Full Agenda At Fiscal Court, State Plans To Repave Roads

The Fiscal Court meeting was loaded with a full plate yesterday as several items on the agenda created discussion in addition to the unemployment payment issue we reported earlier. 

The court heard from County Road Foreman Ray Page with an update of his department's busy week with the winter weather.  Page reported that the road department not only worked a regular shift last Wednesday, they returned back to work at 8pm that night and worked 24 hours straight, doing their best to keep the roads clean. 

He reported that crews worked through several equipment breakdowns and at one time, only two out of five trucks were capable of being on the road. Page noted that there may have been some roads that didn't get all the needed attention but said the department did their very best, even through the mechanical troubles. "We don't want the public to think we were just setting at the shop not doing anything...we were busting our rumps," he said. Several members of the court commended him and his department on a tireless effort. 

Judge Cannon updated the court on the status of hiring a new Little League Director. He said the county would be accepting applications through Weds, March 11th, and expected to have 5-6 qualified applicants to choose from. 

Emergency Management Director Pat Prunty reported that the county had requested financial assistance from FEMA during the recent snow/ice storm in the amount of around $45,000. With the most recent storm also causing flooding in the county, the chances of the county recouping some expense during the hazardous conditions increased. He said that although the full amount would be doubtful, anything will help. He also reported on the recent rescue and recovery effort with the submerged vehicle at Green River Ferry. Prunty praised the effort of all emergency personnel involved during the accident.

EMS Director Keith Sanders reported that the Ambulance Service's request for help from the National Guard during the winter storm was somehow dropped. The National Guard gave no explanation, but luckily there were no ambulance runs where EMS couldn't gain access, Sanders said. 

The court also heard from Kevin Gearlds, Branch Manager for KY Highway Maintenance and Construction. He informed the court of the state's upcoming plans to repave selected secondary state highways within the county for 2015-16. Plans are to provide resurfacing and drainage work on Union Light - Dog Creek Road (KY 1015) at the intersection of KY 728, extending North to the Hart Co line, as well as the same work for Big Reedy Road (KY 238) from KY 185 to Huff Ridge Road. The projects are state funded and are expected to cost over 1.2 million dollars.

Gearlds was also asked by District 4 magistrate Edd Rich about the possibilities of a traffic or caution light at the junction of KY 259 and KY 70 at the new Dollar General Store. Gearlds said there was very specific and detailed criteria in order for the state to install lights, but he would begin a request for research for the intersection.

The court also:

• Heard from Dist 2 magistrate Joe Durbin on the adoption of Lauren Way (Hidden Springs Subdivision) on New Grove Road into the county road system. Durbin said there were still a couple issues to discuss with the developer, but most everything seemed to be in place so far.
  
• Discussed lowering the rent of the Community Center from $50 to $25 for events not needing use of the kitchen
• Approved KACTFO Conference for the Judge and Treasurer to attend. It is a training conference for treasurers and financial officers.
• Approved county treasurer report for February
• Approved magistrates training at the KMCA Conference in Louisville.

Edmonson Voice Staff