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Adair Co. Fiscal Court meeting, September 11, 2007
By Ed Waggener In last nights Adair County Fiscal Court meeting, magistrates got an update on fast growing Adair County tourism industry, hear citizen complaint on nuisance which moved them to promise action on a nuisance law, and CJE Ann Melton made her most important board appointment to date with a new member of the Westlake Regional Hospital Board. Columbia-Adair County Tourism Director Sue Stivers gave Adair County Fiscal Court a brief update tourist and travel business in Adair County, which held the court and the gallery rapt for its seven minute duration. Stivers described how, on an $18,000 annual budget funded by a 3% transient tax on rooms at Best Western, Dreamland, Holmes Bend Cottages, and Magnolia House Bed & Breakfast, the local tourist economy has been spurred to a 19.5 % growth in the past three years. That's been augmented by over $100,000 in tourist promotion dollars which were funneled to Adair County through the efforts of Rep. Hal Rogers, she said. "You may not know this," Stivers told the audience, "but tourism is now the number three industry in Adair County. The tourist income is now nearly $10,000 per year." In all of Kentucky, she said, tourism revenues are nearly $10 billion a year. Her goal, she said, is to let more people know about what the county has to offer. "One of my biggest gripes is to hear, 'What does little Adair County have to offer?'" she said. By aggressively promoting the County's assets, she's been able to get the story out. She mails 1,000 packets to individuals every year and the county's website now gets 4,000 hits a month. Last year, 22 journalists were brought to Columbia at a cost of $3,000, used to pay for their lodging. This resulted in 100 national magazine stories, and 200 newspaper accounts. "If we had paid for the news in advertising," Stivers said, "it would have cost an estimated $1.9 million!" Stivers said the Tourism Commission has two major goals: 1) To continue the growth pattern in tourism, and 2) To recruit retirees to Adair County. Stivers said that when a retiree comes to Adair County it has multiplier effect on the economy. "Retirees spend money. They buy land. They build houses. They buy and use services. Statistics show that one retiree has the effect of 3.5 jobs on the local economy." Stivers also cited a little known aspect of tourism which is really growing: The Green River Paddle Trail. "It's a growing attraction," she said. CJE Ann Melton thanked Mrs. Stivers and told the court that her administration is committed to the Adair County Tourist Industry. "We appreciate what tourism means to Adair County," she said. "We appreciate your efforts," she said to Stivers. Judge makes first appointment to Westlake Regional Hospital Board In perhaps the most important board appointment of her young administration, Judge Ann Melton received approval for her appointment of Bradley Irvin, a Columbia Construction business owner, farmer, and auto rebuilder. Irvin will replace Brenda Harvey on the five member panel. Judge Melton said Irvin had the ability and the integrity needed in a hospital board member. "He'll act in the best interest of the hospital and the county," she said. "I have confidence he will always do the right thing." Judge Melton has said that he considers appointments to the Westlake Regional Hospital board among the most important decisions she has to make. The judge said she wants to appoint people of high integrity, who have no conflicts of interest, who can work with others, but who will maintain proper separation between the interests of the hospital as a service to the public and the hospital administration. She said she has had many requests to make the hospital board more accountable to the people of Adair County. Irvin replaces Brenda Harvey. The next appointment the judge will make is for the seat now held by Gerald McLean. Others on the Westlake board, are Chairman Mitch Harris, Katy Campbell, and Jim Evans. Irvin's wife, Sandra Irvin, is a nurse practitioner at Loy Family Medical Center. Board moved to act, but doesn't yet, on nuisance ordinance It will be a fitting tribute to Adair County Solid Waste Administrator A.L. Sinclair when it happens, and the court is more inclined to do so now, but the matter of a county "nuisance law," remains under study. At last night's Fiscal Court meeting, Lawrence Wallace and Pat Wilson appeared as residents of Knox Street to complain about storage trailers parked between their property and the Western Bypass. Wallace passed around photos of the full color photos of the trailers. The conditions moved Magistrate Terry Hadley, who is on a committee to study modifications to a nuisance ordinance advocated