House Republican Majority Names Rep. Meredith Chair of House Local Government Committee For 2017-18

12/7/2016

Rep. Michael Lee Meredith (Edmonson Voice file photo)

Edmonson Voice Staff Report
This week, Kentucky’s House Republican Majority Caucus announced its slate of members poised to chair House committees for the 2017-2018 sessions of the Kentucky General Assembly.

District 19 Representative Michael Lee Meredith (R) was named chair of the House Local Government Committee, which deals with all of the issues and intricacies involving county and city governments in the state.

"I'm excited about the opportunity," said Rep. Meredith. "My roots are in local government. I've served on this committee for 6 years, served 2 years as a city coucilmember in Brownsville prior to being elected to the House and have been around local government here since I was a kid. The relationships that I have with County and City officials in our area and across the state along with the experience I've had will be invaluable in this new role.

1 Comment

Tim Skees

12/10/2016 03:16:24 pm

Very proud of Michael and the work he has done for emergency personnel across Ky.

I hope he will continue to lead the way in Frankfort, by addressing issues important to the voters such as conflicting laws.
A good example is the following STATE LAW:

281.765 Enforcement of motor vehicle laws -- Arrests -- Bail bonds.
Any peace officer, including sheriffs and their deputies, CONSTABLES and THEIR DEPUTIES, police officers and marshals of cities or incorporated towns, county police or patrols, and special officers appointed by any agency of the Commonwealth of Kentucky for the enforcement of its laws relating to MOTOR VEHICLES and boats or boating, now existing or hereafter enacted, SHALL BE AUTHORIZED and it is hereby MADE THE DUTY of EACH of them TO ENFORCE the provisions of this chapter and to make arrests for any violation or violations thereof, and for violations of any other law RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES and boating, without warrant if the offense be committed in his presence, and with warrant or summons if he does not observe the commission of the offense. "

Obviously, if magistrates and fiscal courts refuse a vetted Constable the tools which his office REQUIRES by LAW, then they would be forcing the Constable ( an elected official) to be derelict in his duties, which would of course, be VERY illegal.
I'm sure no educated, well versed magistrate, wants to be in violation of any laws and bring our county under the scrutiny of Frankfort.

TO MY UNDERSTANDING THIS STATES THAT IT IS THE DUTY OF CONSTABLES AS WELL AS ALL OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ENFORCE ALL OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS.
ADDITIONALLY, UNDER KRS 189.920 SUBSECTION (2) IT STATES,

(2) All state, county, or municipal police vehicles and all sheriffs' vehicles used as emergency vehicles shall be equipped with one (1) or more flashing, rotating, or oscillating blue lights, visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of the vehicle, and a siren, whistle, or bell, capable of emitting a sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than five hundred (500) feet. This equipment shall be in addition to any other equipment required by the motor vehicle laws.

SINCE MY OFFICIAL VEHICLE IS REGISTERED TO THE EDMONSON COUNTY SECOND DISTRICT CONSTABLE OFFICE, THAT WOULD MAKE IT "AN OFFICIAL COUNTY VEHICLE" as authorized by chapter 189.

Fiscal court might argue, that a Constable is not "an elected county official or head of any agency".

Well, the Atty General has also issued his opinion on this as well, stating in :
OAG 16-008
" Constables are the head of a "Law Enforcement Agency" and are recognized as the " Head of a governmental unit.." created under Ky. CONST-99 as " A county elected official". And thusly may request and utilize OFFICIAL COUNTY GOVERMENT TAGS on his patrol car used by his office.

So I certainly hope to see some of these issues taken care of this legislative term.

Some want Constables to be abolished.( KaCo, Ky. County Judges Assn., Ky. Magistrates Assn., etc.. )

What we MUST have, in either case, is some CLARIFICATION on equipment and duties of Constables.
To simply say, if a majority of county magistrates do not like constables in general, then magistrates can seize the constable's ability to enforce traffic laws on public roadways, then fiscal court is BREAKING THE LAW and also forcing a Constable (as an elected official) to break the law and be derelict in his duties as a sworn law enforcement officer in this commonwealth and stop him from carrying out the duties he is sworn to do.

I sincerely hope no one in fiscal court would ever break the law intentionally. So interfering with a Constables' duties would almost be as bad as asking him to use his official powers as a peace officer to cover up things.
And we know such acts are illegal, and should never be done by any peace officer of any agency, right ?

Thank You, Rep Meredith for helping maintain Kentucky as
a WE THE PEOPLE state !!

"

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House Republican Majority Names Rep. Meredith Chair of House Local Government Committee For 2017-18

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