Sanitation district gets OK for rate hikes

 SHEPHERDSVILLE — Starting in early 2013, customers of the Bullitt County Sanitation District will be facing a rate increase.

And, after Bullitt Fiscal Court approved an ordinance last week, that increase could occur annually.

With no public discussion, fiscal court members voted 3-2, with magistrates Joe Laswell and John Bradshaw in opposition, to allow the increase to be based on the Consumer Price Index as of October.

District manager Jerry Kennedy said that based on average usage, the increase would be around 60-70 cents per month.

Magistrate Ruthie Ashbaugh said that she felt the funds were needed to make needed repairs on the system.

Without the repairs, she feared the system would eventually shut down.

At a previous meeting, officials revealed that were behind in scheduled repairs but also owed vendors.

Last year, a requested 3 percent increase over each of the next three years was denied. Fiscal court approved a 1.5 percent increase for one year only.

With the ordinance, the sanitation officials do not have to request annual rate hikes. However, fiscal court still retains the right to repeal tax increases at any time.

In other business:

*County employees will remain with Humana insurance for the next year.

A 10 percent increase was budgeted and Angie Weilage Priddy said it should be around that amount. In the past year, employees received a small rebate due to the new accordable care act provisions.

*Repairs were authorized immediately for the heating system at the Bullitt County Detention Center.

Jailer Martha Knox said the heat exchanger needed repairs at a cost of around $14,000.

Without the repairs, a wing would be without heat, she said.

She warned magistrates that several of the center’s 13 heating units may be in need of repair.

Magistrate Rick Clements said the court needs to begin budgeting for repairs in the county buildings as they get older.

*Emergency Management director Mike Phillips said the county received one of the four Homeland Security grants it applied for.

The county received $9,000 to help pay for new radio equipment for central dispatch when it moves to the new facility on Saltwell Drive.

*The court approved repairs on leaks in the Maryville swimming pool.

American Leak Detection had the winning bid of $9,800 to fix the leaks at the pool.

*The court approved an extension of a lease agreement to allow property at the Highway 245 interchange to be used for the construction of a community college.

Donna Miller, director of the Bullitt County campus of Jefferson Community and Technical College, said money at the state level is tight for any construction. The options remain open to allow a private facility owner to lease space to the college.

An architectural project has been funded to allow a view of the property and a design to be presented for public comment.

The lease would be for another three-year period. Classes are currently being held in space off Buffalo Run Road but enrollment has reached capacity due to the space.