Dear Editor,

A recent out-of-state letter addressed to the Martin County judge/executive and magistrates referenced the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC). The author made several inaccurate comments and statements about what the League does and how we help local governments. While KLC has no link to Martin County and is not involved in county government, we thought it important to outline how we do serve cities in the Martin County area.

The Kentucky League of Cities is a membership organization of more than 370 cities and municipal agencies. Our mission is to serve the people who serve in their communities every day. We ensure smaller cities such as Inez and Warfield have a big voice by working together as one unified group. Our organization also provides these cities with legal services, economic development, research, training, affordable insurance, safety guidelines, and more. We are often a treasure trove of information and resources for small cities that don’t have a large staff.

Home rule – the idea that local decisions are best made at the local level – has always been the cornerstone of our organization. We advocate for local control and believe the people that citizens elect in their neighborhood are the most knowledgeable about what that community needs and experiences. We have been and will always be a strong defender and advocate for a city’s legislative body and its ability to govern as it sees fit.

We are not involved in any county government operation, do not provide county services, or institute any policies on any city or county. Only elected officials on the federal, state, and local levels can take such actions. We invite anyone to visit our website, klc.org, to see how we are working every day to help city officials improve the quality of life in the communities they love.

James D. Chaney
KLC Executive Director|CEO