PIKEVILLE, Ky. — At a special meeting Friday, the Pike County Fiscal Court agreed to immediately open a transfer station at Turkey Creek on a reclaimed mine site.

The site will receive as debris from flood damaged property as well old appliances and other large items.

District Six Magistrate Chris Harris said the project has been in the works for a while, but that recent flooding in the area brought the need for the facility to the forefront. Currently, debris must be taken to the county landfill at John's Creek.

Construction on the transfer station is a joint effort between Pike County and students at the Belfry Vo-Tech Center. However, that school was closed after the flooding of May 9, so construction by students has been delayed.

"There will eventually be a building on the site," Harris said. "The Vo-Tech students will finish that in the next school term. But, I feel it is important to have the transfer station open to receive the debris created as people recover from flooding."

Property for the station became available when a coal mine filed bankruptcy. Bond money put up for that mine would have been been used to return the land to its natural contour, Harris said, but he felt the people of the county would be better served by a transfer station on the site. He worked with the Office of Mine Reclamation to obtain the site and create the facility.

Harris said the site will contain four 40-yard open top containers and there will be no garbage on the ground.

"Everything will be contained," he said. "One will hold metal and the remaining containers will be used for household garbage and construction debris."

Although residents of the county will be able to use the facility at no charge, others can use it, paying a small fee.

Pike County Judge Executive Wayne T. Rutherford said he felt the transfer station is a timely project.

"We need it, and we especially need it open now," Rutherford said.