New Logan County Economic Development Director Jody Lassiter told the council that he believes the Auburn area is perfectly situated to become the home of many people who do not live there now.
"What makes an area attractive for growth is the old real estate term 'location, location, location,' and you've got it," he said of Auburn.
He was referring to Auburn's proximity to Bowling Green and being only a few miles away from I-65 along four-laned highways.
Lassiter has been appearing throughout the county, basically wherever two or more people are gathered. He's been talking about Logan County becoming united and getting "primed for growth."
He said it's also important to think as a region, as a "metro sphere of Bowling Green."
New industries coming to Bowling Green, especially the transpark, will attract workers who need places to live. Some sattelite industries may decide to set up shop in Logan rather than Warren county.
Auburn is an ideal locale for both.
Lassiter reminded the council that the EDC has been named manager of a $264,000 fund from a grant that Auburn Hosiery Mill had to repay when its employment level decreased dramatically last year.
He said it is the intention of government leaders that the money be used for economic development in Auburn and Adairville were the hosiery mill plants were located.
"Secretary (Gene) Strong has said that the money should be used on one project rather than being put into a revolving fund for a number of employers," Lassiter said. That makes recruitment of an industry to one of the cities a priority.
Lassiter said he considers himself a community developer, which involves a number of issues, including quality housing and health care.
Mayor Dewey Roche noted that he is working with Lassiter and retired college educator Dr. William Traugott about the possibility of getting an assisted living facility built on property that the city owns near the park.
"I know that your doctor (Dr. Dewey Wood) has retired recently and that even though you have a nursing home, a new doctor hasn't come in yet," Lassiter said. "Adding an assisted living facility could help bring a doctor here."
Lassiter also said he is aware of government programs to help recruit doctors and nurse practitioners into an area.
"An assisted living facility and a retirement community could help solve a rural Kentucky crisis- elder care, and they could bring more people into the Auburn area," Lassiter said.
"What we want for Auburn and all of Logan County is to pave the way for building a community that is unbelievably attractive."
Roche and members of the council were complimentary of Lassiter and expressed great hopes for what his being a part of economic development can mean to Logan County.
*To prepare for growth, the council again began discussion of possible annexation of adjacent property into the city limits.
Ashley Willoughby of the Barren River Area Development District made a presentation to the council about what is involved in annexation.
He said the easiest method is only to annex land of property owners who wish to be a part of the city. He warned, however, that annexation has to be contiguous, that property can't be "jumped over" to get to other land.
Another method is to convince landowners it would be to their benefit to be city residents so that they wouldn't oppose annexation.
Lowered insurance rates and zoning to control what goes on land next to you were advantages discussed. New residents of the city would also be able to vote for city officials and to run for office themselves.
First, however, the mayor and council have to be convinced it is to the advantage of the city and its current residents to take on the expense of providing city services for many more residents.
Willoughby said the first step is to have a survey done to show exactly where city limit lines are now located.
No action was taken.
*Roche announced that the application for a skateboard area at the city park was not completed in time to meet this funding cycle. He said he has also learned that funds are not as readily available as they once were.
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