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Court moves forward on road projects

October 15, 2010|By Mike Wynn

The Clark County Fiscal Court approved agreements Wednesday for improvements and resurfacing to local roads and heard an update on the ongoing biofuels project in Clark County.

Chief among the road projects, court members voted in favor of the Rural Secondary Road Program, which will provide up to $151,900 from the state Transportation Cabinet to repave two roads in Clark County. The upgrades will occur on Bybee Road from Four Mile Road to 2.2 miles north, and on Ecton Road from Thomas Station Road to the Montgomery County line.

The court also voted for a $22,811 contract with E & H Bridge & Grating from Bedford, Indiana, for bridge work on Four Mile Road and a $23,500 contract with The Allen Company for about 300 feet of pavement repair and replacement on Four Mile Road.

Later in Wednesday’s meeting, Clark County Judge-Executive Henry Branham provided an update on the Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies, which is performing research that will set the stage for a biofuels plant in Clark County.

Research on using switchgrass to produce biofuels will begin at the center this month, Branham said, adding that several regional and local organizations are working in conjunction with the center, including Eastern Kentucky University, Green Biofuels in Estill County; General Atomics in San Diego, California; Lextran, the Clark County Extension Office and the Winchester-Clark County Industrial Development Authority.

About 20 acres of switchgrass are already growing in the Winchester Industrial Park, and Branham predicted that further tests could begin in a 10,000 square-foot facility here in the next three years. That would serve as a pilot project for a larger plant, he said.

“It’s a regional project, and what I wanted you all to know is that the Clark County Fiscal Court and the Winchester Board of Commissioners took our community forward into this project,” Branham said.

In other business:

— The court heard a report from Bob Baldwin of Baldwin Engineering on stormwater drainage issues on Southwind Drive and Lynda Court.

— Melissa Gallagher was hired as a full-time deputy jailer at the Clark County Detention Center.

— A $2,558 payment to County Clerk Anita Jones was authorized for the preparation of 2010 tax bills.

— The court approved the official receipt for property tax bills in 2010. The grand total for all taxing districts, including state government, county government, special taxes, the library, and schools, amounted to $19.4 million.

— Branham reported that work on the courthouse roof is complete.

Contact Mike Wynn at mwynn@winchestersun.com.

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