Recent editorials from Kentucky newspapers:
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Aug. 17
The State Journal on the firing of a city manager in Kentucky:
Since May, we have taken the Franklin County Fiscal Court to task six times for a variety of reasons, from its indecisiveness to its lack of vision for building the local economy.
Of our two local government entities, county government seemed the most divided on both big issues - such as the rezoning of the old Blanton-Crutcher Farm on Duncan Road from agricultural to industrial - and small issues - like agreeing on a planning commission nominee.
However, last week three city commission members - Mayor Bill May and Commissioners John Sower and Eric Whisman - shifted the spotlight by voting to fire City Manager Keith Parker “without cause,” leaving us, like many in the community, shaking our heads and asking why.
To say city commission members aren’t on the same page would be an enormous understatement. If the past eight days are any indication, they may not even be in the same book.
While the public isn’t privy to what is said in closed-door meetings, Commissioner Katrisha Waldridge, who was present in the two-hour executive session and voted against Parker’s ouster, seemed just as confused as the citizenry.
“Even if there was evidence, why don’t I have it as a city commissioner? I should have that information. Right now all I can go on is what I’ve seen: Keith’s excellent service on many levels,” Waldridge said during a rally to support Parker outside City Hall on Friday.
At the Aug. 10 meeting, she, unlike the remainder of the commission, offered an explanation following her “no” vote. Commissioner Scott Tippett, who also voted against Parker’s termination, and May, Sower and Whisman gave no reasons for their votes, though May and Whisman in following days hinted at wrongdoing by Parker.
“I feel the people should be able to hear what you have to say and I feel like Keith would agree,” Waldridge added.
Turns out, Parker does agree. On Friday, he told the roughly three dozen citizens who braved the rain to support him at the City Hall rally that May, Sower and Whisman “act like they’re protecting me with confidentiality” when they are really “protecting themselves.”
“They did it ‘without cause’ so they wouldn’t be judged on what they tried to trump up on me,” Parker said. “I’ll say today that they can release any information they want. Confidentiality is not my concern. That’s their concern.”
We believe elected city leaders owe voters an explanation of why they made the decision they did. As part of his severance agreement, Parker has promised not to sue the city for any reason stemming from his dismissal. With citizens’ confidence shaken, now is the time for elected leaders to go public with their reasons for disrupting City Hall amid a health pandemic and economic crisis - and within months of an election that will see at least three commission seats change hands.
Perhaps the two incumbents who are vying for seats in November’s general election put it best.
“Transparency is not a gift in our city commission,” Waldridge said.
To which Whisman, with presumably at least one finger pointed back at himself, responded, “Neither is professionalism.”
Online: https://www.state-journal.com/
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Aug. 16
The Daily Independent on a school board in Kentucky voting to delay in-person classes:
When the Ashland Board of Education voted to resume in-person classes on Sept. 28 - rather than earlier as some parents would have liked - board members seemed to have had no choice; Gov. Andy Beshear’s directive to delay classes was seen by some board members as a threat, putting the school district in danger of state shutdown if it didn’t comply.
There also were concerns about the district being sued if classes resumed in August and any students contracted COVID-19. Parents’ concerns included child well-being, personal freedom and the exaggeration of the virus’s threat.
The board was between a rock and a hard place, but in the end, the safe thing to do was delay in-person classes - it’s the safe thing for student health and the district’s health.
With such conflicting information and little to no leadership at various levels of government, making decisions about how to react to the virus is understandably difficult and confusing. Add to that parents who feel their children are suffering by not being in class. Add to that the impending doom radiating from state government, giving board members the feeling they must delay resuming school as usual - or else.
So the board agreed on the delay in a 4-1 vote. Bruce Morrison, David Latherow, Patsy Lindsey and Mark McCarty voted yes; Don Ashby voted no.
It was a difficult decision at a time when no one knows what the right answers are, but we hope delaying a return to the classroom was the right answer for all involved.
However, if the board feels pressure to delay classes now, be prepared for more pressure later. It’s likely the date for resuming class will be delayed again, depending on the progression of COVID-19.
Online: https://www.dailyindependent.com/
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Aug. 14
The Daily Independent on the Kentucky Derby:
Labor Day weekend in 2020 will be a lot like Memorial Day weekend and Fourth of July weekend were. Large gatherings will be frowned upon, or at least discouraged.
However, in Louisville, there’s a plan in place to allow 23,000 fans to witness the Run for the Roses on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Churchill Downs can handle about eight times more than that - 170,513 is the Kentucky Derby record, set in 2015 - but should there be any fans at all?
The largest-attended sporting event in the United States since the middle of March 2020 was a NASCAR race on July 15 in Bristol, Tennessee, where between 20,000 and 30,000 spectators watched Chase Elliott reign victorious.
At Churchill Downs, where the Kentucky Derby will occur four months after its usual time, the infield will be closed and there will be no general admission. More could change, too.
Kevin Flanery, the racetrack’s president, said ’We’ll make adjustments all the way up to Derby Day as we find ways to improve and continue to adhere to ever-evolving best practices.”
Gov. Andy Beshear indicated the number could drop before the event takes place. He also said the mask mandate would need to be enforced.
A detailed plan that follows pandemic-related protocol will be in effect. We think it will probably work out just fine; and it may show that, with adherence to guidelines, there can be at least a percentage of spectators at sporting events going forward. It is, however, a significant risk and could create opportunities for folks across the Commonwealth to criticize leaders such as Beshear for sending contradictory messages.
Even if thousands of fans can’t lay eyes on these magnificent horses in person, the Kentucky Derby can still happen.
To many of us, 2020 feels like the longest year of our lifetime. If it still manages to feature “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports,” it could bring back a taste of normalcy. (Just avoid those big Derby parties).
Online: https://www.dailyindependent.com/
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