Work to begin on new Hwy. 92
By Andrew Powell
A trip from Pine Knot to Williamsburg is only 16 miles; as the crow flies, but the crow’s “fly time” will soon become real time for motorists traveling Highway 92.
Officials with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Monday marking the start of construction on a new route east of Pine Knot. The construction, which is well underway in Whitley County, has been 22 years in the making said Bill Nighbert, Secretary of Transportation.
Nighbert told those in attendance Monday the $66 million project would begin very soon on this side of the route with equipment relocating in the near future to “begin moving dirt.” Reconstruction of Highway 92 from Pine Knot to Williamsburg was first introduced into the state’s road plan 22 years ago by Charlie Siler, who then represented McCreary as well as Whitley County.
Over the last four years, state leaders including David Williams, Ken Upchurch and Governor Ernie Fletcher were able to put the project back into state plans, find funding and get dirt moving.
“This area of the state has always been left behind,” said Nighbert, speaking of Fletcher’s support of this area. “But, today, you can go out and tell people they are actually going to build Highway 92.”
Nighbert said work has progressed smoothly on Whitley County’s portion of the route as many motorists along the current route may notice (The huge gap in Little Jellico Mountain is very telling of the progress). State officials recently said a contract would be let sometime in November to continue with work on that portion of the roadway from Cornbread Branch in Whitley County to the county line. Much of that portion of new highway will be ready for final surfacing this spring, Nighbert said.
He added that equipment would soon be moving into Pine Knot to begin construction and the entire route is expected to be completed by the summer/fall 2011, three years faster than initially planned. Nighbert added, aside from Interstate projects, the Highway 92 project is the largest road project planned for the state. Project engineers and construction representatives were on hand for Monday’s event.
“It will take you about 18 minutes to get from Pine Knot to I-75 once that road is opened up,” Nighbert said.
Nighbert said construction can be completed faster and funding saved by building the road through a “design/build” approach. The design/build approach allows for multiple phases of construction, such as design and construction, to occur simultaneously, facilitating project completion.
The $66 million contract has been awarded to the design/build team made up of consultants and roadway contractors from Elmo Greer and Sons and Palmer Engineering.
Governor Ernie Fletcher, who could not attend Monday’s event, said, “The project will contribute a modern highway network that will greatly improve safety and will support new economic development opportunities in this area.”
“I am committed to improving the quality of life for every Kentuckian,” Fletcher said. “This project is an example of how we are working with local officials to build stronger communities in every section of the state.”
State Senate President David Williams and Representative Ken Upchurch both stressed the economic value the new road will bring to McCreary County.
“This new road is going to be a great asset for the people of our entire area,” Williams said.
McCreary County Judge-Executive Blaine Phillips said the construction is something McCreary County residents have looked forward to for a very long time.
“This is a welcomed opportunity for the economy of McCreary County,” Judge Phillips said.
Tax rates set,
bills
ready for mail
By Andrew Powell
bills
Local property owners can soon expect to find a tax bill in their mailbox.
The McCreary County Fiscal Court approved tax rates Monday morning, prompting PVA Bruce Lominac to start printing the bills in preparation for mailing. Bills should be ready for mail by November 1 with residents receiving them shortly thereafter.
Lominac appeared before the Fiscal Court Monday morning to discuss this year’s tax rates and billing cycle before the court moved to approve rates for this year.
There has been a delay in preparing this year’s tax bills. Lominac said previously he ran into complications while preparing this year’s assessments, but bills would be issued despite some thinking otherwise. Lominac said total real property assessments in McCreary County this year increased by $12 million to around $312 million.
Lominac received certification of the assessment from the state on October 5 and then awaited Fiscal Court to approve this year’s tax rates. That happened on Tuesday, after waiting for final rates from the library and school board, both of which presented increased rates.
The library increased it’s rate from 5.9 per $100 on real property to 6.5 per $100 and increased the tangible property rate from 11.15 to 12.49.
The school board increased its real property rate from 38.9 per $100 of assessment to 39.4 and 40.2 on tangibles, up from 39.8. School board officials say their rate increase was necessary to meet the state grant requirements for a high school renovation project (see Greg Bird’s article in this issue for more).
“They were the only two that went up this year,” Judge-Executive Blaine Phillips said just prior to the Fiscal Court approving the rates. Other rates are as follows:
• Fire Districts – 10.0 per $100 on real property
• Health District – 4.0 per $100 on real property
• Soil District – 1.5 per $100 on real property
• County – 10.0 per $100 on real property
• State – 12.4 per $100 of assessed value on real property
Phillips noted the county decreased its property tax rate several years ago, around the time the occupational tax was imposed, from 11.8 to 10.0 per $100. The rate has remained unchanged since.
After approving the rates, Lominac immediately began printing the 9,056 tax bills for this year. There is a total of 9,904 bills, Lominac said, but 848 bills are automatically omitted because the property owners do not owe taxes on the property due to either a homestead of disability exemption. All bills under $1 are omitted Lominac said.
By Monday night, he had finished printing all bills and turned them over to County Court Clerk Jo Kidd Tuesday morning for receipt. Kidd then delivered the bills to Sheriff Gus Skinner for mailing.
Skinner said Tuesday evening, while stuffing envelopes, the bills should arrive in residents’ mailboxes in the coming days. However, bills can be paid at his office beginning on November 1, he said.
Obituaries
Nicky Ray Ball
Nicky Ray Ball, age 58 years, Winfield, Tennessee formerly McCreary County, Kentucky died October 24, 2007 at VA Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee. Funeral service was held Saturday, October 27, 2007 at McCreary County Funeral Home with Bro. Mike Neal and Bro. Claude Davis officiating. Burial was in Angel cemetery.
He was born at Somerset, Kentucky on May 29, 1949 the son of Evelyn Griffis Strunk and the late William A. Ball and Leroy Crabtree. He was a musician and Christian. He served in the U.S. Army during the Viet Nam War. He was a member of Winfield, Tennessee VFW. He was a member of Disable American Veterans.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Lula Belle Daugherty and by his fathers. David Crabtree is the deceased brother.
Survivors include his children, Christy Taylor (Stanley), Pine Knot, Kentucky and Jeremy Ball Haynes, Georgia. Nicky Ray Ball is survived by his mother, Evelyn Strunk, Smithtown, Kentucky. Christy’s mother, Ella Covington, Pine Knot, Kentucky, survives him. Two sisters, Paula Smiddy, Smithtown, Kentucky and Cheryl Ann Reynolds, survive. Jacob and Noah Taylor are the surviving grandchildren.
Military Honors provided by American Legion Post 115.
McCreary County Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements.
