News

By Dennis Brown

The discussion of jail funding dominated the meeting of Lewis County Fiscal Court last week as the jailer and magistrates considered ways to provide for the operation of the jail and not spend more than two-thirds of the facility’s budget by the end of the year.

Jailer Tim Underwood said that under state law no more than 65 percent of the jail’s total budget may be spent by December 31 and he is concerned that at the current rate of spending, funds won’t be available to operate the jail toward the end of the year.

The law is in place to ensure the incoming jailer will have funds available to operate through the end of the fiscal year in June.

“We need help with the jail fund,” Underwood said.

Magistrates suggested providing no more than basic services to inmates in an effort to cut some of the costs.

Underwood said he had told court members five months ago the budget didn’t include the increased cost of adding deputy jailers at the facility as mandated by the state to monitor a section of the jail which had been changed from a state inmate housing to county inmate housing.

Underwood added the state has also stopped sending state inmates to the facility because they believe the county has stopped working to alleviate the overcrowding problem that has plagued the jail for some time.

The county is paid to house the state inmates and those funds are used to pay jail expenses and to pay down bonds used to fund construction of the facility.

Fewer state inmates results in decreased income for the facility.

Judge Executive Steve Applegate said the budget would be tight until at least the end of October when the insurance premium tax would be paid to the county. “We need to run as efficiently as possible from now until the end of the year,” he added.

“What happens if we run out of money before the end of the year?” Underwood asked.

Treasurer Kathy Dillow said that when expenditures for the jail fund reach 65 percent of the total budget, she can no longer write checks on the account.

“There should be a way to resolve any potential problem,” said County Attorney Clayton “Buddy” Lykins Jr.

Applegate said he doesn’t want to affect the incoming administration by making any major changes to the budget.

Anita Gilbert, a candidate for Judge Executive in the November election, suggested a meeting between candidates and current officials to discuss the situation and to show the state that the county is actively doing something to address the jail situation.

Applegate said he would be glad to participate and added he would be available and willing to participate as needed after his term ends in December.

“We should keep the state informed on what we are doing,” Underwood said.

Magistrates voted to borrow from the road fund, as needed, up to $150,000 to cover necessary expenses at the jail. The funds will have to be paid back to the road fund according to law.

“It’s the same as borrowing from a bank,” said Dillow.

“Borrowing from the road fund won’t have any interest expense,” she added.

In other business last week, magistrates approved the second reading of an ordinance to show unbudgeted receipts to the general fund from the state for flood debris removal. Magistrates also acknowledged the receipt of the Garrison Fire Tax District’s annual budget for the fiscal year.

Magistrates approved the reappointment of Rodney Ginn to the Vanceburg-Lewis County Industrial Authority for a four year term; the appointment of Dr. Harold Harrison to the Helen Rayburn Public Library Board of Trustees for a four year term; and the appointment of Melissa Potter to the Garrison-Quincy-Ky. Heights Water District Board of Directors to complete an unexpired term.

Members agreed to pay the annual rent of $1,650 for the Lewis County Conservation Office. “They don’t have enough funds of their own to pay some of their expenses,” Applegate said.

He noted the office has helped to bring nearly $1 million in funding into the county for several worthwhile projects.

Magistrates approved a resolution approving an agreement for the Rural Secondary Road Program with the state to provide about $220,000 in resurfacing or initial treatment of selected county roads.

Magistrates heard the first reading of a budget amendment to show unbudgeted receipts into the road fund from the state of about $35,000.

Road Foreman Dane Howard reported to magistrates that he is continuing to work on data from flooding in May and July adding that no reimbursement has yet been received from FEMA for damage repairs as a result of the flooding.

He noted 75 percent of the costs associated with the repairs will be paid from federal funds and an additional 12 percent will come from state funds. The total would be about $1.2 million or $1.3 million, he said.

Howard added that pothole repairs and other maintenance on county roadways were continuing in addition to the work being done to repair flood damage.

