The future is again looking bright for one small town in Grayson County, with its team of only a handful of people, they are hard at work making more improvements to Clarkson.

With the beginning of a new year, and 2009 at a close, Clarkson Mayor Bonnie Henderson looks forward to a prosperous season as well as grant opportunities for the town.

Two of the biggest things on the agenda is the completion of a new elementary school and the arrival of a 2010 pumper truck for Clarkson Volunteer Fire Department.

There is also the possibility of a community center being constructed, as well as a sidewalk expansion, allowing a safe travel route for kids to and from school.

"Clarkson's future has so much potential to grow," Henderson said. "The school will be finished this year. We may finally get a community center for the city, and I am also looking into a Safe Route to School grant."

During an interview earlier this week, the mayor explained that Senator Carroll Gibson was to thank for helping her find available grant funding. Henderson saw the need for the sidewalk grant, because the school location does not have sufficient enough sidewalks for students to travel to and forth on.

"Madisonville got $230,000 grant for sidewalks and the city did not have to pay a dime," Henderson mentioned. "The grant opened on January 1."

Grant funding also allowed the government to get a 2010 fire truck from Ferrara, a company based out of Louisiana.

The winning bid was for $209, 821, plus $26,210 for four-wheel drive options. All the city was required to pay was 10 percent of the total cost, thanks to a FEMA grant.

"The group (commissioners) works well together," she said. "I could not ask for a better group to work with. We are constantly discussing the needs and listen to the public, allowing us to feel like we know the wants and needs. We have been able to accomplish a lot together."

Henderson added that she was very excited about Clarkson having the chance to get a community center. The new construction would involve using recycled materials from the old Clarkson Elementary School.

She previously mentioned wanting to use wood from the old basketball floor, materials from the kitchen, as well as any other materials they could get.

"I have spoken with Barry Anderson about getting things from the Clarkson school," Henderson explained. "He said he would allow for us to use some of the items."

Henderson felt the announcement of the Grayson County film project would help boost the economy.

The movie would entail a year-long dedication of crews filming different areas in Grayson County, and interviewing various residents on the history of the area. The 60-minute project is slated to be completed by the end of 2010. An official movie-release party will take place in Leitchfield. Marvo Entertainment representative Sam Koltinsky's idea came at just the right time, because the county is celebrating its 200-year celebration.

"We voted to do the film production," she replied. "Times are so hard and people are just struggling to get by. This film will be a way to inspire people and bring new excitement to our county."

The mayor reflected on 2009 and noted that she was glad the city made it through the ice storm disaster okay.

"The beginning of the last year the ice storm consumed us," Henderson remembered. "We did our own chipping after the ice storm. That took us through April. Our funds were depleted and we were in survival mode then, until we got our FEMA reimbursement. The $63,000 we received covered all of the expenses."

A new police car was purchased for over $20,000, Barton Run Creek walking trail was remulched, the city participated in the Green Entrepreneurship Leadership program and finished out the year with the purchase of a new garbage truck for $119,000.

"We did have 25 percent to pay down on it," Henderson explained. "We are trying to upgrade equipment, because everything is so old. The city was spending so much money on repairs."

One of the biggest surprises for 2009 was the continued growth of the Clarkson Community Park ball program. The city government felt the program is looking into installing lights on the fourth ball field, because the program is going so well.

"That location is always growing," she said. "We really have some good people running it, because of this, we felt we needed more lighting for the existing fields."

Future plans are to work with the Kentucky Department of Transportation on widening Highway 224 (Millerstown Road) and get it incorporated with sidewalks.

"It is hard to do a lot with our budget," Henderson explained, "because we only have four full-time employees, but seem to get a lot accomplished with what we have."