By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
A permanent regional licensing office may be coming to Barren County.
Barren County Judge-executive Jamie Bewley Byrd said a regional licensing office is in the works with a site visit planned for the old health department building on West Washington Street.
The building that used to house the health department has been vacant ever since the department’s move into the Barren County Development Center in February. Following an unsuccessful auction where the $280,000 bid was not accepted, Byrd said the county — who owns the property — was exploring other options, including possibly selling the building to the city of Glasgow, encouraging apartment developments and subdividing the 2.94-acres property.
In an email shared with Glasgow News 1 by Byrd, the transportation cabinet is looking for a space between 2,000-3,000 square feet “with a minimum of 20 to 30 parking spaces, or available street parking or garage parking.”
In 2024, Barren County’s Administration and Budget Committee discussed a regional licensing office possibility with chairman and magistrate Marty Kinslow saying it would be an “economic boon” for the county.
Byrd said if transportation officials can find a suitable spot in Barren County, the licensing office likely won’t open until next year.
The Barren County Circuit Court Clerk Office used to handle local licensing. Clerk Julie Wright Jolly, who campaigned on trying to get licensing back in the county, said she’d be “tickled” to see an office open here.
“It’s crazy that a county this size does not have [an office],” Jolly said. “It’d be great to have [licensing] back in Barren County; I’d love for that to happen. I never want to say we’re getting it until it’s [here] but I feel like it’s coming…I feel we’re going to have it here fairly soon.”
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