0705 news

Governor visits Lewis County

By Al Owens

Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher and First Lady Glenna Fletcher received a rousing welcome last Friday afternoon from an estimated crowd of 300 at the Boys and Girls Club at Clarksburg Christian Church in Vanceburg.
Governor Fletcher said that the club in Lewis County was built with funds from the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant, and that was from the Kentucky Department of Education. The club opened on January 17. He pointed out that the grant is for $150,000 per year for three years and is based on performance for years four and five with 75 percent funding in year four and 50 percent funding in year five.
Fletcher told the crowd that he understood that more than 400 youth have registered locally to become members of the after school youth development program, and the club is averaging nearly 200 youth per day.
The Governor asked the boys and girls in the audience what they liked best about the club. Answers included a lot of fun, activities and games. One little girl said that she likes the way the teachers teach.
The Governor and Mrs. Fletcher with some of the youth standing with them cut the blue ribbon for the Grand Opening of the Boys and Girls Club.
Dr. John O'Cull spoke to the crowd and presented a print of the county by retired teacher Danny McCane. The gift is designed to celebrate Vanceburg's bicentennial in 2006.
Mike Kennedy told the Governor and First Lady that the Boys and Girls Club of Lewis County wanted to make them honorary members, and he presented them with one of the club’s T-shirts.
Kennedy invited the crowd to the high school for a meet-and-greet session and another important presentation by the Governor.
After a time of enjoying refreshments and mingling with the crowd Vanceburg Mayor William T. "Bill Tom" Cooper walked to the podium and reminded all the gentlemen that Monday was Valentine's Day, and then proceeded to have a bouquet of a dozen roses presented to Mrs. Fletcher.
She looked at the Governor and quipped, "You know you've let him off the hook."
Mayor Cooper then gave the Commonwealth's Chief Executive an ink pen and suggested that any time anything pertaining to Lewis County or the City of Vanceburg came across his desk he could use that pen to sign it.
The Mayor then introduced County Judge Executive Steve Applegate who came to the podium and welcomed the Governor as well as State Senator Charlie Borders and State Representative Robin Webb. Applegate commended the folk for such a good turn out. The high school auditorium was almost full.
Applegate told the crowd that local officials work hard to improve the quality of life in Lewis County, but they cannot do that alone.
He stated, "We have to have the help of people like the Governor, our Senators and Representatives to make those things happen."
With that the Judge introduced Senator Charlie Borders who in turn introduced Representative Robin Webb.
Webb expressed her gratitude for being able to work on the Appropriations and Revenue Committee with Senator Borders and for working with the Governor.
When Borders returned to speak he focused on the Governor's Tax Modernization Program. He emphasized that the program should help continue the health care program in Kentucky so the Commonwealth won't have to cut Medicaid and other programs like other states have.
Borders lauded the Governor for his plans to improve the roads in the state and for the funds from the updated tax program that would fund education in the Bluegrass.
The State Senator then introduced the Governor to the crowd.
After his preliminary remarks the Governor introduced Amy Kennedy and announced that earlier in the day he had appointed her to a four-year term on the Kentucky Commission On Women.
Later in private conversation Glenda Wood, the Executive Director of that commission stated that she is thrilled to have someone from Lewis County on the commission. Wood said that her father is from Carter County, and her mother was reared in Laurel in Lewis County.
The Governor also recognized Dr. John O'Cull and informed the people that he had appointed him as a trustee of Morehead State University.
Fletcher then presented a $1 million Community Development Grant Check to Lewis County and Vanceburg to be applied to the construction of a new 6,500 square foot Health Department that will be located adjacent to Bee Mart on the AA Highway in Vanceburg.
After the presentation Governor Fletcher told the folk that he just wanted to talk about Kentucky.
He declared, "First off, I think most of us agree that this is the best state in the world. It's a beautiful place. The people are hard working.
"They’re the most loyal people in the world. They're great, technologically capable and sophisticated."
He continued, "We have the lowest energy rates in the nation. As a matter of fact, we’re 40 percent below the national average."

Al Owens/Lewis County Herald

Governor Ernie Fletcher presented this Community Development Block Grant check for $1 million to Lewis County and the City of Vanceburg at ceremonies conducted last Friday. The funds are for a new health department building.

Fletcher told the crowd that one thing that makes attracting and keeping people here difficult is that we have a tax system that is based on an economy that is nearly 100-years-old.

