Meeting in regular session last week the Lewis County Fiscal Court tabled a motion to hear and approve the second reading of an ordinance establishing a fire tax district to be known as the Lewis County North-Central Fire Protection District.

Edward Willim III addressed the court asking about the details of the ordinance and the operations of the tax district. He attended the meeting along with his wife and Paul Cunningham.

Willim said, "First of all, there wasn't a whole lot of publicity for this. Secondly, I think the meetings on this tax should be held in the evenings so you can get more taxpayers involved."

In expressing his concerns Willim listed the cost, the new firehouse, its location, the response time, training for volunteer firemen and the source of water used to fight the fires.

Lewis County Judge Executive Steve Applegate explained that the firehouse would be located on Lions Lane on county-owned property adjacent to Northern Contours, Inc., and that the tax district would extend five miles by road from that site.

The building would be paid for out of the taxes collected in the district.

Fire Chief James "Bubbles" Switzer told Willim that volunteer firefighters must be certified by the state.

Garrison Fire Chief Marty Strong voiced his support for the fire tax district.

Strong stated, "It's hard to run a fire department on $8,000 a year."

He explained that the Insurance Service Organization (ISO) rates fire districts, and insurance premiums are based on those ratings.

Strong said that most of the county had the highest rating of 10, but with the new fire station that would drop to a rating of nine and would probably result in lower homeowner insurance rates. He added that sometimes the drop in insurance costs overrides the amount of the tax paid and actually saves the resident money.

Switzer clarified that this tax district has to do with the county fire department only and not the Vanceburg Fire Department. He emphasized that the county fire department gets no funding from the city department although the city does permit the county to house a truck at Fire Station 2.

Switzer told Willim that water to fight fires out in the county is usually hauled in tanks on the trucks.

Switzer told the court that fire coverage could no longer be provided for the area because of no funding for the county fire department. He said that some people used to make donations to help the department financially but in the past couple of years those donations have dropped off to nothing.

Applegate said that one of his main concerns was for the safety of the students at the Middle School and High School located on Lions Lane.

Second District Magistrate Todd Ruckel made the motion to table the issue until next month's session and that that meeting be preceded by a well publicized public meeting held sometime in the evening. Magistrate Keith Chapman seconded that motion.

The court approved the second readings of two ordinances amending the budget for the 2004-05 fiscal year.

The first one was for unbudgeted receipts from the Commonwealth of Kentucky that totaled $403,940 plus $183,140 from the Transportation Cabinet and a federal reimbursement of $220,000. The expenditures were amended to show an increase in the gravel and stone account of $183,120; road projects for $170,000; and road workers salaries for $50,000.

The second amendment shows unbudgeted receipts from the state for the Jail Fund Account of $30,000 and increases the expenditure account for deputies' salaries by $30,000.

The court moved to enter into a supplemental agreement with CSX Transportation, Inc., regarding 1.04 of an acre of property extending in a northerly direction from Martin Avenue in Garrison. That property is used to alleviate drainage in the area.

The court noted in the minutes that the Judge Executive submitted the proposed Lewis County Budget for fiscal year 2004-05 at the meeting. No action was called for regarding this matter.

The court approved the reappointment of Sally Mineer as Representative for the Northern Kentucky Regional Tourism Committee for a term of two-years beginning July 1, 2004 and ending June 30, 2006.

Without any discussion the court approved the annual budget for the Lewis County Conservation District for the fiscal year 2004-05.

It also moved to help sponsor the 2004 All-Star Lewis County Little League Team with a donation of $1,000.

As a matter of annual, routine business the court approved the Annual Order setting the maximum amount for the salaries for the deputies and assistants for the Sheriff's Office and the office of the County Clerk as required by state law.

The magistrates authorized Applegate to advertise bids for gas, oil and diesel fuel and also to advertise bids for four large FEMA projects and to approve any interim financing that might be necessary to complete those projects. The financing would be short-term loans that would be repaid upon reimbursement from FEMA.

Last Monday night, April 12, this month's regular session of the Lewis County Board of Education was held in the high school auditorium.

Superintendent Maurice Reeder Jr. asked members of the Academic Team, the JROTC Color Guard, the Pep Band, the cheerleaders and the boys basketball team to walk across the stage in order and receive certificates of recognition. Their coaches, teachers and supervisors took part in the ceremony and introduced each participant by name.

Reeder prefaced the presentation of the certificates by saying, "We want to recognize many of the young men and women of Lewis County High School who have represented themselves, their school and school district and the entire community very well this past year."

He continued, "We want to shake your hand and just let you know how much we appreciate each and every one of you for the contributions you, the coaches, teachers and supervisors have made as well as all the efforts the parents have made to make sure the students got where they needed to be."

First the superintendent asked Danny McCane and the Academic Team to come to the stage. He called each student by name and listed his or her honors as members of the team.

McCane highlighted the career of senior Lyle Goodwin. He said that Goodwin has been around for four years and the other teams are glad he's leaving.

