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Adair County Fiscal Court April 10, 2007 report Long meeting productive, but not without controversies, a few surprises. Tater Cave Road waterline easements, Mack Lewis Road closing, and Rescue Squad issues, hottest items. Rep. Ed Whitfield visits. Judge Melton names Greg Thomas as Search and Rescue Coordinator. Randy Brown, J.D. Biggs join Sherry Hutchison to make Ambulance Board functional again. And now, Old Burkesville Loop has been accepted as gift from state to both City of Columbia and Adair County. Mayor Bell says he won't protest if County wants to handle the upkeep. By Ed Waggener Last night's regular April 10, 2007, Fiscal Court meeting, held the promise of being lengthy. And it was. There were 33 items and several possibly contentious measures on the agenda. As an added measure, the presentation of the Columbia-Adair County Industrial Development Board was on the slate. But it was items not on the agenda which ran the meeting to one of the longest in a long time. The surprise items were a request for the closing of the Mack Lewis Road, a request for an easements for a waterline on theTater Cave Road (or Jay Wheeler Road, as it is also known) and a confrontational appearance of Marsha Roberts on behalf of the old Adair County Rescue Squad, plus a few late announcements at the end of the meeting. In addition to the regular agenda, Wid Harris added four issues in his Pay Equalization for Adair County Employees measures, which were voted on in the Other Business slot on the agenda. There were a major number of accomplishments, too, including major changes to the jail operating procedures, the re-activation of the ambulance board, the final legislative step in the enactment of the ban on banners on the courthouse, new support for the Breeding and Knifley Fire Departments, the appointment of Greg Thomas as the Search and Rescue Coordinator (SAR,) approval of a Memorandum of Understanding for Homeland Security. And the court took some decisive, if not major, action, voting unanimously to start proceedings on the closing of the Mack Lewis Road near Chance in District 3. There was much which wasn't done: The county tabled a measure to build a security fence around the Restrictive Custody Facility on Campbellsville Road. They also tabled a bold nuisance ordinance proposed by Judge Executive Melton. Magistrates said they wanted to study the measure further. Adair County Solid Waste Coordinator A.L. Sinclair said that the measure is needed. "If it's properly handled, it's a good thing," the Solid Waste Coordinator said. "If it is not, it's a bad thing. Taylor County did not handle it well, and it didn't work," he said. He did not elaborate. There were split votes, decisions made with members abstaining, and some flashes of emotion, including the Judge's expression of anger over the failure of the John Deere grader to arrive as promised. "You remember that Holt Equipment said the grader would be here no later than 30 days"? she asked. "Well, 30 days have come and gone, and now we're being told that it will be here no later than May 3, 2007, she said. "I told them I was ready to cancel the order," she said. The county ordered a 2007 John Deere 670 D for $140,200 at its March 6, 2007 meeting. She was equally concerned with the cavalier attitude of the Mack Truck people. "The newest truck had defects when delivered, and they expect us to send our people to Somerset to get the warranty work done," she said. "we've let them know they can pick up the truck in Columbia," Judge Melton said. A welcome extension to the meeting came with the surprise visit of First District Congressman Ed Whitfield, who entered midway through the meeting. He asked Judge Melton if she had any requests, and she answered, "As a matter of fact," she said, "we do have a list. Just send the money we need." Greg Thomas appointed The Search And Rescue coordinator By a unanimous vote, Greg Thomas was named The Search And Rescue coordinator for Adair County. Thomas will coordinate efforts previously handled by the Adair County Rescue Squad. A reorganizational meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17,2007 at 6:00pm CT in the basement of the Adair County annex. The meeting is to research the chances of restructuring the Adair County Rescue Squad. Some members of the old Adair County Rescue Squad were present at the meeting, and their spokesman, Marsha Roberts, challenged Judge Melton's on the restructuring attempt. Judge Melton has refused to sign an affiliation agreement with the present Adair County Rescue Squad, because, she said last night, some of the officers are under investigation by the Commonwealth's Attorney, following scrutiny of the Squad's affiliated Bingo operation. Without the affiliation agreement with the county, the rescue squad cannot have workmen's compensation, cannot use flashing lights or sirens, and has no right to be on the scene of accidents, disasters, drownings, or any of the other usual rescue squad situations. Marsha Roberts objected to Judge Melton's plan, saying that none of the officers have been indicted, and that they should be considered innocent until proven guilty. Don Franklin, Somerset, Area 12 Manager of the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management, both agreed and disagreed with Roberts stand, saying that, on the one hand, "You have