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Licking Valley Courier - 1.30.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: We now turn to the Licking Valley Courier to bring
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new news from end and around West Liberty. Your reader
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today is Janice. We begin with the addition dated Thursday,
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January twenty ninth, twenty twenty six. As a reminder, RADIOI
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is reading service intended for people who are blond or
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have other disabilities that make it difficult to read printed material.
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Our first article is Licking Valley ri CC appoints John
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May new General Manager CEO. Campton resident is a longtime
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employee of the Electric cooperative. Licking Valley Rule Electric Cooperative
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has announced the appointment of John May of Campton as
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the co op's new General manager SLASH. CEO. May replaces
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Carrie Howard of Sailorsville, who retired December thirty first, twenty
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twenty five, after serving twenty one years in the post.
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It is an announcement of May's appointment. The co ops
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Board of Directors wrote, Licking Valley Rule Electric Cooperative is
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proud to announce John May as a new General Manager
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and CEO. John has been part of the Licking Valley
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RICC family for many years, serving as a director, member
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of management team, and now as CEO. His broad experience
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across member services, operations, communications and technology give him a
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deep understanding of our cooperative and the members we serve.
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John is committed to be responsible stewardship, reliable electric service,
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affordable rates, and clear communication. We look forward to this
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leadership as we continue to strengthen our cooperative in serving
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our communities together. You may also recognize John from his
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volunteer work as chief of the Wolfe County Search and
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Rescue Team. For over twenty three years. He has volunteered
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his time and skills to saving lives across the Great Commonwealth.
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Our next article is scenes from the Winter Storm Fern.
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And there is one it's an overlooking West Liberty from
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Oscar Lane and it is a beautiful scene of snow
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covered West Liberty. And one below it is there is
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a County road crew on Centerville Road and it shows
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the truck with the plow in front of it going
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down the road. And then the next one is just
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a wintery scene of a road and the road is
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snow covered and the trees are beginning to ice over.
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Photographs courtesy of Sheriff Greg Motley. Winter Storm Fern brings snow,
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ice and bitterly cold temperatures by Miranda mr Winter winter
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Storm Fern brought significantly less snow and more ice than
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expected to a large portion of the state over the weekend.
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Preparations for the storm began last week and meteorologists predicting
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that several inches of snow would begin falling last Saturday
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into Sunday ahead of the bitterly cold temperatures. As warmer
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air pushed north, numerous counties across southern and eastern Kentucky
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saw diminished snow totals and a coating of eyes by
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Sunday morning. Several local residents reported approximately two inches of
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snow on social media. On Judge Executive Jim Gayze indicated
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that many areas had received at least a quarter of
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an inch of eyes. The Judge Executive noted in a
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January twenty sixth statement to The Courier that slippery conditions
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coupled with high temperatures in the team and low in
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the single digits, hindered the county snow and ice removal operations.
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Winter Storm Fern hasn't hit us with the same force
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as the twenty twenty five ice storm, but it's still
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made plowing and ice removal painfully slow. The temperatures are
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working against us. Once we're down around twenty degrees over low,
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salt simply won't do its job. Our crews are pushing hard,
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but when the ice won't break and the salt won't
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melt it, every mile of road becomes a fight. Unfortunately,
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with temperatures staying well below freezing for most of the
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week and more snow and bitter cold in the forecast,
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we're not out of the woods yet. Nothing melts at
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these temperatures, and every new round of precipitation just adds
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to the challenge. Leaking Valley RICC officials reported a total
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of nine hundred and fifty five electric outages in their
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multi county service area, with four hundred and forty five
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being recorded in Morgan County. A post of the Licking
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Valley recC Facebook page indicated that there was an outage
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off the Crockett substation on Sunday morning. Travis Stacy, manager
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and administrative of the Corporate Services of Licking Valley RICC,
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issued the following statement to the Courier on January twenty six.
