By Al Owens

Meeting in regular session last week the Lewis County Fiscal Court approved the second reading of an ordinance requiring all utility providers in Lewis County to require any customer seeking new or additional service to provide an address issued by the fiscal court as a precondition to providing the requested utility service. Once the address is issued to each home or business the proprietor or property owner is required to display the address in a conspicuous place and in a legible manner so any emergency service responder can easily find the location. The action is in regard to implementing E-911 for the county.

The court approved the renewal of property and liability insurance with the St. Paul Insurance Company represented by Ron LeMaster. The $73,469 premium is about $1,000 less than last year's premium. The court is considering a proposal for umbrella coverage from the company but will act on that issue later.

Tom Hardin and Chuck Lykins presented a proposal for AFLAC-Supplemental Insurance. The premiums would be taken out of employees' salaries and would not cost the county any funds. The proposal includes accident insurance, limited disability coverage and cancer coverage.

Re-elected County Judge Executive Steve Applegate told Hardin and Lykins that other companies were interested in offering similar proposals and in order to be fair the court would hear from them before any decision is made about supplemental insurance.

David Rotter from Patriot Emergency Medical Services, Ironton, Ohio, presented a proposal to provide ambulance service for Lewis County.

Rotter said that the major problem with the ambulance service in Lewis County is the absence of an EMS system. He stated that the county has responders but not a system where the service can communicate with other emergency agencies in the area.

He told the court that since the maximum service operations would cost between $180,000 and $200,000 it would require some subsidy from the county government.

On the recommendation of County Attorney Clayton "Buddy" Lykins Jr. the court moved to appoint a committee to compare the proposals from different emergency medical services and then make a recommendation to the court.

Magistrate Keith Chapman asked about an ambulance tax to fund such a service. The question was raised whether a tax could be put on a ballot for public vote, and Lykins said he would investigate the matter.

Carl Moore, local station manager for the Portsmouth Ambulance Service now operating in the county asked for new consideration if the county subsidizes the service.

The court approved the reclassification of road department employee Mike Ginn from truck driver to operator 1 with a pay scale of $12.52 per hour.

The court also approved a request from the Tollesboro Sanitation District for an easement on the county right of way on Simmons Road for sewer line extensions.

The speed limit on Holly Branch Road will soon change. The court approved the first reading of an ordinance that will set that speed limit at 35 mph.

The magistrates approved the payment of expenses for newly elected officials training for Joe Bentley and Paul Bruce Swearingen. They will take office in January. After they are sworn in the county can reimburse them for those expenses.

The court approved the appointment of Terry Thomas to the Western Lewis-Rectorville Water and Gas District Board. Thomas' term will expire on November 31, 2010.

The court also approved a $200 donation to the Vanceburg Police Department for the Christmas Cops Program.

The court approved the treasurer's report and all the claims and transfers for the General, Road and Bridge and Jail Fund accounts.

Before adjourning Applegate announced that the next regular session of fiscal court will be held on Monday, December 11, at 9:30 a.m. in the third floor courtroom of the Lewis County Courthouse. The meeting is open to the public.

By Al Owens

Meeting in regular session last week the Lewis County Board of Education was treated to a moving film display of the JROTC's Veterans Day Program presented on Friday, November 10, at the high school.

Superintendent Maurice Reeder Jr. told the board that the ceremony was the best attended yet. It included the dedication of a memorial to veterans installed just outside the library at the school. Alison Chinn designed the memorial.

Reeder said that the program included some drawings by the kids, door decorations and three essays by high school students.

Regarding the program and the memorial he stated, "This is something we all should be proud of."

Auditor Eric M. Bloomfield presented the annual financial audit report. He said that the financial statements were presented fairly and accurately and that the audit was clean with an unqualified opinion. He found no instances of noncompliance.

The report shows the school district's net assets at $16,397,000 with liabilities for 2006 at $13,170,702. Total revenues for the year come to $12,248,459 and that's an increase of about $438,000 over last year. Expenses, however, exceeded revenue by $392,000 but Bloomfield said that's not unusual for a school district in the Commonwealth.

He concluded that the district is financially sound and is managing its finances responsibly.

Although Bloomfield found no reportable conditions he did make two suggestions in his letter to management. One regards the activity funds purchases. He said that several purchases did not have proper documentation such as a purchase order. He also suggested a better tracking record of the technology equipment, because such items as laptops are portable and mobile.

Bloomfield expressed his gratitude to Joe Kennedy and his staff for doing a great job with the financial records and making the auditor's job much easier.

Two school principals gave CATS Data Analysis reports.

Tim Douglas, principal at Tollesboro Elementary, said that his school's goal was 77.1 but it scored 83.3 in the Spring of 2005 and 82.6 in the Spring of 2006 with an biennium score of 83.0, and that’s well over the goal. The new goal for the 2007-2008 biennium is 82.5.

Douglas announced that Tollesboro Elementary has met its No Child Left Behind (NCLB) goals for the fourth year in a row. He was pleased that the 53.86 percent of the students scored as proficient on the NCLB reading goal and 32.14 percent scored proficient on the NCLB math goal.

He said that the current priority as determined by the data analysis is writing both for open response and on demand testing.

Douglas outlined the many programs the school is implementing or continuing in order to reach its goals.

Jamie Weddington, principal at the High School reported that of the 235 high schools in Kentucky Lewis County is ranked 29th in Arts and Humanities, 34th in math, 43rd in social studies and 59th in science. The academic index is ranked at 58.

Two of the lower scores, both with a ranking of 157, were in the categories of reading and practical living/vocational. Plans are being made to improve in those areas.

Weddington said that his school talks about competing with other districts, picked out three to beat and is currently beating two of them. He also announced that the high school has surpassed its state set goals.

Reeder voiced praise for the high school Academic Team and the Band of Pride.

The Academic Team finished first in the Varsity Academic League and second in the overall Limestone League tournament. The band competed in the Russell Invitational and qualified for regional competition.

The board approved the support and accelerated reader allotments for the year. Based on the Average Daily Attendance (ADA) the elementary schools get $3 per student; the Middle School $5; and the High School $9 per student.

The board approved a BG4, the final paperwork on any project, for the installation of two new air conditioning units and partial roof repair at Central Elementary. The cost of that project totaled $87,800.

The board also approved the 2007 Fiscal Year KETS matching offer of assistance of $26,352. Those funds are used for wiring, for computers and to keep the tech system updated.

The board entered closed session to discuss personnel but upon returning to open session announced that no action had been taken.