an outstanding Rescue Squad," and "There's no reason to re-invent the wheel." He agreed that the officers who are named in the investigation are innocent until proven guilty, but maintained there is a higher standard for these people, one of perception. "Reproach has been brought on the Rescue Squad," he said. "Integrity is shot." And, he said, "The reproach was brought on yourself. The public perception the general public has is, 'Where did the money go'?" As for the Judge refusing to sign an affiliation agreement, Franklin said that is understandable. He told Roberts, "With the affiliation agreement you become an extension of the county and you and they have to be able to answer for your actions." Roberts asked Judge Melton if the Adair County Rescue Squad would get an affiliation agreement if the named officers resigned. Judge Melton said the matter would be reconsidered, but did not promise that the agreement would be forthcoming with that one step. Judge Melton did invite the rescue squad members to come to the April 17, 2007 meeting to discuss the future relationship. County accepts road previously given to city There won't be any trouble over it, but the county gave accepted of an orphaned segment of Old KY 61, named Old Burkesville Loop for 911 purposes, into the county road system. The loop includes a new connector from New 61 north of the new Petty's Fork Bridge and south of Image Analysis, then turns south on old KY 61 across the Old Petty's Fork Bridge, through the Drive-in or S Curves, a distance of 1.08 miles back to New KY 61. The Old Burkesville Loop name had been the choice of most of the property owners in the area, Allender said. The road, 911 Coordinator Mary Allender noted, is the dividing line between the newly annexed section which includes the Super Wal-Mart at Holladay Place now in the city limits, and the County. Mayor Bell said this morning that if the county wants to maintain the road, he's sure they are welcome to it. He had hoped that it might be part of the city because he expects residents in the area will want to be annexed to get city sewers as soon as the sewer line to Wal-Mart is built. Three orphaned roads renamed The county gave second readings to renaming three other orphaned segments of old KY 61. One segment will be called Will Walker Lane, another will be Music Lane, and the part of Grider Road cut off by new KY 61 and lying west of the new road will be called Mountain View Lane. Second readings on two roads in District 5 and two in District 6 were delayed because all the paperwork had not been turned in. The court also gave a second reading to an ordinance deleting MacDonald Lane in District 7 from the county system. Two other votes deleted the G. Browning Rd in District 3 and Speedway Cove in District 7 from the county maintenanance system. A motion by Magistrate Billy Dean Coffey to have a 35mph speed limit on Kemp Road was unnecessary after it was noted that the action had already been taken. "We put up the sign today," Road Superintendent Jobe Darnell said. Proceedings for closing Mack Lewis Road begins Charles Wright requested the closing of the Mack Lewis Road. Lewis said he doesn't mind people using the road, but that illegal dumping is taking place there. "We came home one Sunday afternoon to find 160 tires dumped on our land," he said. Problems continue with night time dumping, Wright said, adding that he near is at a breaking point. If it doesn't stop, he said, "I'm liable to end up shooting them." Magistrate Sammy Baker said that there is one lady who opposes the closure who has said she wants to be notified if any move is made to take the road off county maintenance, but was told by County Attorney Jennifer Hutchison that such public notification would be part of the road closing, anyway. On Magistrate Baker's motion, the court voted 7-0 to start procedures for the closure. Ricky Rogers asks for help getting water to four families Controversy within Magistrate Baker's District 3 was also evident in the plea from Ricky Rogers for an easement for a waterline construction for new families on Tater Cave Road, also known as the Jay Wheeler Road. There will likely be a whole new path for the waterline, one which appears to offer peace in the area and water to the affected families. Rogers said that four families need county water, but couldn't get it without trench work in the Tater Cave Road. The reason trench work is needed, he said, is that his father-in-law, Jay Wheeler, who is 86, won't let the waterlines cross his property. The issue for the county is that Tater Cave Road is maintained by the county, and the trenching could cause expensive repairs to be needed. County Attorney Jennifer Hutchison said that she would be comfortable with the magistrates voting the easement only with the landowners post a bond sufficient to cover the cost of any followup repairs needed after the line is installed. Rogers said, "This is a free country, but we can't let one man hold back progress." He said that if it gets on the internet that people can't get water and electricity in the area, then propective residents will just go to other counties, not Adair. Rogers expressed determination to see the waterline coming, despite the rift in the family, "We are going to put water in that hollow," he said. Rogers said that the four families spent some serious money for the land there, in the $1,500 to $2,000 an acre range, and that one $1 million dollar property has changed hands on the road. He said that one man plans to build a $250,000 "cabin" on the road, when the water comes. "That adds to the county tax base," Rogers said.A solution to the problem was accepted, for the time being. The line will be run the long way in, from Bird Road. Magistrate Baker, Rogers, and County Roads Supervisor Jobe Parnell agreed to come up with the best route for the waterline, in consultation with Lenny Stone, General Manager of the Adair County Water District. With this approach, the line will not have to cross Jay Wheeler. "That is one beautiful place down there," Magistrate Baker said. "It just needs a way in for the water." Court oks court orders for Van, refund of Litter Abatement funds The court voted unanimously to authorize Judge Melton to write a check in the amount of $2,924.40 to the Lake Cumberland Community Services for the purchae of a van of the Senior Citizens of Adair County. The money will from from a Local Government Economic Assistance (LGEA) fund. Another special order approved was for a refund check in the amount of $721.25 to the Division of Solid Waste for money unspent in the litter abatement program. A.L. Sinclair said that bad weather had been the reason the funds were not used. Court votes to help Breeding, Knifley VFD's with insurance The court voted 7-0 to approve the budgeting of $2,500 in insurance aid for the Breeding and Knifley Fire Departments. Fire insurance is a major expense for the departments. Breeding VFD pays $4,647 annually, and Knifley is out $7,186 each year. The Knifley firemen said that the difference is because of additional equipment and the second fire station, at Pellyton. Billy Dean Coffey, asked, before the vote, whether the Columbia and Adair County Fire Departments would be asking for help, too, but was told that these departments are in better financial shape than the Breeding and Knifley units. Judge Melton recommended putting the money into the Fiscal Year 2007-08 budgets, saying, "Both departments do a great service, and they help lower insurance bills." She said the checks would be cut in July 2007. Both departments delivered budgets. Breeding's 2006 showed total income of $30,518, total expenses of $29,639. Knifley AVFD had total income of $31,724.86 and expenses of $30,034.60. Court hears report on jail fence, then tables idea until there is a complaint The court tabled plans for a fence around the at the Minimum Security Facilty on Campbellsville Road, after Judge Melton reported on estimates received and telling the court that a recent inspection by the Cabinet for Corrections gave the facility high marks, with no mention of the need for a fence. "We're in compliance without the fence," she told the court. Judge Melton reported on quotes for fencing. The estimates, varying from a Taylor County Fence proposal for an $8,697.00 to Stephens Pipe and Steel's $14,650.54 to a bid of $14,900.00 from Fence Builders Plus of Columbia. Judge Melton told the court that there was a wide difference in the fences proposed. "If we do build a fence, we need to prepare bid invitations so everyone is bidding on the same thing."But no further action was taken after the fence's original advocate, Sixth District Magistrate Joe Rogers, told the court that he now thinks the matter ought to be put off until there is a complaint or the Commonwealth requests that such a fence be built. "I had been for it," he said, "but I think we ought to table it for now," he said. Record jail billing. Jail report, budget approved The court unanimously approved the report of Adair County Regional Jailer Wm. "Bug" Knight, as well as the budget presented by Jailer Knight for the coming fiscal year. Judge Melton said the jailer's budget was submitted early, and will be a part of the overall budget which will take effect July 1, 2007. The jailer reported record income for the Regional Jail. The total to collect, from March, is $89,767.14, which annualizes to $1,056,935.68, based on 31 days in the month, 365 days a year. The spike in jail income reflects both the high cost of current drug laws and a rise in a fee some believe to be unconscionable at any price, a per diem charge inmates pay just for the privilege of being locked up in the Adair County Jail. That per diem fee is now $8.00 a day, after inmates pay a one time $20 booking fee. Inmates now pay all their medical expenses, as well. Court approves all but one amendment to jail policies and procedures The Court unanimously approved five of six amendments to the policies and procedures at the jail. Unanimously approved were amendments deleting the 911/Dispatcher position, that dispatcher's position in the chain of command, changing the job description of the chief deputy jailer, and to have the inmates co-pay all their medical bills. A vote on a Veterans' Day holiday passed 6-1, with Magistrate Terry Hadley (7), voting no. But an effort by Jailer Knight to add an eleventh day of vacation time after 10 years of service failed 4-3, with Magistrates Billy Dean Coffey, Joe Rogers, Terry Hadley, and Roger Stephens voting against the extra day, and Magistrates Wid Harris, Sammy Baker, and Perry Reeder favoring the change. The Ambulance Board is functioning again Judge Melton recommended the reappointment of Randy Brown, former Columbia Wal-Mart Pharmacist who