'T THINK WE'VE MENTIONED, IS THE TREMENDOUS RESPONSE FROM THE STATE.

THE ADMINISTRATION HAS STEPPED UP I THINK IN EVERY CITY I'VE HEARD FROM, NOT JUST FROM MAYFIELD BUT FROM CAMPBELLSVILLE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES, DAWSON SPRINGS HAVE STEPPED UP AND OTHER CITIES HAVE, BUT THE STATE HAS COME IN AND GIVEN A GREAT RESPONSE HERE.

THE NATIONAL RESPONSE HAS BEEN GREAT WITH FEMA, THE OUTREACH THERE EVEN THROUGH THE LEAGUE, FROM THE OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

SO THE CITIES ARE COMING TOGETHER TO HELP.

THESE CITY AND COUNTY LINES DON'T MATTER ANY MORE, DO THEY, JUDGE?

CITIES AND COUNTIES ARE HELPING EACH OTHER.

THE STATE LINES.

OTHER STATE LEAGUES ARE REACHING OUT TO HELP.

AND I THINK OPERATIONALIZING AND GETTING DOWN THE LOW I JUST TICKS OF HOW THAT'S GOING TO GO, IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG, LONG ROAD FOR THEM TO RESTORE.

BUT THE CITY'S NOT GONE.

I KNOW WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF POSTS THAT SAYS THE CITY'S GONE OR MAYFIELD IS BEING CARTED OUT IN DUMP TRUCKS BUT IT'S NOT.

IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT COMPOSE THE COMMUNITY.

>> IT'S THE PEOPLE OF COMMUNITY THAT MAKE THE CITY, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

WELL, WE ALSO TALKED TO JUDGE/EXECUTIVE IN WARREN COUNTY, MIKE BUCHANAN WHO SPARED SOME TIME WITH US TODAY.

AS YOU IMAGINE, THE POWER IS OUT FOR THOUSANDS STILL THERE IN WAREN COUNTY AND, OF COURSE, INTERNET SERVICE IS NOT RELIABLE, AND SO HE, TOO, JOINED US BY PHONE.

JUDGE MIKE BUCHANAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, RENEE.

I APPRECIATE BEING ASKED TO BE HERE.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, JUDGE, OUR THOUGHTS AND HEARTS AND PRAYERS WITH THE WONDERFUL FOLKS OF YOU ARE WAEN COUNTY.

I CONSIDER WARREN COUNTY TO BE A SECOND ADOPTED HOME OF MINE, A WESTERN GRAD, AND WHEN WE HEARD OF THE NEWS THERE IN MAYFIELD AND OTHER PLACES, CERTAINLY IT TUGS AT OUR HEARTSTRINGS, AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU AND OTHER OFFICIALS ARE DOING.

SO CAN YOU UPDATE US ABOUT WHERE THINGS ARE RIGHT NOW.

>> WELL, WEI WE ARE TRYING TO WRAP UP THE SEARCH AND RESCUE AND RECOVERY EFFORTS.

WE ARE STILL INVOLVED IN THAT AND WE STILL HAVE TRAINED VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE OUT WORKING MOSTLY EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND MILITARY, AND TRAINED LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE OUT SEARCHING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL MISSING MISSING, AND WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THOSE AREAS WHERE WE'RE STILL SEARCHING OR WHERE WE'RE HAVING UTILITIES RESTORED.

>> CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER?

DO YOU HAVE ESTIMATES?

>> WELL, I DON'T HAVE THE MOST CURRENT ESTIMATE, BUT AS OF THE LAST TIME I WAS -- WHEN WE FIRST STARTED WE'D W. WE HAD OVER 28,000 PEOPLE OUT OF POWER HERE IN WARREN COUNTY, AND I BELIEVE WE'RE DOWN TO ABOUT HALF THAT OR MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LESS.

IT'S SLOW-GOING.

THE REST OF IT'S GOING TO BE EVEN SLOWER.

IT MAY TAKE WEEKS INSTEAD OF JUST DAYS TO GET EVERYONE BACK UP.

BUT WE HAVE AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SLEEP IN THEIR OWN BED.

WE HAVE PROBABLY 500 FAMILIES OUT LOOKING FOR PLACES TO STAY OR STAYING IN SHELTERS.

WE HAVE SHELTERS SET UP AT THE SCHOOL GYMS AND ALSO AT THE JC PAVILION FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED A PLACE TO SLEEP OR NEED A PLACE DURING THE DAY.

CLOSE TO 500 HOMES AND PROBABLY 100 BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN DISPLACED AT LEAST FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, SO -- AND MANY STREETS LOOK LIKE A WAR ZONE WITH UTILITY POLES OUT OF THE GROUND AND WIRES HANGING ACROSS THE ROAD AND THROUGH THE TREES AND PILES OF DEBRIS WHERE THERE USED TO BE HOMES.

>> AT THIS TIME CAN YOU GIVE US, AND I'M SORRY TO ASK THIS QUESTION, ABOUT HOW MANY LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST IN WARREN COUNTY?

AND WHAT DO THE RECOVERY EFFORTS LOOK LIKE?

AND ARE YOU -- RESCUE EFFORTS?

AND ARE YOU BEYOND RESCUE TO RECOVERY JUST YET?

>> AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WE'VE LOST, I THINK THE LAST TIME I WAS TOLD, IT WAS SENATOR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 13.

-- SOMEWHERE IN NEIGHBORHOOD OF 13 AND, OF COURSE, OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO ALL OF THEM.

