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Last updated on Wednesday, March 9, 2016
(BEDFORD) - Lawrence County Clerk Myron Rainey presented the commissioners with an updated list of polling places for their approval.
"I have received a couple of calls and emails with complaints that polling places have been moved," Rainey told the commissioners. "But I was able to explain why."
Rainey's goal is to make all the polling places handicapped accessible for the May 3rd Primary Election and he believes he has accomplished that with the exception of Shawswick 11.
"We have an issue with the Red Brick," Rainey says. "The doors are just not wide enough. We need a 34 inch entryway and the entryway there is only 26 to 28 inches. But I don't know what other option we have."
By law, Rainey has until the last day of March to have a final list of polling locations that will meet ADA regulations.
This is the new tentative polling location list presented to the commissioners:
In other business:
Sheriff Mike Branham reported that there were 92 inmates in the jail Tuesday, of those 18 were females, no Department of Correction holds and seven inmates are Level 6 felony holds. Those inmates in the past would have been sent to the Department of Corrections, but now with the new law will be held locally.
Branham presented the commissioners with four quotes to replace the cooling tower and heat exchanger at the jail. The lowest quote was from Meadows Heating and Cooling for $36,861. The commissioners voted to move forward with the work if funding is approved by the county council.
The commissioners also renewed a contract on drug case forfeitures.
Sheriff Branham presented the commissioners with the final contract with Spillman Technologies, Inc. to provide the Sheriff's Department with integrated computer aided dispatch system (CAD) software. The program is needed if the state demands the county have a central dispatch center. The commissioners approved the contract if funding is approved by the county council.
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Emergency Management Director Valerie Luchauer reported that all ambulances are now dispatched through the sheriff's department. The process began on Sunday.
"No calls are transferred," she added. "There are no rotations. The closest ambulance is now dispatched to the location. So if there is a medical emergency on Mitchell Road a Seals ambulance will respond because it will be only minutes away."
Before calls were transferred to the hospital on a rotation.
"On the weekends that meant some of the calls were transferred to Indianapolis and then an ambulance was dispatched from there to the location needed."
Luchauer has also been working with the Lawrence County Health Department to provide flu vaccinations after a recent outbreak of the flu.
Last week Stalker Elementary had more than 60 students sick with the flu.
The Health Department conducted a flu clinic at the school providing students, staff and parents with the vaccination.
The county is also prepared in case heavy rains hit the area this week.
"We are prepared in case roads become flooded," Luchauer added. "We have signage available to warn motorist of high water."
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Lawrence County resident Don Hudson asked the commissioners about paving at Yockey Estates.
He is concerned because the area where the mailboxes have not been paved, creating a dangerous situation because of a large drop off from the main road to the mailboxes.
The commissioners said that they will look into the problem.
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Perry Volunteer Fire Chief Max Peters thanked the highway department for for erecting guardrails along Sieboldt Quarry and Harrodsburg roads after more than 8 vehicles became inverted after crashing at that location last year.
"There was a 5-foot drop on the north side of the road and a 6-foot drop on the south side," Peters says. "Any vehicle that hits those metal culverts is going to end up on its side or roof. Since the guardrails have been place they have been hit seven times but not of the vehicle have ended on their roof.
Peters also says highways crews worked on Harrodsburg Road making it safer for motorists going to and from the recreation park.
"They cleaned out the ditches and widened the road and it is so much better now," Peters says.
In May the recreation park will host the Grand National Cross County Series.
"More than 20,000 spectators and participants will attend this event," Peters added.
He also thanked the highway department for assisting provide sand and snow removal during a barn fire in February at 295 Poplar Bluff.
"It was terrible conditions with snow and black ice," Peters says. "I don't know what we would have done without their help. It took Marshall more than two hours to get to the location because of the weather and road conditions. Because of the highway's department assistance we were able to save the family's home."
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