Pike County says repeated flood washouts have cost more than $4 million; court approves emergency spending and projects

At a July 21 special called meeting, the Pike County Fiscal Court said repeated flood and washout events have forced the county to spend more than $4 million from its general fund and approved several emergency authorizations and contracts to keep roads and services functioning.

Judge (name not specified), the presiding official, told the court that since the Feb. 15 flood the county has experienced multiple additional washouts and “we've spent over $4,000,000 on flood repairs,” money the county has had to take from its general fund. He said FEMA has not yet paid on the county's claims and that the county expects FEMA to reimburse 75% of eligible costs but remains responsible for a local share. “We haven't received any money from anyone,” he said, urging state action on unused SAFE funds and warning that long delays could force the county to seek a line of credit.

The meeting's primary discussion focused on damage and ongoing repairs in multiple hollows and small communities including Feds Creek, Motley Fort, Rockfork, Beaver area, Trace Fork, Pond Creek, Blackberry and the Mouth Card/Elkhorn area. Road supervisor Fabian described crews working overnight after a recent washout and said storm runoff “washed the ditches out 6 foot deep” in places. Treasurer Frankie said county bills related to flood repairs and other obligations had pushed the current bill list to more than $5.3 million for the month and projected another large bill approaching $3.5 million next month; he said the county had not yet received FEMA reimbursements.

Court members and staff emphasized limits on what county crews can do while waterways remain dangerous and on federal or state permitting that restricts debris removal. A road supervisor noted restrictions that previously paused in‑stream work until late July because of wildlife protections; he said some debris removal could resume once those seasonal restrictions lapse.

The court approved a set of measures intended to address immediate needs and longer‑term projects. Several votes were held by roll call; motions and approvals included authorizing the judge to execute certain agreements subject to county attorney review, applying for state economic development assistance for the Wolf Pit (also called Wolf Bent) Industrial Park, approving a state memorandum of agreement for resurfacing Sycamore with a $334,000 state award, awarding a bid to renovate the Great Line Park bathroom building damaged by fire, purchasing replacement trucks on state contract, and multiple interfund transfers and routine financial acknowledgements. Treasurer items acknowledged transfers and approvals required by state law (KRS 424.22 and KRS 68.02). The court also acknowledged a series of hires and a resignation in county departments.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes from the July 1 meeting — motion passed (mover: Commissioner Lewis; second: Commissioner Scott). - Authorization for the judge to execute an agreement subject to the assistant county attorney's approval — motion passed (mover: Commissioner Lewis; second: Commissioner Scott). - Authorization to submit a letter of intent and $1,000 application fee to Kentucky Association for Economic Development Site Solution Group for the Wolf Pit/Wolf Bent Industrial Park (seeking $1,020,000 through the Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet KPDI program) — motion passed (mover: Commissioner Scott; second: Commissioner Lewis). - Authorization to execute the statewide emergency management mutual aid and assistance agreement (annual) — motion passed (mover: Commissioner Lewis; second: Commissioner Scott). - Adoption of a resolution approving a memorandum of agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for resurfacing Sycamore (state funds, $334,000) — motion passed (mover: Commissioner Scott; second: not specified). Fabian noted work cannot begin until the cabinet's signatory returns the signed agreement. - Award of bid 25-2025 for Great Line Park bathroom renovation to Bilter Construction for $26,500 (insurance to reimburse most costs; this was a fire/arson loss) — motion passed (mover: staff recommendation; second: Commissioner Scott). - Purchase of 11 trucks (4 roll‑off and 7 dump trucks) from Worldwide Equipment on state contract for a total of $2,372,662 (county pays after proceeds from auction of one‑year units) — motion passed (mover: Judge (name not specified); second: Commissioner Lewis). - Treasurer/business items: multiple interfund transfers and appropriations for June and July 2025, acknowledgement of annual financial statements and settlement statements required by KRS 424.22 and KRS 68.02, ARPA payment to Mountain Water District ($92,087.12), and authorization to pay the July 21 expenditure list — motion passed (mover: Commissioner Scott; second: Commissioner Lewis). - Personnel acknowledgements: several seasonal and temporary hires and one resignation — motion passed.

Discussion vs. decisions

Court members and staff distinguished between discussion points and formal actions. The court discussed the scale of repeated storm damage, limitations on in‑stream work because of permitting and wildlife protections, the county's current funding shortfall for emergency repairs, and the timing of federal reimbursements. The court's formal decisions were approvals of agreements, bids, vehicle purchases and transfers as summarized above. The judge asked that the press note the county's urgent requests to State Emergency Management to reallocate SAFE funds.

Context and next steps

Officials said FEMA was still assessing damage from the 2025 flood event and that full assessments and obligation of funds would not be completed until at least August, creating a potential six‑ to eight‑week delay before reimbursements start. The judge asked the court to consider placing a line of credit on the next regular meeting agenda if state SAFE funds or FEMA obligations do not materialize soon. Sharon (economic development staff) said the county plans to submit the full KPDI application next month to make the Wolf Pit site build‑ready.

The meeting closed with prayers and condolences for Commissioner Adkins, who left because of a family medical emergency, and for other community members affected by illness or loss.

Ending

Court officials said they will continue day‑to‑day emergency repairs while pursuing state and federal funds, and that residents should expect a multi‑week recovery as crews prioritize washed‑out bridges and roads across several hard‑hit hollows.