He said, "Our license tax for businesses was developed in 1906. Our telecom tax was developed during the period of Alexander Graham Bell's crank phone. Our income tax was developed for the 50s."

The Governor continued, "It's time to update it (the tax system) so we can attract the jobs here."

The Modernization Tax Plan calls for lowering the income tax but raising the cigarette tax. He pointed out that Kentucky has the lowest cigarette tax in the nation.

He said that the state can also extend the sales tax on alcohol. When you go into a store you don't pay any tax on a bottle of alcohol even though you do when you buy it in a restaurant.

A small tax could also be levied on hotel rooms because out-of-state people pay most of that.

An exemption could be given to any power company that buys coal for clean coal technology in Kentucky.

Fletcher said that AEP is looking for some incentives for them to bring their power plant to the Commonwealth.

An enterprise initiative would permit AEP to reclaim the six percent sales tax they spend on any supplies purchased during construction of the power plant. That amounts to a lot of money on a billion dollar investment for a power plant.

The Governor said that the state also has a new Energy Plan that will help conserve energy and provide the incentives mentioned earlier. He suggested a lot of corn and soy could be raised in Lewis County for ethanol and biodiesel, and the program provides incentives for that as well.

Fletcher said that many out-of-state stores that locate in Kentucky have high sales but pay very little if any taxes. So the state has developed an alternative minimal calculation. It's controversial, but it broadens the tax base across and non-Kentucky companies that previously have not been paying their fair share pay 80 percent of that tax.

We also need to make some educational changes in Kentucky that will train a more productive work force that will attract industry and business to the state, he said.

AEP wants "regulatory certainty". That means they want to recoup their investment based on utility rates.

"We are doing every thing we can to get them here," Fletcher said. "That will bring in hundreds of jobs from construction and later from the operation of the power plant itself. "

Following his discourse the Governor took questions from the floor. Phil Kennedy, superintendent of the Vanceburg Electric Plant Board asked Fletcher what the community could do to help bring the AEP Power Plant to the area. Fletcher basically replied that local leaders can communicate loud and clear to AEP that the entire community wants the power plant in the county.

The Governor was asked about his Recover Kentucky Program. In order to fight the drug problem in the state the initiative has a three point program involving rehabilitation, education and enforcement. He asserted that 60 to 70 percent of the inmates in county jails are there because of drugs or addiction related crime. Most of those folk are not violent people but are simply caught in the jaws of addiction. So rehabilitation is one of the ways of fighting the drug problem.

Fletcher said that the state is taking about $9.5 million of block grant money, tax credits and corrections funds to build ten rehabilitation centers across the state.

Paul Pepoon asked about regulating the over logging in the community.

The Governor responded by saying that one of the things being done in the Energy Plan is in reclamation of mining land by changing how the reclamation is done.

He added, "Right now the process does not allow reforestation and we’re looking at that to make sure that is permitted in order to rebuild this renewable resource. Specific plans have not yet been developed but we’re working on that."

In private conference Magistrate Milt Stanfield asked the governor about plans for two rest homes in the area. Fletcher told him that General Les Beavers, Commissioner of Veterans Affairs is still moving forward with those initiatives although he wasn't sure which location is moving forward most quickly.

Electric Plant Board hears test results

By Al Owens

Meeting in regular session last week the Electric Plant Board of the City of Vanceburg was informed about the electrical testing recently conducted by Delta Mobile Testing.
Superintendent Phil Kennedy told the board that the company had some stuff that failed such as wrapping and a hot stick but all that has already been repaired. The big bucket truck needs to have its hoses replaced, and that will be done in the near future.
Kennedy said some of the men would drive the truck to White House, Tennessee, for the repairs. He explained that driving the truck down was less expensive than having the repair company come after it.
He reported that a rather large gas leak had been discovered and repaired on the AA Highway near the Lewis County Middle School.
Kennedy presented the annual reports for each division of the utility company.
He pointed out that in 2004 the company sold 206 million gallons of water, and that is a record. The water came from five wells and flowed through 10 storage tanks and 13 pumping stations.
Kennedy noted that water lines now cover about two thirds of Lewis County.
The report shows that in 1994 the water department had 1,000 customers. It now has 2,435.
Recent improvements to the water plant and the distribution system moved the city from a class six fire rating to a class five, and that means Vanceburg citizens should be eligible for lower insurance premiums.

