Waiting game on for county grants

By HEATHER PYLES, Staff Writer

Somerset — Hurry up and wait.

Pulaski County Fiscal Court turned in applications for funding on projects for fiscal year 2010 before the deadline for those requests passed on Friday, and now, officials will wait — maybe for months — to see just how many of those projects will be approved.

New waterlines, sewer updates, bridge repairs and a security system for the courthouse are only a few of the projects the fiscal court has applied for, and should funding be approved for all applications, at least nine projects will be put on the to-do list for the county.

One project, a line item request sent to Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers’ office, is a waterline extension that will go along the new U.S. 27 between the intersection of U.S. 27 and Ky. 2227 and the interscetion of U.S. 27 and Ky. 1247, just south of Science Hill.

“Right now, there are no lines at all going up new U.S. 27,” said Pulaski County Judge-executive Barty Bullock.

The absence of water lines in that section of U.S. 27 will make it impossible for new businesses to locate along that part of the highway.

A water line already exists north of the Ky. 1247-U.S. 27 intersection because old 27 used to run along that same route.

The county has already received half of the $560,000 total for the project, leaving another $280,000 to possibly come through Rogers’ office.

“It will service existing businesses plus South Kentucky (RECC’s) new [site] and hopefully new businesses that will locate there,” Bullock said.

South Kentucky RECC owns an 86-property site at Norwood and Old Salts Road near Science Hill and off U.S. 27. where a new, updated facility will be located.

The county has also applied for funds through Rogers’ office for a sewer project at Green Meadows subdivision, located near Gold’s Gym off South U.S. 27.

“They’re right by U.S. 27, but they don’t have a sewer system,” Bullock said.

Bullock said he had received several requests for a project. The county is requesting $2,994,000 from Rogers for the plan.

“’We just know they need a sewer system down there and we’re trying to get money for it,” Bullock said.

A third project on the table for the county is a water storage and booster chlorination update for Barnes Knob residents, located in western Pulaski County.

The $681,000 project, also a request slated for Rogers’ office, will “improve reliability and service to 1,500 (water) customers,” Bullock said.

Two bridge projects are also included in the list, and both are necessary, according to Bullock.

The first is a replacement of Lower Line Creek Bridge, located in northeastern Pulaski County. The low-water bridge has been in need of replacement for a long while, Bullock said.

The concrete bridge has sunken in the middle and displays several cracks from years of use. High water situations can be dangerous because the bridge has no guard rails.

The bridge had been mentioned in several letters to the court, and Bullock said an incident occurred recently involving a Common-wealth Journal carrier that could’ve ended tragically.

The carrier’s car was swept off the bridge and into Lower Line Creek when he attempted to cross it, under the impression that the bridge was dry and safe. The sudden dip in the bridge made it impossible to tell that water was flowing over the surface.

The carrier was unhurt.

“”It creates a sense of urgency,” Bullock said.

Bullock said crews have been to the bridge to attempt to make it a bit safer while the county waits for funds.

$99,989 is being requested from Rogers.

The other bridge project affects those resident who live on Norwood-Mt. Zion Road in Science Hill. That road runs through a creek, and despite both sides being regularly paved, a bridge still has not been installed at the location. While the creek runs shallow under normal circumstances, heavy rains can create a dangerous situation.

“People don’t need to have to drive through water anymore,” Bullock said.

Many residents located on the Ky. 1676 side of the road are forced to go out of their way to get to Ky. 1247 if they don’t want to cross the creek and risk getting their cars waterlogged. The trip requires a drive to Ky. 1676, onto West Ky. 635 and through downtown Science Hill.

“It’s just not good,” Bullock said, “In today’s world especially.”

The scenic route can be avoided and several minutes shaved from the trip if a bridge is installed over the creek.

The county has requested $208,356 from Rogers for the project.

A Fountain Square beautification project is also on the wish list for the county. Executive Secretary Tiffany Finley filled out an application for $1 million from Rogers’ office, and she also applied for a transportation enhancement grant for the same amount in case the funding from Rogers’ office does not come through.

Finley explained that line item requests — those requests put through to Rogers’ office — will come from money already set aside in the federal budget. Grants often require a match from the entity applying for those funds, which may be matched through monetary means or through in-kind contributions, such as labor.

Funding for a topographic map for Pulaski Park from the Area Development Fund was also applied for. The $8,000 grant will make possible a topographic study of Pulaski Park, which is the first step in several in a process that may bring several projects to the park.

“We’re looking at doing some projects at Pulaski Park to enhance the park,” Bullock said.

Bullock said a study must be performed to ensure that any facilities that may be built are not placed in areas that may be prone to flooding.

The county also applied for a Land and Water Conservation grant to help fund a new amphitheater at White Lily Community Park.

The $75,000 grant will require a $37,500 match from the county.

The current amphitheater is “in poor repair” and Bullock said the county is hopeful it will receive funding to build a new one to take its place.

A closed-circuit television system is also on the county wish list. The $9,836 line item request through Rogers’ office will help fund the installation of security cameras throughout the courthouse, which Bullock said has “zero security” besides the fact that the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department is located there.

Bullock listed several incidents, including one in which a man lived in the courthouse for a length of time before being caught, that have expressed a need for a security system.

The system will include a digital recorder, a monitor and eight color cameras, which will be mounted in several location in the courthouse, including the front lobby, the right and left basement hallways, the second floor rear stairwell, the rear entry hallway to the County Court Clerk’s offices and in front of the fiscal court room.

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