The head of county government in one southeastern Kentucky county says it’s not often financially feasible to do more than simple road maintenance. Magoffin County Judge Executive Matt Wireman said the just- received state funding totaling almost $355,000 will allow for more substantial resurfacing of three county roads. Wireman said those dollars are harder to come by.
“You see we get zero dollars to pave gravel roads and we have a lot of gravel roads that need paving. Just in Magoffin County I have over 900 county roads and the distance on them are over 300 miles,” said Wireman.
Just over $65,000 will be used to purchase a skid steer loader. County Judge Wireman noted there are costs to recycle. He added the southeast Kentucky county gets a couple thousand dollars from 40,000 pounds of material and then there are baling twine costs
“And then by the time I pay my staff and all that I’m out 50 grand. But, it helps the environment, it helps our community, it helps our businesses to where they’re not putting all these recyclable materials in the landfills. So it’s a win but it’s financially a loser,” said Wireman.
Wireman said this type of state funding plays a big role in upgrading county roads and not just the bare minimum maintenance.
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