A Wayne County man, who has been charged with murder in connection with the 2018 death of a local man, appeared in Wayne Circuit Court on Tuesday, August 6 for arraignment.

John Denney entered a plea of not guilty, and a pretrial conference in the case was set for September 3. He was indicted for murder in July by a local grand jury. The charges stem from a three-vehicle accident that occurred October 25, 2018 on KY 90 near the intersection of Gregory Street.

Robert Allen Hicks, 48, of Monticello, died in the accident.

According to the accident report, Denney was traveling east on KY 90 when his vehicle traveled into the westbound lane and sideswiped a car being driven by Amanda Crabtree. After striking the Crabtree vehicle, Denney’s vehicle continued traveling east in the westbound lane and struck the vehicle driven by Hicks head-on.

Hicks was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Denney was flown to the University of Kentucky Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.

According to the indictment, Denney was allegedly operating “a motor vehicle under the influence of methamphetamine and/or other intoxicating substances” when the accident occurred.

Denney was also indicted for first degree assault and persistent felony offender second degree. He entered not guilty pleas on those charges during his court appearance.

————————–

For the second time in approximately a year, the Lake Cumberland District Health Department has approached Wayne County Fiscal Court about establishing a needle exchange program here. And for the second time, the group went away with no action taken.

Fiscal court heard the presentation during last week’s meeting and asked a number of questions regarding the program and its success in the five lake-area counties where it is currently operated. When County Judge-Executive Mike Anderson asked if there was a motion to approve the program, magistrates did not make any motion.

The needle exchange program requires approval of city and county government, as well as the local district health board to begin operation. The health board has approved it and Monticello City Council approved it earlier this year.

Christine Weyman, who is the Medical Director for Lake Cumberland District Health Department, made the presentation, noting that these programs are geared toward the spread of Hepatitis C and HIV–prevalent among drug users. She noted that in the counties where the program operates, dirty needles are brought in and exchanged for clean ones.

At one point, Weyman said that the exchange is at about a one to one ratio. The program is operated through local health departments and is at no cost to any local government entity. She encouraged magistrates to visit their website and view the real time data about needle exchange that is occurring in the other counties.

She dispelled several rumors that people seemed concerned about in regard to the program. She stated that it does not increase drug activity in a community, but it does reduce the spread of infection.

Several magistrates had questions for Weyman. District Three Magistrate Dale Vaughn asked if this program serves as an enabler for drug users.

She replied that drug users would continued to use, but they would use dirty needles without the option of getting clean needles.

District Four Magistrate Jonathan Dobbs and District Two Magistrate Jeffrey Dishman both said they had been contacted by local residents who were diabetics and had to purchase their own needles.

“Nobody pays for their needles,” said Dishman.

—————————

Property taxes in the city will increase slightly this year, according to an ordinance which was read during the council meeting two weeks ago Monday evening.

The rate for real, tangible and personal property will be set at 12.3 cents per hundred dollars assessment, according to the ordinance. This is a slight increase from the 12.1 cents from last year.

The rate of 12.3 cents is the compensating rate recommended for the city.

The ordinance set the tax rate for motor vehicles and watercraft at 22.5 cents per hundred dollars of assessed value, which is the same as last year.

City Clerk-Treasurer Greg Latham noted that the recommended increase was because of the significant drop in the assessment of tangible property. It decreased by around $5 million, which caused the city to have to look at a little higher compensating rate.

————————–

The Monticello Utility Commission has received 750 new water meters that will replace aging meters for customers in the county. UMC Manager Scott Upchurch updated commission members regarding the water meter upgrade project during itsmeeting held on Thursday, August 8.

City government has agreed that the Monticello Utility Commission can borrow $850,000 for new meters that will replace the old ones being used in the county. The project will also include the construction of towers that can transmit data from the meters, as well as for computer software and employee training.

A total of 2,200 meters will be purchased and replaced before that portion of the project has been completed. Upchurch said that installation of the new meters would begin as soon as possible.

The city has applied for grand funding to help with meter replacement costs for MUC customers in Monticello.. Officials have estimated that the total project for meter replacement will be about $1.1 million.

The new Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) system will allow much of the work, such as reading meters, to be done from the office or another location. It will also help the MU identify problems that may be occurring.