By DAVID GARY
CAVE CITY — The Caveland Environmental Authority in Cave City had a special guest Tuesday afternoon.
Community leaders from Barren, Edmonson, and Hart counties gathered as Senator Mitch McConnell presented Caveland Environmental Authority CEO David Peterson a check for $1,200,000 to provide needed infrastructure work that will affect the water delivery, quality, and capability in three counties.
The Senator visited with invited guests and enjoyed a brief reception honoring the event.
Peterson thanked the Senator for the contribution and pointed out that he remembered a time when "the cave in Horse Cave smelled so bad that the townsfolk could hardly stand it, and Mammoth Cave was losing fragile species of creatures faster then they could protect them."
Peterson also told the Senator that investments like Tuesday's contribution have allowed Horse Cave's Hidden River Cave to be cleaned up in addition to the reemergence of the species in Mammoth Cave due to efforts to protect them from pollution.
The Senator thanked the members in attendance and pointed out that the federal money was "a step in the right direction" and a "very necessary investment to protect a number of vital resources that affect a great number of people."
The $1.2 million will be used by the Caveland Environmental Authority for water improvements in Barren and Hart Counties and affects customers and locations in Edmonson County as well.
These funds will design and construct a water storage tank and sewer pumping facilities to improve drinking water for families in Barren and Hart counties who are in need of safe, dependable and clean drinking water.
