Gov. hands out $6.1 million in funds for local development

Various Whitley County transportation projects received nearly $6.1 million in funding last week, including money to reconstruct the Exit 11 interchange in Williamsburg, and to pave various city and county roads.
Gov. Ernie Fletcher presented local officials with six checks totaling $6,094,000 for various transportation projects during a ceremony held last Wednesday afternoon at the Williamsburg Tourism and Convention Center.
“Our highest priority is always on safety. We came to Whitley County today to speak to a number of issues which directly affect the safety and prosperity of everyone in this area,” Fletcher said Wednesday.
Rep. Charlie Siler, R-Williamsburg, said that the funding is a long time in coming.
“To say that we have been forgotten is an understatement. We still drive on roads that were built with mules and scrapers. Fortunately over the last few years, we have been able to correct many of them,” Siler noted.
The Whitley County Fiscal Court received $4.4 million to reconstruct the I-75 Interchange at Exit 11, which will involve widening bridges on Ky. 92.
Fletcher said the project would improve both safety and economic development by making crossings safer at the congested interchange.
He added that the work has been designated as a design-build project, which will allow for the project to be accelerated with construction starting within the next 12 months. It is expected to take two years to complete.
The City of Corbin received $195,000 for the Safe Routes to School pilot project.
The federal funds will be used to improve pedestrian infrastructure and safety around Central Elementary, Corbin Middle School, South Elementary School, and Saint Camillus in order to encourage children to walk or bicycle to school in those areas.
Approximately 24,500 feet of sidewalk along with 12 streets surrounding the schools will receive funding for improvements along with signage and other safety activities.
The City of Williamsburg received $250,000 in transportation enhancement money to improve the downtown streetscape, including sidewalk replacement and other beautification activities.
In addition, Fletcher handed out over $1 million in discretionary funds for various paving projects on city streets and county roads, including: $865,000 to the Whitley County Fiscal Court, $180,000 to the City of Williamsburg, and $204,000 to the City of Corbin.
“You all here have been paying taxes for years, and you have been sending it to other places because Frankfort hasn’t been sending it back here. Today we are bringing those tax dollars back to you,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher said that soon after he took office, he had a list compiled of money given out to counties over the years through the governor’s discretionary fund.
“It was amazing the disparagement in counties. Most of it was based on politics,” he said. “It wasn’t based on need. It wasn’t based on children going to school and needing a bridge so a school bus could get across.
“It wasn’t about our roads and bridges leading to jobs. It was about who you knew, and the good old boy political system. We’re changing that in Frankfort.”
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert, who is the former mayor of Williamsburg, said that in his 20 years in working for city government, he never knew that there was a $35 million discretionary fund in Frankfort for roads in cities and counties.
“You know why? Because we never got one dime of it, but with this governor in place, he is looking to equalize things,” Nighbert added.
Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison said the funding would allow the city to upgrade roads, which have needed improvement for several years.
“It will allow us to do so many things around the town, such as beautification, which goes along with the transportation enhancement monies we received today, which will go towards burying the utility lines and the streetscape project that we want to do, which will tie everything in,” Harrison noted.
“For a long time, we were the forgotten corner of the state, but for the past two years that has not been the case. The special guests we have here today have a little something to do with us being no longer forgotten. All we need is a little shot in the arm now and again to be a thriving vibrant community.”
Whitley County Judge-Executive Burley Foley said he was “elated” for the county to have received this funding.
“It is extremely important,” Foley noted. “It has just been unbelievable the position we are in right now from a statewide point of view to receive money.
“I don’t think anybody really understands the impact this is going to have on our communities, our schools, and our roads. Our governor touched on every aspect of our lives up there today.”
Fletcher also presented Whitley County officials with a ceremonial check totaling nearly $71 million, which represents funded projects in the state six year road plan that will be built over the next two years.
Noticeably absent from the event was Senate President David Williams, who is the state senator representing Whitley County.
Williams, who recently stated publicly his doubts about Fletcher’s ability to get elected again next year, wasn’t invited to the event.