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BY ABIGAIL ROBERTS

Correspondent

STANFORD – The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office answered 844 service calls during the month of March – 22 of which were for domestic violence.

That’s according to a monthly report from LCSO Chief Deputy Brandon Curlis.

Curlis gave the report during Tuesday’s fiscal court meeting.

“That’s down a little bit from February. We had 844 in February,” Curlis said.

There were 36 cases opened in March and deputies made 77 arrests.

“We worked 30 total accidents and responded to 22 domestics,” Curlis said.

There were three overdose calls and 14 theft reports in March.

Deputies made 175 traffic stops and responded to seven calls for service that includes shots being fired.

LCSO also responded to five “burglaries in progress.”

LCSO Sheriff Shawn Hines said certified letters have been sent to the majority of the owners of vehicles currently in the impound lot.

“So, not only surplussing a bunch of cruisers for the county to auction but also to auction off the impounds that we have so we can get that lot cleared up and the county get some money,” he said. “Also we have quite a few abandoned property in evidence, as well, that we could get rid of.”

County Jailer’s Report

Lincoln County Jailer Griffin Harness also gave magistrates a report for the month of March.

Harness said the jailer’s office transported a total of 41 inmates and traveled 1,826 miles.

LCJO made the following transports:

• Boyle County Detention Center – 2

• Casey County Detention Center – 11

• Rockcastle County Detention Center – 2

• Pulaski County Detention Center – 24

• Lincoln County Court – 1

• Harrodsburg Hospital (doctor’s appointment) – 1

The Jailer’s Office transported six inmates for Stanford Police; four inmates to probation and parole; 17 inmates for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office; one inmate for Hustonville Police; two inmates for Crab Orchard Police; two inmates for Kentucky State Police and nine court transports.

There are currently 16 inmates in Rockcastle County Detention Center and 30 inmates in Casey County Jail.

County Attorney’s Report

Lincoln County Attorney Daryl Day updated magistrates on the recent forums held to discuss how to use funds from the opioid settlement.

There have been two forums, one at Lincoln County High School and one in Waynesburg.

“It went well. Got some new ideas there that we’ll incorporate in to what we consider,” Day said.

The next forum will be held at Watts Chapel Baptist Church in Crab Orchard on Tuesday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m.

“We had a decent crowd in Waynesburg. There’s a gentleman who is trying to open up a counseling-type center and a house down there,” Day said. “One lady there suggested scholarships for those who want to get into counseling but can’t afford to pay for all their education but we could provide some help…”

The forums have been very informative, he said.

“One of the things that keeps coming up is transportation; transportation of individuals from jail or their house to rehab programs; transportation to help families stay in contact with persons in rehab, especially if they’re many miles away,” he said. “Also transportation within the county.”

Day said most jobs are in Stanford and if you live out in the county sometimes it’s hard to get to work.

There is a need for transportation to Alcoholics’s Anonymous meetings, Driving under the influence classes, and probation and parole meetings, Day said.

“We don’t have a good transportation structure,” he said. “I know that money is tight and it’s going to get tighter so for us to be able to fund something like that is out of the question but I think it’s something that we need to look at. We’re not a big city.”

If you’re without an automobile or without a driver’s license in Lincoln County, you’re trapped, he said.

Magistrate David Faulkner said all local governments in Lincoln County need to come together and come up with a transportation solution.

Day said one idea is underwriting the costs for churches to transport people to recovery classes, which some currently offer.

Another forum will be scheduled on the west side county next, Day said.

LCPVA Report

Magistrates also heard from Lincoln County Property Valuation Administrator Mary Adams.

“We met our first revenue cabinet deadline for the tax calendar which was to get the first recap in by May 1, I actually got that in by March 30,” Adams said. “I give a lot of credit to the hard work of my deputies. We’ve been out in the field since the second week I took office, every week.”

Adams said the PVA uses Eagle View to help with assessments.

“It helps tremendously for us to assess remotely and to keep on top of changes in the county; new construction, modifications, demolitions, anything like that,” she said. “It reduces field visits out…so it’s very valuable to us.”

Adams asked the fiscal court to consider funding a third of the cost for the Eagle View flight which costs $55,800. One-third would total $18,600.

Magistrate David Faulkner said the fiscal court is currently holding budget workshops and will include the request in their deliberations.

LCFD Report

Newly-hired LCFD Chief Eric Davidson provided magistrates with an update on the LCFD.

Davidson said all seven fire stations now receive CAD reports from 911 dispatch on time.

There is a firefighter trustee position open and the LCFD is accepting nominations for that position, Davidson said, from April 17 through May 17.

“The election for that will be the fourth Saturday in June,” he said. “You have to be a firefighter.”

Corey Gosser was appointed District 1 fire chief and updates to the training center are underway.

Hose testing was completed for the year, with 900 feet of hose that failed and will be replaced.

The Stanford Lions Club radio auction will be donating 50% of the proceeds to landscaping and appeal of the training center, which is near the Edgewood neighborhood.

The LCFD responded to 50 calls of service last month including:

• structure fire – 7

• motor vehicle accident – 9

• weather-related – 9

• miscellaneous – 11

• wildfires – 12

• vehicle fires – 2

Main Street Clean Sweep

Jane Vanhook updated magistrates on the upcoming Main Street Clean Sweep event, which will be held Saturday, April 15 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“It’s not just Stanford, if you want to clean up anywhere in Lincoln county then you can come down there in front of the Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce and we can give you grabbers and we can give you trash bags,” Vanhook said. “Maybe even a t-shirt.”

The event is hosted by Bluegrass Green Source.

“We want the grabbers back because we use those all during the year,” she said. “This is to clean up the trash that has blown all over Lincoln County from the high winds.”

In addition to the clean sweep event, Vanhook said the city will be hosting a Prescription Drug Take Back.

“Which means that if you have any prescription drugs then you can bring them and we will incinerate them,” she said.

Vanhook said storms have affected the trees in Logan Hubble Park and said the park is urging the public to be cautious.

The William Whitley House will be opening April 27, Vanhook said.

In other businesss:

• Stanford Mayor Dalton Miller presented magistrates with a proposed annexation map of the Goshen Cut Off area and Veteran’s Park; currently the park is split between the county and city. Lincoln County Attorney Daryl Day said there is a state moratorium on annexations until the General Assembly passes new legislature or unless it’s agreed upon between the city and the county.

• Heard from Ambulance Board Chairman Jerry Shelton, who reminded magistrates the Ambulance Board meets every third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. The board’s annual budget meeting will be this month, he said.

Shelton also said he and his neighbors have had issues with aggressive dogs on Slate Branch Road. Shelton said there is a pack of dogs that have killed his calves and his chickens and have harassed neighbors in the area. Day advised Shelton to file complaints with the nuisance board.