Hardinsburg Town Board Sees Full Turnover as Tensions Rise Over Senior Center Use
- Jacob Dufour | Publisher
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
Just six weeks after the Town of Hardinsburg was officially reinstated on June 17, all four members of the original town board have resigned and been replaced.
The original board, comprised of council president David Davis Jr., clerk/treasurer Kathy Jackey, and council members Rick Millholland and Jill McKinley, was succeeded by a new council consisting of Wayne Johnson (president), Alexandra Jimerson, and Hank O’Neal, who took his oath of office during a town meeting on Friday, July 25.
Ashley Johnson, wife of council president Wayne Johnson, was appointed clerk/treasurer on Thursday, July 31, following a nomination by Jimerson and a second by O’Neal.
But as the town works to reestablish itself, tensions have surfaced over the future of the building that the town board is meeting in – a building that for years has been known as the Hardinsburg Senior Citizens Center. Previously used exclusively as a gathering place for local seniors, some residents fear that the town board's presence and ownership of the building will have a detrimental impact on the seniors' organization.
Pamela Lockhart, a member of the Hardinsburg Senior Citizens organization, voiced those concerns at the July 25 meeting. “It was built with a grant for the Town of Hardinsburg for senior citizens,” she said, citing rumors that the town intends to take over the building entirely.
“I was told it was ‘the Hardinsburg building’, and ‘we’re gonna do what we want with it,’” Lockhart said.
“Well, I don’t know who told you that—” Wayne Johnson began to reply, before Lockhart interjected: “They’re higher up than you.”
Johnson responded firmly: “As far as town property goes, there’s no one higher up than this board right here. No one has control over these buildings except the three people sitting up here.”
Johnson sought to reassure Lockhart and others in attendance that there are no plans to evict or sideline the senior citizens group. “All we ask is that whatever you have scheduled for the senior community throughout the month, just give me the dates. I will block them off, and you’ll have access to this building whenever you want to.”
Lockhart remained skeptical. “Well, if you’re going to let everybody come in here and use this, then these tables are going to go,” she said, referring to the tables in the building purchased by the senior organization.
“If you want to take all this stuff, we’re not going to stop you,” Johnson replied. “You guys own it. But what you’re worried about is not going to happen. We can coexist and use this building together.”
He added, “If you could put just a little trust in the board you used to not trust, I would almost guarantee that you won’t be disappointed in what’s going to happen.”
Another resident offered a broader perspective: “These good people have taken care of something for years, and it’s like someone has come into their home and said, ‘This is how you’re gonna do it.’ And I understand [the board's] position. But it’s not just the last two years – it’s the last thirty years that it’s been not right in this town. So you’re gonna get pushback from us elders who have been here and seen this.”
Jimerson acknowledged the frustration and emphasized cooperation. “The outcome of the town and this building really rests on how well we all work together. We’re extending our olive branch and just asking that you meet us halfway. There's gonna be some bumps along the road, but there has to be some mutual respect and trust.”
The subject was revisited at the July 31 meeting, where Jimerson again clarified that the senior citizens group could continue using the building free of charge and would not be responsible for utilities or maintenance.
Concerned resident Gary E. Holloway voiced support for Lockhart’s position, stating that the building was intended specifically for the senior citizens and that they had originally voted to apply for the grant that funded it.
Wayne Johnson acknowledged those claims but stated that it was in fact the town itself that had applied for the grant in the 1990s. He said he had a copy of the contract but preferred to wait for the town attorney’s interpretation before discussing it further. The attorney is expected to give an opinion at the next town meeting on Tuesday, August 19.
The board also expressed interest in mailing out printed newsletters listing upcoming senior events, ensuring that older residents who don’t use email or Facebook still stay informed.
“It’s a big misconception that we’re trying to force [the senior citizens] out or control them,” Johnson said. “All we’ve asked is that they give us their dates. They have first rights to the building. They’re the seniors of the community, and we want to make sure they’re taken care of.”
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