BUT I DIDN'T COULD BE AS MANY AS 20 WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER OR MAYBE MORE.

IT'S BEEN REALLY AN EMOTIONAL RIDE THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, BUT IF ANYONE NEEDS TO CHECK ON SOMEONE, PLEASE CALL THAT NUMBER THAT I JUST GAVE WITH YOU (270)393-4116.

MORE THAN ANYTHING WE NEED EVERYONE'S PRAYERS.

THIS IS DIFFICULT ON EVERYONE.

BUT MOST OF THE POPULACE OF WARREN COUNTY, THE PEOPLE HAVE COME TOGETHER SO STRONGLY.

I THINK THAT WE'LL CERTAINLY ENDURE THIS, BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT GOODS AS FAR AS WHAT WE NEED, PROBABLY MONETARY DONATIONS ARE THE MOST NEEDED BECAUSE THEY'RE THE EASIEST TO DISTRIBUTE.

>> JUDGE BUCHANAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING SOME TIME TO SPEAK WITH US.

OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU AND THAT ENTIRE COMMUNITY, SIR, AND GOD BLESS YOU AND TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, RENEE.

>> THANKS AGAIN TO JUDGE MIKE BUCHANAN AND WE WANT TO SHARE SOME OF THAT DRONE FOOTAGE THAT YOU SAW IS COURTESY FROM SOUTH CENTRAL CENTRAL HOMES AND WE APPRECIATE THEM SHARING THAT VIDEO.

JUST TO WRAP UP, I WANT TO GO TO JIM HERNANDEZ SAID OF KACO, VERY CLOSE TO WARREN COUNTY, AND WE KNOW IN WARREN COUNTY THE HERALD-LEADER HAD REPORTED A PAIR FAMILIES LOST MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE THEY THINK FROM THOSE TWO FAMILIES, RIGHT?

I THINK IT WAS 15 PERHAPS.

AND SO WHEN YOU HEAR THAT KIND OF HUMAN TOLL, YOU KNOW, BEYOND THE PROPERTY AND ALL OF THE POSSESSIONS, I MEAN, THIS IS WHAT MATTERS.

>> NO, ABSOLUTELY.

AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS TELLING FOLKS OVER IN FAR WEST KENTUCKY TODAY THAT, YOU KNOW, GRAVES COUNTY, MAYFIELD, IT'S SO DRAMATIC BECAUSE YOU SEE AN ENTIRE DOWNTOWN AND AN HISTORIC TOWN THAT'S BEEN DESTROYED, AND I THINK THOSE IMAGES ARE VERY DRAMATIC BECAUSE, AGAIN, YOU CAN KIND OF RELATE TO THE TOWN SEAT IN THOSE BUILDINGS BECAUSE THEY REPRESENT A WHOLE COMMUNITY.

BUT IF YOU TOOK GRAVES COUNTY OUT OF THE PICTURE ALTOGETHER AND JUST EVEN LOOKED A WARREN COUNTY, IT WOULD BE TRAGIC JUST WHAT HAPPENED IN WARREN COUNTY.

IN FACT, I'M NOT SURE THERE AREN'T MORE HOMES AND PEOPLE DISPLACED IN WARREN COUNTY THAN MAYBE IN THE OTHER COUNTIES, AND YET, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BIGGER COUNTY, 130,000 COUNTYWIDE, AND SO I THINK IT'S PROPORTIONATE, I GUESS, IN A TOWN THAT SIZE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT AREA IN WARREN COUNTY THAT HAD SO MUCH DAMAGE, THERE WERE SEVERAL POCKETS OF IT WHERE THOSE NAMES YOU TALKED ABOUT, THOSE LIVES WERE LOST, THAT'S AN AREA IN THE COUNTY THAT'S A PART OF THAT GROWING SOUTH WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY, LOTS OF STARTER HOMES AND RENTAL PROPERTIES AND LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES WHO MOVED INTO THAT AREA.

IT IS JUST DEVASTATING NOT ONLY TO SEE THE LOSS OF LIFE BUT THE FACT THAT THESE ARE FOLKS WHO PROBABLY HAVE VERY LITTLE TO REBUILD WITH.

AND SO IT IS, IT IS JUST GUT-WRENCHING TO SEE IT.

AND ABOUT 15 I THINK WAS THE NUMBER THAT I SAW THIS AFTERNOON LATE THAT HAD BEEN REPORTED AS CONFIRMED FATALITIES IN THE BOWLING GREEN AREA.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW CITY AND COUNTY FUNCTIONS, J.D.

CHANEY, FIECK EVERYDAY LIFE, THIS IS A GLARINGLY OBVIOUS POINT.

EFFECT EVERYDAY LIFE.

>> THIS IS.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT GETS IN YOU MORE OBVIOUS THAN THIS RIGHT HERE.

>> WE PROBABLY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO TALK.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ON THE SHOW WHEN PEOPLE REALIZING WHAT CITIES AND COUNTIES DID FOR THEM, AND THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE, TURNING TO THAT WATER, FLIPPING THAT LIGHT SWITCH IN SO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES, GETTING SOMEBODY TO RESPOND TO A FIRE OR POLICE, THE ROADS BEING DRIVABLE, CLEARING THE TRASH, PICKING UP THE DEBRIS, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT MAKE LIFE MORE LIVEABLE, YOU GET FROM YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND THIS IS THE PERFECT HIGHLIGHT.

I THINK OF WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MEAN TO THEIR CITIZENS.

