Local News
City inspects new E-911 agreement
A new interlocal agreement concerning a countywide consolidated 911 dispatching system is scheduled to go before the commission for acceptance at its next regular meeting Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 6 p.m., pending agreement from all parties involved, according to city attorney Garrett Fowles.
The city’s 911 board met Wednesday to look at a new draft of the document that is a result of the commission’s recent decision to consolidate.
However, the commission’s decision to join depends on its satisfaction with the new interlocal agreement.
Board members, including Fowles, Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock, fire chief Gerald Tatum, commissioner Rita Smart, Richmond Finance Director Mike Broyles and Interim City Manager Jimmy Howard, had a few minor changes to recommend, but nothing that would drastically change the content of the new agreement.
One new addition to the interlocal agreement includes language describing why Richmond decided to join the E-911 consolidated system, and the benefits that will be a result of the consolidation.
“... the parties have evaluated the existing capabilities of the ... joint dispatching service and the individual dispatching services of Richmond, as well as the anticipated needs and demands for delivery of these services in the future, ... the parties have concluded that combining the existing joint dispatching services with the dispatching services of Richmond will promote safety, efficiency, cooperation, future grant funding and the overall performance of dispatching services in their jurisdictions.”
The new agreement also outlines Richmond’s initial financial commitment needed to pay for merging its technology with the existing E-911 system, which is an estimated $116,380.
However, Howard said he was overestimating that cost to $150,000 to make sure that any unforeseen financial obligations are covered.
Howard said Wednesday that Richmond’s merge with the E-911 system would eventually save the city an estimated $500,000 annually.
Much debate has surrounded the issue of Richmond’s representation on the E-911 board, and the original interlocal agreement between Madison County and Berea, created on May 22, 2007, said board representation would be based on the population of each entity involved.
However, Madison County EMS Director and E-911 board chairman Carlos Coyle told members of the city’s 911 board at a meeting in December that the language about population would be removed so that representation would be equal among the county, Berea and Richmond.
“I don’t think it’s us versus them,” Tatum said at Wednesday’s meeting. “I think everybody’s on the board for the same cause.”
Brock also said he was comfortable with how the city of Richmond will be represented on the E-911 board.
Some of the new technology that will be available as a result of the 911 merge would be an upgrade for the city’s fire department, Tatum said.
It previously was reported that the current E-911 system could not accept Richmond into their operation until the city begins collecting its recently increased landline phone tax of $3.50.
It could take three to six months for the city to begin collecting this fee, but the commission has the option to agree to absorb any initial funding until the fees begin to be collected.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@ richmondregister.com or 624-6608.
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Police arrest Richmond man for burglary
An Evansdale Avenue resident has been accused of stealing about $2,662 worth of items from a woman’s apartment, said Larry Brock, Richmond police chief.
The woman told police someone had entered her apartment during the overnight hours of Saturday. Entry was gained through an unlocked window, Brock said. -
Battlefield Park getting pistol belonging to Gen. Nelson’s killer
A pistol that belonged to the Union general who shot and killed Gen. William “Bull” Nelson, Union commander at the Battle of Richmond, is coming to Battlefield Park’s visitors center.
The pistol, a Colt .44, was carried later in the Civil War by Gen. Jefferson C. Davis of Indiana, who killed Nelson during an altercation in the lobby of the Galt House in Louisville after the August 1862 Battle of Richmond. -
BREAKING NEWS: Man sitting on tracks hit, killed by train
An unidentified white man was struck and killed by a train at about 11:19 p.m. on Wednesday.
The man’s body was discovered about a-half mile north of the CSX-owned tracks intersection with Four Mile Road said Larry Brock, Richmond police chief. The man appeared to have been sitting on the tracks in the area of Four Mile Road, Brock said.
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Man who fired ‘warning shots’ pleads guilty
A man accused of shooting at his ex-girlfriend after a physical fight between the two pleaded guilty to lesser charges Wednesday in Madison District Court.
Kevin Carter, 24, of Berea Road, had been charged with first-degree wanton endangerment, but as part of a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to criminal attempt to commit fourth-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor.
Had Carter been convicted of the original charge, he could have faced up to five years in prison. -
Republican party hosting open house
The Madison County Republican Party will be hosting an open house today from 5 to 7 p.m. at its new headquarters at 128 Big Hill Avenue (Wallingford Broadcasting building). Many of the local candidates will be available to meet the public and campaign items will be available.
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Increasing access
A rural health clinic soon will be able to serve more people, offer more services and operate longer hours because of grant funding received from Catholic Health Initiatives.
The $398,610 grant will be administered over a three-year period. The cost of the grant is mostly for salaries, according to Katie Heckman, community relations manager for St. Joseph — Berea. -
Emergency sirens to sound Saturday
The bi-monthly test of the Madison County siren, tone alert radio and local emergency notification system will be conducted Saturday, Sept. 4 at 12:20 p.m.
In the event of threatening weather, the test will be canceled.
The system is tested the first Saturday and the third Wednesday of each month.
Local Emergency Alert System radio stations include: WEKY, 1340 AM; WCBR, 1110 AM; WCYO, 100.7 FM; WEKU, 88.9 FM; WKXO, 1500 AM; WLFX, 106.7 FM; and WIRV, 1550 AM. -
Foothills, White House provide school supplies
Kentucky River Foothills and White House Clinic have teamed up to help provide free school supplies to children in Madison and Estill counties.
This is the first year for the program, which was created to help students in need be able to focus more on learning. -
Local SBA disaster loan centers to close
BEREA — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will close its temporary Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Madison County on Thursday. Another center in Carter County also will close Thursday.
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Some not happy with cemetery conditions
Richmond Cemetery trustee chair Donald Roberts and his predecessor Tom Smith both acknowledged in a Richmond Register interview published that not everyone was happy with cemetery upkeep, but that much progress had been achieved in the nearly 11 years both had been on the board.
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Police arrest Richmond man for burglary
