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Tompkinsville Council votes for centralized dispatching

The Tompkinsville City Council voted to approve a centralized
dispatching package which was presented during a special called meeting on Thursday night, Feb. 10. This package, presented by Mark Thompson, chief executive officer for the Monroe County Medical Center, along with MCMC employees Rickie Brown and Jake England, detailed how the dispatching for 911, fire, medical, and police emergencies could be combined into one operation with little or no cost increase to the city from what they are currently having to pay for the
services. Thompson reported that the 911 system is in place and the finalized mapping should be completed by October-December of 2000.
Stating that the enhanced system went online in Sept. 1999, Thompson
said, "We've done what we set out to do two or three years ago." He went on to say he had surmised, from talking to parties involved at the time of the 911 inception, that joint dispatching had been discussed and passed on at that time. The hospital, he continued, has put the 911 system in place and Rickie Brown, chief financial officer, then presented the expense sheets for the years that 911 has been in effect, detailing the amounts taken in by the $1.50 phone tax along with the amounts that were spent. During fiscal year 1997-1998, when 911 began, $73,563 was collected from the phone companies with $10,401 operating expenses noted and $30,587 logged in equipment purchases. This left $32,575 as a fund balance to begin the `98-99 fiscal year. During that year, an additional $89,305 in revenues was collected with $41,738 spent for operating expenses (salaries, supplies, phone service, etc.), $66,793 in equipment purchases and $78,720 for the mapping needed for the enhanced system. This left a deficit in the 911 fund  balance of $65,371. The final expense sheet given by Brown was only a portion of the `98-99 fiscal year and noted $52,605 was collected in revenue with $37,757 spent for operating expenses and no capital expenditures for those months. This left the deficit at $50,522. Brown noted that, with current trends and estimates, this deficit would be eliminated in five years.
"People think we're sitting on this big pot of money," Thompson said,
"It's simply not true." Thompson added that the proposals they have drawn up will "put it all on the table" to show the council what the costs and expenses have been and how a joint dispatching system can be afforded by all. Thompson noted that an additional operator to help cover the two peak shifts will be needed if a joint dispatching system is put in place, which would add to this deficit, and Brown presented a detailed summary of expenses for such operators. These costs, including salary, benefits, overhead, additional equipment and training, totaled out over five years, averaged $63,457 per year. Two options were outlined for the City Councilmen to look at which would spread this additional cost to the cities of Tompkinsville, Gamaliel, and  Fountain Run, along with the Monroe County Fiscal Court. It was noted that, at present, the City of Tompkinsville pays $46,644 for the salaries and benefits of the dispatchers. Fountain Run contributes $1,800 per year, along with Gamaliel contributing $3,000 per year, and the county's contributing
$7,200 per year. This leaves Tompkinsville responsible for $34,564 per
year. This, along with an additional $22,535 paid by the county, totals a
current cost of $61,899. For option one, the exact year- by-year costs would be divided proportionately between all entities, which would leave the city of Tompkinsville paying an average of $34,495 based on the estimates. The second option would set the amount for three years and guarantee it for three years. The city's cost on this option would be $34,800. Thompson noted that a formal agreement would need to be drawn up and approved by the Attorney General for a five-year commitment if the cities and county agree to begin a consolidated dispatching service. Thompson also noted that, with joint dispatching, the likelihood is much greater of grants being awarded for equipment and software upgrades that will be needed in the future. England, director of 911, plus the EMS/Ambulance Service, noted that, once the entire enhanced system is online, not only will the caller’s address show up on the dispatcher’s screen, but a detailed map to the location will be available. Even in instances where the fire departments are out in the
county on a fire run, the dispatcher will be able to locate the closest
water sources to the fire location. England noted that, in cases where a helicopter is needed at an accident scene, this system will pinpoint the exact latitude and longitude of the site for the pilot’s use. “What we have to remember is how vitally important this system is to us all — that’s what is getting lost in all this, people need to remember this can save lives,” Councilman Jeff Harrison noted. The council voted unanimously to approve the centralized dispatching package presented to them, with further decisions about the option plans to be made at later meetings when they are appropriate.

