Melodie Phelps, News Editor
CNHI
8-25-10 — Wayne County has joined other counties around the Lake Cumberland area in approving a resolution asking for congressional support for the Lake Cumberland Economic Security Plan. The resolution was approved during a meeting of the Wayne County Fiscal Court on Thursday, August 12.
The plan is the result of a task force organized by Governor Steve Beshear, as a way to help lake communities who have been negatively impacted economically by the lowering of Lake Cumberland.
Wayne County Judge-Executive Greg Rankin noted that it is similar to a resolution previously passed by the court. By approving this effort, Rankin and other county officials hope that some sort of economic help will be made available to offset the loss in tourism dollars.
Also during the meeting, the court approved a request to allow the hospital to use equity in their facility to collateralize a $622,000 no interest Rural Development loan. Wayne County Hospital CEO John Osborne addressed the court regarding the request.
He noted that the loan will be used to purchase more efficient boilers for the hospital. Part of the project will also include lighting fixtures in the building. This is a 10 year loan, according to Osborne.
The hospital is owned by the county but is leased to Wayne County Hospital, Inc., which actually operates the facility.
Several residents of the Monticello Loop Subdivision attended last week's meeting to voice concerns bout their road. Residents contend that it needs to be widened for safety reasons. They said they would also like to see it blacktopped.
Rankin said that he would have a crew from the road department come out and take a look at the road. He added that widening the road is something that can be done fairly soon. But he said he is unwilling to promise that it will be blacktopped right now.
Rankin added that the road is among those being considered for blacktopping in the latest round of funding, but that final decisions have not yet been made.
The court received two bids for the purchase of additional recycling trailers. Kentucky Recycling Trailers and Pro-Tainers both submitted bids for the trailers, which will be purchased through grant funding.
Pro-Tainers had the lowest bid, but the court wanted to make sure that the trailer met the bid specifications. Magistrates authorized purchasing the lowest bid that met the specifications.
In other action, the court:
• Approved the adoption of Betsey Lane into the county road system.
• Heard a monthly report from Jailer Ray Upchurch who noted that the population at the Detention Center totaled 200 inmates, including 103 county inmates and 97 state inmates. For the month of July, the county has billed a total of $94,666.44 for housing inmates.
• Heard a monthly report from Solid Waste Coordinator Tim Bell who noted that white goods had been collected at 89 households last month bringing the total for the year to 590. Recyleable sales netted $5,002.72 last month, bringing the total this year to $27,349.90. Bell also said that 30,493 tires were collected through the Tire Amnesty Program.