EKB News

Frankfort, KY: Rep. Leslie Combs, (D-Pikeville), and Rep. Keith Hall, (D-Phelps), today announced that more than $3.1 million in coal severance money for sewer and water concerns throughout Pike County and millions more in economic development, public safety, infrastructure, and education projects will be coming to Pike County in the next two years, thanks to work they did on the state budget.

Coal severance tax revenue is used for basic improvements throughout coal-producing states in Kentucky. The coal severance tax is 4.5 percent levied on every ton of coal mined in Kentucky. Legislators work hand-in-hand with local county officials in targeting projects for the coal severance dollars.

"These water and sewer projects will provide clean drinking water and access to sewer lines throughout Pike County, improving the quality of life for our families and children," said Rep. Combs.

"Using coal severance money for these kinds of infrastructure improvement is exactly what it is intended for - to make our communities more livable and economically attractive to outside businesses looking to relocate," said Rep. Hall.

Water and Sewer Projects coming to Pike County:

$100,000 - City of Pikeville - Telemetry Equipment
$1.4 million - Mountain Water District - Long Fork Road - Virgie - Indian Creek Area Sewer Project
$1.3 million - Mountain Water District - Short Line Water Extensions
$200,000 - Mountain Water District - Telemetry Equipment
$150,000 - Mountain Water District - Waterline Extensions

In addition, Pike County will see these economic development projects:

