SEPTEMBER 21. 2016
Click pic for video clips of September meeting
LOUISA, Ky. — Yesterday’s Lawrence County Fiscal Court meeting was a smorgasbord of issues including the setting of the new tax rates for property owners. Judge /Executive John Osborne noted that all of the county’s taxing districts had decided to accept the state’s “compensating” tax rate this year and give taxpayers a slight break — except the school board.
Osborne said the compensating rate is designed to make sure the government has as much funding in real time as it did the year before and this year Lawrence County’s appraisal of property was higher than last, so the rate of taxation dropped from 52 cents on the dollar to 47 meaning the county would opt for the lower compensating rate and still have as much money to work with as it did last year adjusting for inflation.
So, even the county library which has usually set its rate at the highest possible, accepted the compensating rate. The rates will be formally accepted in a special meeting on Sept. 30 at 10:00 pm at the big courtroom. Sheriff Garrett Roberts said this should allow him to get the tax bills out by the first week of October which will give taxpayers the option of getting a 2% deduction for paying early between Oct. 1 and Nove. 1 and the regular rate until Jan. 1.
But taxes were not the only issue at the meeting, attended by all magistrates, the county judge/Executive, Sheriff, Clerk and County Attorney as District 4 Constable Billy Lemaster approached the court asking for their approval for him to purchase blue lights for his vehicle so that he could make arrests when he needed to.
“I pay for my own gas and insurance (except liability while on the job) and I’m not asking the court for anything except the right to install blue lights,” Lemaster said. He explained that he has all the powers that the county sheriff has as a constable but he cannot carry out his duties without a way to stop lawbreakers. He also informed the court, and Sheriff Roberts agreed, that he has arrest powers throughout the county and not just in his district. he can serve warrants, and other legal documents and collect from those who need such work done like banks, savings and loans and others.
Lemaster, who collects no paycheck from the county, also added that District 1 Constable Paul Wells is already equipped with blue lights and performs some of the duties he is talking about. Wells is a former sheriff’s deputy in Lawrence County.
After a lengthy discussion the court unanimously voted to allow Lemaster to install blue lights but did not grant any other funding to him or his office. Magistrate John J. lemaster reminded the court that a lot of counties in more populated areas of Kentucky use Constables much like deputy sheriffs but Roberts said he does not need the assistance of the Constables in Lawrence County. He said it just takes away funds from his office which is paid for by fees. (See Lazer video wrap up of meeting).
Another large chunk of the hour long meeting centered on a proposed ordinance to stop overweight trucks from damaging county roads at a time when there is little money to repair roads to be had. Even though two of the magistrates are personally involved in the logging and trucking business, the discussion was moderate and no voices were raised.
Magistares Earl Boggs and Morris Howard own and operate heavy trucks and magistrate John J. Lemaster operates heavy equipment so they know first hand the problems of small business and the trucking industry.
After trying to figure out what to do about stopping the damage, the court agreed to do nothing at the meeting and instead tabled the issue until a later time. “We don’t want to adopt an ordinance that would put the small local truckers and loggers out of business,we need all the business we can get right now.” Howard said.
You can hear and see the discussion on our lazer video wrap up elsewhere on this page.
In other business the court:
* Unanimously Accepted Lawrence County Public Library tax rate (Carlie Hillman) The library rate is set at the compensting rate as are all other taxing districts in Lawrence County except the school system.
* Unanimously Approved 2016 Motor Vehicle & Watercraft Property Tax rate
* Unanimously voted to allow Clerk Chris Jobe to advertise for bids on 2 Bridges at Little Cat Fork and West Brown Rd.
* Unanimously Approved the insurance switch from Boyce & Associates to Kaco Benefits Group effective October 1, 2016. County worker committee member Pam Taylor said the policy still includes the family option for employees but the cost has risen significantly. She said if she paid for a family plan out of her check she would have only get $220 left every two weeks.
* Unanimously voted to Appoint Michelle Miller to Northeast Community Action Agency Bd
Public Comments;
* The court heard from Susie New concerning the company she works for building cabins at the Yatesville Beach location owned by the county. The court unanimously approved the deal but on the recommendation of county attorney Mike Hogan changed to wording to say they must build at least three cabins of a certain size within the year’s lease. If they fail to do so the property, located along the road beside the county beach property, it will revert back to the county. Ms. New said that was no problem because her company has plans for cabins and other structures for the property that, under the deal agreed to at the meeting, allows them to use the property free of charge.
* Mattie property owner Lloyd Moore appeared at the meeting to ask the court to approve placing milling material on the Mattie Road to repair pot holes and to keep the ditches pulled. Moore said he leased the property for the road to the county almost 40 years ago with the understanding the road would be kept in passable condition. He handed the court a petition with 79 names signed on it asking for proper maintenance of Mattie Road.Osborne reminded Mr. Moore that the county has done considerable work in the sparsley populated area and now has a gravel surface. He said the cost of the milling material is about $10,000 per mile and court cannot afford it at the present time.
* District 2 Magistrate Rick Blackburn asked the court to consider sidewalks “on the Point Section” so that residents don’t have to walk up and down in the middle of the road. The area has grown in recent years and there is a lot of foot traffic, Blackburn said. Residents of the Point section had steadfastly refused to be annexed into the Louisa city limits because they do not want to pay city property taxes so the city cannot build the sidewalks. There was no action taken.
Adjourn
