Meeting in regular session Monday, June 6, the Vanceburg City Council took routine measures to deal with the current budget and the budget for fiscal year 2005-2006.

After giving an ordinance second reading the council adopted it, amending the budget for 2004-2005 to show unanticipated revenue of $250,000 from the sale of the properties housing Northern Contours to Norcon Holding, LLC.

The real estate transaction increased the total estimated General Fund revenues for last fiscal year from $1,019,052 to $1,269,052 and increased the appropriations for contingencies from $9,764.50 to $259,764.50.

Vanceburg Mayor William T. "Bill Tom" Cooper gave his annual budget address.

He said, "In the 2005-2006 budget I've given the Police Department and the Street and Sanitation Department a raise along with the City Clerk and the Fire Chief.

"In the General Fund I've placed $250,000 for the restoration of the Commercial Hotel, and $200,000 for the Downtown Streetscape, and $50,000 for the city matching portion of the Streetscape.

"In the Sanitation and Street Fund I've placed $55,000 for the building of a new maintenance building. In the Street Fund we have received $32,000 from the State of Kentucky. I've added $3,000 more for a total of $35,000 for the resurfacing of streets within the city.

"In the Sanitation Fund I have received $7,436 from Area Development funds and added $3,000 more for a total of $10,436 to purchase a used truck for the Sanitation Department.

"In the General Fund I have placed $50,000 to be included with the $550,000 CD that we presently have for a total of $600,000 which is what we had when I became mayor.

"In the General Fund we have a contingency of $111,906 and a contingency of $16,167 in the Sanitation Department."

After the mayor's budget message, City Attorney E.V. Holder Jr. gave the ordinance establishing the budget a second reading, and the council promptly adopted the ordinance.

The budget for 2005-2006 is divided into three funds: the General Fund, the Hydro Fund and the Sanitation Fund.

The budget shows that the total estimated revenues for the General Fund come to $1,370,767. For the Hydro Fund that total is $50,000, and for the Sanitation Fund it is $137,956.

Appropriations for the General Fund show $357,755 for general government; $307,030 for the Police Department; $32,565 for the Fire Department; $93,980 for streets; and $579,437 for community development.

Holder then gave the oath of office to two new firefighters. Andy Clark and Derick Stone took that oath before the city council.

The council then gave Cooper the authority to enter into the annual recycling contract with Mason County at the usual cost of $1,000.

The mayor emphasized that taking part in the recycling program is voluntary, but those that do so will pay lower garbage collection rates than those that do not participate in the program. Refusing to recycle will result in higher collection rates for those city residents.

Cooper announced that 11 streets are scheduled for blacktopping in the near future. They include Flinders Drive; Carrington Street to Gander Branch Road; Gander Branch Road to Cooper Street; High Street to the end of High Street; Halbert Avenue; Washington Street; Chestnut Street; Walter Street; Lexington Avenue; Rickett Street to Lexington Avenue; Plummer Street to Lexington Avenue; Hardin Alley; Shelton Drive and Green Street Second to Front. The cost for paving those streets comes to about $34,245.

The mayor explained that he has submitted that list to the state, and hopefully they will send a check to reimburse the city for the resurfacing.

Cooper read thank you notes from the families of Mabel Sullivan and Joe McCane. Council member Brenda Lykins read a thank you note from Sheila Ruark's fifth grade class to the mayor for his help in the classroom when the students studied the workings of city government.

The mayor informed the council that councilman Tim Bowden is home from the hospital and doing well but has to undergo some more tests.

Patty Kennard of the Renaissance Committee told the council that workers are making good progress on renovating the Commercial Hotel.

The council approved the minutes of last month's session before adjourning.

Firefighters are investigating the cause of a fire early Friday morning at Vanceburg Senior Apartments on Ky. Rt. 59 in Vanceburg.

The apartment is occupied by David Landsaw. Switzer said no injuries were reported.

Ky. Rt. 59 was closed until the fire was contained due to fire hoses and equipment in the roadway.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the state fire marshal's office.

Switzer said the department was called out again at about 7:00 a.m. to apartment 920. He said a smoke alarm in the apartment, directly beneath apartment 924, was malfunctioning due to water seeping through the floor from the previous call.

Thanks to some local sponsors, the Summer Sounds Down by the Riverside concerts are returning to Veterans Memorial Park in Vanceburg.

The concerts are free to the public and Friday's concert will feature Gary Billups and The Sound Machine from Portsmouth, Ohio.

Friday's concert will be from 8:00 until 10:00 p.m. at the park, located at the corner of Front and Main Streets in Vanceburg.