The residents of a small Kentucky city voted to dissolve its local government on Election Day.

After a razor-thin 67 to 60 vote, the city of Bonnieville will soon be no more.

“The city Bonnieville will dissolve into the hands of Hart County,” Spectrum News 1 noted.

The community, located about an hour south of Louisville, is home to under 300 people.

“I’m still wrapping my mind around it. I still haven’t, I don’t know, it just doesn’t seem real,” Bonnieville Mayor Marie Whitlow said, according to Spectrum News 1.

WATCH:

Spectrum News 1 reports:

Whitlow has been the mayor of the city for four years and it’s been of a family job as her mother served as mayor during the turn of the century.

“I love my community. I love my little town. Tried to do all I could to save it,” Whitlow said.

Her civic duty is ending on Dec. 8, 2024, when the city will dissolve into the hands of Hart County.

“There’s not going to be any light, any streetlights and no government help, no roadwork help…we have to depend on the county completely,” said Whitlow.

Bonnieville is made up of about 260 people and many of the residents said they spent most of their life in the small city. They said Bonnieville will still be Bonnieville, just without the city title.

“It was a very close, it was very divided, but it’s done been done and they know we need to look forward and carry on,” said Dennis Amos, Chief of the Bonnieville Fire Department.

The root cause of the petition to dissolve the city was taxes. The mayor said the city tax was the lowest in the county, but people in favor of the petition said those monies weren’t bettering the community.

Per WHAS 11:

Even with the city dissolving there is still a chance for them to reestablish themselves in the future.

“I just want everyone to come together,” Edwards said. “I can see both sides to dissolving the city and keeping the city. The lights are the biggest factor.”

Hart County Judge Executive Joe Choate said the county will be taking over maintenance of city streets, which will now become county roads.

“The transfer of assets, including City Hall, will be completed within 30 days, and we will work to ensure a seamless transition. While the county does not handle street lights, we are committed to work closely with everyone involved during this change,” he said in a statement.

LG&E and KU also gave a statement when questioned about if the city’s dissolvement will impact any resident’s bills.

“The Kentucky Public Service Commission establishes the boundary lines for service providers. This vote does not have any impact on that,” spokesperson Drew Gardner said. “KU is and will continue to be the electric service provider for residents in the City of Bonnieville even after its dissolution. The only accounts impacted are those owned directly by the city.”

As for the Volunteer Fire Department, Whitlow said they are independent and fund themselves. The termination of city government will not impact the department.

 

Join The Conversation. Leave a Comment.


We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.