KNOX COUNTY
NEW COLLEGE CAMPUS A BIG WIN FOR THE COUNTY
WITH SPORTS COMPLEX STILL ON THE HORIZON
BY SAMANTHA MILLS Correspondent
For all the trials and tribulations the country experienced as a whole in 2022 , Knox County Judge-Executive Mike Mitchell counts the year as a busy and very successful one for his office .
“ Since the beginning of 2022 , my office has been able to get over $ 4 million in water grant funding for the citizens of Knox County ,” Mitchell said . “ We also just received notification today that we are receiving another $ 2.2 million in government funding for water projects for upgrades on replacement water lines .”
Judge Mitchell said that $ 1.8 million of for an area of the county that is unserved , meaning they have never had the opportunity to receive city water . An upgrade to the Knox County Utilities water plant is also in the works within the next few months .
“ The water funding is something we feel good about , another thing we have been able to do is have the Southeast Community College open up here in the city ,” Mitchell said . “ That is going to provide an opportunity for our young adults to receive a higher education , locally .
“ One of the biggest things that is going to have an impact is that our younger generation is going to be able to stick around instead of move off to go to college , we can provide pathways for them here in our county .” Judge Mitchell also discussed another big project in the sports complex . “ We are feeling very encouraged and happy to help the place we call home ,” Mitchell said . “ This is a sports complex for our little league boys and girls to play on . This is a multipurpose field that local youth can use for their games and the weekend we will host little league travel ball and girls softball games .
“ With this project , we are looking to bring in more tourism money which will be poured back into our community .”
The sports complex will have walking tracks for the whole community to use . It ’ s planned to be completed Spring 2024 by the Barbourville Nursing Home , on KY 225 in Artemus .
“ Everything we do , we try to do it to invest in the youth , which is our future ,” Mitchell said . “ My office and I want to be able to give our youth something to do , and sports is good for them , it keeps them active and we want to give them all the opportunities we can .”
The Times-Tribune • Community Guide 2023 — Page 21