The Breathitt County Fiscal Court met on December 23 to discuss a major solar project, road issues, and an ongoing community dispute.
The members of the court heard information about the proposed solar farm set for construction near Little Buckhorn.
A representative from the Florida-based BrightNight discussed the project and the company’s plan to hire local construction crews and contractors to help complete the work.
The proposed $1 billion solar farm, slated for construction near the Breathitt, Perry, and Knott County lines, was approved by the Kentucky Public Service Commission on August 1. The approval granted permission to begin construction of its planned 210-megawatt solar array on 1,980 acres of the former Starfire strip mine. The first phase is expected to be completed in 2027.
At a hearing in July 2025, the company stated that the construction and facility would create as many as 250 new jobs, generating more than $16 million for the economy of the three counties through direct and indirect employment and taxes. About 25 percent of the project lies within Breathitt County.
County officials in Knott County approved a $750 million bond related to the agreement, with Perry County expected to consider its portion in January.
Court members were informed that a job fair will be held in the future, with a focus on hiring residents and construction workers.
The Court voted unanimously to approve Breathitt County’s participation in the project.
The court approved the minutes of the previous meeting, agreed to pay vendor claims, and approved an incentive payment for Treasurer Edie Lisk after she completed more than 40 hours of training for 2025.
Several road-related matters were addressed, including the adoption process for George Riley Drive. The Court also discussed road repair bids, which were awarded to Blue Rock and Pit Viper Construction companies.
Several residents from Oaks Lane approached the Court and raised several concerns about blocked access to their road due to a dispute with a neighboring property owner. The residents said that the road serves four homes and three cemeteries.
The neighbors alleged that there were ongoing issues involving blocked access, harassment, and safety concerns for area children.
After hearing the complaints, the court agreed to begin the adoption process for Oaks Lane.
Mary Russell requested that her road, ES Little Lane, be removed from the county road plan. The Court agreed and voted to proceed with removing the road from the county system.
The court also discussed safety issues at a lot located above Walmart, where two fires occurred in 2025. The county was initially fined $9,000 for one of the incidents, though the state later agreed to reduce the penalty to $2,500. The incidents were cited as the reason a fence was installed at the site.
Community beautification was highlighted during comments from Iva Fugate, who announced plans to form a countywide beautification committee. Fugate said she hopes to include a representative from each magisterial district on the board. The first meeting of the county beautification committee is slated for January 15 at 1 p.m. in the Breathitt County courtroom, with a weather backup date of January 22.
An update was also given on the county’s ongoing stray horse process. Officials reported that 131 horses are currently being held, with seven additional horses expected to be added, and the process is scheduled to begin after Christmas. The report also included information about six horses that have died in the past month.
The meeting concluded at 6:11 p.m.
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