>> AND SO THAT'S GOING TO SEGUE US INTO OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FUNDING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, MAYORS, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE PANDEMIC DID TO CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AND, OF COURSE, THERE'S FEDERAL FUNDING THAT'S HELPING WITH THAT, BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LOCAL TAXATION POLICY AND THE FLEXIBILITY THAT MANY HAVE BEEN ARGUING FOR FOR SOME TIME, MAYOR WHITE BROWN, TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT DOES LOCAL TAXATION POLICY, HOW SHOULD IT EVOLVE SO THAT I CAN CAN ADDRESS SITUATIONS LIKE WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW?

>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS RIGHT BEFORE WE CAME IN HERE TOGETHER, AND WE JOKED WE WERE GOING TO DEFER TO J.D.

ON THIS QUESTION IF WE GOT IT, BUT I THINK THIS LAST YEAR HAS SHOWN US ANYTHING, IT'S THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THESE PLANS IN PLACE, OF LOOKING AT TAX REFORM ON MANY DIFFERENT LEVEL AND HOW THAT IMPLEMENT US ON A LONG-TERM SAIL SCALE.

I THINK SO OFTEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE RIGHT NOW, BUT THESE PLAY KEY PIECES INTO WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE FOR CITIES AND COUNTIES AS WELL.

>> MAYOR TRAUGOTT.

>> YEAH, I THINK THE KEY WORD IS FLEXIBILITY, AND THAT'S WHAT CITIES ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR BECAUSE WE HAVE A DIVERSE GROUP OF CITIES, AND THE WAY TO MEET THE REVENUE NEEDS IN MOREHEAD MAY DIFFER FROM VERSAILLES.

YOU HEAR A LOT OF TALK OF THE CONSUMPTION TAX WHICH MAKES SENSE IN A LOT OF CITIES WENT NO NECESSARILY ALL OF THEM.

SO FLEXIBLE I THINK IS REALLY ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR.

>> WHERE DOES CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, WHERE DO THEY GET THEIR MONEY?

HOW DO THEY GET THEIR MONEY?

>> WE TO GET A LOT OF IT FROM OCCUPATION A TAX, THE CITY OF VERSAILLES, AND I THINK STATELY WIDE THAT'S PROBABLY THE MAJOR FUNDING SOURCE.

>> IS THAT SUFFICIENT?

>> IT IS FOR US.

>> BUT IS THAT THE CASE ALL AROUND, J.D.

CHAINY?

>> IT'S NOT THE CASE ALL AROUND, AND IT DOES LEAVE KENTUCKY COMMUNITIES AND LEAVE THE STATE AS A WHOLE THAT RELIANCE.

IT'S MORE THAN HALF THE REVENUE FOR RUNNING MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS, AND COUNTIES -- AND I'LL WILL IT JIM TALK ABOUT THAT -- BECOMING MORE AND MORE RELIANT ON OCCUPATIONAL TAX REVENUES, SO-SO WHEN YOU STACK THAT ON TOP OF THE CORPORATE INCOME TAXES AND THE PROPERTY TAXES, OUR REAL SOLE SOURCE LEFT ON THE BOOKS BECAUSE OF THE OTHER STATUTES AND OCCUPATIONAL TAXES, IT REALLY LEAVES US A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE TO SURROUNDING STATES.

SO BEING ABLE TO DIVERSIFY A LITTLE BIT AND NOT BECOME OVERLY RELIANT ON THAT I THINK FROM A GROWTH PERSPECTIVE IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND PLUS, GETTING PEOPLE THAT ENJOY NOSE AMENITIES THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE TO OFFER THAT COME IN, THAT TRAVEL INTO YOUR COMMUNITIES AND USE THOSE SERVICES TO MAKE SOME YOU CONTRIBUTION TO FUNDING THAT IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT LOCAL LEADERS ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> JUDGE SUMMERS?

>> SAME THING.

FLEXIBILITY.

WE'RE LIMITED ON OUR RESOURCES OF WHAT WE CAN -- OF THE REVENUE THAT WE DO RECEIVE, AND AS A COUNTY GOVERNMENT WE FURNISH E IN THES, JAIL AND WE HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE THEM AT LENGTHS WHERE IT STRETCHES THE BUDGET TO WHERE OTHER SERVICES FOR ROADS AND WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY, FREQUENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> PUBLIC SAFETY?

>> PUBLIC SAFETY IS STRETCHED.

AND WE DO NEED MORE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE MUCH-NEEDED SERVERS BACK TO OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY NEED.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE EMERGENCY SERVICES AND IN TIMES LIKE THIS YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S WELL-NEEDED.

AND WE WOULD AFFORD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY AND REVENUE STREAMS.

>> MR. HENDERSON, I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT DOES THAT -- I MEAN, WE HAVE HAD SOME PROPOSALS IN THE LAST FEW LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS ABOUT THE FLEXIBILITY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND GIVE US A REFRESHER ON WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE OPTIMALLY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW WE'RE LIMITED.

COUNTIES AND CITIES ON THE TYPES OF REVENUE SOURCES THAT WE CAN RELY ON, SO IN ORDER TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, AND THIS IS A BIG LEAP, I GET IT.

IT'S A HARD JUMP FOR SOME PEOPLE TO GO TO A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS THAT IS PERCEIVED AS GIVING COUNTIES AND CITIES NEW TAXING AUTHORITY, BUT THE REALITY IS IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT A DIFFERENT TAX POLICY IN KENTUCKY THAT'S BASED MORE ON A CONSUMPTION-BASED TAXING SYSTEM LIKE MOST OTHER STATES, THEN -- WHERE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE THAT OPTION, WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION.

