GARY MOORE, BOONE COUNTY JUDGE EXECUTIVE WANTS THE COUNTY TO COMPETE WITH PRIVATE ENTERPRISE

A Really Bad Idea Whose Time Should Never Come

Boone County Judge Executive, Gary Moore is once again pushing a proposal for the County to be in the business of being in business. This time the Judge wants the County to build NINE EV charging stations throughout Boone County where the EV owning public can buy their electricity “directly” from Boone County.

“A showdown is brewing in the Boone County Fiscal Court about EV charging stations, and the meeting on December 17 may decide the issue by who has the most Boone County citizens on their side at the meeting.

Tuesday morning’s meeting ended with the issue of EV charging stations being voted back into discussion with the intention of voting on it. The basic argument is that Judge Executive Gary Moore wants to install 9 charging stations in the county, on county land, with the county in charge of selling the electricity, and Commissioner Chet Hand maintains the position that the county should definitely not be in the business of selling electricity, viewing it as expansion of government, and he believes the court should decline the grant offered by OKI.”

This is an idea that is far more than just an attempt to expand government. It is an idea the departs from the fundamentals of how we are governed. To frame that issue just a bit more precisely I have several questions for Judge Moore and so should you:

IF, Judge, you want to sell electricity do you also want to sell gasoline, windmills, and solar panels”

IF, Judge, you want to build and profit from EV charging stations is there an EV manufacturer whose vehicles you the County to sell?

IF, Judge, you build nine will you want to build more?

IF, Judge, you want the County to be in the business of selling energy do you also want it to be in the business of selling commodities such as food?

IF, Judge, you want to sell electricity for profit do you also want to sell propane for profit?

IF, Judge, you want to build nine charging station — supporting EV over gasoline powered vehicles do you also want to use pubic funds to build health care facilities?

IF, Judge Moore, you want to build, operate, and profit from nine EV charging stations do you also want to sell Boone County Pizza, while your customers wait to have their vehicles charged.

In short, Judge Moore, where does it end?

Back to the fundamentals of government and its purpose.

When government picks winners and losers in business - winners being those it chooses to compete against in the market place - it is also choosing to use tax payer dollars to support businesses that the public may not want to support. Obamacare comes to mind. EVEN IF the public overwhelmingly supports electric vehicles it may not support the use of public funds for the benefit of just a small sector of the public that owns EVs.

People buy all sorts of things that require support but they know that when they purchase those things. AND they know that as part of the cost of having an outdoor grill they have to pay for charcoal or propane themselves. EV’s are no different.

The purpose of government is to govern (duh). But how? If OUR federal government proposed to build EV stations for profit cries, justified cries, of an attempt to nationalize the industry would be loud and persistent and just. Because that is what such a proposal is — an attempt to nationalize an industry sector for profit.

It matters little what Judge Moore’s motivation is. The outcome of what he is suggesting is far more important — nationalization of a public commodity at the county level. This is a proposal that NEVER should have seen the light of day. This is a proposal that needs to be soundly defeated by the County Commission on whom we rely to govern as our founders envisioned and with common sense.


Union, Kentucky
6 December 2024