News

Fiscal Court meets in marathon session

By Dennis Brown

Lewis County Fiscal Court met in an extended regular session week and covered several topics in short order.

Magistrates approved the renewal of insurance coverage with the Kentucky Association of Counties and agreed to matching funds of up to $500 toward printing a tourism brochure for Lewis County.

The insurance renewal will run through 2012 and includes a guarantee that rates will not increase during that period. The rates, however, may drop during that time according to a KACo representative.

Magistrates approved a license agreement for a proposed Kentucky Mesonet site on property at Charters owned by Twin Valley Farms. The site will allow for detailed monitoring of weather conditions and the data will be made available in real time online.

Judge Executive Steve Applegate said it will be a great benefit for the county as far as preparing for bad weather. The weather station is in conjunction with Western Kentucky University and the National Weather Service.

Lewis County will provide services in clearing the small area the site will be located on and maintaining the site with regular brush removal and trimming. Information about the project can be found online at www.kymesonet.org.

Magistrates heard from Kevin Cornette concerning

proposed regulations for new subdivisions locating in the county and accepted mobile computer data equipment from Buffalo Trace Area Development District which will be placed in sheriff’s vehicles.

The equipment includes three laptop computers to be placed in the vehicles which will have the ability to tie in to the E-911 database.

Court members approved the first reading of the 2009-2010 annual budget ordinance and agreed to the re-appointment of E.V. Holder Jr. to the Buffalo Trace Housing Board.

Magistrates approved the detention center policy and procedure manual with sime minor revisions and approved the re-appointment of Kathy Dillow to the Buffalo Trace Area Development District Board of Directors for a term of three years.

Court members approved the sale of the old Lewis County Health Department building at public auction on April 23 and approved a budget amendment for the Lewis County Clerk’s annual budget.

Steve Barbour was appointed to the Lewis County Cemetery Board and tabled the County Road Aid Cooperative Contract with the state to receive clarification on wording in the agreement.

Several county officials presented their monthly reports to magistrates before the meeting was adjourned.

Board of Ed hears update on Reading First

By Dennis Brown

The Lewis County Board of Education met in regular session last week and heard a report on the Reading First Program and Garrison and Lewis County Central Elementary Schools.

Joyce Bentley and Ruby Brown presented information concerning the program which was implemented in the schools in 2004. The program places emphasis on reading and comprehension for elementary students and has resulted in student improvement at both schools.

In other business board members approved a technology plan for the county and approved a change order for Phase III at Tollesboro Elementary. Superintendent Maurice Reeder Jr. said the project is behind schedule due to weather and should be completed early next school year.

Board members approved continuing work on the LCHS baseball field project with the addition of a grand stand, bleachers and dugouts at a cost of $287,193.

Bus drivers will be reimbursed $11.00 each for electricity used on cold nights to power engine block heaters on the buses and LCHS graduation was set at 6:00 p.m. on June 6.

The board approved a contract with Primary Plus for bus driver physicals and heard the first reading of the 2009-2010 student code of conduct with minor revisions and clarifications.

Belinda Forman briefed the board on significant changes made on the testing program by the state legislature. Forman said Core Content testing will begin on May 4 and said the local school system will continue to grade and follow some of the older guidelines to monitor students’ progress.

Testing will last for seven days, she said, with three additional days for make-ups. The local schools will continue in all aspects of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. She noted that all new guidelines will be in place by December of next year.

Forman also reviewed which results will be publicly reported.

Board members went into closed session to discuss proposed or pending litigation and took no action after resuming open session.

Reeder reported certified resignations and hires for the system including the retirement of Larry Riley on June 30. Others were sub teacher hires Janet Jordan and David White; classified resignation, Correy Eveland as computer tech; classified leave, Connie Stevens on Family Medical Leave; and extra duty hire, Julee Howard as LCMS cheerleading sponsor.

Board members approved minutes of the previous meeting and payment of bills before adjourning.

Plant Board customers to see substantial rate increase

By Dennis Brown

The Vanceburg Electric Plant Board met in regular session last week and heard from Kentucky Power President Tim Mosher.

The Vanceburg utility company purchases electricity from Kentucky Power to resell to customers and Mosher was on hand to explain a rate increase as well as the annual settlement bill in which the local utility company is billed for a portion of actual costs in producing electricity.

Plant Board Superintendent Eric Bloomfield said the annual settlement, or true-up, is about $466,000 this year compared to about $75,000 this year. The regular rate charged to the local utility company will also have a substantial increase.

Mosher explained that Kentucky Power had closed some electric generating units to be refurbished and others had failed on their own forcing the company to purchase higher cost electricity for resale.

Mosher added that surplus power had not been produced and sold to outside utility companies, as had been the case in previous years. He also said other costs have risen for the company associated with compliance with EPA regulations and the cost of coal.