SO THE FIRST STEP IS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ADVOCATED FOR FOR YEARS, AND IT'S BEEN CALLED DIFFERENT THINGS.

OUR FRIEND JUDGE BUCHANAN WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED BACK IN 1998, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT -- HE WAS ALREADY JUDGE THEN -- HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE HOPE AND NEED FOR A COUNTY SALES TAX, NOT ONE THAT'S SPECIFIC FOR A PROJECT OR SOMETHING THAT NECESSARILY SUNSETS AT SOME POINT, BUT JUST AS A GENERAL FUND REVENUE SOURCE, BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT ANYWHERE IN KENTUCKY WITHOUT AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.

THAT'S IF FIRST STEP.

>> I THINK, JUDGE SNYDER, I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN HIM RECONNECTED WITH US, AND I WANT TO ASK HIM WHAT HE THINKS ABOUT THE MOVE TOWARD A CONSUMPTION-BASED TAX POLICY, HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND WOULD IT AFFECT A COUNTY LIKE HENDERSON POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY.

>> WELL, WE'RE A BORDER COMMUNITY, AND I THINK THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL THROUGH HENDERSON COUNTY WOULD HELP US UNDER SALES TAX MODEL.

IT COULD BE ONE MORE TOOL IN OUR BOXES TO HELP MEET OUR COSTS, MANY OF WHICH ARE INCREASING, PARTLY DUE TO UNFUND MANDATES FROM FRANKFORT AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO ANYTHING THAT GIVES MORE FLEXIBILITY IS GOOD.

IN HENDERSON COUNTY OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT ONLY HAS THREE MAJOR SOURCES OF REVENUE, PROPERTY TAX, OCCUPATIONAL TAX AND INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX, JUST THREE.

AND ANY EXTRA COSTS LIKE PENSION INCREASES, MORE MONEY FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES THAT DON'T GET MUCH HELP FROM FRANKFORT NOW THAN THEY DID MAYBE A DECADE AGO, ALL OF THOSE THINGS COST MONEY, THEIR COSTS ARE INCREASING AND A CONSUMPTION TAX WILL ALLOW TO US SPREAD THAT A LITTLE BIT AMONG PEOPLE WHO DON'T EVEN LIVE HERE.

AND I THINK OUR COMMUNITY WOULD WELCOME ALL THAT.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MUNICIPAL WORKFORCE ISSUES.

WE KNOW THAT LABOR ISSUES ARE A BIG TOPIC EVERYWHERE, J.D.

CHENEY, AND I'M WONDERING HOW MUNICIPALITIES DEALING WITH THAT IF THE LOCAL FAST FOOD RESTAURANT IS OFFERING $15 TO $18 AN HOUR AND YET A PUBLIC WORKER MIGHT MAKE $3 OR $4 OR $5 SHY OF THAT.

IT'S EASY TO KNOW WHICH ONE THEY MIGHT CHOOSE.

>> WE'VE SEEN THAT OCCUR IN A NUMBER OF OUR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THESE ENTRY LEVEL PUBLIC WORKS POSITIONS, SOME OF THE LOWER-PAYING POSITIONS TYPICALLY WHERE PEOPLE MAY HAVE MORE BLUE COLOR PHYSICAL LABOR ATTACHED WITH THAT, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE TO HAVE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO -- THOSE AREN'T GOING TO BE ROBOTS SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE PERFORMING THOSE FUNCTIONS THAT ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW, RATHER THAN BREAKING THE BACK IN THAT KIND OF WORK, MAY BE EASIER TO GO TO THE FAST FOOD AND MAKE MORE MONEY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE FACED WITH, AND IT'S INCREASING AS WE'VE GONE ALONG HERE.

WE'VE SEEN THIS THROUGH COVID WITH PEOPLE RESIGNING THEIR JOBS, PEOPLE QUITTING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, DIFFICULTY WITH GETTING EMTs, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WAY WE COMPENSATE IN ORDER TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

BUT THAT REALLY PUTS THE PUBLIC, THE PUBLIC AT RISK WHEN WE CAN'T FULLY STAFF FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND WE CAN'T FULLY STAFF POLICE DEPARTMENTS OR THE PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH PEOPLE NOTICE RIGHT AWAY WHEN THEY HIT THAT POTHOLE OR THE TRASH ISN'T PICKED UP ON TIME, THAT PEOPLE REALLY RELY ON FOR THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

SO WE'RE NOT IMMUNE FROM THAT IN THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR, SEEING THE EXODUS IN THOSE POSITIONS.

>> MAYTAGAT, IT'S NOT -- MAYOR TRAUGOTT, IT'S NOT AS IF THE PENSION SYSTEM IS AS PLUSH AS IT ONCE WAS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THERE'S BEEN SOME REFORM OVER THE PAST THAT HAVE BEEN KIND OF SPLIT THAT RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN THE WORKER AND THE EMPLOYER.

SO WITH THAT DISINCENTIVE PERHAPS TO ATTRACT NEW WORKERS, NEW TALENT TO THE PUBLIC SPACE WHEN SOME OF THE BENEFITS AREN'T AS PLUSH AS THEY USED TO BE.

>> IT CERTAINLY A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

A GENERATING AGO THE DEFINE BENEFIT PENSION REALLY DREW TALENTED PEOPLE INTO PUBLIC SERVICE BECAUSE YOU PUT IN YOUR 27, 28 YEARS AND RETIRE WITH A COMFORTABLE PENSION, AND THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY ALMOST BY NECESSITY.

