Woodford Fiscal Court approves interlocal with Frankfort for $8.5 million sewer extension to Millville

The Woodford County Fiscal Court unanimously approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Frankfort to use an $8,500,000 state appropriation to extend sanitary sewer service from Frankfort toward the Millville area.

The vote at a special meeting authorized Judge Executive (name not specified) to sign the interlocal; the City of Frankfort approved a companion resolution the previous evening. The county will receive the appropriation and contract with the Bluegrass Area Development District to manage disbursements while Frankfort will lead design, construction and long‑term operation of the new sewer facilities.

County leaders said the arrangement is designed to use Frankfort’s existing wastewater expertise and systems rather than creating a new county utility. "This is not a Woodford County project…Frankfort is essentially going to take this project over for us," the Judge Executive said during the meeting, adding that the agreement protects the county from covering project overruns: "If the project goes over, it will require additional state funding."

Under the interlocal, Frankfort will own wastewater facilities placed in public easements and right‑of‑way, administer industrial pretreatment responsibilities for local industries (including Castle And Key where applicable), and collect sewer service fees according to Frankfort’s outside‑city rate schedule. The county is the recipient of the legislative appropriation and will pay Frankfort’s technical review fees from the grant funds. The Bluegrass Area Development District will administer disbursements on the county’s behalf.

The agreement also requires Woodford County to provide necessary access—rights‑of‑way and easement support—to enable Frankfort to construct and operate service. The Woodford County Health Department will enforce mandatory connections to the sewer system in areas where service is made available, consistent with Frankfort’s ordinance. The Judge Executive told the court that, under Frankfort’s rules, if the utility runs sewer past a residence the ordinance generally requires properties along the route to connect.

Squire Gentry and one resident expressed concern about mandatory connections and the ongoing monthly cost of sewer service compared with periodic septic maintenance. The Judge Executive and the county attorney said that mandatory connections are standard for sewer service and that the court could consider measures to reduce initial financial burden on affected households; the Judge Executive said the fiscal court could consider using some project funds to help citizens connect but would not fund other project infrastructure.

The fiscal court approved (motion by Squire Downey; second by Squire Brown) the interlocal agreement, adopted Resolution 25‑08 authorizing the Judge Executive to sign the interlocal for recording with the Secretary of State, and separately authorized the Judge Executive to execute related documents. All motions passed unanimously.

The Judge Executive said the county will provide the court with next steps and additional information as the project moves forward.