A couple of concerned citizens are asking local officials to request that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet make some adjustments to the planned Thruston-Dermont Road renovation project.
The project involves the section of Thruston Dermont Road beginning at Hayden Road and ending at KY 54. Generally, the proposal includes widening the roadway, adding a pedestrian sidewalk, and eliminating hazardous sight distances.
Speaking at the Owensboro-Daviess County Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting last week, Jim and RaeAnne Gauley said that residents are nervous about adding sidewalks to the neighborhood for multiple reasons.
In addition to saying they think their property values would decrease, Jim Gauley said they are asking for no sidewalks to be added because of foot traffic “that will lend itself to making our houses more accessible and vulnerable to theft from people walking up and down the road checking in, looking at garages, that kind of thing.”
During the meeting, Daviess County Commissioner Janie Marksberry said that she is sure the property value will decrease as a result of the project, especially given most homes along the road have an already small front yard that would shrink in size if the road is widened.
“A lot of those homes don’t have very much front yard to begin with. Being a real estate broker for 38 years and an appraiser, I know how that’s going to affect that property,” she said.
The Gauleys also mentioned that one resident on the road would have to lose his home entirely and ask that KYTC find a remedy for the property so that he can keep his home.
The property owner Thomas Dant talked to Owensboro Times about the issue in April, when he said KYTC did not contact him before a public meeting to discuss the project. However, when Dant talked to Owensboro Times he said after being overwhelmed at first, he’d since given it some thought and was willing to sell his property to the state.
KYTC Public Information Officer Keirsten Jaggers said in April that while their priority is reducing property owner impacts as much as possible, the decision to pass through Dant’s property was made due because it reduces the impact on other homeowners.
State Senator Gary Boswell said he has communicated with KYTC, supports the widening project, and urges the state to move forward even though Dant will lose his home.
“I will make every effort and do whatever I can do to work with the state to make sure Mr. Dant is properly compensated, but I think this is an urgent project,” Boswell said.
Because the MPO does not make the final decision on the road designs, the future of the project ultimately lies with KYTC. However, the MPO members and local officials can communicate if they feel the project is a priority or if there needs to be more discussion.
There was no official decision during the MPO meeting on what to do next regarding the project.