E-911 Director Carl Chaney reported that two dispatchers from the E-911 Center would be attending training in Richmond for four weeks.

Magistrate Joe Bentley questioned the number of calls to the Vanceburg Police Department answered by 911 operators. Bentley said 165 calls to the city’s police number were made during the previous month compared to 211 calls answered at the center for the sheriff’s department.

Bentley suggested the city contribute more funding for the operation of the dispatch center in light of the number of calls being answered by the center’s operators.

Applegate said he would look into the matter.

Magistrates voted to go into executive session to discuss personnel matters. The meeting reopened to the public about 45 minutes later and Applegate announced no action would be taken on matters discussed during the closed session.

Members approved the payment of bills and fund transfers before adjourning.

School nurses review program for board of ed

By Dennis Brown

The Lewis County Board of Education met in regular session last week and heard this month’s success story from two nurses participating in the School Nurse Program for the district.

Kathy Collier and Lisa Liles presented information to board members about the program which has been in place now for 17 years.

Collier, who has been part of the program since its inception, expressed appreciation to Superintendent Maurice Reeder Jr. and board members for their support of the program to provide the service for the students of the district.

Collier also praised Jerry Ugrin, CEO of Primary Plus, for his foresight and efforts to get the program underway in the Lewis County School system.

“He didn’t want to see any child suffer unnecessary (health) complications,” Collier said of Ugrin. “He felt the program was needed for the community and took the initiative.”

Collier spoke of the importance of school health and cited positive encounters with students and parents while providing services to the students in the district.

Collier said the program has been a great help to the community, especially in providing care to students whose families have lost health insurance coverage.

She also expressed her appreciation for the health facilities located in the schools across the district, saying they are some of the best and most well equipped she has seen.

Liles provided board members with a list of services provided by the school nurses and said the program’s affiliation with Primary Plus and other health care providers helps to make the proper treatment readily available for students.

Liles said school nurses see a lot of sports related injuries as well as the usual school age maladies. She noted the collaboration with the Women’s Health Clinic as a great benefit in dealing with the school age girls.

She said the annual flu vaccinations at the schools are just getting underway for the season.

When asked about the concern over the recent reports of bedbug infestations across the country, Liles responded that school nurses have been proactive on the matter.

She noted that although bedbugs could be carried into the schools in clothing or backpacks, the school environment doesn’t provide a welcoming habitat for the parasitic insects.

“We don’t believe it will be a common occurrence in the schools but we may see bedbug bites on students,” she said.

Liles said the Fayette County School System has a policy in place and that she would review it and report back with a recommendation.

“The nursing program is the best thing we’ve ever done in the school district,” Reeder said. “We really appreciate the health department, Primary Plus and the nurses,” he added.

In regular business, members approved a working budget for the current school year.

“This is the tightest and most challenging budget I’ve ever worked with,” Reeder told board members.

He said the budget reflected a cut of $500,000 in school personnel and a decline of about three percent in enrollment, or 43 students, resulting in about $170,000 less in ADA funds.

“It’s a challenge and we’ll just have to deal with it,” Reeder said of the budget. “Sadly, cuts have to be personnel.”

Board members approved the purchase of four new school buses through the Kentucky Interlocal School Transportation Association (KISTA) at a total cost of $397,951 and approved a sale of surplus property located at the bus garage by sealed bids.

In other business, members approved indirect cost rates for the upcoming school year along with payment for update training of substitute bus drivers.

The board approved a revised instructional assistant salary schedule, a four year facility survey and field trips for JROTC and the TES football team.

Board members approved the payment of bills and treasurer’s report before adjourning.

Assistance sought for historic cemetery

By Dennis Brown

A request for assistance with a cemetery of significant historic value was the primary topic during the regular session of Vanceburg City Council last week.

Charlie Stapleton, a member of the board overseeing the care of Woodlawn Cemetery, said he had a request for council to consider concerning the maintenance of the historic site.

