Meade County to reap benefits of state funds for water and sewer projects

By LARRY SEE JR.
Messenger Staff

A $1 million dollar legislative appropriation, in the form of a grant, has cleared the way for several water and sewer projects to be completed in Meade County.

During a special meeting of the Meade County Fiscal Court May 16, Judge Executive Harry Craycroft explained the appropriation was authored last year by state Sen. Carroll Gibson and former state Rep. Gerry Lynn.

Craycroft said the grant award was spearheaded by Lynn and the process started in 2006, but the bonds were not sold until earlier this year.

According to Craycroft, the Fiscal Court needed to decide how to divide the funds accordingly. He said the Lincoln Trail Area Development District would take care of the paperwork at no charge.

Under the legislative terms, these funds were allocated:

• 500,000 to be used for water and sewer at the industrial park. This is the only portion of the funds specifically earmarked.

The other funds could be allocated accordingly:

• The city of Brandenburg has requested funds to place five bores underneath the bypass, at an individual cost of $12,000 to $15,000 each for a grand total of $75,000. Craycroft said these costs could increase, depending on what the construction firm finds when the bores are completed. These bores will be there for any new expansion which arises as a result of the bypass expansion.

• The Meade County Water District was awarded $100,000 to complete a water line loop in the Rabbit Run Road area. Engineering work will be needed on the project, located in the county’s southern portion. (Additional information on this proposal is in a separate story.)

• Necessary upgrades to the sewer and water plant in the city of Muldraugh. The city could receive $325,000 of the funds.

“Their sewer and stormwater plant has some major problems,” Craycroft said. “They have to fix it or else the government is going to come in and then the cost will be higher.”

Craycroft said the proposed projects needed to be submitted to the LTADD soon.

Magistrate Herbert Chism indicated the expected repairs for the plant could top $750,000, which doesn’t include the cost of a $50,000 pump which broke last weekend. He said the city is currently renting a bypass pump for the system.

Craycroft suggested magistrates might want to review these projects and perhaps identify others for consideration.

Final decisions could be made during a special meeting May 23 at 7 p.m.