Fiscal Court delays decision on centralized dispatching

“We’ve put in the (911) system and this money is going toward the
system — we’re running a deficit and actually eating all the additional cost,” Monroe County Medical Center administrator Mark Thompson told the Monroe County Fiscal Court members during their meeting on Wednesday morning, Feb 16. “We’re upholding our part,” he said, in reference to questions concerning the installation of 911 service and a central dispatch service. These questions were asked at the January Fiscal Court meeting, when members of the court were told it would cost about $60,000 to centralize all dispatching for fire, police and ambulance services. Thompson; Rickie Brown, the hospital’s chief financial officer; and Jake England, 911 director, appeared before the court to give breakdowns of past and future costs concerning 911 and a centralized dispatching system. Members of the court indicated they felt the contract entered into several years ago required MCMC to absorb any costs above the amount collected county-wide from the $1.50 monthly surcharge on phone bills. It was the hospital representatives’ contention that the contract stipulated installing a 911 system. They also said they believe the central dispatch issue is an entirely different matter and was not part of the original contract agreement. When questioned about the two years of collecting the phone surcharges before the system went online, Thompson said that was necessary to help get the system started.
Brown gave a detailed breakdown of monies collected and the year by
year expenses (see information in Tompkinsville City Council story).
Thompson reiterated these and future costs were for operating the 911
system and not for a centralized dispatch service. Several magistrates voiced the opinion that this was not explained to them when the contract was negotiated and that this is not the way they read the document.
Brown also gave a breakdown of current dispatch costs paid by the
cities of Tompkinsville, Gamaliel and Fountain Run as well as the county.
Those costs, when added together with the money from the $1.50
surcharge, will be enough to cover a centralized dispatch service, according to Brown. After much discussion revolving around whether the contract was supposed to include those costs anyway, the court asked that Carter meet with Clay Hundley, attorney for the Medical Center who helped draft the contract. Discussion on the matter was tabled until that meeting could be held. County Judge-executive Russell Young told the group that, with the construction of the new section of Hwy. 163, just north of  Tompkinsville, the state has turned the old section over to the county. The magistrates decided to name the section from Anderson Forest Products, back southward to Mt. Gilead Road intersection (near the veterinary clinic), and then eastward in front of the clinic to the new section of road as the Bushong Road. The section east of the new road is already called Bushong Road. County Coroner Billy Paul Smith came before the court to discuss issues about costs of his office. When asked about the $50 per call the county is charged, Smith said Yokley Funeral Home provides unlimited vehicle use, a place to take the bodies until other arrangements are made, office space furnished, and no charge for
phone calls. Young said he has checked around and this was about the going rate. Smith said there is a higher cost when an autopsy is performed in  Louisville, due to transportation costs. The magistrates seemed satisfied and thanked Smith for his answers.
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Announcements
Injury accident reported

Two persons were injured in a one-vehicle accident on Wednesday
morning,  Feb. 16, at 6:15 a.m., approximately seven miles north of Tompkinsville on Hwy. 163, just across the Metcalfe County line. According to Kentucky State Police reports, David Savage, 29, Summer
Shade, was traveling south when the 1967 Ford he was driving dropped off the shoulder of the road; he overcorrected and struck a tree. Both he and his passenger, 10-year-old Tyler Tooley, were ejected from the vehicle. The child was taken to T.J. Samson Hospital in Glasgow then later flown by helicopter to Kosair’s Children Hospital in Louisville where he was reported in fair condition at press time. Savage was transported by Stat Flight helicopter to the University of  Louisville hospital where he was listed in critical condition by hospital  staff on Wednesday afternoon. KSP Tpr. Eaton reported that neither occupant was wearing a seat belt.



MCHS academic team wins top honors at Governor’s Cup

Monroe County High School’s academic team won several top honors at
district Governor’s Cup competition, which was hosted by Monroe County this year and held Saturda, Feb. 12, at the high school. Six events for individual students and two team events make up Governor’s
Cup competition, with each school in the district allowed to send up to
three students to compete in each of the contests for individuals, plus
a team in each of the team events. The high schools in Monroe, Metcalfe,
Cumberland and Clinton make up this district. The top four students in each of the individual events and the top two teams in team competition advance to the regional Governor’s Cup competition, which will be held at Clinton County High School Feb. 24 and 26. Both Monroe’s quick-recall and future problem-solving teams took first place in district competition. Members of the future problem-solving team are Donny Geralds, Josh Lane, Joni Lindquist and Seth Howard.
Members of the quick-recall team who participated Saturday were
Nathan Pedigo, Seth Howard, DeLisa Tooley, Donny Geralds, Joni Lindquist and Aaron Holcomb. MCHS students who placed in the top four in the district in individual events, thus qualifying for the regional contest, are: English composition — Joni Lindquist, first, and Hilary Yokley, second. Mathematics — Tracey Hays, third, and Donny Geralds, fourth. General knowledge — Andrea McFall, third, and Seth Howard, fourth. Overall, Monroe placed second in the district contest.
Coaches of the MCHS team are Rhonda Tracy and Janice Graves.
They noted that several students who could have competed in this
event were unable to take part since they were taking the ACT test, which was also given Saturday.

