PINEVILLE - The Pineville City Council has approved purchase of insurance for firefighters. However, accident insurance for volunteer firefighters was tabled.

The council looked at insurance for volunteer firefighters who might become injured while working for the city. The cost of the policy is $500 and includes payment of $10,000 for loss of life within 24 hours of a volunteer's death while on duty for the city. The policy also included educational benefits for family survivors.

The paid firefighters do not have that type of coverage, council members pointed out.

The same coverage is available for paid personnel as the volunteers.

It was also pointed out that the personnel policy would have to be changed if volunteers were included. Currently the city does not supply volunteers with any personal equipment. All of that is bought by the volunteer.

Council members said they would look at changing the personnel policy. The price quoted to cover the volunteers with insurance is available only for the next 45 days.

In another insurance matter the council voted to purchase a policy from the Kentucky League of Cities. The quote was about $2,000 less than the next bid, which also did not have as much coverage.

It was pointed out that while the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) bid was lower, the city would also be liable for other members while part of the league.

The council passed a resolution on UNITE. In the past, UNITE partly funded the city for its fight against illegal drugs. The updated resolution UNITE pays expenses and the city agrees to participate with the drug investigative unit.

The second reading of the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance was approved.

Pineville is planning its Halloween celebration. There will be 1,000 pumpkins decorating the courthouse square. Each of the pumpkins will be hand-carved for the season.

“We are going to continue the tradition they had in Middlesboro with Pumpkin Alley. They have decided not to do Pumpkin Alley and they have encouraged us to do something here and we are planning four days that have to deal with Halloween,” City Councilor Dianna Anderson explained.

Children from all parts of Bell County are being encouraged to come to Pineville and carve pumpkins.

Tim Cornett is in charge of planning the celebration. He said arrangements have been made with the Bell County Extension Office to use the pumpkins as cattle feed after the city's celebration.

The pumpkins are to be placed around the courthouse square. There is also to be a hayride, ghost walk with characters dressed in Halloween costumes; there will be different things going on in the upstairs windows of buildings around town. The city is working with UNITE to do a haunted house, tentatively planned for the third floor of the Bell County Detention Center. Cornett said Middlesboro Little Theatre will have a cast of dressed characters and will give out treats. Children from all over the Tri-States are being invited to celebrate Halloween in Pineville.

C.J. Harte is a Correspondent for the Daily News. He can be reached via e-mail at charte@middlesborodailynews.com.