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A recall on the 3.7 cent tax initiated by the hospital district will not stop the sell of Westlake.

A recall is part of our democratic process and one we should all appreciate. The legislation that protects us from any government entity slapping on a huge tax without our permission is the same law that is in place here. It’s a good law.

No, it’s a great law.

With that said, we all know there is no good end to this story. As the letter from the Attorney General’s office clarifies, the debt of the hospital district must be paid, and if the district doesn’t have the revenue to pay it, then we get to foot the bill.

So, the worse-case scenario is that taxpayers refuse to pay the tax and the banks that loaned the hospital millions of dollars will have to go to court and ask a judge to force a tax on taxpayers. The judge would have the authority to set the rate and could even go beyond the 10-cent limit set for taxing districts should he or she so choose.

But, it wouldn’t have to happen that way. If the current tax is recalled, the hospital district could come back and ask for another one. To get one passed, they would have to educate taxpayers…

To read more, get this week’s issue of the Adair County Community Voice. Newspapers are in racks throughout the county this afternoon and in mailboxes Thursday.

By Sharon Burton
snburton@duo-county.com

Louise Smith took advantage of the afternoon hours at the farmers’ market Tuesday. Smith stopped to check out the ripe tomatoes brought by Wayne and Barbara Armitage. A“Taste of Adair” will be featured Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in front of the extension office at the farmers’ market. The office is located on Fairground Street.

School in Adair County starts Wednesday, Aug. 8. Students at Adair County Middle School went to open house Tuesday night. Pictured is Annette Hadley, bookkeeper at ACMS, 8th grade students Jordan Lasley, Katherine Curry and Madison VanArsdale and instructor Leighann Loy.

Dylan Pendleton, 8th grade student at ACMS checks to see what homeroom he is in.

The office of Attorney General Jack Conway offered an informal opinion Tuesday that shed some light on the laws the hospital district must follow to levy a tax.

County Judge Executive Ann Melton requested the Attorney General opinion after the hospital board voted to levy a 3.7 cents tax per $100 assessment after having a zero tax for 15 years.

The letter of advice, signed by Assistant Attorney General Matt James, emphasizes that it is not a formal opinion but hopes the views expressed in the letter will provide the community some assistance.

The AG’s office advises that the hospital’s attempt to establish a tax following a zero tax is subject…

To read more of this story, get this week’s issue of the Adair County Community Voice. Newspapers are in racks throughout the county on this afternoon and in mailboxes Thursday.

By Sharon Burton
snburton@duo-county.com

Vicky Pike, who is leading the movement to recall a hospital tax passed by the Adair County Hospital District board of directors, said Friday that petitions are now available for people to sign. In addition, a special day has been scheduled so people can go by the courthouse annex basement and sign the petitions.

Pike and four other people filed as a committee on Thursday to circulate the petition protesting a 3.7 cents tax on taxpayers to pay debt that will remain if and when Westlake Regional Hospital and a group of primary care centers are sold. Anyone from Adair County who voted in the last presidential election can sign the petition. If 755 people who are qualified sign in protest, the issue could go on the ballot for a vote before the tax can be implemented. Because of the time frame, the issue would not be on the ballot until 2014, thereby stopping the tax for at least two years. The Attorney General has been asked to clarify if the tax is subject to recall but an opinion has not been released yet.

SIGNING THE PETITION

Anyone signing the petition must do so on a sheet of paper identified for the specific precinct in which they vote. Anyone who does not know the name of their district can call County Clerk Sheila Blair’s office at 384-2801 to find out. When signing the petition, you will be asked to sign your name, print your name, provide your address and Pike said it would help if you provide your birth-date in case there are others with the same name. The committee must file the petition with the county clerk by September 4.

Pike said anyone who is interested in helping distribute petitions or get voters signed up can call her at 384-3348 or 634-2604, or they can contact Cynthia Rowe at 384-5431.

SPECIAL SIGN-UP DAY SCHEDULED

Pike and others will set up in the basement of the courthouse annex at 424 Public Square, Columbia, from 10:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 8. Anyone wishing to sign the petition can do so at that time.

In addition to Pike and Rowe, other members of the committee are Ron Carter, Wendy Gousha and Jay Johnson.

Five people have filed as a committee to organize a petition in opposition of the hospital district’s 3.7 cents tax.

Vicky Pike, Cynthia Rowe, Ron Carter, Wendy Gousha, and Jay Johnson filed the proper paperwork Thursday.

The committee will be responsible for circulating the petition protesting the tax and filing it in the proper form within 45 days from the passage of the order to impose the 3.7 percent tax on the taxpayers of Adair County by the Adair County Hospital District Board. The date the tax was imposed was July 20, 2012, meaning the deadline is Sept. 4, 2012.

For the tax to be recalled, 10 percent of the people who voted in the last presidential race must sign the petition, which is 755 people. The petition must be signed in the precinct where the signatory votes.

All correspondence for this committee should be sent to Victoria Pike at 3011 Burkesville Rd., Columbia. Her phone number is 384-3348 or 634-2604.

