Written by John F Robbins
If you’ve driven recently in southern Kenton County, you’ve likely seen signs like this and wondered what they mean. “S.R.I.” is Kenton County government’s abbreviation for its “Site Readiness Initiative” plan which would make preparations to attract manufacturing facilities and warehouses to be built on agricultural and rural lands in the southwestern section of the county between Maher Rd and the Grant County line. Many residents in southern Kenton County strongly oppose this idea, which is why they are buying and posting these signs on their properties.
Much of the land in question has very little access to public water, sewers, natural gas or large enough electricity capacity. According to the S.R.I., our county and the utilities would make these improvements as an investment to attract manufacturers and other heavy businesses. Narrow 2-lane rural roads would also be widened and improved for future heavy truck traffic. Creating a new connection between US-25 and I-75/71 has also been suggested. All this would cost a huge amount of money. And when it’s all done, the developments would permanently change the rural and agricultural characteristics which are loved and cherished by current residents in the area…