By Dennis Brown

Lewis County Fiscal Court met in special session last week and heard the first reading of the county’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year which begins on July 1.

The proposed budget totals $8,731,343.75 for all funds with the largest allocation, nearly half of the entire budget, made to the maintenance of the county’s roadways.

Magistrate Joe Bentley asked for some clarification on the funds in the budget saying, “I don’t want the public to think we have $8 million to play with.”

Bentley was referring to monies that will pass through the county’s coffers from funding sources directly to projects such as the Garrison Sewer Project and Straight Fork Road Project.

The Straight Fork Project will cost about $2.2 million and the money for the project will come from the state. Another $600,000 will be passing through the county to go to the Garrison Sewer Project.

Other estimated income for the county includes $606,000 from taxes on real, personal and motor vehicle property taxes. Approximately $510,000 will come into the county’s general fund from insurance license fees.

Projected income to the road fund will include county road aid from the state ($1,075,346), reimbursement from FEMA ($400,000), and the sale of surplus equipment ($280,000).

The single largest source of income for the jail fund is projected to come from housing state class D felons. The amount, estimated at $250,000, could fluctuate greatly depending on the actual number of inmates housed by the county.

“It’s really just as guessing game where the jail is concerned,” County Treasurer Kathy Dillow told magistrates.

Dillow said she based the figure on the county housing 24 class D inmates. That figure has been down recently because the state had stopped sending inmates to Lewis County to be housed because of overcrowding issues with county inmates.

One of the jail dorms that had been used to house state inmates has been converted to house county inmates to alleviate overcrowding on the county side of the facility. If another solution is found and the dorm is returned to use as state inmate housing, the county would be able to house 48 state inmates.

“Everything in this budget hinges on the class Ds,” Dillow said.

Magistrate Joe Bentey made a motion to accept the first reading of the budget. Magistrate Paul Bruce Swearingen seconded the motion. Magistrate Milt Stanfield was unable to attend the meeting due to a previously scheduled commitment.

The second reading of the budget is planned for the June 14 regular meeting of Lewis County Fiscal Court.

In other business last week magistrates approved a standing order for recurring expenses.

Lewis County officials presented their monthly activity reports during the May meeting of Lewis County Fiscal Court.

Sheriff Bill Lewis filed his department’s report for activities from April 12, 2010, to May 10, 2010:

* Subpoenas Served   63

* Domestic Related Calls   114

* Civil Summons Served   27

* Felony Arrests   20

* Misdemeanor Arrests   19

* Accident Investigations    8

* Juvenile Investigations   8

* Criminal Summons   10

* Prisoners Transp. to Secure Facility   304 miles

* Juveniles Transported   455 miles

* DVOs and EPOs   12

* Court Bailiff Hours   464

* Prescription Deliveries   2

* Auto Inspections   96

* Funeral Escorts   8

Property Taxes Collected   $69,916.42

Franchise Taxes Collected   823.16

Total   $70,739.58

Stolen Property Recovered

* Gun   $20000.00

* 4-Wheeler   9,380.00

Total   $9,580.00

Lewis County Emergency Management Director Carl Chaney reported the following activities:

* Performed all routine administrative/office tasks as required by KyEM.

* Turned in all monthly reports for KyEM.

* Participated in a conference call with Windstream for cell phones.

* Met with KDMC representatives.

* Attended a floodplain mapping meeting at the local office.

* Attended a city council meeting.

* Worked with FEMA Public Assistance and Individual Assistance representatives.

* Provided dispatch coverage.

* Working on FEMA paperwork.

* Working on 911 issues.

* Working of Flood Plain issues.

The Lewis County E-911 Dispatch Center received a total of 399 calls for service for the following agencies:

* Sheriff’s Department   138

* Vanceburg Police Department   106

* Traffic Stops   36

* Injury Accidents   0

* Non-injury Accidents   20

* Complaints   72

Fire Department and other calls:

* Lewis Co. FD   6

* Camp Dix FD   4

* Garrison FD   12

* Vanceburg FD   5

* Firebrick FD   0

* Black Oak FD   8

* Kinniconick FD   1

* Tollesboro FD   12

* Med Corp Ambulance   105

* Coroner   1

* Emergency Medical Assistance   1

* Non-CAD Events   532

Road Supervisor Dane Howard reported that more than 2,830 tons of gravel and 10 tons of asphalt had been hauled over the previous month.

Graded roads included Cooper Fork, Esham Fork, Bee Branch, black Lick Road, Briery Road, Old Trace Ridge,

Thomas Cemetery Road, Firebrick/Indian Run, Rock Camp, Stamper Branch, Golden Ridge, Oak Ridge area, Emerson area, Swearingen Branch, Flinders Cemetery Road, Aills Road and Trinity Station Road.

