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McConnell, Guthrie, Meredith, Givens Celebrate Nearly $30M in Funds for Edmonson Water Improvement5/26/2026  Local, state, and federal lawmakers gathered for a press conference today to celebrate millions allotted for Edmonson County water improvements. Darren Doyle, story and photos: County, state, and federal lawmakers gathered at the Heritage Centre in Brownsville today to celebrate nearly $30M in funding that has been allotted for improvements to Edmonson County water. As we reported on February 4th, after the passing of H.R. 7178, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, Congressman Brett Guthrie announced the securing of an additional $14 million in funding for the Edmonson County Water District, which was in addition to $9.2M for the water treatment plant in Edmonson County, secured by Sen. Mitch McConnell in early January of this year, and the $6.5M in state funds secured by Rep. Michael Meredith in 2024. Water quality in Edmonson County has been under scrutiny over the past few years and for a number of reasons. Recently retired Edmonson Water District General Manager Kevin Shaw has said in multiple interviews and appearances that the removal of the dams in Green River was only one issue that affected water quality in Edmonson County. In an interview in February, Shaw said over the years, Edmonson Water failed to make necessary updates and maintenance as they focused mainly on low rates. He said after the dams were removed, lower water levels compounded issues that have been adding up for decades. With a plans for an all new and improved intake and upgrades to the current water treatment plant, today's press conference was a small look into how the funding from various governmental sources came to be. Shaw thanked each lawmaker on the panel of guests for making the funding possible, which included Meredith, Guthrie, McConnell, and State Senator David Givens. "Thank you all very much for what you've done for us. It won't go unnoticed. People are making it happen," he said.  Edmonson County Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey introduced today's panel of guests. "In a rural county like ours, infrastructure is everything," said Edmonson County Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey at today's event. "Reliable water service is not only essential for families and businesses today, but is also critical for future growth, economic development, public safety, and opportunities for our next generation." Lindsey thanked everyone involved at making the funding possible, at all levels. "While today is a day of celebration, it is also a reminder of what can be accomplished when people work together for the good of their community."   State Rep. Michael Meredith shares various steps that led to state funding for local water issues. State Representative Michael Meredith, who grew up on the Green River in Brownsville, discussed how the low water levels became a crisis in Edmonson County as former Water District Board Members Barry Jo Rich and Greg Nugent were part of the initial emergency solution. "Barry Jo Rich, who was a former member of the Water Board, had got hold of everybody, reached out to nine districts, other members of the Water Board, said "Get everybody down, let's investigate what's going on." We got down there, we opened up the situation, and we did — we got a problem." "Through 2022 and 2023, we sat through countless meetings. I read literally hundreds of pages of engineering documents — and I'm not an engineer, thanks. I learned a lot," Meredith said. "Greg Nugent was a former member of the Water District Board during that time. He sat in on a whole lot of those meetings with me, Gary Gill, and others as well. We read a lot of those same documents." Meredith then discussed further workings with Congressman Guthrie, his staff, State Senator David Givens and his staff, and U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell's Office. Some of the things they were trying to do didn't work at first but a better solution was found later on. "It seemed terrible at the time for all of us, but it ended up being a blessing in disguise. Because as soon as that process was over, on the heels of the defeat, these two gentlemen came back with a much more ambitious plan for Edmonson County and for our Water District." Meredith said it would be for two major upgrades for the District. Dedicated projects will be an improved intake system on the river and a modernized water treatment facility for the Water District. Meredith then said "none of this would have been possible without the staff of both Congressman Guthrie and Senator McConnell’s offices, and without what they do," as he personally turned and thanked both men for their efforts.  State Senator David Givens addresses the audience. State Senator David Givens then spoke on the projects and first gave credit to Rep. Meredith. "Michael didn’t exactly complete the story because there are a couple of missing pieces I want to fill in, and one of those is Michael himself," he said. "When you talk about love of community and the glue that motivates folks to get things done, Michael was so integral to this process — always a positive voice of persistence, sometimes a little bit of an appropriate nag when nagging had to be done. But Michael was so vitally important to getting this done. I don’t know that he showered upon himself the words of praise he should have. So I’m gonna start with that." Sen. Givens then discussed that while there are many different opinions on the roles of government, this water situation was not only a great example of what government should do, but also how different agencies can work together to solve real problems. "This is truly a role of government situation — a fundamental need in a community that has to be met and can’t be met by private enterprise. This is too big and too far-reaching for private enterprise to be involved in. So the first point I want to make is this solution is truly a role-of-government sort of solution," he said. "When you think about local government, state government, and federal government working together to resolve a situation, this is one of the best examples I’ve ever had a chance to be part of. He then referenced a town hall meeting that was held in Brownsville on May 10, 2024 where the Water District took questions from the crowd. "And so two years ago, we had the town hall, and that was rather contentious at times, if you remember those conversations two years ago. It was not the celebration we’re enjoying today, but it motivated us to move toward these sorts of solutions. And I was thrilled that we could be part of this twenty-nine plus million dollar solution."   U.S. Congressman Brett Guthrie discusses the process of funding the water project. Congressman Brett Guthrie then discussed the issues brought to him by Michael Meredith after the locks and dams were removed on the river. The government acted on the information gathered from engineers who claimed the best move for the failing dams was to remove them. Those studies have since been proven wrong in a number of areas. "So the question was in the last few years: Are you gonna replace, fix, whatever the locks, or are you just gonna take them out? And there were engineering studies, and I think Michael Meredith told me that he didn't think that study was accurate..." Guthrie continued to explain what options were out there to help the situation in the county. "And then you look at a lot of these water systems across the country — everybody's coming to Washington for money because they're expensive to operate," he said "And some of it is what are you gonna do on your local level, what are you gonna do on the state level, but we viewed this as a federal issue. The Corps of Engineers didn't — I don't think there actually was a proper study, although everybody thought there was a proper study done. We said this really is a federal issue that we need to try to solve and let state tax dollars and local tax dollars do other things that you need done since this is a federal issue." Rep. Guthrie then introduced U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell and esteemed his work, not just for Edmonson County, but over the course of his 42-year run as senator.  U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell address the crowd at today's press conference. McConnell, who was helped to his seat by two aides upon arrival, received a standing ovation from the small audience, made up of mostly local Republicans, as he was introduced. "The reason we're all here today is, as others have indicated, a classic example of various levels of government working together to produce that benefit. Judge, I know you're happy with it, and Michael, David — terrific representatives you all in the House and Senate — smart, capable, not to mention Brett, who's now going to be chairman of one of the most important committees in the House." The 84-year old former Majority Leader then discussed various aspects of his career and what the future looks like for Kentucky. "Now if I leave my job and look around the state, except in Louisville and Lexington, you can't find a Democrat anywhere without a flashlight. Well, the state has just changed dramatically over the course of these years. All of you helped that happen, and I think the kind of policies that are pursued both at the federal level and state level — the new Republican kind of thing — that can move Kentucky forward."  Former General Manager of Edmonson County Water, Kevin Shaw.  Local, federal, and state lawmakers applaud Sen. Mitch McConnell after his remarks. TOTAL FUNDING DETAILS:
The entire project is estimated to be complete over the course of the next two years. 
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