FRANKFORT — Kentucky will spend more than $14 million to cover what the federal government hasn’t paid to clean up remains of January’s ice storm along roadways in counties declared disaster areas, Gov. Steve Beshear said Friday.
He said the state will pick up the estimated $14.6 million tab to remove the debris, some of which has been on roadsides since January. The funds cover the difference between the cost of cleanup and what the Federal Emergency Management Agency is paying.
The devastating ice storm knocked down trees and power lines, resulting in about 769,000 power outages and at least 36 deaths. The storm resulted in a federal disaster declaration for 93 counties and knocked out most communication in western Kentucky.
State and federal officials have said the storm damages may top $185 million.
Seventy-five percent of the cleanup cost is covered by FEMA, with the remaining 25 percent borne by the state and local governments in the form of “matching funds.”
Affected cities and counties ordinarily would be liable for 13 percent of the costs — about $7.6 million so far — with the state paying the difference. Under Beshear’s directive, the state’s Transportation Cabinet will cover the entire 25 percent match by using a combination of Rural Secondary Emergency and Construction Contingency funds.
Madisonville Mayor Will Cox said his city will save about $212,000 in cleanup costs.
“This good news provides some much needed relief to the budgetary squeezes that we are all feeling,” Cox said.
Hopkins County Judge-Executive Donald Carroll said the cleanup will save his county nearly $4 million.
Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry, who oversees the state’s second-largest city, said the move will help balance the municipality’s budget.
“With ice storms and the recession, this has been a tough year for Kentucky’s local governments,” Newberry said.
State News
Beshear: State to pay over $14M in ice storm cleanup
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State lawmakers call for constitutional convention
With U.S. Sen. Rand Paul leading the cheers, the state Senate on Tuesday passed a resolution calling for a limited constitutional convention to pass a federal balanced budget amendment.
The vote was 22-16 — Republican Sen. Julie Denton of Louisville joined the 15 Democrats in opposing the measure — on the measure sponsored by Senate President and Republican candidate for governor David Williams. The vote followed Paul’s speech to the body and his earlier remarks to the Senate State Government Committee. -
Company that blundered pollution reports will again test mining sites
The same people blamed for inaccurate pollution reports from mining sites operated by ICG Coal will be responsible for collecting samples under that company’s corrective action plan submitted to the state.
ICG and Frasure Creek Coal entered a consent decree with the state's Energy and Environment Cabinet in December after environmental groups discovered reams of inaccurate pollution reports by the two companies. -
Immigration bill delay may be about political leverage
The House Local Government Committee conducted a second day of hearings on a Senate immigration bill Wednesday without taking a vote, but the delay may be about political leverage as much as it is about philosophical objections.
The hearing also got testy, when the sponsor, Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, objected to critics who have characterized the measure as racially motivated and after suggestions by one Democrat committee member that another supporter of the bill used “self-righteous and venomous” language in his testimony. -
House passes immigration bill
The Democrat House overwhelmingly passed its version of immigration control Tuesday while Senate leaders tried and fell short for now to garner enough votes to pass a bill to require a prescription for cold remedies used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
The House voted 90-6 to pass HB-3, which would require employers who contract with the state and public agencies to verify the immigration status of new hires using the federal EVerify system. Those who violate the law would be prohibited from securing state contracts for one year after the first offense. A second or subsequent offense would bar contracting with the state for five years. -
Payday lenders targeted for interest rates
Mary Love doesn’t look the part. A retired pastor and former employee of UPS Logistics from Oldham County, Love, 65, found herself retired, divorced and trying to live off “a small pension.” Soon, she found herself in a “debt trap.”
It began when one month she was a bit short and her rent was due. She visited a “payday lender,” and wrote a $230 check that the lender held for two weeks. She walked out with $200. But two weeks later she owed the lender $230 and still couldn’t make ends meet. This time she wrote a check for $460 and left with $400. -
State settles case with Medicaid administrator
The third-party administrator for a Medicaid managed care program has agreed to pay more than $2 million in damages for falsely reporting patient results in order to secure a $700,000 bonus payment.
The settlement was the result of a nine-month investigation by the office of Attorney General Jack Conway acting on tips from a whistleblower inside AmeriHealth Mercy, the administrator for Passport Health Plan, the state-funded managed care program which serves clients from Louisville and 15 surrounding counties that has come under scrutiny by the state auditor and lawmakers. The over-reporting of positive health outcomes occurred in 2009, and the state Medicaid fraud statute allows the state to assess the company triple damages, Conway said. -
Republican primary for governor grows
The Republican primary for governor grew by one on filing deadline day as expected, but Gov. Steve Beshear is getting a free pass in the Democratic primary.
Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw and her running mate, retired naval officer and high school teacher Bill Vermillion, filed candidacy papers Tuesday morning, promising a competitive race despite a late entry and delayed fundraising start. -
Williams-Farmer ticket is official
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Poll: Majority favors state smoking ban
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Lawmakers consider requiring prescriptions for meth precursors
FRANKFORT — Kentucky ranks No. 3 among 50 states in the number of reported meth labs, which is why lawmakers are considering legislation that would require a prescription to purchase such meth precursors as ephedrine or pseudoephedrine.
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