IT WAS EXTREMELY COSTLY.

BUT WE ARE PAYING THE PRICE FOR THAT NOW.

>> ANY OTHER WAYS YOU THINK ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS MAYBE SHORTAGE THAT MAYBE YOU'RE EVEN EXPERIENCING?

>> I.

THE WAGE PRESSURE CERTAINLY HAS TAKEN PLACE.

TO J.D.

'S POINT, SPECIFIC GETTING LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINED, GETTING PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE PROFESSION TO BEGIN WITH, THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES I THINK THAT ARE UNIQUE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN ADDITION TO JUST THE WAGE PRESSURES AND BEING AN EMPLOYER.

>> HOW DO YOU SEE IT, MAYOR?

>> I THINK THEY MAKE AN EXCELLENT POINT.

WE THINK OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES OFTEN AS JUST, YOU KNOW, MAYBE POLICE AND FIRE, BUT WE CAN'T FORGET ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS AS WELL, LIKE J.D.

SAID.

WE'VE HAD ISSUES WITH HAVING STAFF BE ABLE TO TAKE TESTS LIKE THEIR CDL TEST BECAUSE JUST THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE DATES HAVE NOT BEEN AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF COVID, SO YOU'RE THROWING THAT IN THE MIX AS WELL OF TRYING TO GET EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE BOARD TRAINED IN A REALLY UNPRECEDENTED TIME.

>> WELL, ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES IS JAIL FUNDING, AND WE HAVE THIS -- A GOOD LEAD AVERA QUESTION FROM ROBERT COUPLING IN RUSSELL COUNTY.

HE ASKED THREE THINGS AND USUALLY WE DON'T ALLOW THAT BUT THEY'RE ALL PERTINENT AND GERMANE TO THIS ONE TOPIC.

HOW WOULD THE FOLLOWING THINGS BE ADDRESSED.

OF THE.

RISING COST OF MAINTAINING JAILS, INCREASING NUMBER OF PRISONERS IN CITY AND COUNTY INJURIES, OVERCROWDING IN JAILS AND INCREASING NUMBER OF LAWSUITS BEING FILED BY FAMILIES INMATES WHO DIE IN JAIL.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RISING COST OF MAINTAINING JAILS.

MR.

SUM WORSE JUDGE SUMMERRERS THIS IS A BIG USUAL FOR YOU IN BULLITT COUNTY.

>> YES, RENEE, IT IS.

AND TO HELP YOU WITH THAT, WE SUBSIDIZED OUR JAIL ABOUT $2.2 MILLION A YEAR OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND, AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE SOMEWHERE AROUND $6 MILLION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES, AND THAT'S A THIRD OF OUR, LITERALLY OR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE THAT GOES TO THE JAILS, AND WE TRIED TO INCREASE TRAINING AS WELL, AND WE HAD OVER $800,000 THAT WAS -- DIDN'T COME TO US FROM THE STATE DURING COVID AS WELL, SO MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR JAILS, WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE TRAINING, WE HAVE TO BE SUBSIDIZED FOR IT AS WELL.

WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP FOOTING THE BILLS FOR THE TRAINING AND EXPERTISE THAT IT TAKES TO RUN A JAIL.

>> AND YOU'RE SAYING BEING SUBSIDIZED BY THE STATE.

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> SO THE STATE IS DERELICT IN THEIR DUTY, WOULD YOU SAY?

>> NOT -- WELL, I WOULD SAY YES.

THEY WOULD BE DERELICT IN THEIR DUTIES BECAUSE WE JUST GOT THIS REPORT FROM OUR LAST AUDIT THAT WE WERE SHORTED ABOUT $800,000 IN REVENUE.

>> JUDGE SCHNEIDER?

>> TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, WELLET WE GET $31.34 A DAY WE HOLD STATE PRISONERS.

IT COMES FROM THE STATE.

OUR ACTUAL COST IS $46 A DAY.

COUNTY AND CITY TAXPAYERS MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE.

WHEN AN INMATE IS ILL FOR INJURED IN OUR CUSTODY, WE HAVE TO PAY THE MEDICAL BILLS THAT AREN'T COVERED BY THE STATE.

THAT ENDS UP BEING A LOT OF MONEY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES TO HOLDING STATE PRISONERS WITHOUT ADEQUATE FUNDING FROM THE STATE, AND THEY NEED TO UPGRADE THEIR PAYMENTS TO COUNTIES FOR THOSE PRISONERS.

IT IS KILLING MANY COUNTIES AND MANY COUNTIES, RENEE, HAVE CLOSED THEIR JAMES AGO TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY CAN'T HANDLE THE COST.

>> BUT IS IT NOT LUCRATIVE FOR SOME?

I DON'T THINK I SHOULD LOOK AT J.D.

CHANEY.

>> JIM HENDERSON.

>> I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO SAY THAT.

THAT'S A COUNTY ISSUE.

BUT CITIES, WHERE DO CITIES FALL INTO THAT?

AND I'LL COME TO YOU FOR THAT, J.D.

CHAINY.

BUT, MR. HENDERSON, ARE THERE SOME COUNTIES THAT ARE BENEFITING AND REAPING SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL BENEFITS?

>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY THE EXCEPTION IF IT EXISTS.

I MEAN, THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF COUNTIES WHO HAVE MANAGED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO OFFSET THE COST OF THEIR COUNTY JAIL BY, IN MOST CASES, WORKING WITH FEDS ON A CONTRACT FOR HOLDING FEDERAL PRISONERS, AND IT'S OUT OF NECESSITY.

