The Jamestown City Council met last Thursday and became the fourth, and final, government entity to agree to contribute to continue 911 services at the Russell County Dispatch.

Deputy Judge/Executive Chris Ramsey presented the county’s case for Jamestown’s continued involvement and contribution to the 911 services.

“I’m here to not only ask for a financial contribution of $25,000 that will allow the enhanced 911 operation to continue in Russell County for another year,” Ramsey said, “but I’m also here to ask you all to be willing to sit on a committee, the mayor and a councilman, as we look at addressing the long term effects of 911 on this community and how we can look at, not just a year to year, but also a five and ten year plan to keep it stable.”

After referencing Ramsey’s mention of a long term solution, Mayor Terry Lawless asked, “Would it be your thought that either you or the county judge will be back next year asking for additional monies.?”

“Right now we’re hoping that as we progress through this next year we become more financially solvent, and that we wouldn’t have to keep coming back every year seeking additional funding. That would be the ultimate goal,” Ramsey responded. “I can’t speak on their (the fiscal court) behalf,” we are looking at a long term financial solution.”

Ramsey said the committee the county wishes to put together would work toward that goal.

The recent increase in occupational tax, from .25 percent to the current one percent is expected to raise an additional $1.2 million a year in revenues for the county. The tax has only had one quarter of enactment and the real effects of the additional revenue are yet to be realized.

Mayor Lawless, as well as many members of the council, echoed the concerns that the city of Russell Springs had raised before voting to contribute $25,000, and continues to echo the same concern as last year when both cities reluctantly contributed the monies; that the contribution is a form of double taxation upon the citizens of the city. 911 services and related boards are under the purview of the fiscal court and as such the fiscal court is directly responsible for the funding of the service.

But along with the reluctance, there was acknowledgement that many citizens of the city had also expressed the desire to keep the service, and the jobs it provides locally, within the county and to not turn it over to an outside operation.

“It would be awful nice to have something worked out within the next year and a half, until the next interlocal agreement would come up,” said Mayor Lawless. “Some means of support…rather than these two cities having to put in what I consider a double portion of it.”

Councilman George Ralph Garr expressed that with a quick calculation of the numbers, it’s his belief that the county would come back to the cities again next year. “I hope you don’t have to come back, but it’s not looking very good,” Garr said.

This year’s budget for 911 is $313,000. With the $25,000 contributed by the two cities and the ambulance board, a yearly grant through the Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS) state funded program, the county is left to pay approximately $128,000 to make up the rest of the budget.

From the audience present, active community member, retired Dr. James Monin gave his thoughts on the matter. Beginning by mentioning that our county was founded on the fact that the colonies had “taxation without representation,” Monin went on to say that “the county owes us, the cities don’t owe the county,” going on to give the example that the recent water expansion led to an increase in water rates that citizens have to pay, yet the citizens of Jamestown “did not need any more water ourselves, yet the citizens of Jamestown are paying…so we can have a bigger water system,” said Monin.

Monin went on to question what the county provides to the city; that the city provides its own police department and fire department, and that the taxation base of the two cities are different, with different numbers in population, and that the city of Jamestown might pay on a per capita, based on Russell Springs payment of $25,000. The City of Russell Springs has approximately 2,300 residents while the city of Jamestown has about 1,700. He also suggested a loan to the county as an alternative to contributing the money.

“You people were elected to promote the ideals and improvement and betterment of the city of Jamestown, you were not elected to promote the county of Russell County; that’s somebody else’s job,” Monin said.

After Mayor Lawless clarified that the county does not receive any revenues from the water plant, the council voted to contribute the $25,000 toward an interlocal agreement, allowing for 911 Dispatch operations to continue through another year.

Both the cities of Jamestown and Russell Springs as well as the county received the $25,000 themselves through a contribution from the Lake Cumberland (Natural) Gas Authority.

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A Russell Springs man is being held on two counts of first degree rape along with other charges, according to the state police.

Michael York, 38, of Russell Springs was arrested early Monday by the Kentucky State Police after allegedly taking an adult female victim to a location off John Street where he held her at knife point and forced her to engage in various sexual interactions.

The citation reads that York went to another residence where he broke out the front glass of a door in an attempt to make entry. After finally gaining entrance through a side door he kicked in, he attempted to rape a second adult female victim. The second victim, who is a sister to the first victim, was able to break free and flee to a neighbor where she called 911.

York allegedly fled the residence and attempted to hide in the basement of that residence.

At the time that York was taken into custody a knife matching the description given by the first victim was located in his back pocket, according to the citation. York was positively identified by both victims.

In addition to two counts of rape, York is charged with sodomy first degree, burglary first degree, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and menacing.

He was being held on $100,000 cash bond at the Russell County Detention Center.