by Coordinator Sinclair and proposed by Judge Melton in a winter 2007 meeting, to say, "I think this shows we need to take some action." Wallace told the court that the talk by Sue Stivers should be enough to get action. "You heard the figures," he said. "This is going to hurt tourism. It doesn't belong along the Bypass. It should be in an industrial park." No action was taken on his request. But the matter is more likely to be addressed since his appearance. Treasurer says Adair County in good financial shape Adair County Treasurer Barry Corbin reported that the county had $1,278,219 in the bank as of August 31, 2007. That is approximately one-half million dollars more than at the end of the 2006-2007 fiscal year. The balance is high because of higher than usual receipts, mostly grant money which has resulted from Judge Melton's efforts. Corbin said that the balance appears a bit high because a number of large road project bills are yet to be paid. Still, he said before the meeting, "Compared to a lot of other counties in the area, we're doing really well. Some of them are having a really difficult time," and said that one neighboring county is overdrawn. Deputy Pam Yarberry gives Regional Jail Report The Adair County Regional Jail (ACRJ) had total billings of $97,588.94 in August, 2007, Deputy Jailer Pam Yarberry, standing in for Regional Jailer Wm. "Bug" Knight, told the court. For the month, she said, Adair County's cost of $23,133.00 would be deducted and booking and other fees added to bring a net billing of $87,133.16, which would annualize to over $1million a year net billings. With Adair County included, the jail revenue annualizes to $1,149,031.07, based on August figures. Two ACRJ employees hired The court approved the hiring of Donald Schweppie as a temporary full-time ACRJ deputy at a salary of $8.50 an hour, and of Lonnie McAllister as a part-time ACRJ deputy at $8.00 an hour. In another ACRJ matter, the court approved a first reading of an ordinance adopting a Policy and Procedures Manual for the Adair Regional Jail's Restrictive Custody Facility. Part-time 911 Dispatchers hired The court approved Judge Melton's recommendation to hire two new part-time 911 dispatchers. In separate actions, the court unanimously approved the hiring of Sharon Spinks and Lou Ann Grant at $8.25 an hour. Employees rotated at Green River Animal Shelter The court approved a change of status at Green River Animal Shelter which involved no net change in overall payroll. As a result of the action,m Heather Evans is now a full time, rather than part time, employee; April Janes is now part time, rather than full time. The moves were to accommodate personal needs, Judge Melton said. Several speed limits get second readings The court unanimously approved the following speed limit changes:
Court tables request to buy easement off Parrott Avenue< The court voted to table a request from Preston Rowe to secure a quitclaim deed on an easement off Parrott Avenue. County Attorney Jennifer Hutchison-Corbin said that her initial look at the situation was that the county might not have any interest in the easement, making the action meaningless. "Anyone can grant a quitclaim on anything," she said, "but if they have no ownership in it, it is meaningless." The issue arose over property once owned by Joe Russell Barbee, on which a road was to have been built to a Wm. Parrott development, which was never built. The court voted 6-0 to table the matter, which had been put on the agenda before it was learned that there was opposition to the action. Magistrate Terry Hadley, moved the matter be tabled for one month, while more could be learned about the situation. The court okays three measures for the Adair County SAR Team The court unanimously approved an Ordinance establishing affiliation with the Adair County Search and Rescue Team, approved a resolution for the AC SAR Team, and approved an Executive Order for the Adair County Search & Rescue Team. Judge Melton authorized to sign MoA for Green River Lake grants The court voted 6-0 to authorive Judge Melton to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the Governor's Office of Local Development (GOLD) for a Land & Water grant for Arnold's Landing and Mt. Carmel Boat Ramp. Improvements at the two areas has been part of Judge Melton's tourism development initiatives, prompted by the need to expand facilities to accommodate tourists displaced by the Wolf Creek Dam rehabilitation. Court doesn't act on request for separate Pellyton voting precinct Adair County Court Clerk Shelia Blair presented the court with a detail of the cost for re-establishing a voting precinct at Pellyton. Pellyton citizens now vote at a combined Eunice-Pellyton Precinct voting house located at Jeff Miller's gate plant near