 Sewer service soon will be available in the Westgate Subdivision on West 80. On April 25, 2005, U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (KY-5) joined local officials to break ground on a construction project that will extend sewer lines into the area. Pulaski County Judge-Executive Darrell BeShears hosted the ceremony, which was held at a vacant lot in the subdivision.
The project will serve 87 homes and a day care facility. Septic systems do not function properly in the area’s soil and terrain. After heavy rains, septic systems back up and contaminated water pools in low-lying areas. The local health department has identified the problem as a public health hazard.
“Although it isn’t a glamorous topic, sewer service is one of the most important and fundamental needs of any community,” Rogers said. “Sewer service is essential to preserving public health and attracting new businesses and jobs to the area. This project is a significant step forward in our campaign to improve the quality of life for our citizens and to clean our region’s waterways.”
Rogers praised Pulaski County and Somerset officials for working together on the project. The Pulaski County Fiscal Court committed $25,000 to the project and secured the remaining funding through grants. The City of Somerset will operate and maintain the sewer lines and will treat the sewage.
The county received $900,000 from the PRIDE/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 531 program. The Governor’s Office for Local Development contributed $225,000.
Construction is expected to be completed by this fall. The construction company is Weddle Enterprises Inc. The project plans were designed by American Consulting Engineers, PLC.
Rogers authored the legislation that created the Section 531 program. Through the program, the Corps of Engineers provides 75 percent of the funding for sewer infrastructure projects. The program is part of Rogers’ PRIDE initiative, an environmental improvement campaign serving 38 counties in southern and eastern Kentucky. Since 1997, more than $106 million in PRIDE-related funding has been invested in projects that will provide sanitary wastewater treatment service to 25,000 homes in the region.
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