Last year the natural gas department had to deal with unpredictable gas prices. With the increase in the cost to home customers the number of clients over the year dropped from 550 to 520 customers as families sought alternate heat sources.
The largest task undertaken by the gas department last year was the upgrade of the Industrial Park regulator station.
Major projects for 2005 include the relocation of a two-inch regulator station and line that feeds gas from the AA Highway and across Salt Lick to Foodland. That line was relocated in the mid-80s, and leaks are difficult to find and repair because those lines are buried at a depth between 12 and 15 feet. The old line will actually be abandoned and a new line will be installed that will run from the VFW on Route 3037 down to Lions Lane. The relocation will eliminate one regulator line and one creek crossing.
The electric department reported the installation of 38 new services.
Kennedy said overtime in the electric department totaled 302 hours, and that isn't too bad. It is about one-third of what it used to be, and that can be attributed to the many improvements made to the system. Most of the overtime was due to storms and auto accidents.
The board issued a note of sympathy to board member Jack Prater in the passing of his wife, Carolyn Sue. Mrs. Prater died on Sunday, February 6, at 11:45 a.m., at Hempstead Manor in Portsmouth after a lengthy illness.
The board moved to enter a closed session to discuss pending litigation. No action was taken and after re-entering open session the meeting was adjourned.

City Attorney addresses employee dismissal

By Al Owens Al Owens Al Owens

Meeting in regular session last week the Vanceburg City Council filed a list of the names of several people protesting the dismissal of long time city employee Harry Carrington. Six people attended the meeting.
Mayor William T. "Bill Tom" Cooper referred the matter to City Attorney E.V. Holder Jr.
Holder read legislation explaining that the city council as a legislative body is not involved in the hiring and firing of city workers. That job by law is placed into the hands of the executive branch of the city government.
Holder said, "The executive authority of the city shall be vested in and exercised by the mayor."
He read one ordinance that states that all city employees are "at will" employees. The ordinance explains that there is no contract of employment expressed or implied. Both the city and the employee are free to terminate the employment relationship at any time with or without cause.
Holder said that all matters pertaining to employment are handled by the executive branch of the government, not by the legislative branch. That means by the mayor, not by the city council.
Holder concluded by stating that the city council is not a proper forum for discussing personnel matters.

The protest was recorded in the minutes of the meeting, and the mayor proceeded to conduct business as usual.
Cooper told the council that he is researching the ramifications of the city taking over the access road near Bee Mart in front of the Human Services Building but has not completed that task and will report his findings to the council at a later date.
The council gave first reading to an ordinance that would annex 1.78 acres of property on Route 59 into the Vanceburg city limits. That is the location of the Senior Apartments owned and operated by the Kentucky Limited Partnership. The action was taken at the request of the owners.
Holder swore in five firefighters. The ceremony was necessary because several of the men have become officers, and Fire Chief James “Bubbles” Switzer is sworn in annually. Carl Chaney and Eric Switzer are now Assistant Fire Chiefs. Aaron Gilbert has been promoted to Captain and Matt Dyer to Lieutenant.
The council adopted a resolution approving and accepting $220,000 in funds from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for the Renaissance Streetscape Enhancement Project. The agreement calls for the city to provide a minimum of 20 percent of matching funds and to accept responsibility for all administration, staffing, maintenance and operation costs for the project.

Spilled lumber disrupts traffic

Traffic was disrupted early Friday morning on the AA Highway neat Lions Lane west of Vanceburg when a tractor-trailer lost part of its load of lumber onto the roadway.
Fire Chief James "Bubbles" Switzer said the incident happened shortly after 5:00 a.m. Friday when two large bundles of 1"x4"x20' rough cut lumber fell from the trailer and spread across both lanes of the AA Highway.
Switzer said a passing motorist notified Vanceburg Police Officer Mark Jordan that the road was blocked and Jordan, in turn, notified dispatchers to contact the State Highway Department.

State workers cleared the roadway using a front end loader. The driver of the truck was later located in Maysville and was notified that he had lost part of his load, Switzer said. Workers later picked up the lumber and removed it from the scene.

Members of the Lewis County Fire Department and Lewis County Emergency Management were on the scene for about an hour to help with traffic control. They were assisted by Officer Jordan.

Dennis Brown/Lewis County Herald

Workers picked up lumber Friday morning which had fallen from a tractor-trailer on the AA Highway near Lewis County Middle School. Traffic was disrupted on the highway for about an hour.

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