I MEAN, AND AGAIN THAT'S LESS THAN A HANDFUL, LESS THAN I CAN COUNT ON ONE HAND.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS WITH COUNTIES RESPONSIBILITIES EARLIER THAT THE WAGE PRESSURE, THE REVENUE PRESSURE.

I MEAN, COUNTY JAILERS NOT AN OPTION IN THE COUNTY, AND AS JUDGE SCHNEIDER SAID EVEN IF A COUNTY CLOSESTH JAIL, IT'S STILL COMPLETELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF INCARCERATING THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE RAFTED IN THEIR COUNTY, SO THIS IS A -- THIS IS A -- COUNTIES ARE A STATE -- EXCUSE ME -- A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE.

WE HAVE THESE STATE RESPONSIBILITIES, THESE CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED TO COUNTIES, JAILS BEING ONE, AND THE JAIL FUNDING, JAIL COSTS, THOSE ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT COSTS IN ANY COUNTY BUDGET WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

AGAIN, A FEW DO BETTER THAN OTHERS, BUT IT'S THE BIG EXPENSE FOR MOST COUNTY BUDGETS.

>> SO SHOULD CITIES, J.D.

CHANEY, BE PAYING COUNTIES?

>> NO I WANT TO USE THIS WORD ON AIR.

A COCKAMAMIE IDEA.

ABSOLUTELY.

AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE LIVED UNDER THE SAME ROOF WITH THE DEPUTY JUDGE OF MADISON COUNTY FOR A WHILE, AND I AM SYMPATHETIC TO THIS ISSUE, AND I THINK MOST OUR MEMBERS, CITY OFFICIALS ARE VERY SYMPATHETIC ON THIS ISSUE WHERE WE HAVE -- WHERE WE SEE THE STATE DOING UNFUNDED MANDATES.

THE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS ARE THERE TO PROVIDE STATEWIDE SERVICES AT AAL LOCAL LEVEL AS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, AND SO THEY'RE DOING THAT OH BEHALF OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

HIKELIKEWISE, THIS IDEA THAT CITIES ARE CAUSING.

JAIL OVERFLOW ISSUES.

WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO THINK, LET'S JUST HAVE CITIES WHEN THEIR POLICE OFFICERS ARREST SOMEBODY PAY A BOOKING FEE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WE'RE NO ENFORCING CITY ORDINANCES WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO JAILS.

LIKEIS ADVERTISED, WE'RE AGENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

WHAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS ENFORCE ARE THE COMMONWEALTH LAW.

THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO BREAK THE STATE STATUTES, THE PENAL CODE SET OUT BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

AND SO, NO, I THINK IT'S A STATE -- IT'S A MATTER BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE -- AND OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENTS IN PERFORMING THAT FUNCTION.

OUR CITIES ARE SYMPATHETIC TO IT.

I THINK WE'VE SUPPORTED CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM IN THE PAST THAT WOULD ADDRESS THAT.

WHAT FORM THAT TAKES, THAT'S A WHOLE PROBABLY OTHER TOPIC, BUT I THINK WE'RE SYMPATHETIC TO IT.

AND OUR CITIES DO PAY, AS JUDGE SCHNEIDER POINTED OUT, WE DO PAY FOR OUR CITY AND COUNTY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES PAY PROPERTY TAXES TO THAT ARE COLLECTED TO THE COUNTY, AND IN MANY CASES OCCUPATION ATTACKS TO THE COUNCILMEMBER COUNTY THAT HELPED CONTRIBUTE TO THAT SERVICE AS WELL THAT HAS TO BE SUBSIDIZED BY THOSE COUNTY TAXPAYERS.

>> EITHER ONE OF OUR MAYORS WANT TO CHIME IN HERE?

>> I'M CERTAINLY NOT IN FAVOR A BOOKING FEE.

YOU DO NOT WANT TO DISINCENTIVIZE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> RIGHT, YEAH.

>> I AGREE.

LIKE WE SAY, THE CITY'S WITHIN THE COUNTY, SO WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY IS MAKING THE ARREST OF PEOPLE THAT MAY END UP THERE ANYWAY SO THAT YOUR COST IS STILL GOING TO OCCUR.

>> SO TO GET TO KIND OF THE B AND C OF MR. COUPLING'S QUESTION QUESTION ABOUT THE INCREASING NUMBER OF PRISONERS AND THE OVERCROWDING WITH SO WE'VE TRIED INCARCERATION REFORM BACK WHEN IT WAS HOUSE BILL 463 IN 2011 BUT THERE ARE SOME THINK TANKS THAT WILL SAY INSTEAD OF DECREASING SENTENCES, THEY'RE THERE ARE SIX TIMES AS MANY LAWS THAT HAVE INCREASED SENTENCES OR PAID CATER TO SOMEHOW THE MASS INCARCERATION PROBLEM THAT 63E.

KE HAS.

WHAT IS THE NEXT PHASE OFFAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM LOOK LIKE IN KENTUCKY?

>> IN MY OPINION, AND I WON'T WADE TOO DEEPLY OUT OF DEFERENCE TO COUNTY OFFICIALS HERE, BUT IN MY OPINION, THERE HAS TO BE A DISCUSSION WITH THE COURT SYSTEM ABOUT HOW -- HOW THE ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF CHARGES INCAR RACE, THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSION AND EXPUNGEMENT, THE ABILITY IN TERMS OF OTHER REFORMS WITH WORKFORCE, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REDEMPTION TO BE ABLE TO GET A JOB.

