By Grant Stevens - Staff Writer
Journal-Times
April 25, 2012 — Last week’s Olive Hill City Council saw Council members looking to future possibilities while also dealing with routine matters.
At the beginning of the session, an invited guest speaker gave a presentation on the process of establishing a tourism commission for Olive Hill.
Keith Kappes, chair of the Morehead Tourism Commission, reviewed the steps necessary for the city to create and support a tourism commission.
He encouraged the Council to consider extending the city limits out to I-64 at either or both of its interchanges.
“Taxes on lodging and dining businesses provide tourism funding in Kentucky and those folks like the high traffic counts on freeway interchanges,” Kappes said.
He is publisher of The Morehead News, Olive Hill Times and Grayson Journal-Enquirer.
Council took no action on the matter.
In other business, City Council approved the appointment of Ted Harman and Madeline Powell to the Code Enforcement Board.
Also approved were fund raising roadblock applications from West Youth Soccer League, WCHS Community Problem Solving Team, Olive Hill Little League All-Stars, and the Holy Rollers Motorcycle Ministry.
Council also authorized the taking of bids for installation of an advanced warning system. Estimated to cost $72,000, the system will have siren locations at Hop Brown Park, Blueberry Ridge water tank, and Olive Hill City Park.
Mayor Danny Sparks said the warning system is a necessity for the city.
“A warning system is something that we want and desperately need,” Sparks said. “Disasters like the floods of 2010 can ultimately happen at any moment, and it is good to know we have a system like this to help warn our citizens.”
Council turned its attention to developing next year’s budget, noting the lack of funding for the Olive Hill Fire Department.
Council member Tony Williams said he wanted to inform citizens of what he said could potentially be the end of OHFD.
“Basically, we have a $50,000 budget for the fire department,” Williams said. “This simply isn’t enough to fund all of the needs. If our citizens are concerned about this, I recommend they contact their local magistrate to request more funding from Fiscal Court.”
The next City Council meeting will be Tuesday, May 15.
Grant Stevens can be reached at gstevens@journal-times.com or by telephone at 1-800-247-6142.