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We know the weather seemed bad and it was, but overall,
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Licking Valley RICC feels like it dodged a bullet with fern.
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We appreciate members patients. It was a tough traveling to
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these outages and still poses a problem with the remaining outages.
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Licking Valley RICC is sending crews to the Tri County
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Electric Cooperative to assist with their restoration efforts. It's always
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nice to support our sister cooperatives in times of needs.
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They have always been there for us. Stacy said on
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January twenty seventh that power had been restored to all
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Licking Valley RICC co Op members. Mayor Kyle Risner reported
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that there were no known electric outages in the city
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of West Liberty, which is served by Kentucky Power. I
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would like to thank all of our city, county, and
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state road crews, law enforcement first responders, and nine to
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one one dispatchers who have been working around the clock
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to keep our roads clear and to keep everyone safe
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during the storm, Risner said during the January twenty seventh interview.
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The continued weather conditions prompted closures of the local schools,
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city and county government offices, serving several and several businesses
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on Monday and Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to remain below
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freezing as Arctic air will continue to impact the area
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through this weekend. Our next article is Menifee County Judge
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Executive addresses Morgan Fiscal Court at January twenty second meeting.
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Questions arise regarding roads covered in two thousand and five
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agreement between Menifee Morgan Fiscal Courts, Wellness Center policies, several
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other topics discussed. The Morgan County Fiscal Court heard an
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address from Menifee County Judge Executive Hector F. Alcala regarding
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road maintenance issues in a remote area of Morgan County
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near the Menifee line. Judge Ikala's address and discussion prefaced
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his remarks by thanking the court members for the opportunity
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to represent a group of Morgan County residents whose homes
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and other properties must be assessed via Menifee County roads.
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Akala told court members that in two thousand and five,
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Morgan and Menifee Fiscal Courts signed a mutual enter local
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agreement regarding road maintenance, snow and ice removal, and emergency
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services for residents on twenty seven roads totaling eighteen point
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zero five four miles in what he referred to as
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the Morgan View area. Those roads which run through both
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Morgan and Menifee Counties located in the districts of Morgan
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County Magistrate Brandon Evans and Menefee County Magistrate Rick Blair.
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Are as follows Eaton Road, Hoop Road, Craft Road, Why
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and Then Row Eban Row, Whitees, Brans Road, Craft Cemetery Road, Camp,
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Judy Lane Road, Whipplewell Lane, Ryan's Road, Ivy Lane, Miller Road,
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Long Ridge Road, Long Spur Road, Coon Creek Road, gold
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Perce Cemetery Road, Coon Creek Spur, Montgomery Road, Higgins Cemetery Road,
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Wendy Ridge Road, Hickrey Lane, Leed Runner Lane, Easy Street,
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Keith Sloop Road, Arrow Drive, Tilley's Lane, and Jack's Drive
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and Lane Road. Al Cayla distributed copies of the two
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thousand and five agreement regarding the above mentioned roads as
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signed by former Morgan County Judge Executive Tim Conley and
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former Menafee County Judge Executive J. D. Tremble, and out
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details the arrangement. Specifically, the understanding was clear and balanced.
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Our Kala said Morgan County would retain responsibility for road maintenance,
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including rock and maintaining the road surface where necessary. Menifee
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County would provide snow and ice removal services and apply
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AsSalt limited strictly to the black top roads. This arrangement
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ensured continuity of access for residents while respecting the operational
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and financial boundaries of both counties. Additionally, Menifee County's responsibilities
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as per the agreement include the following. Menefee County shall
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be responsible for the maintenance, snow and ice removal and
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mowing of roadsides of county roads in the provision of
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emergency services nine to one one addressing fire, police ambulance
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service in the Camp Judy, Lane White's Branch, Morgan View
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Coon Creek areas of Morgan County whose residents are currently
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accessible only through Menifee County. Menifee County will keep the
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current tax revenues received by the Menifee County PVA from
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the Morgan County residents in the Camp Judy Lane White's
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Branch Morgan View Coon Creek area of Morgan County, provided
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Menefee County agrees to provide the services to these residents
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is listed above. Judge i Kala told the court that
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he was seeking assurance that Morgan County Fiscal Court still
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recognizes the agreement as active and valid. Menifee County remains
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committed to honoring its role under this agreement, just as
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it had in the past. Our Kala said, we respectively
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seek confirmation that Menefee County intends to do the same.
