LOUISA, KY. — As the dwindling coal industry continues to drain population from east Kentucky coal counties the urgency to make sure all persons living here being counted becomes greater.
A region that is now heavily dependent of federal and state dollars could lose representation in the U.S.and state governments as well and grants and other federal benefits.
Karen Coburn, the regional director of the Census Bureau’s offices in Kentucky, told judge executive Phillip Carter and the Lawrence Fiscal Court at yesterday’s (Tuesday) meeting that every person not counted costs $2,021 a year over the ten year period of the census which begins officially in April of 2020.
“According to our latest estimates there are about 2,800 people living in Lawrence County who have never been counted and we really need to get them this time,” Coburn said. She said census jobs applications are available for anyone interested in working for pay (which is quite generous) can do so now. The Lazer has posted the email and ph # for doing so on our inside pages top right.
County Attorney Mike Hogan asked Ms. Coburn if illegal aliens are to be counted and if there is not a lawsuit headed to the Supreme Court considering the issue of counting them. “Don’t you count every person, illegal or not in the census?” Hogan asked.
Ms. Coburn said the CB will continue to count every person no matter their status and also said names are not distributed in any form of those counted in the census. “When we get the information it turns into data and the names are not used,” Ms. Coburn said.
County Clerk Chris Jobe asked Coburn about the difference in the numbers the census gives out for Lawrence County. “You just said we are now estimated at about 15,000 but the latest census report has us well over 16,000,” Jobe said. “Which is correct?”
Coburn said the figures she gave the court are the very latest census reports available to her and she did not know about Jobe’s question.
“So what do we need to do here?” judge Carter asked.
Coburn said the purpose of her visit and a similar one last week to the Louisa City Council, was to encourage the county to form a committee, which is a new idea from the CB. She said the number of committee members was up to the county and so was their procedure although the CB has suggestions as to how to get everyone counted.
“This is something very important to this county and this region especially during this time,” Coburn added.
On motion of Rick Blackburn and second by Mike “Mouse” Halcomb the county agreed to form a committee and participate in the effort.
Is Phil sick? He looks bad there.