County Approves Round-Up

The Breathitt County Fiscal Court voted to approve a motion to move forward with the proposed round-up of free-ranging horses at Elkview during Tuesday night’s meeting.  The decision came after a long discussion about the impact the horses had on the environment and the dangers they posed to drivers in the area.

On a motion by Magistrate John Marshall, seconded by Ryan Chaney, the Court voted to have animal control, a non-profit, or individuals round up the horses for removal from the property.  The exact process of humanely and safely removing animals has not been proposed.

During the meeting on July 22, the supporters of the free-ranging horses and opponents presented their concerns about the horses and the proposed removal efforts.

“The horses aren’t taken care of,” Phyllis Clemons told the court.  She noted several animals had health issues and were “walking around on hooves.”  Clemons told the Court that she had not seen a veterinarian evaluate or treat any horses in the area.  She described the horse’s living conditions and said, “They need barns and a vet.”

Shirley Fugate, another neighbor who spoke to the Court, described the dire situation the horses faced during winter when food was scarce.  “The horses eat the bark off the trees; they are so hungry,” she said.  Fugate estimated 2,000 horses are roaming free at the head of South Fork.  She described issues she and her family had with manure left by the horses that cross her property.

One speaker, Iva Fugate, shared photos of injured horses she has seen over the years and stated that the horses were neglected and abused.

Marsha Thompson, a member of the Appalachian Horse Project, spoke in support of the free-ranging horses.  She told the Court that three groups from the Humane Society were on standby to help remove the horses.

Most speakers agreed that the issue was overpopulation, the quality of the natural forage, and the resources needed by the equine.

Jeff Prater said the horses were hungry and had eaten gardens in the area.  “You lead the horses away from your land,” he said.  “And they come right back.”  He told the Court that residents in the area had to “keep their garden fenced in to keep horses out.”

Breathitt County Animal Control Officer Jamie Holbrook discussed the issues and stated that no horse owner had come forward to claim their animals since Judge Jeff Noble issued a 30-day notice about the proposed removal earlier in the summer.

A discussion of landownership was also raised, and some questioned whether the county could remove horses from private property.  County Attorney Brendon Miller informed the Court that some of the land on the hill was in bankruptcy and could be purchased soon to add to the Elkview holdings and the tourism effort.

The Court voted to move forward with the removal, but specific dates for the round-up and the methods that will be used have not been released.

In other action, the members of the Court approved the following agenda items: the use EKSAFE funds to cover road vendor claims, the Sheriff’s Office Fee Account Reconciliation, a resolution to use discretionary road funds for Strong Branch and Hardshell Caney, to pay Maggard Lumber for bridge lumber, to pay Combs Trucking an additional $260,000 for gabion baskets for Hayes Branch, and to pay a GMC invoice for Airport Project from funds received in a FAA grant.

The Court approved the appointment of Cheryl Spicer Campbell as a Breathitt County Water Board member.

Gordon Hunter spoke to the magistrates and suggested the Court buy a small sawmill for “two to three thousand dollars” and use fallen trees they remove from roadways and ditch lines to help cut bridge and other lumber costs.  The Court listened but took no action on the suggestion.

Hunter also suggested and discussed possibly purchasing a vacuum truck to clear trash and debris along the ditch lines across the county.  He told the Court that he had contacted KRADD and discussed the possibility of a grant to purchase the truck.  He noted that it was dangerous to pick up trash because of the number of discarded needles.  Jamie Mullins-Smith told Hunter that her office could provide special gloves to protect against needles.

The Court discussed the issue and the possibility of getting a “demonstration truck” from a company in Berea to see how effectively the vacuum was picking up litter and debris.

The Court met for over an hour with all members present except Brenda Fugate, who joined electronically as she recovered from a broken hip following a recent fall.