A new fire department is opening soon in a Union County community thanks to revenue from the coal severance tax.
Union County Judge Executive Adam O'Nan says the $500,000 dollar volunteer fire department in Waverly will be operational in about three weeks.
The project is one of three the county is funding with coal severance revenue. O'Nan said that the county is also working on a backup emergency generator for Morganfield and a clean water project for Uniontown.
"This water project will provide cleaner and fresher water with better pressure to both our Uniontown residents and some of our county water district citizens as well," O'Nan said.
O'Nan says coal severance tax revenue must go to projects or "nonrecurring expenses."
These funds are provided through a tax on coal production going back into the counties where the coal was produced.
According to the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Union County is the largest producer of coal in the commonwealth.
