Hardin County court rejects negotiated transfer of land near landfill to heritage trust

Hardin County Fiscal Court on Nov. 25 debated a proposal to negotiate the sale or transfer of roughly 158 acres adjacent to the county landfill to the Kentucky Heritage Land Trust, but the court voted down the motion after extended discussion about endangered-species habitat, landfill buffers and public-safety assets.

The presiding official read the proposal (Resolution 2-32), which would have transferred land east of Blue Line Stream to be added to the Vernon Douglas Nature Preserve. The judge executive said the parcel is approximately 193 acres in total, with about 162 acres identified by a consulting firm as endangered bat habitat, and that the trust had $1,000,000 in state grant funds and proposed to allocate $500,000 toward this purchase. The judge executive said the county would retain selected prime-farmland parcels pending survey and would require the trust to agree to buffer zones around the sheriff’s firing range and the Bucks North leased area.

Opponents warned that carving buffer land away from county ownership could expose landfill operations to future state action if endangered species are confirmed. “I don’t think anyone that’s serving on this court, should want to make a decision that could ultimately diminish the value of the landfill,” said a magistrate who opposed the transfer. Several magistrates said the landfill is a county revenue source and that reducing buffer zones could create operational or regulatory risks.

Public commenter Bob Baker, representing the Bucks/Longhorns shooting club, told the court the club has used the leased Bucks North area for 26 years and expressed concern that a change in ownership or state involvement could jeopardize their activities. “Our concern is possible sale of or transfer of the landfill area next to adjacent to our Bucks North area that we lease,” Baker said during the public-comment period.

Supporters described the transfer as permanently conserving woodland adjacent to the Vernon Douglas Nature Preserve and noted the county would receive proceeds from the sale. The judge executive said the land trust had committed to pay $500,000 toward the acquisition and that the trust would manage the property as a preserve; the judge also said the trust’s purchase would relieve Hardin County of future liability for that acreage.

After more than an hour of discussion, the court took a roll-call vote. The motion to authorize negotiations and proceed under the stipulations failed by recorded roll call.

The court’s decision means the county will not proceed with the negotiated transfer as described in Resolution 2-32; the judge executive said the county may continue to explore other revenue or conservation options, but no further action on this contract was approved at the meeting.