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November 20, 2012

Bond ordinance approved by Laurel Fiscal Court

The Times-Tribune

CORBIN — By Jeff Noble / Staff Writer

An ordinance to refinance up to $7,500,000 in bonds for the Laurel Heights Home for the Elderly is now law after the Laurel County Fiscal Court approved its second reading Monday evening.

The action on the Series 2013 Refunding Bonds would save the county about $650,000, according to Deputy Judge-Executive and Finance Officer Rick Brewer.

Earlier this month, Brewer said the lower interest rate for the bonds the county was looking at was projected between 2.75 and 3 percent. He added at the time the current interest rate was between 4.5 and 5 percent, and that the ordinance would allow refinancing of current money that the county already has.

A public hearing on the ordinance was held before Monday’s court session. There were no public comments.

The first reading of an ordinance pertaining to electrical permits and inspection was also approved. Brewer said the ordinance was because the state requires them to have designated electrical inspectors. Currently, Laurel County has two electrical inspectors, and any new inspectors would have to notify the court, with approval by County Judge-Executive David Westerfield.

Another ordinance — this one a first reading of a budget amendment ordinance for funding the court received for all county fire departments, using coal severance tax money — got court approval as well.

Among other actions taken, court members approved the re-appointment of David Moore to the Board of Commissioners of Laurel County Water District #2. His new four-year term will expire at the end of 2016. Two members of the Laurel County Extension Office Board also got re-appointed. Both Doug Day and Linda Wittenback will serve three-year terms, expiring at the end of 2015. Action to approve the hiring of Marty Robinson for the Jailer’s Office at a salary of $50,000 a year died, due to a lack of a motion on the floor.

The court did approve a resolution for Kentucky Business Incentives (KBI) for new hires at $10.80 an hour at Hearthside Food Solutions, along with approval for authorizing Westerfield to sign an agreement with Air Methods helicopter medical transport service. The agreement would provide benefits with Air Methods, which has a base in London, to all county employees.

Court members approved their regular meeting schedule for 2013. Meetings during the odd-numbered months will start at 6:30 p.m., while even-numbered months will start at 9 a.m. — the opposite as this year. The first Fiscal Court meeting for the new year will be Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013, at 6:30 p.m., followed by the second meeting on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, at 9 a.m.

Approval was also given to the 2013 holiday schedule for county employees. It remains the same as this year, with employees given the day off on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Presidents Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. Employees will not get Election Day off next year, since no elections are scheduled for May and November.

The court’s meeting was held Monday due to Westerfield being scheduled to have knee surgery Tuesday (today).

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