Beech Tree News Network

Butler County Judge-Executive Tim Flener recently gave an update on the progress of several projects despite ongoing restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The grant that keeps on giving is what Judge Flener calls the $67,000 Efficiency and Conservation Grant from the Department for Local Government in  Frankfort. 

Consequently, all three floors of the courthouse have been upgraded to new energy efficient LED lighting that will save the county money on the electric bill every month. The Barren River Area Development District, BRADD, was instrumental in securing this grant.

Butler County was one of six counties that received a grant through  the Solid Waste Division to test a new rubberized asphalt.  The county paved a two-mile section of Region Road and will monitor its durability over the next few years. 

In the next few weeks the county’s Emergency 911 system will be converted to a modern digital system.  Much of the work has been completed.  With the old analog system there were areas in the county where emergency responders could not communicate.  Charlie Tomes , Emergency Management Director, helped with this grant for $90,000, plus a grant for $118,000 to buy more P-25 emergency radios that will be available to Butler County EMS, Rescue Squad, Road Department, Sheriff's Office, all fire departments  and the Morgantown Police Department. 

Judge Flener and Tomes emphasized that this is a team effort in researching and applying for all these grants and it wouldn't be possible without the dedication of Becky Jacobs, Sandy Keown and LaDonna Nave.

The state will award a contract for $176,000 to install repeater stations on all six of the county’s towers for the digital upgrades. 

Every dollar the county receives from the state and federal government is a dollar that Butler County taxpayers don't have to pay. 

Brandon Keown helped with a $1,805 grant to purchase rescue equipment such as hoists and ropes for the Rescue Squad. 

For the past eighteen months, the county has been working on developing a campground on the Green River at Woodbury.  There will be around a dozen RV sites, primitive camping, and restrooms.  The historical study was completed and WKU did the Archaeological Survey.  The county will find out in January if additional paperwork needs to be filed. This is a match fund grant through the Land and Conservation Fund for $106,000.

The county park on the north side of the river at Leonard Oak has had washouts from the two floods last year and this is being fixed under a FEMA Project where they pay 75 percent and the state pays 12 percent.  This should be completed in the next few weeks 

Rochester Ferry is in the process of getting an additional paddle wheel for better control.  This is a federal grant for $120,000.

There are also Federal Cares Act grants to help with Covid-19 expenses that go through the Department of Local Government in Frankfort. 

Judge Flener is aware that the county is in need of Broadband Fiber Internet services.  WRECC is working on a program for Warren and Simpson counties.  You can take the survey at https://fiber.nctc.com.

Citizens can call Judge Flener at 270-526-3433 or his cell phone 270-526-1258.