$100,000 - City of Elkhorn City - Elkhorn Art Center
$50,000 - City of Elkhorn City - Elkhorn City - Police Vehicle
$9,000 - City of Elkhorn City - Elkhorn City Heritage Council
$20,000 - City of Elkhorn City - Elkhorn City Heritage Council - White Water Park
Feasibility Study
$75,000 - City of Elkhorn City - Elkhorn City Housing Development Corporation
$15,000 - City of Elkhorn City - Elkhorn City Park - Pool
$4,500 - City of Elkhorn City - Elkhorn City Railroad Museum - Equipment, Operating, and Improvements
$15,000 - City of Elkhorn City - Elkhorn City Renaissance Program - Equipment, Operating, and Improvements
$40,000 - City of Elkhorn City - Elkhorn City Senior Citizens - Room
$100,000 - City of Elkhorn City - Elkhorn City Water Lines - Repair, Replace, and Restore $400,000 - City of Pikeville - Bill Lykins Creek Water Project
$300,000 - City of Pikeville - Bob Amos Debt Service
$325,000 - City of Pikeville - Bob Amos Park - Improvements
$180,000 - City of Pikeville - Buckley Creek Sewer Extensions
$200,000 - City of Pikeville - City Streets - Improvements
$350,000 - City of Pikeville - Hambley Field Debt
$880,000 - City of Pikeville - Marion Branch Economic Development - Construction
$220,000 - City of Pikeville - Marions Branch Sewer Project
$250,000 - City of Pikeville - North Mayo Trail - Fire/Police Station
$5,000 - City of Pikeville - Pikeville Artisan Center - Operation and Maintenance
$200,000 - City of Pikeville - Police Vehicles
$100,000 - City of Pikeville - Thompson Sewer Project
$2.85 million - Mountain Water District - Belfry - Pond Area Sewer
$400,000 - Mountain Water District - LMI Service Connections
$800,000 - Mountain Water District - Smith Fork Sewer Phase II
$400,000 - Mountain Water District - Sycamore/Lower John's Creek Water Project
$200,000 - Mountain Water District - Various Short Line Extensions
$400,000 - Mountain Water District - Water Treatment Plant - Upgrades
$45,000 - Pike County Board of Education - Belfry - Athletic Complex - Equipment, Operating, and Improvements
$3,205 - Pike County Board of Education - Belfry Middle School - Operating
$3,866 - Pike County Board of Education - Belfry YSC
$1,577 - Pike County Board of Education - Bevins Elementary School - Operating
$1,475 - Pike County Board of Education - Blackberry Elementary School - Operating
$3,561 - Pike County Board of Education - Dorton Elementary School - Operating
$45,000 - Pike County Board of Education - East Ridge High School - Athletic Programs
$6,919 - Pike County Board of Education - East Ridge YSC - Operating
$8,904 - Pike County Board of Education - Elkhorn City Elementary - Operating
$6,411 - Pike County Board of Education - Feds Creek - Operating
$2,391 - Pike County Board of Education - GF Johnson - Operating
$3,460 - Pike County Board of Education - Johns Creek - Operating
$1,679 - Pike County Board of Education - Kimper Elementary School - Operating
$5,546 - Pike County Board of Education - Majestic Elementary School - Operating
$3,968 - Pike County Board of Education - Millard Middle School - Operating
$2,646 - Pike County Board of Education - Mullins - Operating
$4,426 - Pike County Board of Education - Phelps Elementary School - Operating
$90,000 - Pike County Board of Education - Phelps High School - Athletic Field Improvements
$70,000 - Pike County Board of Education - Phelps High School - Phelps History Center - Equipment, Operating, and Improvements
$100,000 - Pike County Board of Education - Phelps High School Athletic Field - Improvements
$7326 - Pike County Board of Education - Phelps YSC - Operating
$4,528 - Pike County Board of Education - Pike Central - Operating
$45,000 - Pike County Board of Education - Pike Central High School - Athletic Complex - Equipment, Operating, and Improvements
$45,000 - Pike County Board of Education - Pikeville High School - Athletic Programs
$4,070 - Pike County Board of Education - Robinson Creek - Operating
$3,663 - Pike County Board of Education - Runyon Elementary School - Operating
$3,866 - Pike County Board of Education - Shelby Valley - Operating
$4,478 - Pike County Board of Education - Southside Elementary School - Operating
$2,035 - Pike County Board of Education - Virgie Middle School - Operating
$300,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Appalachian Hospice, Inc.
$25,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Belfry Hope - Operations
$75,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Black Gem Park Project
$140,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Dorton Community Center - Construction
$20,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Dorton Fire Department
$275,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - East Kentucky Expo Center - Operations and Maintenance
$150,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Energy Research Center - Feasibility Study
$200,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Fire Department - Equipment, Operations, Improvements
$100,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Fishtrap ATV Trail
$100,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Greasy Creek Park Project
$74,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Hatfield and McCoy Park at McCarr
$10,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Joe's Creek Community Center
$50,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Kentucky Hope Incorporated - Operations
$200,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Kimper Building Operation - Improvements
$135,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Kimper Fire Department - New Trucks
$50,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - KY HOPE - Equipment, Operating, Improvements
$10,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Long Fork Fire Department
$30,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Phelps Fire Department - Building Expansion
$25,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Phelps Help - Operations
$70,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Phelps History Center - Operations -
$900,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Pike County Recreational Department
$200,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Pike County Sheriff - Vehicles
$25,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Pikeville HOPE - Operations
$200,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Pikeville Medical Center - Juvenile Drug Treatment Program
$40,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - PRIDE Program
$100,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Senior Citizens - Equipment,- Operations, Improvements
$10,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Senior Citizens Program - Equipment, Operating, and Improvements
$20,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Shelby Creek Volunteer Rescue Squad
$10,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Shelby Valley Fire Department - Long Fork Station
$100,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Technology Infrastructure
$50,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - Turkey Creek Fire Department - Equipment and Operations
$50,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - US 23 at Robinson Creek Exit onto Collins Highway North, Lighting and Exit Improvement
$200,000 - Pike County Fiscal Court - West Care of Pike County at Lookout - Female Drug Treatment - Operations and Maintenance

"I know this was a lean budget year, but I believe that we were able to spread the funding around so that much of the fiscal need in Pike County was met," said Rep. Combs. "Education, tourism, environmental programs, public safety, health care and infrastructure projects will all benefit from this budget and I'm very proud of that fact."

"Living in a rural area, we understand the value that these projects will bring to Pike County," said Rep. Hall. "And I know that every one of these dollars will be maximized to the fullest as Pike County works together to move our beautiful region of the state forward in the coming years."