Anthony Cloud
Staff Writer
The Middlesboro City Council had the first reading of an ordinance that would establish the Ad Valorem tax levy for the fiscal year 2012-2013 during their regular meeting on Tuesday.
Mayor Bill Kelley said the tax will not be increasing. Following the second reading of the ordinance, the tax rate will be set at a rate of 6.9 cents on each $100 of assessed valuation of real property.
The council also had the first reading of an ordinance pertaining to the Ad Valorem tax on personal property for the year 2013. It will also remain the same as previous years. The rate was set at 23.20 cents on each $100 of assessed valuation on personal property.
According to the ordinance, the taxes are used for city purposes including expenses for general operation of the city government and services, payment of salaries and all operating expenses of the police and fire departments.
The city approved a contract during the meeting involving the Department of Rural and Municipal Aid. The contract was made between the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Transportation Cabinet, Department of Rural and Municipal Aid and the legislative body of Middlesboro.
According to the contract, $153,509 is the amount of money that the Kentucky Department of Rural and Municipal Aid will expend to aid the city in the maintenance, reconstruction or construction of city streets.
Mary Crilic and Unis Dune came to the meeting to express some concerns relating to a right-of-way. Along 46th Street and Cumberland Avenue, there is a house that is within 2 feet of the city right-of-way.
There are some water lines and an opening for sewer lines and a right-of-way in that area, according to Kelley. “I’m not sure if we shouldn’t consider … maybe giving the 20 feet right-of-way up,” said Kelley.
The 20 feet right-of-way is within 2 feet of Crilic and Dune’s house. Kelley is concerned about the safety of the situation. The street and safety chairmen (Gary Mills and Ronnie Carter) plan to further look at the situation.
Angela Jackson attended at the meeting, sporting a shirt that read “thanks to mayor Kelley, Rader and Brock have successfully high-jacked the tourism board.” Jackson’s main concern involved a community development meeting that was scheduled next Tuesday.
The meeting would conflict with a Middlesboro School Board meeting. Jackson felt like people would have to choose which meeting to attend, and she stated that both were important.
Chairman Bo Green decided that he would change the date for that meeting. It will be announced at a later date.
In the police reports, Middlesboro Police Chief Jeff Sharpe reported that there were 1,236 calls made in July. He also reported the drug trafficking investigation by Det. Joe Holder, where 17 people were arrested on 28 charges.
There were 14 burglaries and 58 thefts in July. There were nine domestic assaults within the month as well.
Other business taken care of during the meeting included:
* Entrance of reports;
* Entrance of city bills paid;
* Approval of minutes of previous meeting;
* Approval of a resolution approving Municipal Aid Co-Op program contract beginning July 1.
Anthony Cloud is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. He can be contacted via email at acloud@heartlandpublications.com.
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