Video & Transcript : 'Tickfaw River' :

Page 17 of 239
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 01/29/25

Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:
  • : Mississippi River, Red River, St.
  • Louis River?
  • : Mississippi River, Red River, St.
  • Louis River?
  • : Mississippi River, Red River, St.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • modifications, and new recommendations listed in the decision material for the Angelina and Nettius River
  • We will also Trinity River Authority of Texas and the Texas Ethics Commission.
  • We will begin with the Angelina and Nettius River Authority and Lower Nettis Valley Authority.
  • That concludes the voting on these two river authorities.
  • The next agency we are voting on is the Trinity River Authority of Texas.
Summary: The Sunset Advisory Commission met for its final meeting of the biennium, established a quorum, and approved the December 11, 2024 minutes. Members then voted on staff recommendations for several agencies, including the Angelina and Netties River Authority, Lower Netties Valley Authority, and Trinity River Authority of Texas, adopting all recommendations for those entities without modification. The Texas Ethics Commission received the most discussion. Members adopted a modified recommendation to exempt lobby compensation thresholds from inflation adjustments and another modification to round inflation-adjusted amounts. The Commission also adopted a series of new recommendations addressing TEC customer service staffing, late filing penalties, post-election reporting penalties, waiver of penalties when notice cannot be produced, review of the substantial compliance standard for corrected reports, review of the definition of principal purpose for campaign finance reporting, more prominent public posting of delinquent penalties, and clearer training and guidance on lobbying registration and filing requirements. The Commission also adopted two previously omitted Texas Department of Criminal Justice recommendations, 6.5 and 6.6. The Commission then took its required final record vote to forward all recommendations adopted during the biennium to the 89th Legislature; the motion passed with nine ayes. Sunset staff provided a status update on implementation of 2023 Sunset recommendations, reporting that the State Auditor found 89% of selected management actions fully implemented and that Sunset staff found 68% of 163 statutory and related changes fully implemented, with the remainder mostly in progress. The meeting also noted the recently completed evaluation of the Texas Lottery Commission and ended with closing remarks from the chair and vice chair before the Commission recessed.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Transportation Jan 15th, 2026 at 04:00 pm

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • The work is necessary to replace a 108-year-old bridge across the river.
  • and other record levels with the rivers in the area, causing numerous road closures.
  • Stomish River Bridge is an active project in design and it currently has some federal funding.
  • Sultan River Bridge, number 94, is also under active design, but is at the planning level and we need
  • This is immediately south off of the Skykomish River, south of the city of Sultan.
Bills: SB5989
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Water appropriation evaluations for data centers, HF4153 3/26/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • We also value our natural resources, 300 acres of parkland, the Mississippi and Elk Rivers.
  • We're simply here asking for Rivers. We're simply here asking for some<00:08:41.880><c> help.
  • They're literally pulling it out of the river. Um, they filter it first.
  • </c> the river. the river.
  • </c> river water. Body to water. river water. Body to water.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Transportation Jan 12th, 2026 at 04:00 pm

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • So today's plan is to get a presentation from the Department of Transportation on the atmospheric river
  • That's what we just had with the atmospheric rivers, and the other is called an external cause.
  • The Yakima River took it out, and we’ve been out there working since mid-January to get this restored
  • Yakima River took it out, and we've been out there working since mid-January to get this restored.
  • We had some communications going back and forth about equipment needs during the White River flood.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

