By Brandy Calvert/Senior Staff Writer

MIDDLESBORO — State Representative Rick Nelson took some time this week to discuss possible upcoming coal severance projects within Bell County.

“Since I was elected as your State Representative in 2000, I have always tried to let our citizens know how your money is being spent, and I wanted to continue that with my report today. Whether you agree or not with the allocation of funds, the public deserves the right to know how they will be spent,” Nelson said.

Nelson explained that a large portion of the money coming into Bell County is coal severance money, “We try to appropriate these funds so that a lot of our citizens are helped. We have always tried to help organizations that try to do this as well,” Nelson said.

Nelson continued to say that in addition to Bell’s single county money, there is a pool of multi-county funds, used for large projects in coal county areas. Out of this multi-county account, projects for coal counties include the school projects. Nelson said that “Read to Achieve” is one example of a very successful project.

He added that the “Data Seam” program has put approximately 1,000 computers in the hands of students from Bell County, Middlesboro, and Pineville School Systems, and that more will be available for those schools again for the 2008-2010 budget years.

“Money from our multi-county pool also is used to match funds for flood control projects from the Federal level. We also fund coal county drug courts and Operation Unite. This year we honored a request from Operation Unite for more funding from the multi-county coal money because we are receiving less money from the Federal level,” Nelson stated.

He indicated that $1,350,000 was suggested for allocation to water and sewer projects: $450,000 to the city of Middlesboro and $900,000 to the city of Pineville and to the county.

Nelson concluded by saying that the budget bill is promising but is just the beginning, “This is the first step in the budget process. The budget bill still has to be approved in the Senate and be signed by the Governor. If you remember, two years ago Governor Fletcher vetoed the coal severance projects- making it hard for some groups to receive their funds. I will let our citizens know if anyone tries to take or change our coal severance project list.”

Representative Rick Nelson has served Legislative District 27 since 2001. He is on the House Appropriations and Revenue: Seniors, Military Affairs, and Public Safety; Transportation; Education; and Labor and Industry Committees. He is also Chair of the Energy Special Subcommittee. He invites the public to contact him, his number is 1-800-372-7181. He may be reached via e-mail at rick.nelson@lrc.ky.gov.

Brandy Calvert is the Senior Staff Writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. Contact her via e-mail at bmurray@middlesborodailynews.com.

The following is a list of proposed single county coal severance projects. Rep Nelson said, “The list came from requests, as it always does, from our county, cities, and groups that help Bell County citizens.” He emphasized that this is the first step in the budget process. The budget bill must still be approved in the Senate and signed by the Governor.

Bell County Board of Education, 21st Century Alternative Instruction Material project; fiscal year 2008-2009= $25,000.

Bell County Board of Education, Cops in School; fiscal year 2008-2009= $40,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $40,000.

Bell County Board of Education, K-6 Little League Football, equipment; fiscal year 2008-2009= $5,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $5,000.

Boone County Fiscal Court, Bell County PVS office, equipment; fiscal year 2008-2009= $10,000.

Bell County Fiscal Court, Bell County Senior Citizens, supplies and/or operations; fiscal year 2008-2009= $10,000;

fiscal year 2009-2010= $10,000.

Bell County Fiscal Court, Bell County Volunteer Fire Department, construction of Arjay Station; fiscal year 2009-2010= $50,000.

Bell County Fiscal Court, County Clerk’s Office, equipment for clerk’s office; fiscal year 2008-2009= $10,000.

Bell County Fiscal Court, Bell County Health Department, supplies; fiscal year 2008-2009= $5,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $5,000.

Bell County Fiscal Court, First Tee of Pine Mountain program; fiscal year 2008-2009= $15,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $5,000.

Bell County Fiscal Court, Frakes Senior Citizens, supplies and/or operations; fiscal year 2008-2009= $5,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $5,000.

Bell County Fiscal Court, Frakes Volunteer Fire Department, equipment; fiscal year 2008-2009= $5,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $5,000.

Bell County Fiscal Court, Bell County Homeless Shelter, operations; fiscal year 2008-2009= $5,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $5,000.

Bell County Fiscal Court, Middlesboro/ Bell County Airport, improvements; fiscal year 2008-2009= $10,000

Bell County Fiscal Court, Middlesboro Historical Society, operations; fiscal year 2008-2009= $5,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $5,000.

Bell County Fiscal Court, Middlesboro Library, improvements and furnishings; fiscal year 2008-2009= $10,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $10,000.

Bell County Fiscal Court, Middlesboro Rescue Squad, equipment; fiscal year 2008-2009= $10,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $10,000.

Bell County Fiscal Court, Pineville Little League, baseball and teeball; fiscal year 2008-2009= $5,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $5,000.

Bell County Fiscal Court, projects and/or equipment; fiscal year 2008-2009= $500,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $600,000.

Bell County Fiscal Court, Red Bird Senior Citizens, supplies and/or operations; fiscal year 2008-2009= $5,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $5,000.

Bell County Fiscal Court, Sheriff’s Department, vehicles and/or equipment; fiscal year 2008-2009= $125,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $50,000.

Bell County Fiscal Court, The Lighthouse Mission, operations, equipment, and/or supplies; fiscal year 2008-2009= $25,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $25,000.

Bell County Fiscal Court, Veterans Park, improvements; fiscal year 2008-2009= $20,000.

City of Middlesboro, Friends of Shelter Spaying and Neutering Program; fiscal year 2008-2009= $5,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $5,000.

City of Middlesboro, Little League Baseball and Tee Ball Field, improvements and equipment; fiscal year 2008-2009= $5,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $5,000.

City of Middlesboro, Main Street Program; fiscal year 2009-2010= $10,000.

City of Middlesboro, project and/or equipment; fiscal year 2008-2009= $100,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $48,000.

City of Pineville, Fire Department, equipment and training materials; fiscal year 2008-2009= $25,000.

City of Pineville, Main Street Program; fiscal year 2009-2010= $10,000.

City of Pineville, Police Department vehicles and/or equipment; fiscal year 2008-2009= $50,000.

City of Pineville, projects and/or equipment; fiscal year 2008-2009= $50,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $30,000.

Middlesboro Independent Board of Education, 21st Century Alternative Instruction Material Project; fiscal year 2008-2009= $25,000.

Middlesboro Independent Board of Education K-6 Little League Football, equipment; fiscal year 2008-2009= $5,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $5,000.

Pineville Independent Board of Education, 21st Century Alternative Instruction Material Project; fiscal year 2008-2009= $25,000.

Pineville Independent Board of Education, K-8 Little League Football Equipment; fiscal year 2008-2009= $5,000; fiscal year 2009-2010= $5,000