Recently departed Rosemary Taylor honored by city commission
The Henderson City Commission Tuesday presented a proclamation honoring the life of Rosemary Taylor to her family.
Taylor, who died on Monday, was active in the community in work, volunteer and church roles. According to the proclamation, she was a special education teacher in the Henderson County School system for nearly three decades.
She also worked at Colonial Assisted Living and later at the John F. Kennedy Center, where she helped with afterschool and summer programs.
Taylor also helped with 4 Good Community and was active in her church, Greater Norris Chapel Baptist Church.
The proclamation additionally said paid tribute to the life and legacy of Rosemary Taylor, who “leaves a lasting impact on the community.”
“Just to come here and see the love and the support that my sister has has just made this part of this journey easier,” said Taylor’s sister, Carol Taylor. “It’s just so nice to be able to see that.”
She “had such a giving heart,” Carol Taylor said. “She loved working with the kids. She loved working with the community. She won’t be forgotten.”
Best friend Mary Petrie said, “She’s really going to be missed. You wouldn’t believe how many people knew Rosemary.”
Rosemary Taylor’s funeral service was Thursday at Greater Norris Chapel Baptist Church. Read her obituary here.
Joint resolution supporting bridge construction a needed piece to create a tolling authority
Both the Henderson County Fiscal Court and Henderson City Commission have approved a joint resolution to support the completion of the bridge, or section 2, of the I-69 Ohio River Crossing Project, which includes creating a tolling authority to pay for the massive task.
Gary Valentine, with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, spoke at the city commission’s meeting via video call. Valentine said the almost $1 billion project needs a financial plan in place before any work can begin.
He said 1/3 of the project’s projected $970 million cost will be financed through a tolling.
The approval of the resolution by both local governmental bodies is a piece that allows for a bi-state development agreement to be put in place, which would include the creation of a tolling authority comprised of representatives from both Kentucky and Indiana, Valentine said.
He said he expects the contracts for construction of the bridge to be in place in 2026, with construction to start in early 2027. Valentine expects a 4-year construction timeframe, with the bridge open to traffic in the summer of 2031.
While Valentine was still on the call, Henderson Mayor Brad Staton reiterated his desire to keep both of the Twin Bridges open after the new bridge is useable.
Valentine was noncommittal on that hope, saying that the current plan calls for one of the bridges to be eliminated but that there are six more years in which that may be revisited.