Lewis County Fiscal Court heard a presentation from Richard Nelson, policy analyst with Family Foundation of Kentucky, when the court met Monday morning.

Nelson told magistrates that his organization assists counties in bolstering their public decency laws in connection with controlling sexually-oriented adult businesses. For those counties lacking existing laws, such as Lewis County, his organization can help in developing an appropriate ordinance.

Even though this has not been a problem, Nelson explained that his organization urges counties to be pro-active in addressing the issue before it becomes a problem.

He pointed out that these businesses cannot be banned outright, but properly drafted ordinances can provide local control over their operation.

Nelson further noted that as more and more surrounding counties adopt these ordinances, Lewis County lacking any ordinance will become for attractive to these kinds of businesses due to the existence of the AA Highway.

The court was in general agreement to study the issue.

In connection with unfinished business from previous fiscal court meetings, magistrates had a lengthy discussion concerning how to allocate the $500,000 available to Lewis County from the state's bond funds for water and sewer projects.

Phil Kennedy, superintendent of the Electric Plant Board of the City of Vanceburg was on hand to press his request for $400,000 for a project currently in the works.

He said that the state did not fund the project this year, and he could not borrow the necessary funds from Rural Development without having $500,000 up front. He already has $170,000 for that purpose but asked for $400,000 of the $500,000 in order to apply for the loan needed to complete the job. Without it the utility company will have to wait another year to actually begin the work.

Magistrate Milt Stanfield said it didn't seem fair to him that a single project should get the largest part of the funds. He noted that a project in Garrison had requested $100,000 to continue extending water lines in that part of the county, and Western Lewis-Rectorville had also requested funds for a major project.

Magistrate Keith Chapman noted that there were three entities seeking a total of $800,000, but there's only $500,000 to go around.

"Everyone needs to put their cards on the table," he said. "If a 'fair' split keeps projects from completion [as a result of not enough money to go forward with a project], it's not really 'fair'."

Magistrate Todd Ruckel's opinion was that the best way would be "to allocate the funds to projects we know will go forward."

"It's the duty of the fiscal court to allocate funds in a way that projects will start," said Judge Executive Steve Applegate, "rather than divide the funds in such a way that there's not enough for anyone to start a project.

Stanfield made a motion to table the issue, noting that representatives from Western Lewis-Rectorville were not in attendance to defend their project. The motion failed for lack of a second.

Ruckel then made a motion to allocate $300,000 to the Electric Plant Board of the City of Vanceburg, and $100,000 each to the Garrison and Western-Lewis-Rectorville projects.

"I don't think it's fair to the people of Western Lewis Rectorville, but I'll go along with it," Stanfield said.

"It may not sound fair," Applegate said, "but we have to do what's fair for the county." The motion passed.

Amy Kennedy, from Buffalo Trace Area Development District, gave an update on the Lewis County Health Department Project.

She said $250,000 has been received from Rural Development and they are waiting on an additional $250,000 from ARC. The delay in the ARC funds is due to waiting for the new ARC commissioner to sign off on it.

In regards to the $1 million CDBG funds, Kennedy presented seven documents requiring fiscal court approval. County Attorney Clayton "Buddy" Lykins Jr. informed members of the court that the documents appeared to be in order. They were approved.

Crystal Gilliam from Adelphia Cable appeared and pointed out that the company's franchise agreement for the Tollesboro area will expire soon. She provided a copy of a proposed 10-year agreement.

Following some discussion regarding franchise fees, new state tax implications, length of franchise agreements and other issues, the court decided to table the matter until the June meeting.

In other business, the court approved:

*the first reading of the annual 2005-06 annual budget.

*the 2005-06 Lewis County Conservation District budget.

*a contract with the Rowan County Detention Facility.

*a resolution to approve the Lewis County Health Department tax rates.

*participation in the KACo Advance Revenue Program.

*a memorandum of agreement between the Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Election and Lewis County regarding upgrading the county's voting equipment.

*the appointment of John Blevins to a full time position with the Lewis County Road Department.

*a request for a $500 contribution for the Vanceburg-Lewis County July Celebration fireworks.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Lewis County Fiscal Court will be Monday, June 13, at 9:30 a.m., on the third floor of the Lewis County Courthouse.

By Dennis Brown

Meeting in regular session last week, the Lewis County Board of Education heard several reports on successful ventures in the local school system.

Superintendent Maurice Reeder Jr. said that the current success story was the science program at Lewis County High School.

Diane Johnson, Sapa Poppelman, Katie Blair, Shawna Voiers and David Grigson made a PowerPoint presentation and said the department is working together to improve science instruction at the school and to make the course more challenging each year.

Following the presentation, Reeder aid that the department has the support of the Central Office and also has high expectations from the Central Office.

Reeder announced that Tollesboro Elementary teacher Robin Ruggles was named as a WalMart Teacher of the Year and LCHS Principal Jendra Enix had been named a Phi Delta Kappa Administrator of the Year.

Reeder said the district's website had been named as the Kentucky State School Boards Association website of the month.

In an email from Jennifer Wohlieb, with KSBA, she stated that it is a well organized site with information arranged in easy to find sections. "The Lewis County Schools' website has a simple design, is attractive and easy to navigate," she wrote.

She noted that visitors can find the information they are looking for in just one or two clicks. The website address is www.lewis.k12.ky.us

Members also heard from Mike Kennedy, director of the Lewis County Boys and Girls Club.

Kennedy gave an overview of the operations at the club and noted that there are presently 475 members. He said programs run between 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. in a leased portion of the Clarksburg Christian Church.

He said some of the programs include dance, music, photography, karate and computers. He noted that there is a library on site and there is also an educational time for participants.

By Dennis Brown

The Vanceburg Electric Plant Board met in an abbreviated regular session last week and heard from Superintendent Phil Kennedy that the relocation of utilities near the Black Oak Industrial Park will happen soon.

He said that bids for relocating water and gas lines will be accepted within the next three or four weeks. He also said that electric line relocation will be a longer process and will likely happen this fall.

Kennedy said that Lewis County Fiscal Court had authorized $300,000 for the Phase IV project to expand water lines and would include repairs to a slip near the Salt Lick water storage tank.

He said that the budget for the next fiscal year was not yet complete and that the board may have to meet in special session to approve the budget before the fiscal year begins.

Board members authorized Kennedy to hire one or two workers for the summer to help in maintaining the utility company's properties.

The board went into executive session to discuss proposed or pending litigation and took no action on the matter when they returned to open session.