LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Aug. 16, 2012) – Gov. Steve Beshear and Department for Local Government (DLG) Commissioner Tony Wilder today presented the 2012 Spirit of Kentucky Award to the Red River Regional Wastewater Authority for its regional wastewater project. The award was presented as a part of the 37th Annual Governor’s Local Issues Conference, conducted in Louisville.
“I commend the Red River Regional Wastewater Authority on collaboratively working together with local, state and federal organizations to find a creative solution to the wastewater issues in Powell County,” Beshear said. “The increased wastewater capacity this project provides will not only alleviate environmental and public health concerns, it will also provide the opportunity for local leaders to help encourage new and expanded business creation in the area.”
For more than a decade, the cities of Stanton and Clay City in Powell County have operated their wastewater treatment plants in excess of their permitted capacity, resulting in violations and enforcement actions from the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet.
The enforcement actions have also made it extremely difficult for local leadership to bring new employers into the county, as the existing sewer infrastructure will not support growth or additional sewage flow.
The Red River Wastewater Authority collaborated with representatives from the DLG, the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority, the Appalachian Regional Commission, USDA Rural Development, the Economic Development Administration, the Bluegrass Area Development District, Stanton, Clay City and Powell County to bring this project to fruition.
Funding was pooled from these organizations for a total project budget exceeding $13 million.
This project combines both Stanton’s and Clay City’s wastewater plants into one expanded plant that will have significant increased water capacity, will eliminate the Cabinet’s enforcement actions and will allow for potential economic growth in the area.
More specifically, funding will go toward the expansion and upgrade of the existing Stanton wastewater treatment plant, the installation of a new pump station in Clay City, the installation of a force main to handle pumping sewage from Clay City to Stanton, and the construction of an administrative laboratory and electrical building at the Stanton plant site. Both cities will continue to own and operate their respective sewage collection systems.
“The cities of Stanton and Clay City have been in need of a solution to their wastewater treatment issues for many years and the wastewater problems have certainly hindered economic development in the area,” said Wilder. “I am pleased that the Red River Regional Wastewater Authority was able to bring so many agencies together to find a positive and effective solution for the communities’ needs. Congratulations to the Authority for its exceptional efforts on this project and receiving our 2012 Spirit of Kentucky Award.”
The Spirit of Kentucky Award is given annually to sponsors of a public project that demonstrate cost effective coordination of government resources among multiple government groups.
Nominations for the Spirit of Kentucky Award were submitted to DLG for consideration. Projects eligible for nomination include those of government, public service, private non-profit or quasi-governmental groups or agencies.
For more information on the Governor’s Local Issues Conference, please visit http://www.dlg.ky.gov/localissues/.
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