BanksNewsTODAY

The Town of Maysville ended 2011 in the black and has now accumulated over a year’s worth of reserves in its General Fund.

Maysville had revenues of $800,100 last year. Of that, $261,600 came from sales taxes.

The town’s largest expense was its police department at $263,200.

At the end of 2011, the town had accumulated over $914,000 in reserves in its General Fund, over a year’s worth of spending.
Maysville’s water and sewer fund was also in the black for the year.

Maysville business owner Debbie Akins appeared before the Maysville City Council Monday night to complain about being asked to take down the sign on her downtown restaurant.

Akins had months ago requested the city council allow the sale of beer in town. The council denied her request after several heated town hall meetings were held with large crowds of citizens speaking in opposition to the action.

Akins went on to open a restaurant in downtown that has a sign out front with “Maysville Saloon” on it.
At a an earlier planning and zoning meeting, chairman Guy Baker suggested that police chief Clarence Sullens go to the Maysville Saloon and ask the owner to take down the banner.

Akins said that this was done unprofessionally since Sullens came into her business during dinner time and embarrassed her in front of customers. [Full Story »] 

Each of Maysville's four wards were recently redrawn based on census data released in March.

After city leaders spent a little less than an hour Monday night trying to evenly distribute the city's total population according to 2010 census results, they arrived at a preliminary separation.

Monday’s results yielded 443 for Ward 1, 444 for Ward 2, 466 for Ward 3 and 445 for Ward 4, which adds up to the city's total population of 1,798. The goal was to even out the wards between 427 and 471 people per ward, Jody Cooley, Maysville’s city attorney, said.

The city council must vote to approve the new map at two regular business meetings. The next business meeting will be held June 6.

The last time cities were required to redistrict was in the year 2000, after the last census. After each census, federal law requires that all districts have to be in 10 percent of one another.

In 2000, the city of Maysville had 1,247 registered votes, with 575 in Jackson County and 672 in Banks County, a difference of 551 people

Prior to Monday’s meeting, Ward 1 had a population of 478, Ward 2 had 348, Ward 3 had 537 and Ward 4 had 445.

Cooley said that although the number of people districted to Ward 4 did not change, boundaries may have changed.

According to the website of the U.S. Census Bureau, census data are constitutionally mandated and used to define legislature districts, school district assignment areas and other important functional areas of government. In November, every council seat in Maysville and the mayor’s seat are up for reelection.

The Maysville City Council and Maysville fire chief James Lyle are at odds over the town’s funding for fire services.

At the council meeting Monday night, the council approved a $1.2 million budget that includes $11,500 for fire protection for Banks County residents who live in the city limits. The fire department had given the council a $23,000 fee for providing these fire services.

Council member Lynn Villyard made a motion to postpone action on the fire protection agreement until the March council meeting and set up a meeting with fire officials to go over this and come up with a fee structure for fire protection.

“There is no basis for the figure presented,” Villyard said. “The city council deserves a clear contract to make a rational decision.” [Full Story »] 

The City of Maysville and Maysville Family Practice have reached a settlement in the year-long dispute resulting in a new lease agreement for the local business.

With the resolve, the old lease is now null and void and any claims and cross claims – such as attorney fees – are settled.

The new lease is in effect until Dec. 31. Dr. Gary Kinsey, the business owner, will pay $61.25 per month, which serves as reimbursement to the city for insurance premiums and lawn maintenance the city will incur. In addition, he will be responsible for paying utilities at the practice, which is located at 14 Homer Street. [Full Story »] 

The Maysville City Council voted unanimously Monday night to hold a work session to discuss setting up a historic district ordinance for the city. [Full Story »] 

Public hearings have now been held in all four districts in Maysville with the majority of residents attending the meetings being opposed to the sale of beer and wine in the town.
[Full Story »]