III OTHER POLICIES OUT THERE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THAT RECIDIVISM RATE THAT REALLY SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND DISCUSSED AND I KNOW CHAIRMAN WESTERFIELD, WHO WE HEARD FROM, AND CHAIRMAN MASS OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, BOTH OF OTHERS ON TOP OF LEADING DISCUSSIONS IN THAT AREA, BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME WORK WITH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM ON THIS AS WELL IN TERMS OF HOW THEY HANDLE THAT PROCESS.

>> JUDGE SUMMERS?

>> N. I'M GOING TO ECHO A LOT OF WHAT J.D.

CHANEY SAID, AND IN OUR CASE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO HELP GET THOSE IN OUR RESIDENTS BACK INTO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WE ARE WORKING WITH PRIVATE COMPANIES, THOSE THAT WE CAN WITH OUR COUNTY INMATES AND ALSO FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES FROM THE STATE.

THEY GO OUT, THEY WORK, AND THEN WHEN THEY GET A REDUCTION IN SENTENCING, AND THEN THEY GO BACK OUT INTO THE WORKFORCE AND THEY'RE TRAINED, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE GOING TO WORK FOR THE COMPANIES THAT THEY WERE OUT WORKING FOR, AND THIS HAS BEEN OUR POLICY FROM DAY ONE.

COVID SORT OF PUT A PAUSE IN IT FORE A WHILE BUT WE'RE BACK AT IT AGAIN.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF JUDGE SCHNEIDER WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS BEFORE WE MOVE OH AND REVISIT TAX POLICY AS WE HAVE A VIEWER QUESTION THAT HAS JUST COME IN.

ANY FINAL TO THE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM?

>> ON A FINE LINE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE BALKED LOWERING BAILS AND BAWL REFORM AND GETTING MORE PEOPLE OUT OF THE JAIL SYSTEM WITH NON-FINANCIAL BAIL, LET THEM GO ON THEIR OWN RECOGNIZANCE, BUT THAT CAN BACKFIRE AND IT HAS IN HENDERSON COUNTY DURING THE HEIGHT OF COVID AND THE PANDEMIC LACKDOWN LAST YEAR.

OF COURSE, THE GOVERNOR LET OUT A LOT OF LOW-LEVEL INMATES, AND WE SAW A HUGE SPIKE IN THE NUMBER OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT SHOW UP FOR THEIR ARRAIGNMENT HEARING.

THEIR FEAR OF INCARCERATION DISSIPATED GREATLY AND WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN TIME AND PEOPLE GOING THROUGH A REVOLVING DOOR IN OUR JAIL.

THEY GET ARRESTED, THEY'RE OUT.

THEY GET READY, THEY'RE OUT.

SO THE MESSAGE THERE IS WE'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO HELP PEOPLE, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT TREATMENT IS BETTER IN MANY CASES THAN JAIL, BUT BAD PEOPLE CAN BE LET GO IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY JUST COMMIT MORE CRIMES.

IT IS A TOUGH QUESTION, AND, RENEE, IF YOU'VE GOT THE ANSWER, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

>> I CERTAINLY DON'T, BUT I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE SUBSTANCE USE TYPES OF CRIMES OR CRIMES COMMITTED BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR DISORDER.

DO YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF NUMBER THAT YOU CAN PUT TO THAT, THOSE CRIMES BEING DRUG-RELATED IN SOME WAY, NOT IN TERMS OF TRAFFICKING BUT IN TERMS OF ADDICTION?

>> I'M SURE IT'S A LARGE MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS THAT GET ARRESTED HERE IN HENDERSON COUNTY, BUT THAT ALSO SPEAKS TO TREATMENTS WHILE THEY'RE IN JAIL.

IF THEYY COMMITTED REALLY SERIOUS CRIMES WHILE THEY WERE EITHER POSSESSING OR USING DRUGS WEEK WE STILL HAVE TO TREAT THEM AS SERIOUS CRIMINALS BUT WE OFTEN DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO TRY THE THEM IN JAIL, AND IF THEY HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS THAT MAKES IT EVEN WORSE BECAUSE MANY JAIL PERSONNEL AROUND THE STATE ARE NOT TRAINED TO ADEQUATELY HANDLE INMATES' MEDICAL AND MENTAL ILLNESSES.

SO ONE THING WE RECOMMEND IS FOR THE STATE TO DEVELOP A FACILITY FOR INMATES WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES TO BE TRANSFERRED, AND AGAIN, THAT COST THAT IS PUSHED DOWN TO THE COUNTIES TO COVER THESE ISSUES WITH STATE PRISONERS ESPECIALLY, SO AGAIN, IT IS -- IT'S A TOUGH QUESTION ABOUT TREATING SUBSTANCE ABUSE, WHAT THE JAIL'S RESPONSIBILITIES ARE AND WHAT THE COUNTY'S RESPONDENTS ARE.

>> WOULD THAT BE ONE CENTRALIZED FACILITY IN THE STATE OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE THOSE ACCESSIBLE A REGIONAL BASIS?

WHAT DO YOU ENVISION WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE STATE PROVIDING FOR A TREATMENT CENTERED EX-AL FACILITY?

>> I THINK THE OPTIMUM PLAN WOULD BE REGIONAL FACILITIES, SO THESE INMATES COULD GET BACK IN THEIR COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY WERE ARRESTED WHEN THEY ARE BETTER, HEALTHIER.

