Caldwell Farmer Thanks Fiscal Court For Approving U.S. 641 Resolution | WPKY 103.3 FM

A Caldwell County farmer addressed fiscal court last week to thank them for their recent approval of a resolution to reject the proposed new section of US Highway 641 in the northern portion of the county.

During an August 24 fiscal court meeting, magistrates unanimously approved a resolution stating that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s proposed route of US 641 from Fredonia to Eddyville would negatively impact the northern portion of Caldwell County.

Farmer and businessman Don Boone said the Boone Farm has been ground zero for the project since 2002 and he has already lost more than 45 acres with additional land to be taken by the state if the project moves forward.

Boone gave a brief history and overview of the 641 project that started back in the 1990s and said he wanted magistrates to hear his observation and how the highway project will negatively impact – not only his family – but the Fredonia area.

click to download audioHe then read an email from the state’s transportation secretary that stated traffic volumes help them determine future project designs. However, Boone said the traffic volume data from the Transportation Cabinet presented at a July Zoom meeting doesn’t support the proposed 641 bypass project at the Caldwell-Lyon County Line.

click to download audioHe added the transportation cabinet’s email also said the auto daily count on the existing US 641 is well below the operating capacity of a rural two-lane highway and the engineers are skeptical that more than 10,000 vehicles would use the new corridor.

click to download audioIn addition, Boone said there is another document that shows that by 2027 with the improvements to US 641 more than 15,000 vehicles would be traveling the corridor from Henderson, but he added there is no way those numbers will come up.

According to Boone, there is also another issue they have brought to the attention of state transportation officials – an old cemetery on the hill in Fredonia. He said they have reached out to the African-American Genealogy group in Louisville but there are no records.

click to download audioHe added that Scott Giltner, a state engineer in Louisville, has also sent a statement to the transportation cabinet that he has relatives buried in both cemeteries involved in this road project and he was instrumental in getting a grave marker installed in 2010.

Boone concluded his comments by expressing that if fiscal court doesn’t help stop the proposed US 641 project it will be a big problem for the businesses in Fredonia.