Shepherd School, between Christine and Purdy on KY 206. Clerk Blair's estimate was an initial additional cost to the county of $16,092.86, and a per election additional cost of $1,360.18. The initial cost breakdown was: Machines, $10,000 Building, $2,280.00 Electrical work, $406.90 Blacktop, $2,886.24 Flooring, $219.72 Inspection fee, $100 Burying lines, $200.00 TOTAL, $16,092.86 The per election costs Clerk Blair projected are: Rent (for land), $50.00 Electric bill, $60.18 Portable toilet, $50.00 Precinct workers, $400.00 Ballot printing, $800.00 TOTAL, $1,360.18 Magistrates noted that Adair County's 25 precincts were reduced to 16 when electronic voting machine requirements made the cost to outfit all 25 prohibitive. It was noted that if one precinct were re-established, all of them could be encouraged to demand re-establishment. If all nine combined precincts were re-established, the initial cost to the county would be $144,835.74, and the per election cost, based on Clerk Blair's estimate, would be $12,241.62. Judge Melton said she understood the voters feelings. "If we could do it," she said, "I'd like for everybody to be able to vote out their back door." That has to be weighed against the cost, she said. Fire ordinance unanimously approved Fiscal court put teeth into the County Judge Executive's efforts to reduce the chances of dry weather fires in Adair County. By a vote of 6-0, the Magistrates voted to enact a Fire Ordinance, establishing penalties for violations of burning bans. Resolution for Judge to sign Creekbend Road bridge documents The magistrates voted 6-0 to authorize the County Judge Executive to sign documents related to the state grant authorized by Gov. Fletcher and Kentucky Highway Commissioner Glenna Wells for emergency road funds to replace the Creekbend Road Bridge. Judge reports that A.L. Sinclair is doing well Judge Melton reported that County Solid Waste Coordinator A.L. Sinclair is recovering from a knee operation performed by Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Goodin in Louisville on Monday. She told the court that Bill Patton, an employee at the Adair County Recycling Center, will step in for Coordinator Sinclair in the Fall PRIDE cleanup should Mr. Sinclair not be able to do so. Roads read; limit on similar road names Adair County Fiscal Court approved Adair County 911 Coordinator Mary Allender's request that no more roads in Adair County include the following: Anywhere in name: Allen, Baker, Bear, Beech, Bennett, Biggs, Black, Bramblett, Bragg, Brock, Brown, Bryant, Bull Run, Burris, Burton, Butler, Caldwell, Cane, Carson, Carter, Casey, Cedar, Charles/Charlie/Charley, Chestnut, Also, Cheatham, Chris, Christine, Clear, Conover, Coomer, Corbin, Country, Cox, Coy, Creek, Crocus, Curry, Day, Denton, Detweiler, Dick, Dillon, Dry, Downey, Also, Feathersburg, Fortune, Frazier, Fudge, Garrett, Gilbert, Goode, Grady, Grant, Green, Guardian, Hadley, Hancock, Harvey, Hatcher, Hendrickson, High, Hill, Holliday/Holladay, Also, Holt, Honey, Hoot, Horse, Hughes, Hunt, Hutchison Rd, Jessie, Jones, Keen, Hughes, Hunt, Hutchison, Jessie, Jones, Keen, Also, Keltner, Lay, Lee, Legg, Liberty, Little, Loy, Mack/Mac, Melson, Milltown, Moore, Monroe, Morrison, Moss, Mt. Carmel, Murray, Oak, Overstreet, Also, Peanut, Pellyton, Pickett, Pine, Poplar, Powell, Providence, Purdy, Quinn, Reed, Red, Redmon, Reece, Renfro, REeynolds, Richard, Also, Rick, Ross, Rosson, Royal, Russell, Scott, Sexton, Shirley, Short, Spoon, Stone, Sulphur, Taylor, Terry, Thomas, Tucker, Also, Union, View, Walker, Wall, Weed, White, Willie, Willis, Wilson, Wolford, and Yates. In addition, No new roads will start with the name Arnold. Anywhere in road name. Allender said that the move is necessary to cut down on mix-ups in emergency calls. "It's confusing, she said, and cited the ways a resident of one of the eight roads with Corbin in it could be misstated. "It's confusing," she said. "It's dangerous." In separate actions, the court approved the following reading of roads by Adair County 911 Coordinator Mary Allender:
The meeting was well attended and was covered by reporters for two newspapers, for two radio stations, and for ColumbiaMagazine.com. All of Report, Regular September 11, 2007 meeting Information about Your Adair County Fiscal Court Regular monthly Adair County Fiscal Court meetings are held at 7:00 p.m., each second Tuesday. The meetings are open to the public. A list of your Adair County officials 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:
Adair County Constables
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 Click Here to check other announcements in the ColumbiaMagazine.com Events calendar. This story was posted on 2007-09-12 09:00:34
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