Nola Sizemore

Staff Writer

A Kentucky Utilities spokesman his company is not responsible for a delay on the Green Hills water project, claiming his company’s work is within the anticipated deadline and any delay stems from AT&T not installing poles.

Responding to comments made during a recent meeting of Harlan County Fiscal Court, KU’s Cliff Feltham took exception to comments made by County Engineer Leo Miller during that meeting. Miller had indicated the project was stalled by KU not completing work as scheduled. Feltham said the project, if delayed, stems from AT&T not installing poles and not from the lack of action by KU.

“Mr. Miller talked about KU not completing their end of the deal in the construction to the second pump location,” said Feltham. “I just wanted to explain to the public some of the mitigating circumstances that led to that, which ultimately means we’re going to get the project done sometime this week.”

Feltham said Harlan County Fiscal Court was expecting the project to be completed by Sept. 1.

“The circumstances (for the delay) were we were waiting on AT&T to replace poles that were in-route to the second location,” said Feltham. “AT&T did not get their pole replacement done until Aug. 2. We talked to the county people and also an associate engineer with Leo Miller and Associates named Mike Jones. We were in communication with him, telling him it would take us approximately six to eight weeks after AT&T replaced the poles for our work to be finished.”

Feltham said KU’s work is “just about finished and is well within the time frame” given to Jones.

“We’re fulfilling our obligation of the window that we knew it was going to take for us to get our work done,” said Feltham. “We kept in communication with Leo Miller and Associates every week matter-of-fact. He knew we were waiting on AT&T and it would take six to eight weeks after they finished for us to get our work done.”

Feltham said KU’s responsibility was stringing lines and conductors to the pumps through poles set up by AT&T. He said they had to have poles in place before they could begin any work.

“I just wanted to update everyone letting them know what our status was on this project,” said Feltham.

Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510 or at nsizemore@heartlandpublications.com