Seven western Kentucky counties will receive $7 million in state funding to funnel into various water infrastructure improvements over the next six years.
Christian
Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman presented $2.5 million to Christian County on Wednesday for five projects.
Oak Grove received $268,835 to update aging elements of its infrastructure — chiefly to replace 150 commercial water meters that have lessened in functionality over time. The new meters are intended to better help the system monitor its water use.
The Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority received $1.18 million to replace a small portion of customer water meters with automated meter-reading technology, rehabilitate several sewer maintenance holes with infiltration problems, construct a new pumping station and potentially extend the sewer lines if remaining funds permit.
The Christian County Water District received $1.13 million to extend water service to some sparsely populated rural areas that currently do not have access to potable drinking water. Kyle Cunningham, infrastructure coordinator for the Pennyrile Area Development District, said these areas would not have been economically feasible to address without grant money.
“This project will help that system out to be able to extend that service to people who have never had running water to their homes other than using a well or having to haul water in themselves,” Cunningham said. “It’s nice to get some of these projects done that may not have been done without the help with the grants.”
Cunningham said other counties in the Pennyrile and Purchase regions — including Trigg and Livingston — will receive similar state funding soon.
Caldwell
That same day, Coleman presented about $1 million to Caldwell County for five other projects.
The county at large received $220,000 to replace aging hydrants that are no longer functioning and install a control valve at the Hopkinsville Road Tank — plus a separate $88,300 through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to resurface portions of Old Madisonville Road and Rufus Road.
Caldwell County Public School received $530,000 through KYTC to install turn lanes near its elementary school, and the Princeton Water and Wastewater Commission received $220,000 for improvements at the wastewater treatment plant.
Fredonia received $28,147 to install valves intended to isolate leaks along the water line running between Fredonia and Eddyville.
Calloway
Calloway County received $1.4 million for three projects — including $932,352 to Murray to relocate the 4th Street water main, $300,000 to Dexter-Almo Heights Water District to extend water service to 60 unserved houses, and $200,000 to South 641 Water District for improvements to prevent collapsed water lines.
Carlisle
Carlisle County received nearly $500,000, more than half of which was granted to the county itself through KYTC to resurface portions of Hopewell Road, Kindell Road, Mayfield Church Road, Old Clinton Road, Sawmill Road and St. Charles Road. Milburn Water District received $174,816 to replace aging waterlines.
Ballard
Ballard County received nearly $300,000, which it will split evenly between Barlow to improve its wastewater treatment plant, Kevil to improve its wastewater system, La Center to replace cement water lines and customer water meters and Wickliffe to expand water lines.
Fulton
Fulton County received more than $200,000, split evenly between Fulton to replace a sewer lift station to avoid sewer backup in residential homes and Hickman to replace the pump station that services Brownsville.
Hickman
Hickman County put its allotment of about $160,000 to Columbus for repairs to its water treatment plant.
Funding for the projects comes from Kentucky’s $250 million Cleaner Water Program, born out of the American Rescue Plan Act last year. Logan, Todd, Scott and Harrison counties also received funding as part of this effort.
In other infrastructure news, Gov. Andy Beshear announced today that Kentucky can receive more than $10 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation this year to deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
“Kentuckians are going to be making the batteries for these cars, and this will ensure we have the infrastructure in place that will allow Kentuckians to drive and enjoy them,” Beshear said.
