In Aug. 14-20 issue
By Greg Wells
Times Journal Managing Editor

JAMESTOWN - The chairman of the Eli Fire Department, Marty Kazuk, asked for and received court support for a $190,000 load from the Kentucky Association of Counties.
 
The money will go toward purchase of a new fire truck. Kazuk said the department’s present pumper has failed the state required test and the repair would cost as much or more than the truck was worth.

He said the department has budgeted $1,500 a year to meet the payments on the loan, and at last report the payments would actually be less than that.

The court approved the proposal, based on the figures indicated.

Hospital CEO Gary DelForge reported to the court that the hospital has ended the year $415,000 in the black, which was an increase over last year, which was higher than the year before that.

Though operations continue to be in the red, he told the court that he expects operations next year to be well into positive numbers after the renegotiation of contracts with insurance companies this past few months.

He said they have gained a significant increase over the previous contract payments from Humana and other carriers, though negotiations are still at an impasse with Anthem.

“I feel confident they’ll come back to the table,” DelForge said of Anthem.

Another report related to the airport. The magistrates were told that the airport board is examining what is needed to prevent a possibly dangerous situation from occurring again, as it has twice recently.

“Two planes have landed at the dragstrip,” an attendee told the court. She said they were talking with state and federal officials about covering over the old runway markings still visable on the old runway, which is now a race track.

In another matter considered by the court there was some disagreement over the program for removal of dead farm animals. Last year the county contributed $5,000 toward that program, as did Kentucky government.

This year, with less than $3,000 of last year’s money expended the state has reported they will not put additional money into the program, and if the county elects not to leave their funds in the program they will reclaim what was placed in it, but if the county leaves their money in so will the Commonwealth.

Some on the court, including the judge, read the state’s position as being that they would contribute again if the county does this year. In the end the vote was 3-2 to continue the program and contribute again if the state would match the county’s contribution.

Magistrates Greg Popplewell and Steve Bledsoe voted against putting more money into the program.

A raise was approved for one of the staff in the road department. Lewis Conner was given a $1 per hour raise. The raise was approved based on the savings from this workers welding and mechanic work on behalf of the county.

The fiscal court voted to keep the motor vehicle and watercraft tax rate the same as it had been the previous year.