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Minifee County stands ready to continue working alongside Morgan County
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in a manner that honors this agreement and most importantly
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serves the people who depend on us. Judge i Kala
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told the court that Minifee County Magistrate Rick Blair and
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several residents of the area were in attendance, before noting
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that some roads in the areas needed a little rock.
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Morgan County Judge Executive Jim Gazey told the audience that
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the road crew had been in the vicinity of late
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He also noted that he is actively seeking funds to
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blacktop roads on both sides of the county line, which
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Judge al Kala confirmed. Some residents stated that they attempted
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to contact Morgan County Magistrate Brandon Evans over a period
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of several years dating back to previous administrations, but had
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not been able to reach him. Additionally, one resident said
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that the administrative staff in the Morgan County Judge Executive's
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office had indicated to him that his road is in
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Menifee County responsibility. Another resident inquired about the possibility of
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the area in question being transferred to Menifee County. I
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understand why you wouldn't have any interest in us, the
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resident said. If you don't own us, then give us
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to Menifee County. The resident statement prompted Judge Gaysey to
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ask County Attorney Miles Holbrook what such a process would involve.
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John Crouch, a former resident former resident of Morgan County
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currently living in Menifee County, told the court that he
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had spoken to a former Menifee County judge executive about
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the matter approximately twenty years ago. Herschel Sexton was judge
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in Menefee at the time and Tim Conley was judge
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over here. Crouch said, two thirds of all votes in
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Morgan County have to vote to allow to annex Minifee County,
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and two thirds of all Menifee voters must agree to
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accept it so the tax dollars can switch over to
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change the county lines. Judge Gayz clarify that the residents
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of that area already paid taxes in Minifee County as
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per the two thousand and five agreement previously outlined in
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this report. Right now, I think most of the tax
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dollars are going to Minified, Gaizy said, But the people
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are voting in Morgan County where they really have no representation.
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An area resident confirmed that he does pay taxes in
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Minifee County. Before requesting that Judge Gayzy and Judge al
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Kla come together to seek a solution to the issue.
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Judge Gayzy concurred, we will. Gayzey said, I think this
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says something that the two judges need to get together
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on and get with legislatures and get this to a
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vote like John Crouch is talking about, and to get
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this moving. Me and Judge Alkalo will work on this.
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I promise you that I think the whole thing to
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fixing this is to move it to Menifee County. This
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agreement was fine maybe back in the day, but we
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need to move forward with this and move it in
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another direction. Even Morgan magistrip Brandon Evans agrees with me
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he will work on this with us too. I'm sure
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Menefee magistrip Rick Blair will as well. We will get
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together with the powers that be and bring Morgan County
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Attorney Miles Holbrook in on it as well as to
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make sure nothing has changed in twenty years since the
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agreement was signed. A residence inquired as to whether Morgan
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County would supply rock for roads in that area until
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such vote could take place, with Judge Gayz affirming that
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the Road Department would continue providing rock after the forecasted
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winter storm. Judge gay Ze also reiterated that such a
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measure regarding county boundaries would be decided by residents on
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both counties on an election ballot, not by the fiscal courts.
