$12 million allotted for new Corbin Civic Center

Good things come to those who wait.
For the city of Corbin the good news got even better Tuesday as a state House and Senate Conference Committee report on the annual budget showed $12 million in bond funds for a new civic center in the city. The amount was a significant increase over what was proposed in versions from both houses last week, a meager, in comparison, $8.25 million.
“We only get the opportunity to build this building once,” said Kentucky state Senate President David Williams Tuesday. “There won’t be anything better than this facility outside one of the large metro areas. I’m very excited about it and I think the center will serve Corbin and Williamsburg and all of the surrounding counties there as an important convention, entertainment and educational venue.”
Williams represents a six-county area that includes Whitley County and has made funding for the center a priority. When constructed it will officially be called the Southeastern Regional Agricultural and Exposition Center.
The new civic center has long been planned as a tie-in facility with the Corbin Technology Center which was finished last year. The Technology Center is located along Cumberland Falls Hwy. and land for the Civic Center has been cleared beside it.
Corbin Mayor Amos Miller, who learned of the funding Tuesday, said the project is an example of local and state leaders working together toward a common goal.
“We are tickled to death,” Miller said. “Every once in a while, good things can happen when the dog and tail gets together and wags in the same direction. Good things are happening to our community.”
Williams said he envisions a civic center that not only contains an arena for concerts, rodeos and sporting events, but also smaller meeting rooms and some classrooms.
Last week, 82nd District House Representative Charles Siler (R-Williamsburg) said passage of the budget through the house looks imminent. Williams said he is confident funding for the center, and other projects in Whitley County, will survive intact and will be signed by Gov. Ernie Fletcher this month.
Both Miller and Williams said the economic impact of a large new civic center on the south side of Corbin could be tremendous.
“This facility will be big enough to have good-sized conventions,” Williams said. “With the natural tourism attractions we have at all of those areas up and down through there, I think it will help all the hotels and restaurants in the area. There’s really nothing like that any closer than Somerset.”
Miller agreed.
“I think this is the start of the south end of Corbin really booming and really growing.”
Williams said he would like to see principal construction on the project underway in six to eight months. Miller said city leaders are in the preliminary planning stages and still must hire consultants, architects and engineers for the project.
“We want to do it in a timely manner, but we want to do it in a way where we know that we do it right,” Miller said. “This is an opportunity that doesn’t come very often for a community. We want to be sure that what we do is the right thing.”

Good budget for Whitley County
Along with money for a new civic center, a bevy of funding for governmental organizations, school districts, road projects and sewer and water line extensions are in the budget for Whitley County. Many of the projects received increased funding over initial House and Senate versions of the bill.
The conference committee’s report includes $7.3 million for widening of U.S. 25 W from Goldbug to the Williamsburg bridge, $10 million for construction of Hwy 92 W to Cornbread Branch, $112,000 for paving and refurbishing of Corbin city streets and $78,000 for Williamsburg city streets.
Another important portion of the budget $2.5 million to expand the Williamsburg Water Plant and for water and sewer line extensions in Whitley County. The plant is currently running at 95 percent capacity.
Money is also earmarked for new cruisers for the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department and improvements for the Williamsburg 911 call center.
Coal Severance Tax projects include $50,000 for the purchase of two trucks and a tractor for the Whitley County Road Department, $22,000 for the purchase of radios and other equipment for the Whitley County Ambulance Service, $20,000 for the purchase of a food storage building for the Whitley County Senior Citizens Center and $13,000 for the purchase of new computers and software for the County Judge-Executives office.
The Corbin Utilities Commission will receive $100,000 for sewer and water line extensions along unserved portions of Bacon Creek Road and the Whitley County Water District will get $36,000 for extensions along Bear Hollow Road.
Extra money is also included for infrastructure improvements in the Corbin Independent School District. A line in the budget also shows $570,000 for a building project at Poplar Creek/Nevisdale Elementary School.