In Dec. 11 Issue
By Greg Wells
Times Journal managing Editor

The Airport board was awarded the $5,000 that was already in the fiscal budget, Beckham Wilson will keep his position on the Russell County Ambulance Board and county government is receiving more money than previously expected.

The magistrates were told that the airport has not been covered under the county's insurance, and an additional $2,180 bill had to be paid to protect the property and the county from possible claims.

The cost for the coming year will be over $3,000 and there are also costs for work on the specialized landing lights at the airport.

For those reasons magistrates said they voted to provide the money already set aside in the budget to help fund the airport operations.

Late in the meeting County Judge-Executive Mickey Garner told the court he had met privately with Jeff Hoover, the attorney for Beckham Wilson. Garner had been trying to remove Wilson from his position as chairman of the ambulance board.

Garner said Wilson will remain in his position on the board until his term expires or he resigns.

The Monday night meeting began with County Clerk Lisha Popplewell telling the court that her budget for next year would include nearly $100,000 over what had been budgeted this year.

In addition to that budget amendment for next year she asked for an amendment for this year's and she provided the county a check for and additional $100,000 for fees already collected in this budget year.

She said her staff's diligent work was the reason the county benefited from this windfall, explaining they "work like borrowed mules."

Sheriff Larry Bennett said the staff in his office had also been hard at work and about $4.5 million of the $7.6 million in tax bills had been collected already this year.

He said the check for over $363,240 would be presented to the county in the morning.

County Coroner Larry Skaggs reported to the court that the rescue squad leadership was not in favor of building on to their building to house a mobile morgue, and suggested another site on that same property.

Skaggs was told by Garner that the county would advertise for bids for construction of a 24' by 30' building to house the mobile morgue, the coroner's vehicle and an office for the coroner.

A request by the regional animal shelter for more money was tabled until the next meeting. The request was for the county to contribute $28,800 a year instead of the $27,200 under the present agreement.

After questions from the magistrates Garner said he would request more information about what the additional funds would be used for, aside from "raises."

Eddie Moore of the Lake Cumberland State Resort Park along with James Flatt of the Indian Hills KOA and Alligator II Marina, were both appointed to the Hotel Motel Board.

Kim Byrom was appointed as the chamber of commerce's representative to the tourism board.

The magistrates also approved paying half of the cost of Internet connection at the senior citizens center. Garner said the City of Russell Springs had agreed to pay the other half and the school district had supplied computers to use in teaching seniors about the Internet.

The county's cost will be just over $200 per year for that service.