The cemetery, he said, is located at the edge of the current city boundaries. He asked if the land could be annexed into the city to allow city workers to help with keeping the cemetery regularly mowed.

He noted that about $40,000 is set aside for the upkeep of the graves and regular maintenance but the costs of having it mowed amount to between $5,000 and $6,000 annually, and within and few years the fund will be depleted.

He also asked if a city worker would be able to supervise inmates if the cemetery board would supply equipment and gasoline for mowing.

Mayor Angie Patton said there are fewer inmates available from the detention center to assist city workers. “For the month of August we had just one inmate to work and sometimes we didn’t have any,” she said.

“The city is behind on mowing now,” she continued. “We only have one to two employees and we’ve had equipment problems.”

Patton said she would explore ways the city could help out but said she couldn’t make a commitment.

Stapleton said if anyone would like to make donations toward the maintenance of the cemetery, they may be sent to Vanceburg Attorney John Holder.

Stapleton also asked for volunteers who might be able to assist in mowing or trimming weeds for this fall and for the 2011 mowing season.

In another matter, Patton said she had looked into the cat problem around the city and had reviewed some ordinances in other cities that deal with cats. She said to be able to address the

situation legally the city must have an animal control officer on the payroll and a facility to house and care for the animals.

“There are no funds in the budget for this,” she said. “A tax would have to be enacted and the costs of doing all of this wouldn’t be very cheap.”

She said she would continue to look at ways to address the problem and the concerns of residents.

Council adopted a resolution concerning dealing with environmental mitigation measures for the fire department/community center project. Patton said the required action ensures the city will adopt and follow federal guidelines on the project.

Council also approved a legal services agreement for the fire department/community center project with Rubin and Hays, municipal bond attorneys located in Louisville.

Patton told council members that Nugent Sand Company had withdrawn their application to dredge sand from the Ohio River near here. Patton and council members had signed a petition and forwarded it to the Corps of Engineers opposing the project.

Patton said there were concern the project would harm species of fish and mussels in the river and would also affect property along the river in areas where the dredging would take place.

She said the dredging would have been a “for-profit” project for the company and would not benefit the river traffic or flow of the river.

Patton also read a letter from Time-Warner Cable officials concerning operating hours at the local cable office.

Patton said the local office will now be closed on Thursdays and will have operating hours from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

She acknowledged a donation from Columbia Gas to the Vanceburg Volunteer Fire Department in the amount of $100, adding the company made a similar donation to the local fire department each year.

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

Water flowing on Old Trace Ridge

By Dennis Brown

The Vanceburg Electric Plant Board met in regular session last week with board members learning that water is now available to residents on Old Trace Ridge.

Superintendent Bill Tom Stone said the project was started several months ago with the cooperation of the Rattlesnake Ridge Water District. He said customers can sign up at the utility office in Vanceburg to tap on to the system.

Stone also reported that utility workers continue to meet with FEMA representatives to complete applications for reimbursement on repairs to damage caused by flash floods in May and July.

He said meetings are ongoing with vendors to discuss the purchase of a mapping program for the natural gas system. The creation of maps showing the location of natural gas lines is required by a recently enacted law.

Stone said workers are also installing devices to keep rain

water from entering the sewer system around Vanceburg. He said the project will take place over the next couple of months and should help to alleviate problems with overflow situations during periods of rain.

In new business, Stone said work to get video of the inside of water lines will soon be underway in the downtown area.

He said the video will enable engineers to evaluate the existing system and determine the best ways to deal with and correct sewer system problems.

Board members approved a resolution authorizing Stone to apply for funding through the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority to help pay for a required sewer system upgrade.

Stone said the $2.5 million loan would be at one percent interest over 20 years with 30 percent of the loan in the form of a grant, which would not have to be repaid.

Board members approved the payment of bills and financial reports before adjourning.

Weather spotter honored by NWS

By Dennis Brown

Weather spotter and Happy Hollow resident Paula Franke has been recognized for her efforts in supplying local weather information to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio.

