Knott County hears state rep’s plan for more road money and flood study funding

State Representative John Flint updated the Knott County Fiscal Court on road and emergency‑funding developments during the court’s July 15 meeting. Flint said the legislature is in interim session and that state officials are moving to prioritize roadway maintenance funds; he said the state intends to set aside $20 million every two years to address road repairs and reduce backlogs.

Flint described implementation issues with a new automated titles and vehicle system that has caused delays in processing some transactions but said state staff are working on fixes. He also urged local officials to pursue recycled asphalt more aggressively for resurfacing, arguing that increasing the mix from about 10% to near 40% on overlays would allow the state to resurface far more miles annually.

On flooding and mitigation, Flint said Congressman Rogers secured roughly $50 million to fund a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study of flood‑mitigation options in the region; the court will await that study’s results to guide dredging and other interventions. Flint acknowledged environmental review and permitting complexity could constrain some dredging or stream work but said the study is intended to identify viable projects and funding paths.

Court members pressed for quicker project delivery and noted contractor capacity and procurement timing have delayed resurfacing work in some counties. Flint said he would continue to push for additional funding and for the state Transportation Cabinet to adopt approaches that stretch limited dollars while maintaining safety standards.

The court took no formal vote on Flint’s remarks; the presentation served as an informational update and part of a broader agenda that included routine approvals and project pay requests.