A large crowd gathered in the third floor courtroom of the Lewis County Courthouse last Thursday to attend a public hearing regarding an application for an entertainment license for the Kentucky Outback Adventure Park.

Roy and Al Carl from Alexandria own the 800-acre park. It opened for business in October 2003 and has become the center of much controversy in the Briery and Buck Lick Creek area near KY 344 and 377.

County Judge Executive Steve Applegate conducted the hearing and began by explaining the guidelines for the hearing in order to avoid a volatile argument during the proceedings.

Stacey L. Graus, attorney for the Carls, explained that the park is for a new sport called rock crawling. Outdoor vehicles like Jeeps and Humvees travel at about five to ten miles per hour and climb up steep grades and over large obstacles. The participants are mostly out of state clients from Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Graus said these people bring revenue into the community. He said that the Carls plan to clean the track, market the park and reopen it bringing in 30 to 50 vehicles per weekend. He said the organized groups would be scheduled in advance.

The park plans to operate from dawn to dusk on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and be closed Monday through Thursday.

Graus told the crowd that campsite facilities and a shop for repairing the recreational vehicles would be set up on the property.

He explained that safety measures call for rolled cages in the vehicles plus the use of seatbelts. In the event of an accident an ambulance is not far away, and the park is located near a volunteer fire department.

Both Al and Roy Carl spoke briefly to the audience to explain their good intentions and plans for the park.

Judge Applegate posed the question of the day when he asked about the park’s clients trespassing on the land of neighboring property owners.

The Carls replied that they planned to warn all their clients about trespassing and to inform them about the park boundaries.

Al Carl told the Judge that the signs they put up had been taken down.

Applegate opened the floor for the residents to speak their peace.

John Boyd complained that the noisy vehicles using the park both scared off and destroyed the wildlife. He said that the Carls had put hay bales and plastic in the creek.

Boyd alleged that signs were posted where signs are not permitted such as on utility and telephone poles. He said that setting up rules and regulations doesn’t mean that the park’s clients will follow them because they obviously have not. He also expressed concern about gunfire heard at night, sometimes near midnight.

Boyd said at one time the rock crawling enthusiasts had parked ten jeeps at his cabin thinking they were in the park.

James Bloomfield said that the loud vehicles disrupted hunting trips and came into the park sometimes late at night after 10:00 or 11:00 p.m.

Brad and Vanessa Esham, along with Brad’s uncle Tom Esham, all complained about the park’s clients trespassing on their properties.

Vanessa and Patty Esham and Deonda Ford expressed concern about the safety of the children who play in the area.

Jim Chattin who works for Fountain Forestry said that that company and New Forestry own most of the property in Briery and that they have a constant problem with four wheelers.

Dan Masters said he was concerned about how the park would affect property values in the area. He said that no one is going to buy hunting property with all that noise going on.

One of the park’s clients, Joe Kling, said that he was probably one of the folk that had trespassed on some of the property and apologized for doing so. He said, however, that the park boundaries were not clearly marked and he was not aware that he was trespassing at the time. He expressed hope that the park owners and residents could work together and both groups get what they want.

A client from Maysville said that trespassing was a problem before the park opened and would continue to be a problem.

In their closing responses the Carls explained some the reasons for the misunderstandings and how some of the trespassing occurred.

Roy Carl said that he would like to talk to the folk directly rather than through third parties in order to prevent misinformation and misunderstanding.

At the conclusion of the hearing Applegate said that he would issue a written opinion about the license application within seven days.

By Al Owens

Meeting in regular session last week the Vanceburg City Council heard from Phil Kennedy, the superintendent of the Electric Plant Board.

Kennedy explained the 2004 Water Extension Project to the council. He said that the project cost totals $1,169,000, and that 77 percent of those funds are from grant money.

Since the utility company is owned by the city the council adopted a resolution to accept the funds from a $250,000 loan from Rural Development in behalf of the Plant Board.

Relating to that project the council approved several legal documents connected with the funding and authorized Mayor William T. “Bill Tom” Cooper to sign all the necessary papers. The documents deal with such issues as the utility company certifying that it did not lobby Congress for the money and that it is an Equal Opportunity Employer and other such matters.

Kennedy also told the City Council that natural gas prices will skyrocket this season. They could increase as much as 75 percent over last year’s costs and maybe even more than that. He said that authorities estimate the repair of the rigs and pipelines damaged by Hurricane Katrina will take four to five months.

Kennedy said that the company is currently selling gas cheaper than it is buying it, and that simply cannot continue if the company is to survive.

He explained that customers could possibly go on the budget plan but the cost will still be higher, and when a family is actually using only $25 worth of power in the summer but paying $100 on the budget due to high winter costs that’s hard for some of them to understand.

Kennedy said that when a family goes on the budget plan that plan includes all the utilities, not just either the gas or electricity.

The council gave first reading to the ordinance establishing this year’s tax rates. They remain at 13 cents per $100 of assessed value for real estate property and 14 cents for intangible and personal property. The city tax rate has remained unchanged for several years.

The council also approved an amendment to the Interlocal Agreement regarding the new Health Department project adding the Lewis County Health Department as an agency included in the partnership agreement along with the Fiscal Court and the cities of Vanceburg and Concord.

The council adopted a resolution establishing the National Incident Management System (NIMS) in the city government. Earlier in the day the fiscal court passed a resolution for the same program. It assures good communication, cooperation and interaction between all the agencies sending first responders to any emergency in the area.

