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Robertson fire chief scraps tax district idea
By BETTY COUTANT - Staff Writer
MOUNT OLIVET - Robertson County residents can soon expect to receive a bill for fire services, magistrates learned Friday.
Robertson County Fire Chief Larry Burden said the volunteer fire service has abandoned plans to seek a fire taxing district and has chosen to send county residents a "membership fee" notice instead.
"If you slap a tax on a ballot without explaining it, it's got a slim chance of passing," Burden said.
The move is allowable under Kentucky law, Burden said, and the $50 annual fee will supply needed money to run the fire department.
Anyone who refuses to pay the fee will be charged should the fire department respond to their home, business or land.
"If they don't pay a fee we will charge for runs," Burden said. He said he anticipates the fee for responding to a grass fire to be $500.
"We operate on about $10,000 a year and $8,100 comes from the state and that's just not enough," Burden said.
Fire department volunteers have begun working on state first responder certification to provide better emergency medical care to county residents. The move was made necessary when the county lost its Certificate of Need in September and divided ambulance coverage between Bracken and Nicholas counties.
Although the fiscal court was not involved in the move, many magistrates supported the idea.
"I tell you what, it's worth $50 a year just to see them coming when you need them," Magistrate David Conley said.
County Attorney Jesse Melcher said it would be advisable for the fire department to set up a board to handle the funds.
In other business, the court heard the first reading of an ordinance that will require certain county residents to tap on to the sewer project currently under way in the city.
The $2 million project will likely be funded entirely through grants, should the bids for the project come in as expected, Buffalo Trace Area Development District Economic Development Director Doug Padgett said.
Residents who are not considered low income will be forced to pay a $300 tap-on fee and install electricity and plumbing from their home or business to the pump grinder which will be located near the structure.
People who sign on later will likely be charged between $2,000 and $3,000 just to tap on, Padgett said.
Current plans call for 62 county residents who live outside city limits, but more may be added should funds remain at the end of the project, Padgett said. Added customers would have to request being added to the project, he said.
Magistrate Terry Norris asked that language be added to the ordinance disallowing adding any more customers beyond the plan without fiscal court approval.
The court will hold the second reading at the April 18 meeting.
In other business, the court:
Heard a request from Nancy and Charles North concerning the possibility of the county taking ownership of Kentontown Church in order to supply liability insurance under the county's blanket plan.
Melcher said there are five "potential entities" that could claim ownership of the property. A deed could not be found, he said. The Masonic Lodge, Kentontown Church board, cemetery board and members of the Harding and Tilton families would have to sign off on the deal, should it go forward, he said.
Tourism Director Bob Clements said the church would "complete the tour circle" the commission is planning. The move would also allow the county and tourism commission to apply for grants to renovate the structure.
The bottom floor of the church may have been built in the early 1800s, between 1815 and 1830, the North's said.
Learned a doctors group represented by Dr. Harold Marksbury plans to meet Monday concerning locating a part time office in Mount Olivet. Judge-Executive Bradley Gifford said he will call a special meeting to discuss plans with the doctors should they show interest.
Discussed the possibility of a joint meeting between the city, county and library board concerning the old library building on Walnut Street. The original agreement called for the property to revert back to city/county ownership should it no longer house a library. A grant received by the school district calls for the building to be used as a learning center. Grant moneys will be used to pay $12,000 a year in rent. Magistrates felt that money should come to the county and city.
Agreed to seek an attorney general's opinion concerning the possibility of extending the hotel bed tax to campsites at Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park.
Voted to have a collection container brought to the county road department to collect old tires during Commonwealth Clean-up Week which begins today.
Robertson County Fire Chief Larry Burden said the volunteer fire service has abandoned plans to seek a fire taxing district and has chosen to send county residents a "membership fee" notice instead.
"If you slap a tax on a ballot without explaining it, it's got a slim chance of passing," Burden said.
The move is allowable under Kentucky law, Burden said, and the $50 annual fee will supply needed money to run the fire department.
Anyone who refuses to pay the fee will be charged should the fire department respond to their home, business or land.
"If they don't pay a fee we will charge for runs," Burden said. He said he anticipates the fee for responding to a grass fire to be $500.
"We operate on about $10,000 a year and $8,100 comes from the state and that's just not enough," Burden said.
Fire department volunteers have begun working on state first responder certification to provide better emergency medical care to county residents. The move was made necessary when the county lost its Certificate of Need in September and divided ambulance coverage between Bracken and Nicholas counties.
Although the fiscal court was not involved in the move, many magistrates supported the idea.
"I tell you what, it's worth $50 a year just to see them coming when you need them," Magistrate David Conley said.
County Attorney Jesse Melcher said it would be advisable for the fire department to set up a board to handle the funds.
In other business, the court heard the first reading of an ordinance that will require certain county residents to tap on to the sewer project currently under way in the city.
The $2 million project will likely be funded entirely through grants, should the bids for the project come in as expected, Buffalo Trace Area Development District Economic Development Director Doug Padgett said.
Residents who are not considered low income will be forced to pay a $300 tap-on fee and install electricity and plumbing from their home or business to the pump grinder which will be located near the structure.
People who sign on later will likely be charged between $2,000 and $3,000 just to tap on, Padgett said.
Current plans call for 62 county residents who live outside city limits, but more may be added should funds remain at the end of the project, Padgett said. Added customers would have to request being added to the project, he said.
Magistrate Terry Norris asked that language be added to the ordinance disallowing adding any more customers beyond the plan without fiscal court approval.
The court will hold the second reading at the April 18 meeting.
In other business, the court:
Melcher said there are five "potential entities" that could claim ownership of the property. A deed could not be found, he said. The Masonic Lodge, Kentontown Church board, cemetery board and members of the Harding and Tilton families would have to sign off on the deal, should it go forward, he said.
Tourism Director Bob Clements said the church would "complete the tour circle" the commission is planning. The move would also allow the county and tourism commission to apply for grants to renovate the structure.
The bottom floor of the church may have been built in the early 1800s, between 1815 and 1830, the North's said.
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