Kentucky County Eyeing Timber Firms Over Road Damage

A western Kentucky county is eyeing loggers and their trucks as the cause of damage to county roads.

The Hopkins County Fiscal Court is weighing a measure to fine large trucks if they damage county roads while hauling big loads. The ordinance is set for a second reading on Sept. 4.

Under the proposal, the county would videotape the condition of the road before a logging job and identify the best route to take. A second video taken after the job would determine if any damage occurred. Violators could be penalized up to $500.

Loggers complain that out-of-town firms do most of the damage. Hopkins County Judge-Executive Donnie Carroll told The Messenger that the proposal is aimed at finding violators from outside the county who damage the roads.