EKB News

Frankfort, KY; Rep. Ancel Smith, (D-Leburn) and Rep. Leslie Combs, (D-Pikeville), announced that the state budget that the Kentucky General Assembly passed last week will include $2.5 in coal severance money for sewer and water concerns throughout Letcher County and millions more for economic development projects.

Coal severance tax revenue is used for basic improvements throughout coal-producing states in Kentucky.

"Letcher County residents will greatly benefit from these water and sewer projects I was able to provide in the state budget," said Rep. Smith. "They will also improve our county's economic development potential, while enhancing the quality of life for all of our children and families.

"I am very proud that we were able to include these projects in the budget considering the difficult financial strains our state is operating under," said Rep. Combs. "Providing clean drinking water and access to sewer lines to all of Letcher County is one of my legislative priorities and these projects will bring Letcher County one step closer to that goal."

Letcher County water and sewer project s include:

$250,000 - City of Whitesburg - Wastewater Plant Project
$400,000 -Letcher County Fiscal Court - Cane Branch/McPeaks Branch
$850,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Red Star/Hallie Water Project
$100,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Sewer Extension - Burdine #2 Bottom
$750,000 - Letcher County Water and Sewer District - Red Star/Ulvah/Hallie Waterline Extensions

In addition, Rep. Smith and Rep. Combs included several economic development projects in the state budget for Letcher County including:

$50,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Appalachian Area Early Child Care Development Center
$25,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Appalshop
$100,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - ARH Women's Center
$150,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Blackey Community Center
$40,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Campbell's Branch Fire Department Extension
$15,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - City Police Departments
$10,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Cowen Community Action Group
$70,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Fields Cliff Water Line Extension
$200,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Fire Training at Neon
$200,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Fish Pond Lake
$15,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Fleming/Neon Bridge Construction
$40,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Fleming/Neon Tim Hall Park
$50,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Fleming/Neon Water Line Upgrades
$20,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Hemphill Community Center
$250,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Highway 119 - Mayking/Payne Gap Water Project
$500,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Highway 160 - Premium Water Project
$150,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Kingdom Come School
$1 million - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Knott County Interconnect/Hway 1410 Water Project
$300,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Letcher County Animal Shelter
$30,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Letcher County Clerk's Office
$20,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Letcher County Coal Miner's Museum
$100,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Letcher County Community Centers
$100,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Letcher County Domestic Violence Center
$200,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Letcher County Fire Departments
$200,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Letcher County Health Department Purchase
$100,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Letcher County Libraries
$125,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Letcher County Park Lights
$250,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Letcher County Parks and Recreation
$50,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Letcher County Planning Commission
$30,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Letcher County PVA's Office
$200,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Letcher County Sanitation Department
$300,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Letcher County Senior Citizens Centers Improvements and Operations
$60,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Letcher County Sheriff's Department - Operations
$50,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Letcher County Tourism
$50,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Letcher County Veterans Museum - Operations and Improvements
$100,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Little Shepherd Amphitheater
$750,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Millstone Water Project
$500,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - Pert Creek/Pine Creek/Cram Creek Water
$50,000 - Letcher County Fiscal Court - World War II Monument

"We have so many worthy organizations and institutions in need throughout Letcher County and I am pleased that this funding will support them," said Rep. Combs.

"These projects will allow Letcher County to keep moving forward on many fronts - education, health care, tourism, and public safety - and I'm very proud that I was able to get these in the budget," said Rep. Smith.