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Another com pardon me. Another resident told Judge Gayz that
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he had purchased a property in the area in twenty
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twelve and that he had never seen a Morgan County
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truck on his roads since that time. Well, truthfully, when
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I came into office in twenty twenty three, I really
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didn't know anything about the whole area, Gayzy said. I
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didn't know it really even existed. We all agreed this
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issue is a problem and we're going to go after
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it aggressively. The Wellness Center policy. In other news, Judge
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Gayzy read a letter at request of the Wellness Center
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Director Nathan Bowman, regarding a proposal to lower the age
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limit at the wellness center fourteen years of age. Current
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Wellness Center policy, which was adopted by the Court in
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twenty twenty three, restricts persons under sixteen years of age
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from entering the upstairs exercise and walking track area due
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to insurance concerns in ongoing damages to equipment. Bowman's retter
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leads reads as follows, your Judge, Executive and members of
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the Physical Court, I respectfully submit this letter for consideration
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an approval of a proposed policy governing youth access to
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the upstairs area of the Morgan County Wellness Center. I
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respectfully request that, if possible, this matter be placed on
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the agenda for an upcoming Morgan County Fiscal Court meeting
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for discussion and action. Under the proposed policy, children fourteen
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years of age and under shall be required to be
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accompanied by responsible adults at all times while in the
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upstairs facilities. Additionally, small children shall be prohibited from using
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the equipment located in the upstairs area, such as equipment
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is intended for older adults and may present safety risk.
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Wellness Center staff will actively monitor and enforce this policy
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to ensure compliance, promote safety, and maintain an orderly and
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enjoyable environment for all parties patrons. I'm sorry. This policy
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is intended to balance family access with safety, proper supervision,
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and appropriate use of facility equipment. Staff shall apply the
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policy consists and promptly address any violations or concerns. Thank
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you for your time and consideration. Please do not hesitate
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to contact the Wellness center should additional information be required.
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Respectfully Submitted Nathan Bowman, Morgan County Wellness Center. Court members
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expressed favorable opinions of Bowman's proposal, but tabled any decision
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until the current policy can be modified. Bill Bid Openings
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and Award Judge Gaysey opened the following bids for FEMA
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projects on war Creek and Rosebery Roads. War Creek Road
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SL one construction of Sathersville thirty four thousand, nine hundred
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and six dollars and S and M construction of West
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Liberty twenty seven thousand, three hundred and fifty five dollars
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padded construction of Morehead thirty three thousand dollars. Rosebery Road
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sl One Construction twenty eight thousand, three hundred and ninety
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two dollars and twenty five cents scent M Contracting fifty
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six thousand dollars, Pettit Construction fifty four thousand, three hundred
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twelve dollars. During an extensive discussion for the bids, court
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members express concerns about the significantly lower estimate of SL
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one for Rosebery Road as compared to those from the
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other bidders. On a motion that was made by Magistrate
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Tommy Fannin and second tit by Magistrict Eric Palfrey, the
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Court unanimously voted to award contracts for both roads to
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S and M Construction mcclana Helen Hill. Magistrict Tommy Fannon
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told the court that he had received a phone call
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from mcclallen Hill Road resident Tommy Cox who in acquired
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about the court change of the name of the road.
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I said, I didn't know we had, Fannin said, with
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Judge Gaizy, who stating that he was not aware of
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a name change. Magistrip Fanning continued, Road Department Foreman Shaan
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Ratlin showed me on his map that it does say
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wits Cemetery Road, but you drive up there and pull
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Google up on your phone and it says Mclellahn Hill Road.
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So I don't know what happened or where the Wits
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Cemetery Road came from. Road Department Foreman Sean Ratliffe told
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the court that all of his maps, as well as
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digital maps from the Kentucky Department of Transportation, lists the
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road as Wits Cemetery Road. Majustrip Fannin told the court
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that the sign for Wits Cemetery Road had been placed,
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but note that Google Maps and the US Coastal Service
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still lists the area as mclella Han Hill Road, before
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noting concerns about the address changes and possible confusion for
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emergency services personnel. Judge Gayze inquired as to how the
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road was listed in the nine to one one system,
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before telling Cox that he and his staff would correct
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the issue. I don't know what you're wanting to change it.
