Clark County’s two legislators offered some good news and some less than good news Wednesday in their update about the ongoing General Assembly session.

State Rep. Les Yates and state Sen. Ralph Alvarado, both Republicans from Winchester, spoke for about 90 minutes to a group of about 20 people at the Clark County Public Library.

Alvarado, who was announced as Gov. Matt Bevin’s running mate last week, said he doesn’t expect any progress on the pension situation during this year’s 30-day session. A special session, he said, may not be out of the question for later this year. Part of the reason is a special session requires 60 votes to approve a bill, while a regular session or a special session only requires a simple majority of 51. Alvarado said Senate leaders have said they simply don’t have the votes this time.

After an acrimonious regular session in 2018 which approved pension reforms affecting teachers, public employees as well as cities and counties, the Kentucky Supreme Court overturned the pension bill in December for procedural reasons. A special session called by Bevin before Christmas adjourned after one day with no action taken.

Alvarado said he met with Transportation Cabinet officials earlier Wednesday to discuss a number of projects in Clark County including finishing the bypass, extending Fulton Road and finding a solution to industrial traffic on Seventh Street.

Under the state’s current system, projects are graded on a number of factors, he said. Typically, high-scoring projects will be in the 80s, he said. The bypass project, which would connect Bypass Road with Veterans Memorial Bypass, carries a score of 63, he said.

In contract, the Fulton Road project, which has been discussed for decades, was scored a 5, he said.

“It may not rank high enough to get the money we need,” he said.

Seventh Street, however, is an unknown. The project would add a new exit for truck traffic from Gate Precast and The Freeman Corporation other than through a residential neighborhood. Alvarado  said he asked the department to develop a score for the project and see what can be accomplished.

“It’s very important to a section of our community that hasn’t had a voice for a long time,” he said.

Yates, who is in his first month as a legislator, said he is still working to find his footing.

“I wish I could sit here and tell you about all the new bills,” he said. “Give me until the end of February and I’ll probably be up to speed. From what I’ve seen in Frankfort, I think we’re in good hands.”

The 30-day session is scheduled to resume Tuesday.