Meeting in regular session last week the Vanceburg City Council moved to authorize Phil Kennedy, Superintendent of the Electric Plant Board of the City of Vanceburg, to apply for a grant through Kentucky Rural Development. The grant would be applied to the Water Line Extension 2004 Project.

Kennedy told the council that the project is estimated at about $858,000. It would extend water lines to Hackworth Hollow, Big Salt Lick, Toller Hollow, Scotts Branch and Fingerboard Road. It would include a new well at Black Oak and repair to a slip that threatens the water tank on Salt Lick. He said that the geo-tech people had checked the slip and had determined that the tank is not currently in danger.

Kennedy surmised that the project would be approved in about two years after going through all the procedures to acquire the necessary funding.

He also informed the council that he has plans to upgrade the sewer at some time in the future. That plan would cover five or six years.

Kennedy said that some of the sewer infrastructure has been in Vanceburg since the 1930's.

Local businessman Roger Jahn appeared before the council to request that an additional license to sell malt beverages in Vanceburg be permitted.

Mayor William T. "Bill Tom" Cooper told Jahn that action would require changing the current ordinance that allows eight licenses. All eight are taken.

Councilman Tim Bowden said that he feels the ordinance is sufficient as it is. He also expressed concern about a church and a city park being so near the site on Front Street known as the River View Restaurant.

No council member made a motion and the request died for lack of a motion.

The council granted Mayor Cooper the authority to pursue interim financing for the Renaissance project of renovating the old Commercial Hotel. The city has received a Renaissance grant for $250,000 for that work but to get it started the city has to borrow the money and then the grant pays it back. Cooper will borrow the money from the local bank that offers the lowest interest rate.

The council also authorized the mayor to spend up to the amount of money permitted by the Procurement Code without having to call a special meeting every time a purchase needed to be made for that project. The action applies only to the Hotel Project.

The Procurement Code permits spending up to $20,000 without having to go through the bidding process.

Council member Brenda Lykins reminded the council that the city has done this before, and it will help expedite the construction work. The mayor will provide the council with detailed records of all funds spent for the project.

Mayor Cooper announced that this year's Christmas Breakfast will be held at the City Building at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, December 19.

He also called attention to the city's Christmas tree in the Council Chamber. This year the tree has a red, white and blue star on the top and sports a red, white and blue patriotic theme.

Sheriff Bill Lewis said that at about 10 p.m. Monday, three individuals approached the front door of the facility and forced their way through that door into a vestibule. They then broke a glass in the second door, setting off an audible alarm.

Lewis said the three fled toward a nearby field, part of the Tollesboro Industrial Park, where they apparently had their vehicle parked.

The witness notified authorities on a cellular phone and attempted to follow the vehicle, but lost sight near a connector road at Plumville.

Lewis said nothing was taken from the clinic and deputies are reviewing videotapes of the incident.