Pike County receives grant for generators at Government Center, engineer's office

The Pike County Commissioners, last week, received the call that the county was awarded a grant to purchase two generators. One will be placed at the Pike County Government Center in Waverly Plaza and one will be at the county engineer’s office.

The Pike County Commissioners have been actively pursuing state and federal funding to purchase a generator since a sprinkler line froze and busted during a power outage on Christmas weekend in 2022, causing thousands of dollars of damage to the building.

After looking at grants from the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), and talking to the county’s federal and state delegations, the commissioners thought that someone could get them funding.

Finally, last week, with help from State Senator Shane Wilkin’s office, the commissioners got their wish that was a long time coming.

“We asked for $850,000. We were approved for $750,000. Worst case we have the other $100,000, but I think we can support (to get other funding),” Commissioner Tony Montgomery said.

Montgomery explained that Pike County already has two generators, one at the airport and EMA building (Emergency Management Agency) and one at the sheriff’s department.

Commissioner Jeff Chattin explained that the engineer’s office was not just getting a new generator, but was also getting a new electrical panel, to handle the new generator. All that is needed at the Government Center is a transfer switch.

Now that four locations have generators, during an emergency or natural disaster there are four locations where Pike County can operate from.

“If the world falls apart and something big happens, we have four locations; even if just one has it (power), we could keep the government up,” Montgomery added.

Chattin believes that keeping the government up and running is the key.

“The key phrase is ‘continuity of government,’” Chattin said.