It is still not legally decided if the tax is in fact subject to recall but the clock is ticking. County Judge Executive Ann Melton, with the support of the fiscal court, has asked the Attorney General to clarify the legal responsibility of the hospital district board and that decision is pending. It is believed that the deadline date of Sept. 4 will be in effect should the Attorney General declare that the tax is subject to recall.

When I woke on July 23, my dog was missing. Her name is Lucy. She’s 8 months old and is a blue heeler/Border collie mix, weighs about 15-20 pounds, and is wearing a pink collar. She has stitches in her belly as she was just spayed on Friday. We live in the Prices Creek Road community. If anyone sees her, could you please call me at 270-250-3036.

(Photo Pending)

Thank you again.
Deb Dickson

The new school year begins on Aug. 8 and one community group is making sure that at least 200 school kids will go to school with new shoes.

With the economy the way it is, it’s harder for parents to buy new shoes especially if they have more than one child, said co-founder Cricket McCloud.

Four years ago McCloud, Mindy Smith, Jennifer Richard, Columbia Christian Church Youth and Family Minister Adam Shepard, and family resource and youth center representatives got together and came up with the Kids Needs Kicks Ministry.

They wanted to do something similar to the angel tree program during Christmas. Church groups, businesses and individuals can donate a pair of new shoes. KNK will work with the youth service and family resource centers to match up a student with a pair of shoes.

“Kids feel better about themselves when they have a new pair of shoes,” McCloud said. “The kids are just tickled to death if they get something name brand. They just light up.”

Those looking to donate can either choose a shoe card with a shoe size and gender or make a donation on their own. The deadline to return shoes with the “Shoe Box” program will be July 24 or as near to that deadline as possible.

Shoes can be dropped off at Columbia Christian Church, First and Farmers National Bank on the square and at the Community Voice office.

For more information regarding the ministry or donations, Kids Need Kicks Ministry Committee Members may be contacted as follows: Cricket McCloud at 385-9633; Mindy Smith at 250-6060, Adam Shepard at 384-2612 or Paula Garrison at 384-9752.

Nine people were indicted in Adair Circuit Court this week on various drug charges.

Eight of those who were indicted were charged with manufacturing methamphetamine.

• Cheyenne Dial, 36, manufacturing methamphetamine; possession of a controlled substance—methamphetamine, 1st degree, 1st offense; possession of drug paraphernalia. Arraignment is July 24 at 1 p.m. Bail is $25,000.

• Robin Lynn Morrison, aka Robin Lynn Nuszbaum, 30, manufacturing methamphetamine; possession of a controlled substance—methamphetamine, 1st degree, 1st offense; possession of drug paraphernalia. Arraignment is July 24 at 1 p.m. Bail is $25,000.

• Pamela McKinney Mosby Greer, 40, manufacturing methamphetamine, 2nd or greater offense; persistent felony offender, 2nd degree; possession of a controlled substance—methamphetamine, 3rd or greater offense; possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia. Arraignment is Aug. 14 at 1 p.m. Bail is $25,000.

• Aaron Dale McKinney, 36, manufacturing methamphetamine, 2nd or greater offense; two counts of persistent felony offender, 1st degree; possession of a controlled substance—methamphetamine, 1st degree, 3rd or greater offense; possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; tampering with physical evidence. Arraignment is Aug. 14 at 1 p.m. Bail is $25,000.

• Selisa Nichole McKinney, 31, manufacturing methamphetamine, 1st offense; persistent felony offender, 2nd degree; possession of a controlled substance—methamphetamine, 1st degree, 1st offense; possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia. Arraignment is Aug. 14 at 1 p.m. Bail is set at $25,000.

• Zackary Paul Morgan, 19, manufacturing methamphetamine, 1st offense; possession of a controlled substance—methamphetamine, 1st degree, 1st offense; possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; tampering with physical evidence. Arraignment is Aug. 14. Bail is set at $25,000.

• Jamie M. Benham, 23, manufacturing methamphetamine. Arraignment is Aug. 21 at 9 a.m. Bail is set at $25,000.

• Christopher P. Benham, 32, manufacturing methamphetamine; persistent felony offender, 1st degree. Arraignment is Aug. 21 at 9 a.m. Bail is set at $25,000 cash.

One person was indicted for trafficking in cocaine.

Gary Wayne Carter, Jr., 32, three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance—cocaine, 1st degree, 1st offense; three counts of persistent felony offender, 1st degree; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. Arraignment is Aug. 21 at 9 a.m. Bail is set at $100,000.

While others are trying to clarify how to properly establish a tax after 15 years, the hospital district board apparently plans to move forward with a vote on the issue Friday.

Judge Executive Ann Melton said Tuesday that an opinion from the Attorney General’s office might not be final by the time the hospital board votes Friday.

The hospital board set the wheels in motion on June 26 to initiate a 3.7 cents tax per $100 assessment, the first time the hospital district attempted to impose a tax since 1997.

Hospital officials said they believe the board has the authority to “reinstate” the tax from 15 years ago without being subject to recall, but admitted the move is unprecedented and the process unclear.

Melton requested the AG opinion and her request was supported unanimously by members of the fiscal court.

Melton said she spoke last week to an attorney with the Kentucky Association of Counties who said he believes the tax will be subject to recall.

To read more on this story, see the July 19 issue of the Community Voice.