McCane said, "Lyle's won just about everything. This year some of his awards were: in Limestone League he placed first in math, second in science and second in quick recall. In the District Governor's Cup competition he placed first in science and second in math. He was also a member of the quick recall team that this year placed second overall in the Limestone League, and in the regular competition came in third in the tournament. In the Governor's Cup we won first place district, and in the region we placed fourth.

"We'll miss Lyle. He also placed first in the Regional Governor's Cup Competition, went on to the state competition and placed 20th in the state."

Next Reeder called Sgt. Tyrone Sauley and Sgt. Major Elden Riffe to come up with the JROTC Color Guard Sgt. Sauley served as spokesman and handed out the certificates. He noted that the Color Guard not only participates in the football and basketball seasons but also go to JROTC competitions. The group has taken part in two competitions so far in the school year and finished first in the first one and second overall in the second competition.

The Pep Band was called up next. Mark Voiers directs the band and said that the musicians have been busy this year. The group competed in five marching band competitions this past Fall, played at several basketball games and has a Spring Concert coming up in the high school auditorium on Thursday, April 29. The band also has a competition in Morehead on Friday, April 23.

Kara Johnson and Anna Sullivan presented the certificates to the cheerleaders.

Mrs. Johnson commended the cheerleading squad and said that they had a successful year.

She explained, "They start their season as soon as school is out. We go to camp all summer. They start in the Fall doing football practice getting ready for football season. They continue throughout and start basketball season as soon as it begins. Then they, too, go to their own competition at the end of the year. The girls were very successful this year in their competition. They placed third in the regional."

The ceremony concluded with the boys basketball team.

The coach announced that the banquet this year has been cancelled due to a schedule conflict but an awards ceremony for both the girls and boys basketball teams will be held in the auditorium on Friday, April 23, at 6:00 p.m. He also said that he had put together a video that summarizes the season, and he invites the community to come out and see it. It's free and is a tribute to the team for its great season.

Hampton stopped senior Tyler Clark and mentioned all the awards he has won this season. Tyler was named the 16th region Player of the Year, was the KABC Player of the Year, was all-16th region tournament team, was named to the all-district team, all EKC team, was the offensive Player of the Year in the EKC and the overall Player of the Year in the EKC. He was also named honorable mention all-state and is expected to be a part of the all-area team to be announced shortly.

On Saturday, April 10, Clark participated in an all-star game for teams that are east of Lexington and won a three-point shooting contest for all-stars from regions 12-16. He also played in a tournament over the summer in Pikeville for seniors-to-be and won the three-point shooting contest there, too.

The coach expressed hopes that Clark will have a good college basketball career.

Hampton also listed the accomplishments of Corey Liles. Liles is a junior and was voted to the All-EKC team this year and was on both the all-district and all-regional teams. He could also possibly be named to the all-area squad.

Superintendent Reeder pointed out that Coach Hampton also received several awards this year. He was named the 16th Region Coach of the Year, received second place in the Easter Kentucky Conference as Coach of the Year and received an award from the officials for his conduct during the games this season.

In closing the ceremony Reeder said that the basketball team not only represented the community well but did it with class. He applied that assertion to everyone that walked across the stage last Monday night.

After the half-hour ceremony the school board turned to some routine matters of business.

The board approved an audit service contract with L.C. Bloomfield, CPA, Portsmouth, Ohio.

The board approved the amended school calendar to reflect the days of school missed during the winter due to inclement weather. The year was lengthened by six days. The last day of school for the students will be Wednesday, May 26. The staff finishes its school year the next day on May 27.

At the request of the senior class graduation was set for Saturday, May 29, at the high school football field at 6:00 p.m. In case of bad weather the graduation ceremonies will be held inside.

In quick succession the board approved a KISTA resolution for that organization to represent the school board in selling surplus busses and then listed and approved four busses for sale.

The board approved a reimbursement of $43 for each bus driver at the rate of $1.00 per day for each day they had to use their own electricity to keep the diesel engines of their busses warm enough to operate during the winter season.

It also approved a contract with Lewis County Primary Care to provide physical exams for the bus drivers. Reeder told the board that this plan has worked well for the past three years.

Meeting in regular session last week the Electric Plant Board of the City of Vanceburg entered a closed session to discuss litigation.

William Lewis and Elaine Walker from W.M. Lewis and Associates, Inc., consulting engineers, Portsmouth, Ohio, attended the meeting to take part in the closed session.

After re-entering open session the Plant Board moved to authorize superintendent Phil Kennedy to continue to negotiate with Grayson Electric for acquiring the contested area in line with fees that are customary in Kentucky. The contested area is in the St. Paul vicinity.

He told the board that he is still working on the 2004-05 budget.

The board authorized Kennedy to bid out two transformers that are no longer in use and to close out the Vances Creek substation. One of the units is a 2,500 KVA transformer and the other is a 5,000 KVA transformer.