County continues to deal with extremely tight budget

By KAREN JONES CODY

The Knott County Fiscal Court passed an ordinance dealing with underage drinking, considered an ordinance related to drug abuse, and discussed ongoing projects and financial concerns in their regular meeting Monday, Feb. 20. Judge-Executive Randy Thompson reminded members of the court that drinking by those under age 21 is against state law, and the county ordinance prohibiting gatherings where under-age drinking is allowed (and holding adults responsible) would simply reinforce that. He pointed out that, on the advice of County Attorney Tim Bates, the term “minor” had been replaced with “underage” in order to take in ages 18-21. The court voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance.

An ordinance prohibiting sale or possession of synthetic marijuana had its first reading in the meeting. Knott Drug Abuse Council Director Lola Patterson explained that the drug is packaged as something else, such as incense, and “says not for consumption, but people do.” Patterson noted it is usually sold in small packages for around $25. Use of the drug causes violent tendencies.

Judge Thompson requested that the county attorney review the ordinance. The judge asked Sheriff Dale Richardson if he had personally seen this drug in Knott County; the sheriff said he had not, “but until three months ago, we hadn’t seen meth, either.”

Chuck Childers with the Kentucky Department of Transportation presented the court with the department’s annual recommendations for rural secondary roads. Childers related that gasoline taxes used for the Rural Secondary Road Program are divided between counties at this time of year; around $1.3 will go to Knott County. Childers said $675,000 is set aside for normal maintenance. He then listed a number of roads which will receiving patching, not full resurfacing. The county is allowed to make their own recommendations for a portion of these funds, and Childers asked that these be submitted in the next few weeks.

District Four Magistrate Calvin Waddles asked if it is possible to put a county road back in the state system. Judge Thompson told him the court had looked at this early in his administration; in some cases this can be done, but it requires a swap of roads. “If we lose miles, we also lose money,” he advised.

The court considered a resolution asking that Knott County enter into an agreement with other counties to form the “Kentucky Mountain Trail System.” This concept has been discussed for several years, and would allow the region to establish a system that could then work with similar organizations in other states, such as Hatfield-McCoy (in West Virginia) and Spearhead (in Virginia). The recreational trails would serve different interests — horses, ATVs/ dirt bikes, hiking, etc. Judge Thompson said the thought was to eventually sell permits and use the funding to maintain the trails. The court agreed to join Bell,…

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