Hardinsburg Holds First Town Board Meeting Since 2022 Dissolution

Following a June 17th reversal by the Washington County Board of Commissioners of Ordinances 2022-8, 2022-10, and 2022-11, which dissolved the Town of Hardinsburg in late 2022, the Town Board of Hardinsburg held their first meeting on June 30th.

Kathy Jackey, David Davis Jr., and Rick Millholland

"[The above ordinances are] null and void, and therefore the town of Hardinsburg goes back to the way it was prior to those three ordinances," explained Commissioner's attorney April Geltmaker during a June 3 meeting.

This effectively reinstated the previous Town Board, consisting of David Davis Jr. (Council), Rick Millholland (Council), and Kathy Jackey (Clerk-Treasurer), as well as Jill McKinley (Council), who resigned shortly after the reinstatement. The remaining members met at the Hardinsburg Senior Citizens Center on Monday night.

"There is one item of business to do at this meeting, and one item only," said David Davis after the meeting opened with a word of prayer. "The floor will not be open for any public discussion tonight."

Mr. Davis and Mr. Millholland then proceeded to nominate Wayne Johnson as the third Council member, as well as vote him in, as they were the only two voting members of the Board.

Mr. Johnson came forward and took his oath of office, at which point the meeting was adjourned.

Wayne Johnson taking his oath of office.

After the meeting, some community members took to Facebook to question the validity of the meeting, claiming there was not a legal notice posted 48 business hours before the meeting. This claim has been both backed up and disputed by multiple community members and county officials.

"It was posted legally," said District 3 Commissioner Tony Cardwell. "It was posted Thursday of last week, and you do not have to post in newspapers."