Officials with the National Weather Service came to Vanceburg last week to present Franke with an award and thank her for her contributions which assist meteorologists at the Wilmington office in making forecasts and issuing weather watches and warnings.

The award, specifically the United States Department of Commerce, NOAA - Special Service Award, was presented to Franke in recognition and appreciation of significant service rendered for the National Weather Service.

“Paula’s impressive reports made a tremendous difference to the meteorologists working on July 20 and 21,” said Ken Haydu, Meteorologist-in-Charge of the Wilmington NWS Office.

Franke called the NWS office numerous times overnight as heavy rains drenched the area and resulted in flash flooding that caused significant damage.

Franke said that in one twenty minute period during the storm she measured more than an inch of precipitation and reported it to the NWS office.

Dan’l Sisson, Franke’s husband, said at one point during the storm he even went outside to make sure the rain gauge wasn’t collecting runoff from their home. “We just couldn’t believe how fast it was coming down,” he said.

Based on Franke’s reports and information from radar, meteorologists issued a flood emergency for the first time, Haydu said. “That was the first one ever issued by our office,” he told local officials.

Mary Jo Parker, who serves as the NWS Training Coordinator and is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist, said the Weather Services’ Spotter Program is important for what is actually happening weatherwise in the local area. She said while radar images provide valuable information, it is an estimation and doesn’t indicate what is actually happening on the ground.

Franke has served as a volunteer weather spotter for 30 years and has become a familiar name among meteorologists in the Wilmington NWS Office. She served as a spotter for the Chicago NWS Office while she a resident of Illinois.

Julie Dian-Reed, a Service Hydrologist, said forecasters and meteorologists in the Wilmington office are all familiar with Franke and recommended her for the commendation following the July flooding.

“She's an experienced spotter who provides accurate and timely reports, often when we need them the most,” Dian-Reed said.

The presentation was made at the E-911 Center in Vanceburg with Lewis County Emergency Management Director Carl Chaney and Judge Executive Steve Applegate on hand.

“We appreciate Paula’s efforts over the years,” said Chaney. “Her efforts are certainly appreciated,” Applegate added.

In making the presentation, Haydu read a letter that accompanied the certificate:

“Since 2005, National Weather Service Trained Volunteer Spotter Paula Franke has shown exceptional dedication to her role in the Spotter Program, and to the safety of her fellow Lewis County residents. The National Weather Service Office in Wilmington, Ohio has received numerous rainfall and snowfall reports from Mrs. Franke, often during heavy rain and snow events.

“Perhaps the most notable example of Mrs. Franke’s dedication came during the evening and overnight hours of July 20-21, 2010, when a devastating flash flood struck Lewis County, Kentucky. Mrs. Franke called in frequent rainfall observations during the late evening and into the overnight hours. She even called twice within 30 minutes to report she had received one inch of rain in just 20 minutes time.

“Forecasters on duty during this remarkable event recognized the severity of the persistent rainfall training over the same regions within Mason and Lewis counties. With virtually no rain gages located near the heaviest rainfall, real time ground reports were critical, especially during such extreme flash flooding. Timely reports from Mrs. Franke resulted in an increased confidence in the radar rainfall estimates by the NWS meteorologists on duty in Wilmington, Ohio. Mrs. Franke’s rainfall reports assisted in the early warning of the flash flood potential provided to Lewis County residents. With this additional confidence in the magnitude of the rainfall, NWS forecasters notified the Lewis county dispatch of the potential for extreme flash flooding.

“This award has been given in appreciation of the significant services provided to the Wilmington Weather Forecast Office of the National Weather Service. Mrs. Franke is a tremendous asset to the NWS Wilmington Spotter Program.”

Haydu stressed the importance of the weather spotter program and said a spotter class is being planned for Lewis County in the near future. The class trains local volunteers what weather conditions to be alert for and how to report them.

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