Local city to increase fines for violations

Apr. 9—FLATWOODS — Flatwoods city council unanimously agreed to raising the price of various fines in city limits.

The council voted Monday evening to increase fines for illegal parking from $50 to $100. If blocking fire zones, the fine went from $10 to $75 per violation. Illegal handicap zone parking was originally in a range of $25 to $100. If passed on second reading, the fine would be $150 to $250. Street parking violations, which used to begin at $2 and no more than $100, will be $75 each day. Mayor Buford Hurley said the switch is all part of getting up to date with other areas in the tri-state area.

"Some of them haven't been changed since 1963," Hurley said.

David R. Smith, Police Chief, shared a monthly report for March to the board.

A total of 529 calls for service were made, including the following: two thefts, one burglary, nine domestics, 37 traffic stops, 17 alarm calls, 28 citations, 10 arrests, four alcohol-involved, two drugs-involved, 13 cases opened, eight cases closed, 16 incident reports and 11 collisions investigated.

Animal Control reported 16 complaints, three animals removed to the pound and one bite in Flatwoods; and five complaints and one animal removed to the pound in Russell, Smith said.

Brent Dean, Fire Chief, expressed an enormous amount of gratitude and thanks to area fire departments for showing up last month to a business ablaze in Greenup County. Flatwoods called other departments for help and they "showed up with no hesitation," he said.

"It was a true display of professionalism and genuine display of neighbors helping neighbors. We needed help that day and they brought it to us," Hurley added.

Other highlights of Monday's council meeting:

—The council voted to make the fourth and fifth payment to Walker Construction for the Powell Lane sidewalk project.

—They approved Hurley to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Violent Crimes Task Force

—Smith welcomed Kyle Topping, 39, a Russell High School graduate, to the police force.

(606) 326-2657 — ajohnson@dailyindependent.com