Mosher said the utility company could spread the payments out over nine months rather than three months, to help ease the burden.

Board member Charles Stapleton expressed his concern over the significant increase calling it “astounding” and said it would have quite in adverse impact on customers. He asked Mosher if Kentucky Power would waive any interest associated with the extended payment plan. Mosher said he would look into the matter and get back with the board.

Bloomfield said the rate for local utility customers would be determined after all the information has been received and the matter would be discussed at the next meeting. The new rate is scheduled to take effect in June.

In other business, board members learned that sales of the whole-house surge protectors had been brisk and Bloomfield noted the protector is a good insurance policy against damage caused by voltage spikes on the system and is backed by coverage from the manufacturer for any damages that may occur.

Bloomfield reported the utility company will be receiving about $25,000 from FEMA for damages associated with the winter storms and said he will be applying for grants to purchase generators to maintain water service to customers in the event of an extended power outage.

Board members approved an Identity Theft Policy and learned that the utility company is about 50 percent of the way in refunding utility deposits to customers who are in good standing with the company.

Board members approved financial reports and March invoices before adjourning.

Anthony Silvey sworn in as Lewis PVA

By Dennis Brown

Anthony Silvey has been sworn is as Lewis County Property Valuation Administrator after being appointed by Governor Steve Beshear. The appointment was needed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Betty Ripato at the end of last year.

The small ceremony was performed Thursday in front of friends and family at the Lewis County Courthouse and was conducted by Judge Executive Steve Applegate who administered the oath of office.

Silvey, who has worked as a local real estate agent for the past 24 years and has served as principal broker at Bivens and Silvey Realty, is a lifelong Lewis County resident

Silvey said he is eager to get to work in the PVA office and said his plans include looking at mapping for the county and eventually getting the system available online. He said he

looks forward to serving the residents of Lewis County and providing good service through the PVA office.

He said Debbie Johnson will continue to serve as a deputy in the office and Dora Thomas will also remain as a worker there. Rob Day, a Property Assessment Coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Revenue, has been serving as interim PVA in the local office since the first of the year.

Silvey said he was first notified of the appointment by the governor’s office on April 6 and immediately began the transition process. He said area real estate agent Dave Spradlin will be taking over his responsibilities in the business to eliminate any issues which would appear to be a conflict of interest.

Silvey said he has had an interest in serving a Property Valuation Administrator for some time and said he, along with others interested in the appointment, was required to take a test before being considered for the position.

Silvey is the son of Joyce Silvey of Vanceburg and the late James Silvey. His PVA term will end on December 31, 2010.

Vanceburg man hurt in wreck - Tollesboro man charged

By Dennis Brown

Vanceburg Police Chief Joe Billman is investigating a single vehicle accident last Tuesday morning on Fairlane Drive in Vanceburg which resulted in slight injuries to a Vanceburg man.

Billman said the accident happened about 11:50 a.m. Tuesday as an auto operated by Harvey Liles, 70, was traveling south on Fairlane Drive near The Beer Barn.

Billman said Liles reported that he had been to the doctor’s office and was receiving treatment to control his blood pressure. Billman said Liles apparently passed out, went off the left side of the roadway striking a rock culvert and coming to rest in a residential lawn.

Billman said Liles declined to be taken to a hospital for treatment. The auto received relatively minor damage although three of the four tires were flattened as a result of the collision with the culvert.

Billman, who is continuing the investigation into the accident, was assisted at the scene by Vanceburg Fire and Rescue and Dobo’s Wrecker Service.

By Dennis Brown

A Tollesboro man was arrested and charged last week after he reportedly refused to stop on the signal of a Lewis County Sheriff’s Deputy.

A spokesman for the department said the incident happened shortly after midnight April 14 when Deputy Jason Hill observed a 2002 Hyundai Elantra being operated recklessly and at a high rate of speed on Ky. Rt. 10 near Ribolt.

The spokesman said when Hill attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver attempted to flee and led Hill on a six-mile pursuit which ended on Ribolt-Epworth Road. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, struck an embankment and overturned.

The spokesman said the driver of the vehicle, Josh Thomas, 21, of Tollesboro, was treated at the scene for minor injuries and a search of the vehicle revealed marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Thomas was arrested and charged with first degree fleeing and evading, second offense DUI with aggravating circumstances, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, disregarding a stop sign and failure to wear a seatbelt. He was lodged in the Lewis County Detention Center on a $5,000 cash bond.

Hill is continuing the investigation into the incident. He was assisted at the scene by Deputy Dwayne Stone, Deputy Tom Polley, KSP Trooper Jeff Lewis, Constable David Lancaster, Tollesboro Fire and Rescue and MedCorp Ambulance Service.

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