Knott County updates court on CDBG‑DR, EK‑SAFE and large post‑flood infrastructure priorities

Knott County officials used the April 15 fiscal‑court meeting to outline where federal and state disaster recovery dollars could be targeted, and to set expectations about how those funds will reach local projects.

Judge Jeff Dobson told the court the state and federal picture is evolving: “There's $297,000,000 that was allocated for the disaster for the Eastern Kentucky Flood,” he said, and noted about 80% of those dollars were targeted at the five hardest‑hit counties (Knott, Perry, Breathitt, Letcher and one other). He cautioned the court that those sums are not simply handed to counties and that projects must meet eligibility rules tied to direct flood impact and HUD/CDBG‑DR program guidance.

Dobson listed candidate projects on the county’s immediate radar: the Caney Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (about $7 million), Pippa Passes water and sewer replacements (about $4 million), and a plan to relocate or convert the Hammond water plant to a pump/bypass at an estimated $5 million. He said the county is coordinating applications and exploring multiple funding sources (RD, CDBG‑DR, state EK‑SAFE). Representative Blanton (referenced in the transcript) helped secure $3.5 million toward the Caney Sewer Plant, the judge said.

Why it matters: These projects address long‑standing damage from flood events and will shape residential access, economic development and water/wastewater capacity. Judge Dobson emphasized constraints on eligibility: projects must be directly impacted by the flood and, in many cases, be relocation or rehabilitation projects rather than new extensions.

Court members also discussed engineering costs: the Chestnut Ridge road engineering cost cited in the meeting reached $18 million in engineer estimates, illustrating how design/engineering can consume a substantial share of available funds for complex high‑ground projects. The judge said the county will continue to apply and seek allocations as the legislative budget process finalizes.

Next steps: County staff will pursue formal applications, prioritize high‑impact projects that meet CDBG‑DR and EK‑SAFE eligibility, and return to the court with more detailed project lists and funding breakdowns when applications are submitted.