MCHS Football Awards Banquet held recently

Players who received recognition during Monroe County High School’s
1999 Football Awards Banquet recently, and the awards they received, were: Jason Netherton, Best Offensive Back; Jordan Hale, Best Linebacker, 110% Award, Senior Award; Josh Turner, Best Offensive Lineman and Senior Award; Jessie England, Best Defensive Back, Best Receiver and Senior Award; Chad Davis and Bronson Hamilton, Most Improved Award; Jacob Crowe, Most Valuable Player and Senior Award; Steven Moody, Best Defensive Lineman and Senior Award; and Justin Gearlds, Senior Award.
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Girls Basketball
Lady Falcons take on regional powers

It was a big week for the Lady Falcons of Monroe County. Last Friday night, Feb. 12, they went on the road to take on district rival Metcalfe County, then turned around on Saturday and visited another Fourth Region power, Warren East. Then this past Tuesday night, Feb. 15, Monroe challenged the Fourth Region’s #1-rated team, the Barren County Trojanettes, who are currently #12 in the state, according to the Courier-Journal Litkenhous ratings.
Metcalfe County
In their final 16th District match-up before the tournament, Monroe
wanted to keep momentum, as they were riding a six-game winning streak. The momentum was provided in the first quarter by Lady Falcon Lindsey Berry as she hit for 10 points, helping Monroe take a 10-point lead into the second period. Monroe continued to pull away in the second period, carrying a 15-point margin into the locker room at halftime. Following the intermission, the Lady Falcons put the ‘D’ on Metcalfe, holding them to just 14 for the entire second half, and won going away,  71-35.
“Our girls were ready to play,” said Head Coach Tony Harlan. “We did
a much better job of attacking the zone. We didn’t relax once we got a big lead, and the bench play was really good,” he added. This win set Monroe’s final regular season district record at 5-1.
Scoring by quarters: 1st — Monroe 19, Metcalfe 9; 2nd — Monroe 17,
Metcalfe 12; 3rd — Monroe 19, Metcalfe 7; 4th — Monroe 16,
Metcalfe 7.
Individual stats: Berry, 16 points; Brittany Geralds, 16; Kari Brown,
10 (seven rebounds); Becky Pedigo, 7; Renea Proffitt, 6 (five steals);
Tracey Hays, 4; Amanda Shaw, 4; Kelli Baxter, 4; Kelli Emberton, 2; Leslie McAlpin, 1; and Jessica Ritter, 1.
Warren East
Monroe hit the road once again, last Saturday, to take on a very good
Warren East team. Back-to-back games can be tough, but Monroe was
ready. The first period was closely played but the Lady Falcons did manage to outscore East, then put a little more room between them in the second quarter, and continued to spread the margin in the third, as Monroe’s pressure defense was able to hold down East’s scoring.
Monroe spent a great deal of time on the free-throw line in the final
period, hitting 11 of 21 attempts, but still managed to outscore the
Lady Raiders and take a very good 59-44 victory, their 18th of the season. “A quality win,” said coach Harlan. “Our press wore them down.”
Scoring by quarters: 1st — Monroe 14, East 12; 2nd — Monroe 16, East 11; 3rd — Monroe 14, East 7; 4th — Monroe 12, East 14.
Individual stats: Lindsey Berry, 11 points (six rebounds); Tracey
Hays, 10; Leslie McAlpin, 9 (six rebounds); Brittany Geralds, 9; Kari Brown, 7; Becky Pedigo, 7; and Renea Proffitt, 6.
Barren County
In what could be a preview of a Fourth Region Tournament game, Monroe took on highly ranked Barren County in the Lady Falcons’ first home game since Jan. 28 — and they must have forgotten what the basket looked like, because they had a terrible shooting game. The first period seemed okay, but the second period was a different story and the Trojanettes added 11, and took a 9-point lead into the locker room at halftime. Monroe rebounded, somewhat, in the third period, when both teams scored an equal number of points , but Monroe was unable to close the gap in the final quarter and Barren handed the Lady Falcons their first loss in nine games at 52-37. “We played hard enough to win,” said Harlan. “We simply didn’t shoot the ball.” Monroe shot 25% overall and their average is 43%. However, this game was one of our better rebounding games this season, with 33 total, and we had 11 steals, nine assists and only 16 turnovers,” Harlan said. The coach was not disappointed, saying: “Barren County is a good team, but I still feel we’re as good. Our girls did everything we asked of them — unfortunately, shooting will vary with every game and every opponent.”
