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Fiscal Court OKs Resolution Letting Clark County Draw $3M State Grant for Sanitation Project
Summary
Clark County Fiscal Court approved a resolution authorizing the county judge to execute documents that let the county receive a $3 million state line-item grant for a sanitation project; the county will act as a pass-through bank account while other funding sources and easement acquisitions continue.
Clark County Fiscal Court voted to authorize the county judge to execute documents needed to access a $3,000,000 state line-item grant for a local sanitation project approved in the 2024 state budget.
The measure, presented by Logan Hart of the Bluegrass ad, passed after a motion on the floor. Hart told the court that the Department for Local Government requires the county to establish an account for the award and that the county would “simply act as a pass through” by receiving state funds into the county account and issuing checks to the sanitation district to pay invoices.
The arrangement is intended to allow the grant funds to be drawn early and earn interest in a designated bank account; interest earnings would be used on the project. Hart said the county will collect contractor pay applications, the sanitation district will approve them, and the fiscal court will write checks to cover those invoices.
Hart and other presenters outlined remaining project tasks. They said the county and the sanitation district are negotiating roughly six or seven private easements, including at least one owned by an out-of-state corporate owner (the former Rockwell building). Hart said easement acquisition is pending attorney review for some properties.
Presenters described other funding sources for the broader project: draws under the HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) process administered through the county judge; cleaner-water funds drawn through the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority; an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant awaiting agreement; ARPA funds already allocated by the county; and a possible congressional earmark routed through the Environmental Protection Agency if approved. Hart credited state Sen. Gary Elkins with securing the $3 million from the 2024 session and said Elkins intends to seek additional state funds in the next session.
Court members asked questions about whether the $3 million is the only amount handled under the county account (presenters confirmed it is limited to that line item) and whether the county would pay contractors directly or pass funds to the sanitation district (the county will choose how to disburse, Hart said). Hart noted some funding sources have time limits and that moving quickly on easements would be important to spend restricted dollars before deadlines.
The court approved the resolution authorizing the judge to execute documents to access the state grant. The vote was taken by voice; the clerk recorded the motion as carried.
The court and project administrators said they will return with additional documents if further grants or earmarks are awarded and that final construction scope will depend on easement acquisitions and future funding.
