Mayor Jeff Gregory Presents at January Facility Managers Meeting

The Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation (EHCIF) thanks Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory for speaking at our January Facility Managers’ Meeting. During his presentation, he provided an economic development update from the city and discussed plans for 2025. The meeting took place on the campus of Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (ECTC), with nearly 40 people in attendance.
EHCIF President Andy Games kicked off the meeting by wishing everyone a Happy New Year and sharing information about upcoming Facility Managers meetings. Games also shared information from the Central Kentucky Community Foundation about a $12,000 market study to evaluate a potential YMCA project for the community. Games concluded his updates by congratulating the Lincoln Trail Area Development District on its recent acquisition of a new fleet of advanced drones to support local first responders during emergencies.
Following an introduction by Games, Mayor Gregory began his economic development update by announcing that the City of Elizabethtown had received its 33rd consecutive perfect audit, noting that his administration was responsible for the last six. He stated that the city’s annual budget was $120 million. He then focused on the reserve account, noting a balance of roughly $28 million six years ago, which has now grown to almost $36 million, despite the completion of numerous successful projects.
With community growth in mind, Gregory said the city is seeking funding to expand its wastewater treatment plant. The plant has a design flow capacity of 13 million gallons per day; currently, it collects and treats 8 million gallons per day from commercial, residential, and industrial sources. According to Gregory, the city would like to expand capacity by an additional 10 million gallons per day, resulting in a $150 million, multi-year project.
Gregory stated that residential construction will continue to grow. He pointed out that even prior to BlueOval SK, Elizabethtown was short by 4,500 units in meeting housing needs. For that reason, Gregory encouraged the development of all types of residential properties, including multi-family housing like apartments. He observed that the current supply of apartments was low, resulting in high prices for residents, and he hoped that future construction would help balance the supply and demand.
Gregory then outlined a list of completed, ongoing, and upcoming capital projects, including:
- Freeman Lake Park Improvements: Construction of new tennis courts and a playground at the southern end of the park was completed last year. This year’s park additions will include construction of the Lion’s Club Pavilion, new walking trails, and a wildflower field on the backside of the park, near the Swope Family of Dealerships. Plans are also in the works for additions in the northwestern area of the park, including additional parking, an orchard, a staffed nature center, and an arboretum.
- Buffalo Lake Concert Venue: Groundbreaking for the 10,000-seat outdoor amphitheater will be held soon, in partnership with Elizabethtown Tourism. A road and adjacent sidewalks will be the first things constructed, connecting US Highway 62 and Springfield Road. The project will also include walking trails and a pedestrian bridge, which will provide direct access to the downtown area.
- Fire Station 4: Construction on the new station, located on North Mulberry Street, is underway and expected to be completed by this summer. The city is using the same builder and blueprint as Station 2, with an additional bay.
- Public Works Facility Phase 4: This multi-year project is expected to wrap up this spring or summer, following the addition of a new fueling location and more parking spaces.
- American Legion Park: Planned additions include a pavilion, shade structure, seating, and additional parking.
- Sanitation & Sewage Improvements: The Hawkins Drive Lift Station project is ongoing, with renovations underway to ensure lines can meet growing capacity needs. Upgrades to the city’s sewer lines along US Highway 62 will also continue.
- Infrastructure Improvements: Projects include street improvements at Meadow Lane, sidewalk repairs on North Main Street (some areas are over 100 years old), road widening on Pear Orchard Road NW, utility repairs on Helm Street (due to damage from tennis court construction), street improvements on Village Drive, and a bridge replacement on Peterson Drive.
- Park Improvements: Projects at all public parks include replacing portable restrooms with permanent restrooms, parking improvements at soccer fields, and the removal of tennis courts on University Drive to add two basketball courts and additional parking.
Regarding the St. John Road utility relocation project, Gregory said that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KTC) has not provided the city with a timeline, but he estimated that completion is about a year away.
Gregory opened the floor for questions, and one attendee asked how the city’s police force and officer pay compare with neighboring areas. Gregory stated that the city has 87 sworn officers, including a School Resource Officer (SRO) at every school and ECTC. Additionally, the city is working to add an SRO at the hospital. Gregory added that officer pay either meets or exceeds the average market rate police salaries in Kentucky. However, he noted that Elizabethtown can’t always compete with higher salaries in other counties.
Another attendee inquired about roundabouts. Gregory reported that there are currently 11 roundabouts in the city, with four more to be constructed this year. He shared results from a KTC study of the two roundabouts on Main Street, which showed a 48% decrease in accidents and an 80% decrease in injury accidents at those locations after the roundabouts were installed.
Gregory concluded his remarks by recognizing Elizabethtown as a “unique and special place” where everyone—from those in leadership positions to those involved in government, the college, industry, banks, and other businesses—continuously network and collaborate to make each other and the community better. “And it goes back generations,” he emphasized.e in January. For more information, or if interested in attending the next meeting, please contact the Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation at 270-737-0300.