Howard reported that pipe had been installed or repaired at Railroad Street in Garrison, Meadowbrook, Firebrick/Indian Run and Lynn Wood Subdivision.

Ditching/road widening was performed on Greenbriar Road, Craycraft Road, Southern Manor and Dry Hollow Road.

Potholes were repaired at Bradford Lane, Lower Kinney, Birchwood, Waterbirch, Brook Lane, Raccoon, Laurel, Ribolt-Epworth, Simmons Road and Trinity Station Road.

Crews performed ditching/road widening on Firebrick/Indian Run, Lower Twin/McDowell and Gerkie Road. Slide areas were repaired on Garden Branch, Burnt Cabin Road, Rock Camp Road, Black Lick Road and Holly Road.

Signs were printed and/or installed for Jamison Lane, Garden Branch, Pine Grove Spur Road, May Hollow, Quicks Run bridge/speed, Industrial Park and safety signs for Firebrick.

Other repairs were made on Firebrick/Indian Run, Meadowbrook, Jones Cemetery Road, Lower Twin/McDowell, Trinity Station Road, Holbrooke Hollow, Blue Springs Road, Hazel Road, K. Riley Road, Little Holly Road, Dummitt Branch, Mud Lick Road, Mosby, Bivens Branch, Clarksburg Branch, Sergeant’s Branch and Rock Run Road.

Lewis County Jailer Tim Underwood filed the following activity report for April 1– 30, 2010:

Inmate Population:

* State Inmates CC/CD/CI   22

* Traded   0

* Served Out   1

* Paroled   3

* County Inmates   36

* Inmates Booked In   62

* Average Daily Jail Population   60

Fees/Payments Collected:

* Booking, Housing, Medical, Damaged Property   $1,916.23

* Telephone Commission   $1,205.41

* Class D/CC/CI Pay for April   $22,188.72

Food

* Somerset Food in April  $7,139.05

* GPS System  $248.00

Traveled 200 Miles to Blackburn Correctional Complex.

Underwood reported that 15 Class D inmates participated in the work program totaling 1,180 man hours. The agencies they assisted included The Lewis County Courthouse, Justice Center, Sheriff’s Department, City of Vanceburg, Solid Waste Program, Clean Highways Program, Garrison Little League, Garrison Boat Docks, Tollesboro Little League, Lewis County Historical Society, Lewis County Board of Education, Corps of Engineers, Helen Rayburn Library, and the Black Oak, Tollesboro and Camp Dix Fire Departments.

He said 44 bags of waste were picked up.

Underwood reported the commissary account at the jail totaled $9,676.15 and the inmate account had a balance of $6,686.13.

The Lewis County Animal Shelter reported 23 total animals in; 25 adopted; 43 put down; 118 calls received; 19 dogs picked up; and 28 dogs tagged.

County Treasurer Kathy Dillow reported the total of all county funds for the month of April had a beginning balance of $1,133,586.05 and an ending balance of $1,111,305.52. Receipts for the month totaled $279,053.38 while disbursements totaled $301,333.91.

Judge Executive Steve Applegate reported on the alternate sentencing program adopted for non-violent offenders.

In the report, cold mix and pipe cleaning tasks were completed on Pennsylvania Avenue, Oak Street, Vice Street, Shawnee Drive, Meadowbrook, Bradford Lane, Smith Lane, Garrison Lane, Railroad Street, Greenlawn Road, Brook Lane, Birchwood Lane, Lower Kinney, Manley Hollow, Hazel Road, Blue Spring Road, Cabin Creek, Crooked Creek, Straight Fork Road and Holly Branch.

Signs were repaired or installed at Waterbirch Road, Lowder Lane, Old County Road, Fingerboard, Quicks Run Bridge, Garden Branch, Jamison Lane, Firebrick/Indian Run, Black Oak Industrial Park and May Hollow.

Bridge and guardrail areas were cleaned and trimmed on Greenlawn Road, Lower Kinney, McDowell, Garden Branch, Fingerboard, Brook Lane, and Birchwood Lane.

Mowing/seeding work was done for Trinity Fish and game Club, Tollesboro Lions Club, Vanceburg Lions Club, Woodlawn Cemetery, Firebrick/Indian Run Road and Railroad Street.

Garage maintenance hours totaled 74 and nine bags of trash were picked up along roadways.

The next regular meeting of Lewis County Fiscal Court will be at 9:30 a.m. June 14, 2010, in the third floor courtroom of the Lewis County Courthouse.