Joe P. Asher
Staff Writer
The Tri-Cities Trail Town Committee is making progress toward securing Trail Town designations for the area. During a recent meeting, Chairman Cleon Cornett updated the committee on the progress that has been made so far.
“We have applied for a grant to help us with this trail town initiative,” said Cornett. “It looks very, very favorable. I hate to mention time frames because you always miss them, but it’s imminent. We’ll know yes or no and we believe we will get it.”
The committee is also exploring administrative options.
“We’re looking at possibly hiring a professional firm out of Lexington to help us with the trail,” said Cornett. “Hopefully we’ll have something on that in the next few days.”
Magistrate David Kennedy weighed in on the county’s commitment to the project.
“This morning I spoke with Judge Joe Greishop,” said Kennedy. “I needed to know what the county’s commitment was going to be to maintaining or partially maintaining Little Shepherd Trail that’s supposedly going to be part of the horse trails. The judge told me as far as the county’s stand on it we would be using a road grader to periodically grade, gravel, whatever needed to be done to the trail. We would be using the work release program to help keep the litter picked up, the trail cut back and so forth.”
Kennedy said there is an issue that will require cooperation with Letcher County.
“There had also been an issue brought up that part of the trail that needs to be maintained is in Letcher county,” said Kennedy. “On this end, when you cross Pine Mountain on KY 160 as soon as you get to the other side, there’s probably one of the largest garbage dumps in Letcher County that’s going to have to be addressed. As far as the Harlan County end of it, the judge and the other magistrates have voiced their support of trying to do as much as possible to help maintain this thing once it gets up and running.”
Kennedy stated the state is on board with the plans for the area.
“There’s been some discussion about issues as far as bringing this through Kingdom Come State Park,” said Kennedy. “I don’t know if our park manager is aware of it or not, but the people in Frankfort are supportive of this issue. They said they will do whatever is necessary to bring that horse trail right on through.”
Reach Joe P. Asher at 606-573-4510 or jasher@civitasmedia.com
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