PRESTONSBURG – Members of the Big Sandy Area Development District’s board of directors approved progress on five projects currently on the table Thursday.

During an executive review of projects, members gave a green light to five separate projects spanning the region.

Two of those projects were related to Floyd County – a project dealing with Wheelwright City utilities and another for the city of Prestonsburg.

Members approved figures showing $1.17 million that would be needed for water treatment plant improvements for the city of Wheelwright.

This project would involve a raw water flow meter, a 24-hour chlorine monitor, backwashing pumps, clear well excavation, the purchase of new lab equipment, as well as a new chlorine room and construction of a new roof.

The $1.17 million reflected in Thursday’s summary is currently marked as state funds, according to Big Sandy ADD records.

A second Floyd County project, slated for the city of Prestonsburg, was approved by board members who gave the nod to an estimated $897,571 to be used for modifications to the city’s existing wastewater treatment plant.

The funding, which would come in the form of stimulus money, according to Big Sandy ADD Director Sandy Runyon, would see construction of two additional treatment units and the conversion of the existing unit to work with the others.

The existing plant is outdated and inefficient and cannot continue to provide adequate service to Prestonsburg residents, district officials said.

Other projects given the green light through executive review Thursday included two separate project summaries of $210,650 and $222,589 for ice storm recovery expenses and funds for Magoffin County and its county seat Salyersville.

And by far the largest project in terms of funding approval decided on Thursday was just over $44.6 million for continued plans for Pikeville Medical Center’s proposed parking garage and seven-story office building the hospital has envisioned in the past several years.