November 4, 2025 - 01:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • AND WHEN YOU BUILD A PUMP STATION AND THE RESERVOIR THAT REROUTES THE RIVER IT ABSOLUTELY WORKS.
  • I WAS LOOKING AT RIVER FLOWS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THE SIZE OF THE PUMP STATIONS. 95 PERCENT OF
  • THE RIVERS IN FLORIDA THEY COULD REROUTE.
  • THEN YOU HAVE THE RESTORED CONDITION AND THAT IS RIVER OF GRASS.
  • LUCIE COUNTY THEY ARE UNDER AND THERE IS ONE AT THE LOXAHATCHEE RIVER AS WELL. >> Chair: FOLLOW UP?
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session Aug 12th, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The shooting occurred north of the river at a Target store.
  • The river authority president said he wasn't really sure it would really help.
  • And I think people who live in these river watersheds know that.
  • I just wonder because we had heard testimony that the River Authority of the Upper Guadalupe River Authority
  • the upper Guadalupe River Authority portion.
Bills: SB8 , SB4 , SB43 , SB1 , SB2 , SB13 , SB6 , SB10 , SB16 , SB14 , SB3 , SB8 , SB4 , SB43 , SB1 , SB2 , SB13 , SB6 , SB10 , SB16 , SB14 , SB3
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • So I'm here to present SB 832, which updates the statute for the Upper Los Angeles River and Tributaries
  • River in her district. It's Nithya Rahman in this case.
  • River miles in order to improve representation.
  • River watershed. Currently, 18 of those projects are underway and being implemented.
  • River member of this body, I'm pleased to see you carrying this measure.
Summary: The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee met with a quorum present and heard one non-consent bill, SB 832 by Senator Allen. The bill would update the statute governing the Upper Los Angeles River and Tributaries Working Group to reflect its ongoing role, require it to meet at least annually to review implementation of the revitalization plan and possible amendments, and adjust membership to ensure representation from the city council district with the most Upper L.A. River miles. Senator Allen and sponsor April Bird of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority described the measure as a minor but important update to support continued implementation of the 2020 revitalization plan, which identified 300 projects and has 18 currently underway. Committee members asked about the change from meetings every two years to every year, and the author explained that the bill would codify a more regular schedule after a prior budget change had set the interval at two years. Senator Stern expressed support, noting the complexity of coordinating city, county, and MRCA interests and the need for the working group to support future project funding and planning. No opposition was presented. Senator Laird moved the bill, and the committee voted 6-0 to pass SB 832 to Senate Appropriations. The meeting then adjourned.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Sunset Advisory Commission Jan 15th, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • modifications, and new recommendations listed in the decision material for the Angelina and Nettius River
  • We will also Trinity River Authority of Texas and the Texas Ethics Commission.
  • We will begin with the Angelina and Nettius River Authority and Lower Nettis Valley Authority.
  • That concludes the voting on these two river authorities.
  • The next agency we are voting on is the Trinity River Authority of Texas.
Bills: SR1 , SR2
Summary: The Sunset Advisory Commission met for its final meeting of the biennium, established a quorum, approved the December 11, 2024 minutes, and then voted on recommendations for several agencies reviewed earlier in the cycle. It adopted all recommendations for the Angelina and Nettus River Authority, the Lower Nettus Valley Authority, and the Trinity River Authority of Texas, with no modifications offered for those agencies. The Commission then considered the Texas Ethics Commission. Members adopted staff recommendations with modifications, including changes to lobby compensation thresholds and rounding of inflation adjustments. The Commission also adopted a series of new recommendations addressing TEC customer service staffing, late-filing penalties, post-election reporting penalties, waiver of penalties when notice cannot be shown, review of the “substantial compliance” standard, review of the “principal