By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
Grayson mayor George Steele opened city council last week by declaring December 14 Rebecca Ann “Becky” Walker Day and presenting the retiring Walker with a key to the city of Grayson.
Walker, who has volunteered with various organizations across Carter County – most notably the American Cancer Society Relay for Life – is retiring from her role with Carter County Schools’ Youth Service Centers after 29 years with the school district.
Walker, who worked as a journalist and editor for the Olive Hill Times and Grayson Journal-Enquirer before taking on her role with the school district, remembered her time in the council chambers with the late Jim Phillips, for whom the city’s meeting room is now named as she accepted her award.
In addition to her careers in journalism and education, Walker has been involved in various community organizations, including the Carter County Senior Citizens Board, the Carter County Drug Free Coalition, FIVCO Network Community Collaboration for Children, Relay for Life, the Northeastern Child Abuse Prevention Conference, and others – often serving as an officer or board member. This includes serving on the regional and national training teams for Relay for Life, and as chair of the Mid-South Relay for Life Regional Advisory Team.
Walker has been a part of the Grayson community since completing her education at Berea College in 1979. She has been a Member of the Gregoryville Christian Church for 33 years, overseeing their community Thanksgiving dinner for the past 17 years.
In other action council heard from Matthew Adkins, disaster resiliency coordinator with FIVCO on the Rupert Lane drainage project. That project, which has been stalled since opening in 2018, doesn’t meet FEMA requirements. Because of that Adkins recommended that the city withdraw their application for the 10-year mitigation plan that was already submitted, and reapply with a 50-year mitigation plan. This plan will not only meet FEMA guidelines for approval, it will also address flooding further downstream, helping alleviate problems further downstream and upstream.
Although the project has been ongoing for the past four years, Adkins said, he’s been unable to contact the engineers on the project since October, and they cannot schedule a meeting with him until January – by which time it will be too late to update the current 10-year plan.
Though the longer plan will result in increased costs for the city, it’s still a 13 percent share of the total costs.
Adkins said the city should be able to apply again in three months, but the approval process should not take as long as it did previously, because the city should have the missing data plugged in by then.
Council moved to withdraw from their current FEMA application, and directed Mayor George Steele to draft a withdrawal letter on official city letterhead.
Council also heard from Max Hammond on the Warrior’s Path Project, and the role it could play in connecting Carter Caves and Grayson Lake State Parks in Carter County with Greenbo Lake in neighboring Greenup County and other regional parks.
In department reports Police Chief Travis Steele reported on interlocal agreements with two other local law enforcement agencies, and Jerry Yates gave an update on the park board and progress with concrete work on the splash pad.
Council also moved to grant $125 “cost of living” bonuses to all city employees, and a similar bonus for volunteer firefighters based on time worked.
Council also moved to create the position of dog warden, with negotiation of hours and pay to take place during the interview process.
Finally, council adopted a resolution approving a memorandum of understanding related to the One Kentucky opioid settlement. The resolution, which was adopted unanimously, defines how funds will and can be allocated.
Council also heard news related to a $566,000 award from the state to move and update water lines along Robert & Mary.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
