Meeting in regular session recently the Electric Plant Board of the City of Vanceburg dealt with the coming increase in natural gas prices and moved to increase the rates 40 percent. Other utility companies have already increased their rates by 70 percent.

Currently the local utility company is paying more for natural gas than it’s charging, and superintendent Phil Kennedy said that couldn’t continue if the business is to survive.

In addition to raising the rates by 40 percent the board authorized Kennedy after September to add only any additional increase in cost to the charges for the consumer. That will be monitored and adjusted on a monthly basis.

Kennedy and Board Attorney Clayton “Buddy” Lykins Jr. recently attended a meeting in Sulpher Springs, WVA regarding natural gas prices. They were informed there that the prices would rise drastically as a result of high crude oil prices and the Katrina disaster.

He said that the natural gas for most of the East coast comes from the Gulf of Mexico, and down there Katrina damaged most of the rigs and destroyed many pipelines that will not be repaired for another five to six months.

In addition to that, Kennedy told the board that he is still negotiating for a new electric contract with several power providers. 

The current contract expires on Dec. 31. He said that he doesn’t know what the new rates will be in the New Year but electric rates will see some kind of increase.

Some companies that provide natural gas to communities are being forced out of business. Kennedy told the board that after October Brooksville would not be able to get any natural gas, because their provider is going out of business.

By Al Owens

Meeting in regular session recently the Lewis County Board of Education in conjunction with Sheriff Bill Lewis honored a local teenage hero.

On Monday, August 29 bus monitor Amanda Ruark, a freshman at Lewis County High School, took immediate and positive action to rescue from harm an elementary student whose life was in imminent danger.

Sheriff Lewis presented Ruark with a certificate of honor for meritorious achievement. The certificate states that a school bus traveling west on KY 984 stopped to let Amanda and a student she was escorting off the bus. A large truck traveling west collided into the left rear of the bus and skidded left and forward toward the students. In the face of extreme personal danger and without regard for her own life Amanda pulled the other student from the path of the oncoming truck.

Superintendent Maurice Reeder Jr. then introduced Jim Bob McGlone who also presented Ruark with an award. McGlone trains both the bus drivers and the bus monitors. Most of the monitors are high school students deemed responsible enough for that task.

Greg McCane, Jason Hill and Kasey Nolen used a bit of modern technology to explain to the school board how the computers and the web sites for the district are being improved and updated on an ongoing basis. Most of the technology is funded by the state and much is purchased through USF at an 82 percent discount.

In May, 2005 Lewis County received the web site of the month award.

The three men used an electronic smart board for a Power Point Presentation showing the advances in the tech department in the school district.

Currently the school district has one computer for every three students, and that is well above the state average of one computer for every six pupils.

Reeder announced that the school has had some problems getting the yearbooks published and delivered on time. 

He said that the 2004 Yearbook was completed on Sept. 9 and will be delivered in six to eight weeks.

He said that Rachel Edington has been called in to help expedite the matter and solve the problems with getting the Yearbooks published.

The projected delivery date for last year’s books is Jan. 23. This year’s seniors can expect their Yearbooks by August of 2006.

The board approved this year’s school tax rate. The real estate rate is 41.0 per $100 of assessed value. The intangible and personal property tax rate is at 41.4, down from last year’s rate of 41.8.

The board approved a change order for the make-up-air and fire alarm at the Middle School. The work will cost $1920. The order is necessary because of water damage that occurred to the fire alarm’s main board last winter.

The board also approved a contract with MachTech out of Lexington to inspect the work at the Tollesboro Elementary renovation project. The contract costs $7,095. The inspection confirms that the quality of the concrete, steel, etc. meet the specs called for in the construction.

Following the actions of the Lewis County Fiscal Court and the Vanceburg City Council the Board of Education approved resolution adopting the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

The board approved a BG4 for the Lewis County Middle School project. This is the final paperwork sent to the state to confirm that the project is completed and that all the final bills can be paid.

The board also approved a change order for the Tollesboro Elementary project. It includes extending the parking lot during the construction period, installing a new pump for the sprinkler system, tearing out and installing new ceilings in the restrooms and putting in a new gas line. The cost of the work comes to $11,025.36.

By Al Owens

Meeting in regular session last week the Board of Trustees for the Helen H. Rayburn Public Library of Lewis County learned that the organization is receiving about $300 from the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives for continuing education for its employees.

Michael Jones from KLA said that September 30 ends the federal budgeting period where the department gets its CE money. More CE funds may be available for next year.

Jones told the board that the Kenton County Public Library has the Directors/Trustees List Serve up and running on the Internet.

He reminded the board that the KLA is having a director’s meeting on Friday, September 23, in Morgan County.

Jones informed the board that the state has $10 million of construction money available but that across the state $100 million has already been applied for. He said that getting those funds is very competitive.

Jones said that two kinds of grants are available. One is a KLA Construction Grant that calls for matching funds. The other is a Community Economic Growth Grant (CEGG) that does not require matching funds.

The board moved to rent the front room of the corner building to Mark McCane for an insurance broker’s office if he wants it. The rent would be $250 per month with the tenant responsible for any renovation for the business but the board taking care of the regular maintenance.

The board entered closed session to discuss the acquisition of property. Upon re-entering open session the board moved to pre-apply for a CEGG grant up to two million dollars and to authorize board president Carol Gilbert to sign all the necessary legal documents.

In response to a question raised at last month’s session Library Director Marilyn Conway told the board that the library is paying $2.53 per gallon for premium gasoline. The Bookmobile uses premium.

Conway also reported that the Bill and Melinda Gate foundation is again providing computers for public libraries, and Kentucky is among the first 16 states slated to receive the computers.

She told the board that just that day the library received a Book Fair Grant of $500. It also has received $940 to apply to health insurance premiums. The library pays 60 percent of the premiums and its employees pay 40 percent.

The board discussed whether to continue having an audit every four years or to have one annually or to have an annual review with a complete audit the fourth year. No action will be taken on the matter until the board learns about the costs and procedures for each option.

Looking at the interest rates of 1.75 to 1.79 percent on its Certificates of Deposit at the two local banks the board is looking at turning to other lending institutions in order to get a higher rate on their CDs.

President Gilbert announced that the library’s float with the theme “Alice In Wonderland” was well received during the School Fair Parade. Helen Rayburn dressed as the Queen of Hearts and employees, their children and some board members dressed as other famous characters in the children’s classic.

The next regular session of the Library Board will be on Tuesday, October 18, at 1:00 p.m. in the local library.