During a meeting of the Harlan City Council on Monday, county engineer Leo Miller updated the council on the status of the Ivy Street project. The area has allegedly been causing flooding problems for local residents during periods of heavy rain.

“The only thing I’ve go to report this month is the corrective action we took on Ivy Street from Mr. Witt’s house,” explained Miller. “[We] Excavated into the street, placed 24 inch PVC smooth pipe tied into the clay, went down the hill and tied in to where we got past the road.”

Miller explained the action taken would allow for easier access should the area need any additional work in the future.

“[We] Concreted the joints in where we tied the PVC into the clay, and dropped a curve box to catch water coming off the street and permit any access later if we have to get back into the pipe,” Miller said.

In other business, Mayor Danny Howard updated the council on the project to get a hydroelectric power turbine installed at the city’s sewer plant.

“We have been still working on the hydroelectric,” stated Howard. “We still are…$70,000 short.”

Howard explained the project may not be worth the expense, as there is no guarantee the technology available would be successful.

“That still leaves us hung for $70,000 on technology we think, and people think, is going to work,” said Howard. “But we have no assurances that it will work,” said Howard.

Howard clarified that while he was still hopeful the project would be financially feasible, it is not clear at this time if the project would be pursued.

Howard also introduced the council to the new tourism director for Harlan, Brandon Pennington.

“We have a special young man I think you all will be seeing more of him,” stated Howard. “He graduated from James A. Cawood High School, was valedictorian of James A. Cawood High School and went on to Transylvania. Graduated from Transylvania with a degree in marketing and French.”

Howard expressed his appreciation that Pennington had returned to Harlan.

“Anytime we can have one or our kids come home, that excites me,” stated Howard. “Whenever one of our kids comes home that has distinguished themselves the way Brandon had distinguished himself, that excites me too.”

Reach Joe P. Asher at 606-573-4510 or jasher@heartlandpublications.com