Olive Hill City Council started their meeting with an update from Trane on their new water treatment plant during their regular November meeting last month. But it was a different water issue that would command the attention of council, as they discussed plans and funding for flood abatement along Tygart Creek.
Carey Johnson, with the state division of water, was on the agenda to follow Trane, but had to cancel due to illness. In his place, Taylor Duncan requested – and council approved – Johnson’s time be granted to Jimmy Stone, with GPD Group. Duncan said the state has “around $80,000” in funding for flood control projects set aside that the city can apply for with reasonable certainty of receiving. In addition to this funding, though, Stone told council his company also has other proposals that could help the city access various funding sources for flood control.
GPD’s services would cost the city around $20,000 to retain, but that contract would include assistance with up to $2,000,000 in grant funding for a new fire department, $200,000 in flood mitigation, and $80,000 for a storm sewer plan.
This is on top of $100,000 the city has already received for flood warning sensors on Tygart Creek through work Stone has complete for the city.
Council moved to approve retaining GPD’s services for the grant application process.
Council also heard from Max Hammond on the Warrior’s Path project, and accepted a police report from FIVCO Area Drug Enforcement (FADE) Task Force director Bruce Palmer. Since the task force went active, in November of 2010, they have handled 1,545 total cases across the counties they cover, according to Palmer’s report. More than half of those cases, 858 in total, have been Carter County cases. Just under half of those cases – 752 – were Palmer’s cases. Those cases peaked in 2013, at 205. The highest number for Carter County, however, was in 2019 when the county had 107 cases out of 195 total.
Cases were down in 2021, at 59 total with 43 of those in Carter County, partly due to illness among detectives. But that number isn’t indicative of cases that are still being worked.
Palmer told council that “this far this year” he had presented, “at minimum, 106 cases to (the) Grand Jury.” He still has another 71 to present before the year is over, he said. This does not include any cases he hasn’t completed, or that took place after August of this year, he said, or case they expect to bring in the future.
He said there are currently law enforcement officers from the DEA, Northeast Kentucky Drug Task Force, KSP, DESI, and other agencies, “buying illegal narcotics” in Carter County, within the last 12 months.
In other action council accepted various department reports before adjourning for the evening.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
