County Could Join Major Trail System

The Breathitt County Fiscal Court discussed and approved a variety of issues during its fifty-six-minute meeting on Tuesday, April 28.

Magistrate Drewey Lovins was elected to chair the meeting due to the absence of Judge Jeff Noble.  Lovins and Ryan Chaney were present in the courtroom, and Magistrate John Marshall attended by video.  Magistrate Brenda Terry arrived at the courthouse for the second half of the meeting.

During the meeting, Powell County Magistrate J. L. Bowen provided information to the court about the proposed extension of the Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway (DBBB) into Breathitt County.

Established in 2013, the DBBB is a series of interconnected jeep, ATV trails, and planned routes on gravel, dirt, and asphalt roadways that link recreational opportunities in several counties.  The trails are currently more than 1,000 miles of “historic county roads, rugged trails, and scenic byways” and draw hundreds of thousands of riders each year. 

Bowen told the court that the non-profit organization was seeking permission to add new trails in Breathitt County on Jett’s Creek Road and on Bryant’s Creek to complete a loop through Lee and Owsley County.  He also discussed the development of trails that included Highland Road, Puncheon, Fire Trail, Little Buckhorn, and eventually Lewis Fork.

Bowen told the court that the group had members from across the county and that the organization raised money to improve the trail and build bridges at no cost to landowners or local governments.

Court members had several questions about the proposal and asked Bowen to come back “when the Judge was back.”

 Bowen was invited to attend other local meetings, including the Jackson City Council, to provide information about his group's effort to promote tourism and recreation in the area.

Zachary Tackett of the Creek Don’t Rise Coalition asked the court to pass a resolution regarding rate increases for residential and commercial customers of Kentucky Power in eastern Kentucky.

Tackett told the court that the resolution was a request to compel Kentucky Power to release its audits to the public, following the company's repeated requests for rate increases to the Kentucky Public Service Commission.

“Kentucky Power keeps asking for more money,” Tackett said.  “My neighbor has a monthly income of $1,200, and her electric bill was $800.  She had to do without her meds.”  He said that his neighbor’s story was all too common in the mountains, and several similar cases were cited.

Tackett said that five counties have approved the resolution, and three more have pledged to pass it.  He noted that Breathitt County would make the ninth if passed.

The court unanimously approved the resolution.

Senator Brandon Smith presented a check to the Court for $35,381,500, which highlighted allocations over the past for Transformation Investment in Road and Transportation Infrastructure from the Kentucky General Assembly.

The court unanimously approves paying $16,000 to the election officers who will be trained for the May primary.

Elk View approved change orders for work at the South Fork Elk View Campground.  The magistrates noted that the cabins were nearing completion and needed furniture.  The court announced that the cabins are expected to be ready for booking at the end of May.

Breathitt County Attorney Brendon Miller spoke to the court about allowing jail inmates to perform community service in the county.

The Court also approved minutes of the last meeting, vendor claims, interfund transfers, the treasurer’s report, the first reading of the jail budget, started the adoption process for Turner Crossing Lane, and approved the budget for the Breathitt County Soil Conservation District.