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Why caught it? I don't know what you're wanting to
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change it for, Cox said, before Ratliffe began clarified that
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he had seen Whits Cemetery Road listing on State Transportation
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Cabinet map. Judge Gaysey told Cox again that the Road
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Department would replace the Mcallahan Hill Road signed before stating,
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as he has in previous meetings, that several similar issues
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with road names listing have merged in recent years. Ratliffe
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did not do anything intentional, Gaysey said during an exchange
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with Cox. He just saw something listed in the system
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that said Whit Road and was just doing what he
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thought was right. There's no conspiracy here. Cox continued to
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dispute statements regarding maps, prompting Sheriff Greg Motley to show
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Cox a nine to one one map listing for what
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Whit Cemetery Road on his cell phone. Additional discussion issued
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between Cox, Sheriff Motley, and Judge Gaysey before the judge
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stated that the discrepancy was likely due to an era
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in the nine to one one system and reiterated that
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he and his staff would correct the issue. Just now,
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we will go into nine one one and fix it
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and that will be the end of it, Gayzy said.
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Opioid Settlement Funds. County Treasurer Sheena Easternly discussed the recent
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guidance regarding applications for the National Opioid Settlement Funds, of
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which the county currently has been available, has an available
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fund balance totaling forty five than one hundred seventy eight
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dollars and thirty four cents. Easternly Fiddled fielded questions from
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Sheriff Greg Motley and former Pardoning former Eastern Kentucky Correctional
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Complex Warden David Green and also a Republican candidate for
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Judge executive regarding what organizations and agencies are aliible to
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receive opioid settlement funds and cited past projects that were
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funded with those moneies. County Attorney requests salary increase before
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a German County Atorney Miles. Holbrook stated that he wished
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to address the court regarding the salary increase every four
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years that Kentucky revised statutes allow elected officials to ask
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to raid for a raise. Holbrook said that after noting
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that though he had previously asked for raises for his employees,
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he had never requested increased compensation for himself, Holbrook told
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the court that the County attorney's salary for three terms
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and those of his predecessors, Jolene Frederick and Steve O'Connor,
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has remained the same at approximately sixteen thousand dollars per year. Additionally,
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Holbrook indicated that this amount could have possibly dated back
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to O'Connor predecessor Eddie Keaton, whose salary was unable to verify.
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I currently make fifteen four hundred dollars, Holbrook said, so
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I think it's time to kind of modernize what we
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pay the county attorney's position. I do spend approximately sixty
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percent of my time as attorney handling county related issues.
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I think that's all county employees and officials deserve a
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lot more than we're making. But the fact that are
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but the facts are that we do live in eastern Kentucky.
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I am a team player and I don't want to
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put us in a bad situation. So I think it's
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fair for me to ask for fifty thousand dollars a
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year plus consumer pricing index each year. I can guarantee
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that I plan on being here for a very long
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time and you won't see me again. In regard to
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this issue, I think that would put me closer to
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some of my colleagues in other counties. Mangistrate Eric Pelfrey
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concurred that Holbrook is way underpaid as compared to other
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county attorneys, while Judge Gayzy noted that fifty thousand dollars
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is about average for other counties the size of Morgan County.
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Magistrate Brandon Evans and Tommy Fannin noted that the upcoming
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budget will be tight, though Judge Gayzy and all magistrips
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concurred they would take Holbrook's request into consideration during budgeting process.
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We're all in agreement and we've got to do something
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for you, Gayzy. Wholebrook concluded remarks by thanking the court
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members for their support of the County Attorney's office through
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the years. The meeting minutes and unofficial listing of all
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the items approved during the January twenty second meeting can
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be found elsewhere in this edition. This concludes the excerpts
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from the recent edition of The Licking Valley Courier. Your
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reader has been Channis on behalf of everyone here at RAINIO.
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I thank you for listening, keep on listening, and I
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hope you have a very good day.