Roads Repaired, Renamed, Removed
Magistrate district for Jeff Cyphers, far right, explains the work done on Humphrey Hollow Road to the court at last Monday afternoon meeting. From the left are District 2 Magistrate Lane Cope, County Judge-Executive Luke King and District 3 Magistrate Larry Anderson.
By Greg Wells
CCN-editor
In this week’s actions of Cumberland County fiscal Court. It was announced that Humphrey Hollow Road repairs have been completed. At a recent special session, one road was removed after it had been closed, Skipper Lane in District 2.
Another road was renamed; Bobby Riddle Road was changed to Foresee Rd., at the request of property owners along that road.
Frank Murley Road, a 3.3-mile stretch of pavement off White Bottom Road, KY – 485, was proposed for removal and closure by landowners with property that fronts the road.
County Judge-Executive Luke King commented that it was always good to see fewer miles of road for County taxpayers to pay to maintain.
On the subject of maintaining roads, road supervisor Ricky Melton expressed appreciation for new equipment from the court and help from other county agencies and utilities and cleaning up trees down by wind. The budget amendment necessary to finalize leases on the already delivered backhoe and road grader was approved.
King told the court that the sale of one of the old backhoes had admitted the county $22,000. The court took the actions necessary to finalize that sale. King suggested selling a truck recently purchased by the county that has been out of service.
The court approved listing the truck for sale through the same online auction, with a reserve to be specified by the budget committee. The aim is to recoup what was paid for the vehicle.
Later in the meeting, Sheriff Keaton Williams told the court that his office has taken a 2012 Ford F-350 truck as evidence in a case. That vehicle has an altered vehicle identification number, VIN, he said.
Sheriff Williams explained that the Commonwealth’s Attorney gave his office the go-ahead to seize that vehicle, which the sheriff said could be transferred to the county’s Road Department.
Williams also had a vehicle to list as surplus, a Dodge patrol car, which she said would be sold by sealed bid.
In other vehicular news, District 2 Magistrate Lane Cope told the members of the court that a $10,000 grant had been received by the ambulance service, which the court voted to approve.
Also approved was the sheriff’s office purchase of a 2022 Dodge Durango for $32,500. Half of the funds to pay for that come from the sheriff’s budget, the other half from the county’s Alcoholic Beverage Control fees, which was approved by a vote of the court.
Without giving the specific percentages, the court approved assessing the compensating rate for property taxes this year. That rate is expected to collect $165,918. King pointed out that with new construction that means individuals’ tax payments for existing properties can be lower, depending on individual situations.
The Cumberland County Local Board of Health requested a 3.5% rate, the same as last year. With new construction and reevaluation through sale, that means the health department will have more money to operate this year than last, King explained.
Jeff Alexander, who chairs the board of supervisors for the Cumberland County Soil Conservation District, delivered his agency’s yearly report to the court.
Particularly pointed out was their new grant for dead animal removal, which the court expressed appreciation for.
The conservation District had a tax rate of 0.02% last year, which brought in just over $99,000, and if continued this year would bring in just over $103,000. The district has proposed raising that to 0.03% on real property, with no taxes on any other holdings, which would raise their revenues to just over $149,000.
The agency uses its revenues for local training and education, as well as equipment, available to local landowners and a multitude of cost-share programs for landowners. Therefore, the taxes assessed would be on those most likely to benefit from the agency’s programs.
There were staffing changes approved, in a fashion. Sadie Arterburn and Evan Stotts, both currently being paid under a state program as county interns, would be shifted to split the job already on the county ledger, grant administrator / solid waste coordinator.
Both interns received high praise from King. Cope and district 3 Magistrate, Larry Anderson, recused themselves in discussions of the interns related to them.
Named to the county’s opioid abatement commission were Kim Owsley, Keaton Williams, Casey Purdue and Tracey Daniels.