IT WOULD PUT ANOTHER BURDEN ON COUNTIES BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE ONE LOCATION THAT WAS A FAR DISTANCE FROM PADUCAH OR ASHLAND, PLACES LIKE THAT, SO I THINK THE STATE NEEDS HEADS TO LOOK SORRELLS SERIOUSLY.

>> I DO WANT TO TAKE ANOTHER PIVOT BACK TO TAX POLICY AS WE GOT IN QUESTION FROM DARBY IN SHELBYVILLE.

YOUR GUESTS STAY THAT I LOCALLY CONSUMPTION TAX IN KENTUCKY REQUIRES A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT YET MANIAL LO CITIES HAVE A 3% RESTAURANT TAX ON FOOD AND PERKINS.

SHELBYVILLE AND HARRISBURG ARE EXAMPLES HOW MUCH IS THAT NOT, THEY ASK, A CONSUMPTION TAX?

J.D.

CHANEY?

>> THAT DOES ACT AS A CONSUMPTION TAX.

IT'S TRULY AN OCCUPATIONAL TAX, ON THE GROSS RECEIPTS OF THE RESTAURANTS.

RIGHT NOW THAT'S REQUIRED TO GO SOLELY TO FUND TOURISM ACTIVITIES, AND WE HAVE AN INEQUITY WITH REGARD TOWER CITIES.

SHE MENTIONED OR YOUR CALLER MENTIONED HARRISBURG AND SHELBYVILLE AND ELIZABETHTOWN AND RADCLIFF AND BEREA.

ELIZABETHTOWN AND BEREA WHERE RICHMOND CAN'T DO IT JUST UP THE ROAD FROM BEREA.

>> IT HAS TO BE A CERTAIN SIZE CITY, RIGHT?

>> IT'S OLD FOURTH AND FIFTH CLASS CITIES THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> AND WHY IS THAT?

THAT WAS THE RATIONALE FOR THAT?

>> WHEN THAT PASSED, THEY WANTED A STEADY STREAM OF REVENUE TO FUND TOURISM, AND THEY STARTED WITH THE TRANSIENT ROOM TAX WHICH CITIES AND COUNTIES CAN ALL IMPOSE, BUT YOUR SMALLER CITIES DIDN'T HAVE HOTELS, AND SO I THINK THEY ALLOWED THOSE SMALLER CITIES, THINKING THAT THEY WERE ALL IN THE RIGHT CLASSES, THAT REPRESENTED SMALLER CITIES.

THEY WEREN'T IN THE RIGHT CLASSES.

BUT TO IMPOSE THAT TAX TO SUPPLEMENT TOURISM.

AND SO THEY DID AWAY WITH THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM.

IN FACT, THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM WASN'T WORKING.

THAT'S WHY ELIZABETHTOWN AND GEORGETOWN, MADISONVILLE, BIGGER CITIES NEVER RECLASSIFIED.

AND SO THAT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE ARTIFACTS FROM AN OUTDATED SYSTEM.

BUT YOUR CALLER IS CORRECT, IT DOES FUNCTIONS A CONSUMPTION BASED.

IT'S ON THE GROSS RECEIPTS.

THE RESTAURANT CAN PASS THAT ON TO THE CONSUMER TO PAY THAT TO WUND FUND TOURISM.

WE WOULD LIKE TO MODERNIZE THAT.

THAT'S A BIG TOPIC.

>> SPEAKING OF MODERNIZATION IN THE MINUTE AND A HALF WE HAVE REMAINING I DO WANT TO ASK ABOUT WHAT'S THE MAIN AGENDA ITEM THAT CITIES AND COUNTIES HAVE AS LAWMAKERS RETURN IN JANUARY.

AND I'LL ASK YOU AND I'LL ASK MR. HENDERSON FOR THE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE.

>> SENATOR WESTERFIELD DID A GREAT JOB OF SAYING WHAT KIND OF PERSPECTIVE DO WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

I THINKAL THERE WILL BE A WHOLE LOT OF DISCUSSION WITH THEIR BOARD ABOUT HELPING THESE CITIES, BOTH THE BOWLING GREENS AND MAYFIELDS AND SEEING AND SUPPORTING THAT LEGISLATION, BEING VERY IMPORTANT.

WE'RE VERY UNITED GROUP OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, SURPRISINGLY, CITIES AND COUNTIES EVEN THOUGH SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T LOOK THAT WAY.

THEY ARE A VERY UNITED GROUP AND ARE GOING TO BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

BUT IN ADDITION, I THINK YOU'LL SEE THESE TRANSPORTATION -- THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, MODERNIZATION OF TRANSPORTATION AS WE TRANSITION.

>> TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES?

>> ELECTRIC VEHICLES, A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE STILL GOING TO BE FUNDED.

COUNTIES AND CITIES RELY ON THAT FOR FUNDING THEIR STREETS AND ROADS IN ADDITION TO THIS SALES TAX MODERNIZATION AND WORKFORCE ISSUE.

THOSE WILL BE THE TOP THREE.

>> JIM HENDERSON, J.D.

CHANEY TOOK YOUR LAST WORD WITH 20 SECONDS LEFT SO WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE YOU BACK MAYBE TO GET THE LAST WORD NEXT TIME.

THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW HOW HE WORKS, RIGHT?

THANK YOU ALL.

>> I DO.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US.

IT'S BEEN A GOOD DISCUSSION, AND ONCE AGAIN WE'RE THINKING OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS IN WEST KENTUCKY, OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU WE'LL SEE VERY SOON.

TAKE GOOD CARE