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Anthony Cloud

Staff Writer

The Middlesboro City Council authorized mayor Bill Kelley to advertise for bids on the Noetown Sewer Maintenance Project during the meeting on Tuesday. The project began in 2006, but needs completion.

The project began when Kelley was the judge-executive. At that point, there was a good amount of multi-county bond money. Some of that money went toward the sewer project because the Noetown sewer system had inflow and infiltration problems.

Kelley said if the project is not finished soon, the state could begin taking money from the fund established for the project.

“I don’t want to lose (the money), while we have a chance to educate ourselves on how bad our (sewer) lines are,” said Kelley.

The project will allow the city to look through the sewer system and find the problems, looking at areas with an increase of water inflow. There will be point repairs throughout the process.

Bo Farmer, membership sales manager for AirMedCare Network, gave a presentation to the council involving memberships with Air Evac. Farmer said discussion between city employees is what prompted the presentation.

Farmer said many of the city’s employees believed the city was paying coverage for them with Air Evac. However, he said the last year the city was covered as a whole with Air Evac was 2008. The employees have have not been covered since then.

Farmer stressed that subscribers of Air Evac do not have to pay a bill if the emergency transportation service is needed. The average cost of a flight with Air Evac is $22,500,he said.

The majority of flights performed by Air Evac are transport flights. Only 5 percent of the flights done by the service involve car accidents, according to Farmer.

Memberships with Air Evac cover all transportation services with Med-Trans, including Life Star. Kelley stated he would have the committees look at the memberships.

With the lack of a Discover Downtown Middlesboro (DDM) director, Keith Nagle addressed the board on happenings within DDM. Nagle said he believed the Ducky Dash that occurred in August went well. He also stated he was a little disappointed with the attendance, but added other activities during the day may have affected it.

Nagle also spoke about the search for a new director for DDM. The organization is in contract negotiations with an individual that was not identified. The individual is said to have plenty of main street experience.

Gena McCarthy addressed the board about a concern she had involving a new home in her neighborhood. She lives on Arthur Heights and stated an individual had just located a modular unit near her house.

Her biggest concern revolved around the types of older houses in the area. She expressed concern the new addition could lower peroperty values. She also asked if the city could do anything about it being located there.

Kelley said the property value should not be affected. He also said there is nothing the city can do about the home. Despite the area being known for its history, only one house is listed on the historical chart. The tennat is the property owner as well, he said.

The council repealed one stormwater ordinance and replaced it with another during the meeting. Much detail was not given because there are plans to have a sewer meeting next month to discuss the matter.

Other action included:

• Entrance of reports;

• Entrance of city bills paid;

• Approval of minutes from previous meeting;

• Second reading of an ordinance establishing the Ad Valorem tax levy on personal property for 2013;

• Second reading of an ordinance establishing the Ad Valorem tax levy for 2012;

• Committee reports.

Anthony Cloud is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. He can be contacted via email at acloud@heartlandpublications.com or by phone at 606-248-1010 ext. 208.