Knott County Fiscal Court approves Chestnut Ridge broadband award, pays $263,485 NRCS invoice and hires three road workers

Unidentified Speaker 1 opened a special Knott County Fiscal Court meeting by Zoom at 9 a.m. July 31, 2025, and the court handled a slate of procurement, invoice and personnel items. The court voted to award a broadband installation contract, approved a large NRCS invoice and took several budget and personnel actions.

The court voted to award the Chestnut Ridge Broadband Phase 3 installation to Thacker and Grigsby Communications after the county’s public bid opening produced only that single bidder. Speaker 4 moved to award the contract and Speaker 2 seconded. During the vote two members announced they would abstain; Speaker 1 recorded three yes votes and two abstentions and declared the motion carried.

The court approved payment of an NRCS-authorized contractor invoice for work on Cornett Road (referred to in the meeting as Coleman on Cornett Road). Speaker 1 said NRCS finalized approval and that the payment amount was $263,485. A motion to approve that invoice was made by Ricky Thomas (named on the roll call) and seconded; the court approved the payment.

Members also approved multiple FEMA-related and debris-monitoring invoices tied to storm recovery work, including King Creek concrete projects and consultant monitoring work for Thompson consultant services. Speaker 1 outlined the invoices and requested approval; a motion and second produced an affirmative vote.

On community-development items, the court approved a second-reading budget amendment tied to a CDBG program agreement that Speaker 1 said had been finalized and would be returned executed by the U.S. Department of Justice, allowing related work and additional RD funds to proceed. The court separately approved a second-reading Hickory Hill CDBG amendment (identified in the transcript as "Grant 24 o 31"). Speakers moved and the court voted in favor of both amendments.

The court approved hiring three road department employees—Tommy Lovins, Raymond Coleman and Shane Winfrey—transitioning them from trial status to full-time employment at $17 per hour.

Finally, the court approved a set of additional vendor invoices and maintenance reimbursements, including payments to Hamilton Enterprise for fitness equipment destined for the senior center and Sportsplex, concrete work on a so-called "8020" project at Kelly Fork (transcript contains alternative spellings), and reimbursements for painting connected to FEMA inspections. Speaker 2 asked whether work at Kelly Fork had been fully completed; Speaker 1 said remaining ditching work would be scheduled when crews are able.

The meeting concluded after the court voted to adjourn.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes (07/21/2025): motion made and approved (ayes recorded) — outcome: approved. - Award Chestnut Ridge Broadband Phase 3 to Thacker and Grigsby Communications: outcome: approved (3 yes, 2 abstain). - Approve NRCS contractor invoice for Cornett Road: outcome: approved; amount $263,485. - Approve FEMA and debris-monitoring invoices (multiple items): outcome: approved. - Approve CDBG program agreement budget amendment: outcome: approved. - Approve Hickory Hill CDBG Grant 24 o 31 budget amendment: outcome: approved. - Hire three road department employees (Tommy Lovins, Raymond Coleman, Shane Winfrey) at $17/hour: outcome: approved. - Approve additional vendor invoices (Hamilton Enterprise, Kelly Fork 8020 project, Preyter's Septic, Escalating on Watts Fork, reimbursement to Steve Holland for paint): outcome: approved.

Next steps The court’s actions allow the broadband Phase 3 project to proceed under the awarded contract, authorize the NRCS payment for Cornett Road work, and clear the listed CDBG and FEMA-funded projects for further progress pending any external agency approvals noted in the meeting.