New Haven to receive funds to relieve logjam

The City of New Haven will receive funds to remove a logjam caused by limbs that fell into Rolling Fork River during the January ice storm. Second District Congressman Brett Guthrie helped secure $16,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Emergency Watershed Program.

“It’s a start, I am just glad that they are thinking about us, I appreciate any help,” New Haven Mayor Tessie Cecil said.

The New Haven Board of Commissioners was notified of the logjam at the March meeting from community members Jack Wimsett and Louis Cahoe. The men requested help getting a FEMA grant but the city was notified that no assistance would be provided through FEMA because the jam was not considered an emergency.

“When I learned of the damage to the waterways in New Haven, it became a top priority to help the local government get the assistance they needed to remove the debris,” Guthrie said in a news release.

The money was allocated to safeguard the people and property from erosion and flooding, said Nate Hodson, communications director for Guthrie.

Soil Conservation personnel help to identify needs, “it’s really a team effort,” Hodson said of securing funding.

Cecil said she hoped that better ways would be found to clean up the river to help prevent future flooding in New Haven.