is now a hospital pharmacist at the Westlake Healthcare Team's Casey County Hospital as a new member of the Adair County Ambulance Board. Brown was approved 7-0. A second appointment, that of J.D. Biggs, was approved, but the vote was 6-1, with First District Magistrate Roger Stephens responding with a loud "No," vote when the secretary called "District 1." The Ambulance Board oversees the Adair County Emergency Medical Services operations. Both of the appointees will serve two year terms. They join Sherry Hutchison, who was appointed this year to the board. The Ambulance Board had been functioning without proper appointments for 10 years, when Marsha Roberts questioned the court's right to replace her with Sherry Hutchison, and a search of the records found that Roberts had been, prior to her replacement, the only member meeting statutory requirements. Neither J.D. Biggs, who had been serving as Chairman, nor member Wallace Feese had been re-appointed as required by Kentucky statutes. Judge Melton kept Mr. Biggs on the board to maintain some continuity, she had said earlier. Wid's Pay Equity for Adair County Employees approved Second District Magistrate Wid Harris brought up several measures having to do with county employee pay. "I just want everything to be fair," he said. The measures include the following:
Sheriff Curry reports tax collections Sheriff Ralph Curry reported that a total of $267,472.05 was collected in March 2007, including mostly property taxes. His report was approved 7-0. CACIDA reports Martin Jones of the Columbia Adair County Industrial Authority (CACIDA) reported that he would credit Mark Karnes for securing the Manor Abbey business to the Karnes building in the Green River Industrial Park. Jones gave a report on how the operation worked, with special emphasis that an English firm is importing art from China to Columbia, from whence it is reshipped. He noted that of nine contacts, 2-3 are considering Kentucky for a location. He said that he will be in Chicago following leads for food and distribution companies. Jones said he also has learned that Lowe's may locate here. Second reading given to banners ordinance The court gave a second reading to the ordinance prohibiting signs and banners from being place on the Adair County Courthouse. The reading was approved 7-0, on a motion by Second District Magistrate Wid Harris, and becomes law. The ordinance now becomes effective pursuant to publication in the county's legal newspaper, The Adair Progress, pursuant to KRS Chapter 424. Spay-neuter order approvedThe court approved, 7-0, a nunc pro tunc order, retroactively approving acceptance of a spay-neuter grant of $3,000, effective March 1, 2007. The grant is from the Department of Agriculture's Animal Control Advisory Board Spay/Neuter Kentucky Program. Meeting well attended The meeting was well attended, with a full gallery of spectators, the full court, plus Administrative Assistant Lisa Lee, Finance Officer Gale Cowan, County Treasurer Barry Corbin, County Attorney Jennifer Hutchison-Corbin, Sheriff Ralph Curry, Regional Jailer Wm. "Bug" Knight, 911 Coordinator Mary Allender, Solid Waste Coordinator A.L. Sinclair, Adair County Emergency Disaster Management Coordinator and new-named Search and Rescue Coordinator Greg Thomas, and First District U.S. Representative Ed Whitefield, Field Representative Sandy Simpson and his other members of his entourage, and Don Franklin, of the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management. Information about Your Adair County Fiscal Court A list of your Adair County officials Regular monthly Adair County Fiscal Court meetings are held at 7:00 p.m., each second Tuesday. The meetings are open to the public. ADAIR COUNTY JUDGE ANN MELTON 421 Public Square, Suite 1, Columbia, KY 42728 Phone 270-384-4703; Fax 270-384-9754 Other ELECTED ADAIR COUNTY OFFICIALS Adair County Attorney Jennifer Hutchison-Corbin (2000) Adair County Coroner Rick Wilson Adair County Court Clerk Sheila Blair (2006) Adair County Circuit Court Clerk Dennis Loy Adair County Jailer William "Bug" Knight Adair County PVA Wm. Feese, Jr. Adair County Sheriff Ralph Curry Adair County Surveyor Mike McKinney The ADAIR COUNTY FISCAL COURT
Magistrates on the Adair County Fiscal Court:
APPOINTED OFFICIALS Adair County Finance Officer, Fiscal Court Clerk Gale Cowan Adair County Judge Administrative Assistant Lisa Lee Adair County 911 Coordinator Mary Allender Adair Co. Disaster Management Coordinator Greg Thomas Adair County Treasurer Barry Corbin Adair County Roads Supervisor Jobe Darnell Adair County Dog Warden Jimmy Harmon Adair County Solid Waste Coordinator A.L. Sinclair Adair County Chief Dispatcher Justin Claywell This story was posted on 2007-04-11 16:35:15
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Rotary Beans Tax Day Lunch is Friday, April 13, 2007 Cloverbuds 4-H meet at JAIS, Thursday, April 12, 2007 Adair Food Pantry gets chance at matching money Additional dumpster Friday, April 20, 2007 Candidate Billy Harper at CU gubernatorial forum today Trinity UMC 2007 Relay event Sat., April 14, 2007 Weekend Revival at Saloma Baptist Church The Adair Co. Road Dept Report, Tues, April 10, 2007 VFW Ladies Auxiliary meeting postponed Captivate 2007 will be held Sat., April 14, 2007, at Fairgrounds View even more articles in topic News |
 
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