Scoring by quarters: 1st — Monroe 12, Barren 14; 2nd — Monroe 4,
Barren 11; 3rd — Monroe 11, Barren 11; 4th — Monroe 10, Barren 16.
Stats: Brittany Geralds, 9 points (four steals); Renea Proffitt, 9 (five
rebounds); Kari Brown, 6 (seven rebounds); Leslie McAlpin, 6 (six
rebounds); Lindsey Berry, 5 (eight rebounds); and Tracey Hays, 2.
This loss dropped Monroe’s season record to 18-5 with two more games on the schedule, Todd Central at home on Feb. 18 and Allen County (away) on Feb. 24.
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Boys Basketball
The Monroe County Falcons two of their last four regular season games
this past week with contests at Metcalfe County Friday, Feb. 11, night and then back home to host Barren County on Tuesday, Feb. 15.
Metcalfe County
This game was an important 16th District match-up with tournament
seedings involved and the Falcons also wanted revenge for an earlier loss to the Hornets — but it was not to be. Monroe got off to a good start, led in part by Radford Graves 8 first-quarter points, and held a 5-point lead at the end of the first period. They had extended that lead by a point by halftime, following the break, Monroe a scoring slump and Metcalfe took a 2-point lead into the final period. The fourth quarter got a little bit strange as Metcalfe’s Russ Glass went to the free throw line 16 times in the final period (25 for the game), hitting 12 of the fourth-quarter attempts, and the Hornets took a 79-68 win. “We played extremely hard,” said Head Coach Carter. “I thought we did a lot of things right — but we just didn’t make the plays at the end of the game.”
Scoring by quarters: 1st — Monroe 19, Metcalfe 14; 2nd — Monroe 21, Metcalfe 20; 3rd — Monroe 8, Metcalfe 16; 4th — Monroe 20, Metcalfe 29.
Individual stats: Zack Grace, 17 points; Graves, 16; Josh Turner, 13;
Jonathan Hamilton, 8; Casey Kirk, 6; Cory Netherton, 4; and Chris
Pitcock, 4.
Barren County
Monroe felt they had a shot at the Trojans, but that shot was like their
field-goal shooting for the evening — bad. The Falcons suffered through a 3-17 night from the 3-point line (17.64%) and a not-much-better 32% overall night. The Falcons were competitive in the first period, but the second quarter began the downhill slide, and by the end of the third period, Barren held a 22-point lead. A lot of bench players for both teams saw time in the last quarter of the game, and Barren again outscored Monroe, this time by 6 point, to easily take the win, 83-55.
“We played hard,” said coach Carter, “but we were just unable to make
any shots.
Scoring by quarters: 1st — Monroe 11, Barren 17; 2nd — Monroe 14,
Barren 22; 3rd — Monroe 8, Barren 16; 4th — Monroe 22, Barren 28.
Individual stats: Zack Grace, 14; Chase Moore, 10; Jessie England,
10; Radford Graves, 7; Casey Kirk, 6; Josh Turner, 4; Chris Pitcock, 2;
Cory Netherton, 1; and Eric Davis, 1.
Two more games remain on the schedule for the Falcons before the
District Tournament opens Feb. 28 in Tompkinsville. The Monroe team hosts Todd Central on Feb. 18 and then goes to Allen County on Feb. 28.
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Deaths
Six deaths were reported to the Tompkinsville News this past week.
These were:
— Robert L. Lancaster, 67, Scottsville, who died Feb. 13 (he was the
husband of Lois Mahaney Lancaster);
— Roy Denton Dodson, 65, Indianapolis, Ind., a Tompkinsville native
who died Feb. 10 (he was the husband of Delores Jewell [Taylor] Dodson);
— Mildred Wanda (Cooksey) Jones, 78, Glasgow, who also died Feb. 10 (she was the widow of Lester Jones);
— Gary F. York, 54, Gallatin, Tenn., who died Feb. 9 (he was the
husband of Carolyn Paulette [Carver] York):
— Norman Trobaugh, 71, Celina, Tenn., who also died Feb. 9 (he was
the husband of Jewel Dean (Adams) Trobaugh); and
— Donna Lynn (Wilson) Smith, 35, Pleasant Shade, Tenn., who died Feb. 7 (she was the wife of Steven A. Smith).
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