Published: July 02, 2008 11:57 am         

Olive Hill Council meets

July 2, 2008 — The Olive Hill City Council held a special meeting Monday evening. The second reading of the amended budget for 2007-2008 was approved, which brought the fire department’s budget back into the black.

“We collected a lot of back property taxes and we are about to collect a whole lot more,” Mayor Danny Sparks told the council. “The fire department also sold some surplus equipment to make up the difference.”

The second reading of the 2008-2009 Budget was also approved after an amendment was added. Councilwoman Linda Lowe asked the group to add additional funds into the budget for the library.

“I am asking the council to stand up and be a leader and support the library,” Lowe said in Monday’s meeting. “It’s time that we lift this area out of the gutter.”

By designating the monies to the Olive Hill Library, Carter County will no longer be one of the only two Kentucky Counties without a public library.

“The recognition means a lot more than the money from the city does,” Library Board Director Teresa Brown said. “A portion of the county’s tax dollars go to public libraries through the state, which we don’t receive now. Competitive grant monies are also available for public libraries, which will eventually mean we can offer even more services.”

The city agreed to fund $18,000, which is the minimum amount required by the state for the county to give in order for the library to be considered public.

The council also discussed the 2008-2009 salary compensation and classification scale. The group decided to give across the board two-percent raises to all city employees. Mayor Sparks also gave the tie-breaking approval vote for Clerk Cheri James to be moved from a 24 pay grade into the 25 grade.

“It shocks me that the council can approve not only a pay increase, but move an employee up a pay grade when we’re having trouble balancing the budget,” Councilman Kenny Fankell, who voted against the measure, said. “I know Cheri has a big job to do over there, but it’s just not fair to do for one what we can’t do for all.”

Although an update on the Rock Crusher Road Project was also on the agenda, no new information was presented.

     

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