Mayfield is breaking ground on a new city hall, the police department is almost three years old

Mayfield, the seat of Graves County, celebrated a groundbreaking Thursday for a new city hall and police department downtown.

Mayor Kathy O’Nan spoke emotionally about the community’s road to recovery after a historic long-range tornado killed 24 people in the county and damaged or destroyed thousands of structures as it moved across the state.

“The journey to this location was stressful at times,” O’Nan said. “It caused us a lot of concern because when you’re talking about millions and millions of dollars and you’re just not quite sure where to get it from… you get worried, but here we are.”

In addition to O’Nan, federal, state and local officials spoke at the groundbreaking, including Gov. Andy Beshear. The governor spoke about his experience the night of the tornado outbreak on December 10th. It killed 81 Kentuckians and impacted communities across western and central Kentucky.

“One of the hardest nights of my life was sitting in the emergency dispatch center while an EF-4 tornado remained on the ground for over 200 miles in Kentucky,” Beshear said. “Today is the realization of the hope that because you have put one foot in front of the other, even though your entire city is in ruins around you, you have reached that great day when you know that the means to rebuild “The buildings and infrastructure are in place to rebuild your City Hall better than ever and to ensure, for the first time in Mayfield’s history, that your major police department has its own headquarters.”

Mayfield Police Chief Nathan Kent began his remarks by noting that Thursday was the 1,028th. It is the city’s day of relaxation. The police chief said he is confident the new facilities will be “modern engineering marvels that every Graves County resident can be proud of.”

“When I arrived in Mayfield the night of the tornado, every one of your officers had become self-employed. They left their own families to help those in need. Many worked on foot that night as half the fleet was destroyed,” Kent said. “Despite seemingly endless challenges, these young men and women have never missed a call to service. I am very proud of their continued delivery of service to our community.”

Kent added that the police department’s standalone building will be constructed to support the department’s formal accreditation.

The Kentucky General Assembly appropriated just over $48.2 million West Kentucky State Aid Funding for Emergencies (SAFE) Fund to build a new city hall and police station, renovate the Mayfield Electric and Water Systems buildings, and build a new fire station. The city laid the foundation stone for the new fire station last month.

Beshear and O’Nan both praised the work of Republican Kentucky State Senator Jason Howell and outgoing Republican Kentucky State Representative Richard Heath in efforts to get this funding approved by the General Assembly. Heath paused during his speech to wipe tears from his face as he spoke of how “the heartbeat of Mayfield Town Hall never stopped after the disaster.”

“The city and county governments, along with state and federal officials, worked together to meet needs day by day until order and stability could be restored,” he said. “The business of the city government continued, and soon it will be back in one place and functioning even better than before the tornado. That’s what happens when everyone comes together and works for the common good.”

Graves County broke ground on a new courthouse in December 2023, shortly after the two-year anniversary of the disaster.

To date, more than $21.6 million has been allocated from the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund to build or repair 300 homes in the state. To date, more than 200 homes have been completed or are under construction – over 100 of which are in Graves County.

In the days and weeks following the tornado, the community came together with the help of outside agencies and volunteers to help neighbors pick up the debris. O’Nan compared the resilience of the city and its people to a huge sequoia tree And the nature of its roots.

“They intertwine and hold each other when these mighty winds blow, and they do not fall. This is who we are: We are these roots,” she said. “This city that we love so much has withstood all pressures. Whether you are a lifelong Mayfieldian, have only lived here for a short time, or have just traveled to celebrate with us today, you are part of our roots.”

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also spoke at the groundbreaking, drawing laughter from the crowd and from Beshear when he called O’Nan his “favorite Democrat.” The Republican who will step down from his leadership position in Novembersaid Thursday was a big day for the western Kentucky city.

“I’m sure there were days when many of you thought: Will we ever get there? So today is a symbol of the answer to the question: We will do it,” McConnell said. “We will rebuild Mayfield. It will be the most modern city in Kentucky.”

Kentucky’s federal delegation helped score a goal 123 million dollars In Federal funding so that Kentucky can rebuild from the natural disasters of 2021.

The modernization plans mentioned by Beshear and McConnell also include: a joint initiative of the Kentucky Department of Local Government and the Kentucky Housing Corporation announced in June. The agencies will use a portion of these funds to support the construction of nearly 1,000 affordable rental units in Western Kentucky to replenish the region’s housing stock following the disaster. More than 120 of these units will be built in Mayfield.

“There are still families in need, and we will continue to build these homes because the last family to get one of these homes is just as important as the first,” Beshear said. “Make sure we do this right, that we answer this calling, and that we keep the promise that Mayfield will be the newest city in all of Kentucky and in all of America.”

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