Changes for the Burnside Fire Department were a hot topic at Wednesday’s May Burnside City Council meeting, with both new bylaws and preparation for a new station providing much fodder for discussion.
Mayor Chuck Fourman said that Burnside Fire Chief Eric Henderson submitted a new set of bylaws for the fire department — a substantial document totaling 27 pages in length. This proved a lot for much of the council to digest.
“A couple of the council members had some questions — they didn’t have enough time to look (all the bylaws) over,” said Fourman. “27 pages takes a while to look through, not just a couple of days.”
Among the issues that proved of interest was drug testing for volunteers firefighters. With issues about how the screening would be conducted and other matters, the council decided it would be best to wait until its members had time to examine the bylaws more thoroughly. As such, action regarding the document was tabled until the next meeting.
In early July, construction will begin on the new fire station on E. French Ave. — Fourman expects it to last a couple of months. To make way, some storage sheds containing city property need to be cleared out. The council gave Fourman to go-ahead to seek bids for the tearing down of these storage facilities.
The council also approved seeking a $300,00 loan that will go several directions in preparing the new firehouse and managing the current space. The money will pay off an existing $47,000 debt relating to the sewer start-up, paying for the property to be built on E. French Ave., preparing parking lots, tearing down the storage sheds, and transitioning a move of the city’s police department and utility offices to make their home in what is currently the fire station and city hall facility.
The police and utility offices are expected to move into their new space by November, said Fourman.
In other action:
• A first reading was given to an ordinance tweaking the health insurance benefits the city offers its employees. For those workers who opt to use other insurance plans not provided by the city, Burnside will set aside $200 a month in a draw account to be used for any additional prescriptions, co-pay needs or even retirement funds.
“We just came up with the plan because we have some employees with two health insurance plans,” said Fourman. “Health insurance is getting out of hand for everybody. Every year, we’re looking at 16 to 20 percent increases (in rates). We supply family health insurance, so you have to start finding creative ways to still supply the benefits for your employees, but be able to afford it also.”
• A ordinance amending the 2007-08 fiscal year budget was passed on the second reading. The ordinance increases loan proceeds by $50,000 and a line for police equipment by $35,000, making the balance for each category $50,000.
• A new position —detective —was announced for the Burnside Police Department, with officer Phillip Woodall named into that role. This will allow Woodall to concentrate on alcohol audits for local restaurants and other duties for which regular officers may not have as much time.
Councilor Dic Gaskin was absent from the meeting.
Local News
Changes in store for Burnside Fire Department
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He said a cannon is being used by a resident on Laura Lane off Ky. 39; another is in the Oak Hill Road area and a third is on Ashurst Street in the eastern part of Somerset.
Spillman said a timer on each cannon allows it to “fire” at whatever frequency is desired. The cannons must be used as the birds circle before going to roost. “After they settle in, nothing will chase them out,” Spillman said.
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At 10 minutes after noon Wednesday, the “boil water” advisory for the Western Pulaski Water District was lifted — almost a full week after the problems began around 1 p.m. last Thursday.
Prior to that, the Somerset Water Service — along with the other water providers in its system, including Science Hill Water, Southeastern Water, and Eubank Water — lifted their advisories, with Somerset on Saturday afternoon and the last, Southeastern, by Monday morning. Western Pulaski was the last in the system to complete sample testing for potential contaminants, due to not being able to access its Pikeville-based testing lab until Monday.
Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler thanked the public for its patience and understanding during the duration of the boil water advisory — put in place to keep citizens from drinking water that could have been contaminated after an accident last Thursday at the water plant site — and also thanked all the city employees for their hard work during this time.
“The boil water advisory went about as well as would be expected,” said Girdler.
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The message is clear: There are heroes. Even here in our own hometowns.
That’s the idea organizers hope to get across Saturday night at Somerset Christian School, when Congressional Medal of Honor winner Sgt. Dakota Meter speaks to all who choose to attend.
For further questions, ticket purchases, and sponsorship opportunities please contact Susan Adams at (606) 875-0255. -
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