The council gave first reading to an ordinance establishing the position of a Renaissance Coordinator in the city. The action qualifies the city to receive state funding for downtown renovation in the renaissance program.

The council also adopted a resolution authorizing the city to apply for a Community Economic Growth Grant (CEGG) up to $200,000.

The council entered closed session to discuss the acquisition of property. Upon reentering open session the council moved to execute the option to purchase real estate. Cooper explained that the option could be taken if the state provides the funding for the purchase.

Cooper told the council that he has received a letter from Adelphia Cable granting the city’s request for a time extension from 60 days to 120 days for the transfer of the cable franchise agreement from Adelphia to Time/Warner.

Cooper said that many newcomers to the area did not know about the recycling program using the Rosies provided by the city. They are using the Rosies for regular garbage cans rather than for the recycling program. He asks that all new residents not use the blue garbage-can-looking containers for regular disposal of household waste. Questions can be referred to the city at 796-3044.

By Al Owens

Meeting in regular session Monday the Lewis County Fiscal Court heard the second reading of an ordinance renewing the Adelphia Cable franchise for District One and then adopted the ordinance.

Lewis County Attorney Clayton “Buddy” Lykins, Jr. asked about getting a local access channel. Adelphia Government Affairs Manager Carla Deaton replied that she would look into that possibility.

The court also gave second reading and adopted an ordinance establishing regulation of sexually oriented businesses and their employees in the county. No such businesses currently operate in the area.

The court received only one bid on the voting machines upgrade made necessary by law. The upgrades will enable the handicapped and visually impaired to vote at the polls without assistance. The bid came in at a total of $84,920. The bid was accepted contingent upon approval by the state. The state will reimburse the county for 100 percent of that cost.

The court agreed to sponsor an application on behalf of the Lewis County Industrial Authority for a Community Development Block Grant of $250,000 to be applied to the upgrade of the spec building at the Industrial Park at Black Oak. The upgrade is a Lewis County Economic Development project that would prepare the building for use by prospective manufacturers.

The court adopted a resolution for refunding of the Courthouse Facility Bonds, Series 2000 at a lower interest rate.

It also approved a resolution adopting the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The system assures the effective interaction of all the first responders to any emergency in the area.

The court approved the annual parking lot lease agreement with Farmers Cooperative Insurance Company at a cost of $1200.

The court gave first reading to an ordinance requiring a basket or like device to catch fecal waste to be installed on any horse drawn equipment used on public roads in the county.

The court approved the formation of a board for the health, welfare and safety of the public in the event of an influx of evacuees. They would currently be from the area ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. The board would consist of County Judge Executive Steve Applegate, Lewis County Sheriff Bill Lewis, Lewis County Emergency Management Director Carl Chaney and Lewis County Public Health Director Bob Bentley.

The court approved the new county tax rates complying with the state compensatory rates.

The tax rate on real estate is 12.6 cents per $100 of assessed property value. The rate for intangible and personal property will be at 14.10.

The tax rate for the Board of Education is 41.0 for real estate, 41.4 for intangible and personal property and 49.0 for motor vehicles and watercraft.

The tax rates for the Helen H. Rayburn Public Library of Lewis County is 3.20 for real estate, 4.60 for intangible and personal property and 1.47 for motor vehicles and watercraft.

For the Lewis County Health Department the tax rates are 3.40 for real estate, 3.80 for intangible and personal property and 3.80 for motor vehicles and watercraft.

The tax rate for all the Fire Department Districts is set a .10 per $100 of assessed property value.

For timberland and forest acres the tax is .03 per acre.

The tax rate for the Lewis County Conservation District is 4.2 for real estate, 6.16 for intangible and personal property and 3.12 for motor vehicles and watercraft.

The court adopted a resolution for the county to sponsor an application for a Community Economic Growth Grant (CEGG) up to $200,000 for the purpose of acquiring property for a recreation park. The Lewis County Boys and Girls Club may also be able to erect a building on that property.

The court also approved a professional services contract with the Buffalo Trace Area Development District at a cost of $40,000. The fee will come out of funding already provided for the Health Department project.

The court approved an amendment to the Interlocal Agreement for Economic Development funding related to construction of the new health department building. The agreement already included the county government, the city of Vanceburg and Concord. The amendment adds the Lewis County Health Department as an agency involved in that partnership.

At the request of Peoples Self Help Housing the court moved to proceed with the process to add Fuller Road to the county road system.

The court also amended the personnel policy to permit a pay incentive for extreme overtime for Road Department employees.

The court approved the treasurer’s report and all the claims and transfers for the General, Road and Bridge and Jail Fund accounts.

After a brief closed session the court reconvened and moved to amend the contract with Northern Contours regarding environmental cleanup.

Applegate announced that the county has received Homeland Security Funds totaling $288,000 and has also received $68,500 for an animal shelter.

Applegate said that the chip/seal project has been completed and was well done.

He informed the court that a meeting has been scheduled with Adam Howard and Senator Mitch McConnell on Sept. 20 regarding the closing of the Garrison Boat Dock. The prospect of keeping the dock open looks encouraging.

The next regular session of the fiscal court will be on Monday, Oct. 10 at 9:30 a.m. in the third floor courtroom of the Lewis County Courthouse.