Published: August 14, 2007 03:51 pm            

ATV ordinance dies without any action

Monticello — An ordinance that would allow ATV's to be driven on county roads died

without any action, during a meeting of Wayne County Fiscal Court on

Thursday, August 9.

Magistrates heard the second reading of the ordinance, which would allow

licensed drivers to operate ATV's on county roads as long as they were

insured, had a head light and two tail lights, and followed all traffic

regulations. But no one made a motion in regard to the ordinance.

In fact, each of the magistrates outlined why he was not in favor of the

law.

District Two Magistrate Darrell Dishman, who originally brought the

petition to the court asking that ATV's be allowed to travel on county roads

in order to reach off-road trails, said he was opposed to the ordinance

because he did not want to burden riders with purchasing liability

insurance.

"I don't want to vote for anything that would make people get more

insurance," stated Dishman.

He said this would not benefit the people but it would benefit insurance

companies.

Dishman expressed his appreciation to all the people who attended the

public hearing held July 31 to comment on this proposal.

"We had a lot of good comments and I appreciate all of them," said

Dishman.

He added that as far as he was concerned "this is a dead issue."

District Three Magistrate Dale Vaughn said he was opposed to this

ordinance from the first day he learned about it. But he said he wanted to

keep and open mind and listen to those who voiced an opinion.

With Kentucky leading the nation in ATV deaths right now, Vaughn said he

was afraid the numbers would skyrocket with an ordinance like this.

"I would have voted no, if it had come to a vote," stated Vaughn.

District Four Magistrate Richard Munsey also said he was opposed to the

ordinance. He said he was concerned for the safety of ATV drivers, as well

as the county's liability if such an ordinance was passed.

"I would have voted no," said Munsey.

In other action during the meeting, the court agreed to increase its

monthly donation to the park from $2,800 to $3,200. County Judge-Executive

Greg Rankin said this increase had been included in the new fiscal year's

budget, but court action was required.

The increase is retroactive to July 1.

David Frost, with the Wayne County Rescue Squad addressed the court

during the meeting, asking that the county provide $25,000 in funding to the

organization in this fiscal year.

Frost said that last year, the county had given the Rescue Squad $25,000

and he understood that this level of funding would stay in place. So he said

he had built this year's budget around that figure, instead of the usual

$17,500 annual funding.

Rankin said that in researching minutes his staff could find where the

squad was given an additional $7,500, as a one-time lump sum donation. Frost

said that he agreed that is what the minutes reflected, but he stated that

he had also been told that the raise would remain in effect.

Frost asked that the court take his request into consideration.

In other action, the court:

* Approved the adoption of Lee Road into the county road system.

€ Approved the adoption of Mountain Laurel Way into the county road

system.

*Changed the name of Marlow Lane to Bass Circle and the Pueblo-Pilot

Rock Road to Big Sinking-Pilot Rock Road.

*Agreed to establish a separate bank account for CDBG grant funds for

the Otter Creek Facility.

*Agreed to advertise to remove the Tommy Dishman Road in District Two

from the county road system.

* Agreed to advertise to take 3/10 of a mile of the Gilbert Phelps Road

into the county road system.

* Agreed to advertise to take 1,200 feet of Sharon Drive into the county

road system.

*Heard a monthly report from Jailer Ray Upchurch who noted that the

total population at the Detention Center is 157, which includes 97 state

inmates and 60 county inmates. Upchurch noted that the county has billed a

total of $97,214.52 for housing inmates in July.

*Heard a monthly report from Solid Waste Coordinator Tim Bell, who noted

that white goods and large household items have been picked up at 60

households over the past month. Bell said that 176 bags of trash over 27.9

miles of road has been collected as part of litter abatement program.

*Heard a monthly report from EMS Director Bubby Corder who noted that

so far the ambulance service has answered 1,888 calls this year. He updated

the court on progress at the new EMS building. Corder said that the front

section has been framed in, and masonry work has started. As soon as the

metal is in, construction officials plan to being the garage section of the

building.

        

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