purpose” definition, more prominent public posting of delinquent penalties, and clearer training and guidance on filing and lobby-registration requirements. The Commission also adopted two previously omitted Texas Department of Criminal Justice recommendations, 6.5 and 6.6. By recorded vote, the Commission unanimously forwarded all recommendations adopted during the biennium to the 89th Legislature, with nine ayes. Sunset staff then reported on implementation of 2023 Sunset recommendations, saying the State Auditor found 89% of selected management actions fully implemented and Sunset staff found 68% of statutory and related changes fully implemented, with the remainder mostly in progress. The Commission also noted receipt of a January 6 evaluation of the Texas Lottery Commission, including a study of potential regulation of lottery ticket courier companies, but no further action was taken on that item. The meeting concluded with closing remarks and a motion to recess subject to the call of the Chair.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill also authorizes a Connecticut River Resilient Commission.
  • of a regional approach to addressing flooding and aging infrastructure along the Connecticut River.
  • ...close to the Merrimack River.
  • My district stretches from Magazine Beach on the Charles River to Dross Evan Park up on the Mystic River
  • Because certainly as a representative of both the Mystic River and the Charles River, proudly so, it's
Summary: The committee held a hearing on S.2542, the Mass Ready Act, a $3 billion environmental bond bill aimed at climate resilience, water infrastructure, conservation, and related permitting reforms. Secretary Rebecca Tepper and administration officials described the bill’s major investments in flood control, coastal resilience, DCR roads/bridges/dams and parks, drinking water and wastewater upgrades, PFAS remediation, land conservation, food security infrastructure, and expanded Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness funding. They also explained proposed streamlining measures for environmental permitting, flood risk disclosures, a Connecticut River Resilient Commission, and a new Resilience Revolving Fund to provide low-cost financing for municipal resilience projects. Committee members asked about affordability, useful life of projects, how the revolving fund would be capitalized, and how the bill would help communities such as Lawrence, Methuen, and coastal towns; officials said the fund would initially use existing trust resources, not new fees, and could later support special obligation bonds once it has a track record. Several witnesses supported the bill but urged larger authorizations or additional provisions. Boston Harbor Now asked for more funding for MVP and the state’s resilient coast plan, and supported permitting reforms for nature-based and hybrid solutions. The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance urged inclusion of drought-management language from separate bills, plus a statewide flood buyout program and a water reuse commission. Green Roots called for dedicated funding for outdoor and indoor air quality monitoring and indoor air quality improvements, especially in environmental justice communities affected by traffic and airport pollution. Conservation and forestry advocates requested more funding for urban tree canopy, local nurseries, and workforce training, while also raising concerns about PFAS impacts and the need for clearer municipal reforestation language. Agriculture and water infrastructure groups focused on food security and drinking water needs. The Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership and the Mass Food System Collaborative backed the food security infrastructure grant program and farmland protection funding, warning that the program needs continued support in fiscal 2027 and that farmland loss is accelerating. The Massachusetts Waterworks Association said the bill does not go far enough on drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, citing large statewide capital needs and PFAS compliance costs, and asked for recurring funding and broader eligibility for climate resilience grants. A Product Stewardship Council representative also urged funding for a waste reduction needs assessment, citing growing landfill constraints and rising disposal costs. No votes were taken during the hearing."}{
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee Jun 12th, 2026

Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Columbia River Crossing was a project from 2005 to 2014, in the re-evaluation.
  • And then there were three bridge configuration options for the Columbia River Bridge itself.
  • It had a slightly narrower construction footprint over the Columbia River in downtown Vancouver.
  • Again, it is replacement of the Columbia River bridges over the Columbia River, specifically with seismically
  • You have, as an alternative, getting across the river.
Summary: The Joint Committee on Interstate 5 Bridge met remotely with Washington legislative members to receive updates on the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, including environmental review, cost and funding, tolling, and procurement for construction. Program staff said the final supplemental environmental impact statement was published in April 2026, with a federal record of decision expected in early summer. They described the recommended design as a single-level fixed-span bridge, centered I-5 alignment, C Street ramps, one auxiliary lane in each direction, and dispersed park-and-ride parking. Members raised concerns about transparency, the closed chat function, and the decision not to include two auxiliary lanes; staff said the one-lane option was recommended through consultation with partner agencies and analysis, but the final decision would come with the record of decision. Staff also said the diversion analysis projected less than 3% traffic diversion to I-205 in 2045, though members from Oregon and Washington expressed concern about impacts to their communities and asked for more detail on mitigation and decision-making. The committee also reviewed a major cost update. Staff said the full five-mile program is now estimated at $13.5 billion to $15.2 billion, with a likely cost of $14.4 billion, up from a 2022 estimate of $5 billion to $7.5 billion, citing inflation, schedule delays, scope changes, and more detailed risk modeling. They said the first funded phase has been reduced to a $5.68 billion package focused on the Columbia River bridge replacement, connections to I-5, Hayden Island and SR-14, bridge demolition, tolling infrastructure, and advancing light rail design. Funding for that phase was described as $5.69 billion, including $2.1 billion federal funds, $1 billion from each state, and $1.5 billion in projected toll revenue. Members asked what would happen if costs rise further; staff said the estimate includes substantial contingency, the project will use progressive design-build to manage risk, and the team will continue updating the finance plan annually. A separate tolling and traffic-revenue presentation explained that four toll scenarios were analyzed using regional travel demand modeling, a toll diversion model, and a post-processing review. All scenarios assume pre-completion tolling beginning July 1, 2028, a 50% low-income discount for eligible users, and exemptions for tribal preemptions, emergency vehicles, maintenance vehicles, and organized militia. Staff said the low-income discount would affect about 4% to 6% of annual transactions and reduce annual revenues by roughly 2% to 3%. They said Scenario 2 was used for the financial analysis and is sufficient to support the $1.5 billion toll contribution in the funded phase. Members asked about toll collection costs, revenue impacts of the discount, and how the scenarios differed; staff said collection costs are expected to be in line with other WSDOT toll facilities, but exact costs are not yet set because toll rates are not final. Finally, WSDOT staff outlined procurement and delivery steps for construction. They said WSDOT will be the lead contracting agency, using progressive design-build, with a request for qualifications targeted for early July 2026, a request for proposals in October, contractor selection in April 2027, construction starting in 2028, and tolling beginning in 2028. Staff said the approach is intended to consolidate scope, reduce interface risk, and allow transparent negotiation with an independent cost estimator, while preserving an off-ramp if a fair price cannot be reached. Members asked for more detail on timing, cost allocation, and the share of the first phase funded by tolls; staff estimated tolls account for about 26% of the first phase cost.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Number five, review and approval of the following for the Sabine River Authority.
  • Number five, review and approval of the following for the Sabine River Authority.
  • Sabine River Authority. And I think we have two items in front of y'all today.
  • The whole resort was operated without River Authority monies.
  • And by this project, I mean the Sabine River Authority making this decision to take it.
Summary: The committee received the May fiscal status statement from the Office of Planning and Budget, which reflected the updated Revenue Estimating Conference forecast. The revised forecast reduced the FY26 general fund excess available from $292.6 million to $179.7 million and lowered projected revenues across the five-year baseline, including a drop in FY27 available funds and larger out-year imbalances. The statement was approved without objection. Members then considered several Facility Planning and Control items and approved them without objection: a $3 million LSU Health Sciences Center-New Orleans project to build out space in the Center for Advanced Learning and Simulation; a $343,600 increase for HVAC upgrades at the Louisiana War Veterans Home warehouse in Jackson; and a $700,000 increase for Southern University’s A.A. Lenoir Law Center addition. The committee also received, for information only, five change orders over $50,000 but under $250,000. The committee approved contract extensions and funding actions for several agencies. Louisiana Economic Development received approval for one-year extensions and increases for marketing contracts with Zender Communications and Graham Group. The Department of Education’s contract amendment for the Louisiana Gator ESA program with Odyssey was reported favorably after questions about the procurement process and how the contract amount relates to student enrollment. The Sabine River Authority’s $9.5 million operating budget increase and its 2026–2027 budget were approved favorably, with members discussing the planned takeover of Cypress Bend Resort operations. The Department of Health’s HERO Fund round of 15 grant awards, totaling about $4.6 million and projected to create 541 new health care credentials, was also approved favorably. Finally, the Water Sector Commission’s recommendations were adopted, including an additional $619,850 for St. Mary Parish Water and Sewer Commission No. 5 and $1.5 million in emergency subfund assistance for the city of Tallulah, conditioned on a limited fiscal administration order. The committee also reviewed a cooperative agreement between the Louisiana Community and Technical College System and its facilities corporation related to Act 35 projects, and then adjourned.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Capital Investment Committee 3/4/25

Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:
  • It's up on the confluence of the Crow River and the Mississippi River. It's a very small area.
  • into the river fairly quickly.
  • right near the river.
  • </c><00:59:48.440><c> older</c> that's between 61 and the river older that's between 61 and the river
  • </c> three that are right along the river three that are right along the river water<01:14:33.679><c>
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • We had MSPCA, Audubon, Charles River Watershed, New England Wildlife.
  • I'm the executive director of the Charles River Watershed Association.
  • and massive citizen effort to turn the river around.
  • And even using hot sauce, like our sanctuary at Ipswich River, who used it to deter mice.
  • I said, 'You've got the Charles River and all of that green space there.
Summary: The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held a hybrid hearing on a large slate of bills focused on pesticides, pollinators, rodenticides, mosquito control, invasive species, and local authority over pesticide regulation. Chair Becca Rausch set strict two-minute testimony limits due to the very large number of speakers. Early testimony from Senator Moore and Representative Hawkins strongly supported a bill to restrict second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, citing harms to wildlife, pets, and public health, and noting that California has already adopted a similar model. Testimony also supported a Lowell home rule petition to allow the city to prohibit or restrict these rodenticides, with local officials describing documented raptor poisonings and municipal efforts to phase out use on city property. A major portion of the hearing focused on pollinator protection and neonicotinoid-treated seeds. Witnesses from environmental groups, conservation organizations, academics, and beekeepers argued that neonics harm bees and other beneficial insects, contaminate soil and water, and provide little or no economic benefit in most corn and soybean fields. Several speakers pointed to New York, Vermont, and Quebec as models for restricting treated seeds, and one panel cited research showing only a small percentage of fields benefit economically from the treatments. Support was also voiced for a bill establishing an ecologically based mosquito management program, with advocates criticizing aerial and truck spraying and urging non-chemical, locally tailored approaches. Other testimony supported bills to reform the pesticide board and pesticide regulation process, to give vulnerable municipalities more local control over pesticide use, to protect schoolchildren from pesticides on school grounds, and to respond to invasive species through a centralized state office, coordinator, strategic plan, and trust fund. Many speakers, including representatives from Mass Audubon, MSPCA, the Xerces Society, the Sierra Club, watershed groups, and local wildlife rehabilitators, described impacts on hawks, owls, pets, fish, and broader ecosystems. No votes were taken during the hearing, and committee members generally asked few questions, with the hearing remaining in testimony mode throughout.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Transportation Jan 13th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • River Channel Maintenance Plan.
  • The Columbia River system moves about $31 billion per year in cargo and is vital to the economic...
  • Maintaining the Columbia River at its federally authorized depth of 43 feet has true statewide impact
  • That's not just jobs on the river. That's farmers, truck drivers, maritime labor, and more.
  • We rely on a limited number of north-south corridors and a single crossing of the Wenatchee River.
Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met on January 13, 2026, for a work session on Governor Ferguson’s proposed 2026 supplemental transportation budget and a public hearing on Senate Bill 6005, which makes supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2025–27 biennium. Committee staff reviewed the transportation budget outlook, noting that the 2025 session had balanced the transportation budget over four years with significant new revenues, but that recent fuel-tax and Climate Commitment Act forecasts had softened the long-term outlook. Staff and the governor’s budget team said the proposal still leaves the budget in positive shape while addressing major needs such as preservation, ferry replacement, maintenance, and the state self-insurance account. The governor’s office described a $16.8 billion transportation budget proposal centered on preservation and maintenance, including $3.1 billion in bonding for eligible preservation projects, $1.1 billion for three new ferries, additional ferry preservation funding, pavement and bridge work, maintenance funding, County Road Administration Board startup money, State Patrol communications upgrades, DOL service access improvements, dredging for the Lower Columbia River, and restored regional mobility grant funding. Committee members asked about ferry capacity, DOL mobile offices, self-insurance costs, and whether additional preservation money could be used in 2026. Testifiers from cities, counties, labor, ports, construction, business, and environmental groups generally supported the emphasis on preservation, ferry reliability, local road funding, and freight projects, while some urged broader transit and rail investment and one witness criticized the budget’s spending approach. During public testimony on SB 6005, speakers from Bainbridge Island and ferry communities supported ferry investments and reliability improvements; local government and labor representatives backed preservation funding and better working conditions for transportation workers; business and construction groups endorsed maintenance, paving, bridge repair, and the Lower Columbia dredging item; and port and environmental advocates supported freight, port electrification, and rail funding. One witness raised concerns about the cost and long-term implications of hybrid-electric ferry maintenance, and another urged restraint in spending. The hearing ended after testimony, with the chair noting the sign-in tally and adjourning the committee without a vote on the bill.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • We started off with the Indian River Lagoon. Why? Why did we do that?
  • I know you talked about Indian River, but >> I believe it's she was to Gregory. You're right.
  • And so we've started in the Indian River Lagoon because that's one area that we know.
  • And we've also prior to that have funded many projects within the Indian River Lagoon from the Water
  • You know, Senator Deciglie, we talked about Key Biscayne and Indian River Lagoon.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought Jun 11th, 2025 at 01:00 pm

Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought

Transcript Highlights:
  • in spring drought is really hard on them, and we've had to do some pulses to flush them out of the river
  • And, of course, the Yakima River right across.
  • So we're not planning on a direct high-lift pump out of the river at that location.
  • part of coordinating with all our integrated plan partners, which will help us farther down in the river
  • tough environment for the freshwater portion of the fish, the different species life cycle in the river
Summary: The Joint Committee on Water Supply During Drought opened its 2025 meeting with member introductions and then held elections for committee leadership. After brief discussion about the committee’s customary rotation and eligibility rules, members unanimously elected Senator Ron Muzzall as chair and Representative Kristine Reeves as vice chair. The outgoing chair, Representative Ybarra, continued presiding for the remainder of the meeting at Senator Muzzall’s request. The committee then heard a presentation from Sage Park of the Roza Irrigation District on current drought conditions in the Yakima Basin. Park described very low reservoir levels, declining water supply forecasts, an early shutdown of deliveries, and the district’s response measures, including a 10-day shutdown, pump-backs, leased water, canal piping, and on-farm conservation. She also noted impacts on growers, including fallowing and removal of thousands of acres of crops, and emphasized the need for continued emergency drought funding, faster and more efficient state lease assistance, and support for fish-related water needs and longer-term drought resiliency funding. Urban Eberhard then presented on the Kittitas Reclamation District and the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. He highlighted extensive on-farm conservation, canal piping and lining, SCADA/telemetry improvements, and the Springwood reservoir project, which is intended to improve water storage, delivery reliability, and fish flows. Members asked about the reservoir’s potential for hydro generation and about effects on groundwater recharge from canal lining; Eberhard said hydro is being considered in feasibility work and that managed aquifer recharge is being monitored and incorporated into planning. The committee did not take any further legislative action beyond the leadership elections.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> disaster we had was a lot of river disaster we had was a lot of river flooding<00:05:23.520><c>
  • Well, like in the little town where I live, Falmouth, it's surrounded on three sides by a river.
  • But I'm hoping to get the people to buy in along the Licking River.
  • So, it's kind of hard to by a river.
  • Uh because the more licking river.
Summary: The Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force opened its sixth meeting by approving the minutes and then taking up a presentation from University of Pikeville representatives and local leaders on an Eastern Kentucky Disaster Relief Center at Bear Mountain in Pike County. Speakers included Greg May, Rep. Ashley Tacket Laferty, Lori Worth, and Laura Damron. They described repeated flooding and other disasters in eastern Kentucky, the lack of a single prepared relief location, and the need for a centralized, elevated site that could serve as a flood and broader natural-disaster hub. The presenters said the Bear Mountain property, about 530 acres and well above flood levels, could support a multi-use facility combining disaster response functions with university and community uses. Proposed features included a command and communications center, distribution space, emergency shelter, medical and clinic support, food service, restroom facilities, RV hookups, and an indoor track/distribution building. They emphasized that the project would help avoid disrupting existing venues such as the Pikeville Expo Center and Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, while also supporting tourism and economic recovery. Committee members asked about community and emergency-management support, annual operating costs, and resilience standards such as tornado-related building codes. In response, the presenters said local stakeholders, including Appalachian Wireless, Pikeville Medical Center, Community Trust Bank, the city of Pikeville, and emergency management officials, had expressed support. They said the university planned to absorb some operating costs through multiple uses of the facility, community camps, and budgeted maintenance, and that construction documents were nearly complete with plans to begin building within months. After the presentation, the chair thanked the presenters and moved the committee into its recommendations discussion, noting the broader fiscal and humanitarian importance of disaster preparedness and resiliency and indicating that future legislation would likely follow from the task force’s work.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Leg Committee Meeting - 2025-03-26

Legacy Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Louis River.
  • Louis River.
  • Louis River.
  • Louis River.
  • Louis River.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Capital Investment Committee 4/23/25

Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:
  • , and the Root River State Trail.
  • </c><00:29:14.960><c> and</c> enjoy our community, the Root River and enjoy our community, the Root River
  • Croix River.
  • Croy River. We majestic views of the St. Croy River.
  • Croix River waterway.