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Drought underscores water supply concerns
Nature has weighed in with its own powerful reminder of the water supply crisis in Central Kentucky. The region was in severe hydrologic drought under the most recent Palmer Drought Index prior to press time, with predictions that by the time you read this item the city will have imposed a watering ban (barring a sustained, significant deluge).
Mayor Jim Newberry, who recently imposed mandatory restrictions on the use of treated water outside of buildings, said the current water shortage underscores the need and clearly demonstrates the urgency of addressing Lexington's inadequate water supply. "Water supply is the most important issue facing our community," Newberry said. "We need a solution and we need it now. Additional delays are unacceptable."
Kentucky American Water Company has a proposed solution before the state Public Service Commission, and the Louisville Water Co. - also interested in providing water service to Lexington - has requested a 45-day delay to allow it to respond to questions raised about its plan by the PSC and Kentucky-American.
"I am looking to the Kentucky Public Service Commission to make a decision later this year," Newberry said in a statement. "It is their job to make this decision. They have the expertise to weigh one plan against another."
The city on Sept. 4 began making "gray" water available at its two wastewater treatment plants, Town Branch and West Hickman, as long as water restrictions continue. Gray water cannot be consumed by humans or animals or used to water vegetable gardens, in swimming pools, fountains, for bathing or to wash a vehicle.
It can be used for dust control and other construction-related activities; general outside cleaning; watering trees, shrubs, the lawn and other decorative plantings, or watering golf course tees and greens. For more information call LexCall at 3-1-1.
After four consecutive weeks of above-normal temperatures and below-normal rainfall, state officials are urging U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns to make disaster relief available to Kentucky farmers affected by the drought.
Columbia Gas settles for smaller rate hike
The Public Service Commission accepted a settlement that grants Columbia Gas of Kentucky Inc. a 4.6 percent increase in annual revenue from natural gas base rates.
The amount of the increase, $7.25 million, is $5.4 million less than the $12.65 million that Columbia had requested.
The monthly fixed customer charge will increase from $6.95 to $9.30. It will no longer include the cost of delivering the first 1,000 cubic feet (mcf) of gas used each month.
The monthly fixed charge covers costs of providing service unrelated to the amount of gas a customer uses. Columbia had been the only one of Kentucky's five major natural gas distribution companies with a fixed charge that included the delivery charge for a quantity of gas.
The settlement leaves the volume-based delivery charge unchanged. For the average residential customer, the result is a $2.35 increase in Columbia's monthly fixed charge and a shift of the $1.87 delivery cost for the first 1,000 cubic feet of gas to the variable part of the bill, for an increase of $4.22 per month.
Under federal law, the actual cost of the gas itself is unregulated and fluctuates with market conditions. The wholesale cost of natural gas is passed on to customers on a dollar-for-dollar basis, with no profit for the gas company. The wholesale cost of natural gas has nearly doubled since 2003.
One McGED, please
64 McDonald's restaurants in 33 Central and Southeastern Kentucky counties will do their part to encourage GED attainment.
The restaurants, represented by the Bluegrass Purchasing Association, have partnered with Kentucky Adult Education for a second year in support of efforts to raise the educational attainment of adults in Kentucky.
The campaign, originally piloted by Joe Graviss who owns and operates eight McDonald's restaurants in three central-Kentucky counties, features tray liners and cups with a "GED — Prove Yourself" theme featuring Kentucky GED graduates. The restaurant owners fund the program.
State OKs annual workers' comp filing
A filing most insurance carriers use to develop rates for workers' compensation coverage shows another decrease in loss costs for 2007.
The filing by the National Council on Compensation Insurance Inc. was approved by the state Office of Insurance and is effective Oct. 1.
Data collected from insurance carriers is used to develop loss costs, which is the average compensation for lost wages, based on the level of disability, plus medical benefit payments. Use of the information is voluntary but most workers' comp carriers use the NCCI loss cost values as a base to which the insurer's own loss adjustment and overhead expenses are added to arrive at the rates charged to Kentucky employers.
The loss cost figures show an average reduction of 6.1 percent for the 598 industrial classes used in Kentucky. These classes include manufacturing, office and clerical, contracting, and goods and services. For coal classes, underground mining costs dropped 8.5 percent while surface mining remains unchanged.
Small business hears how to profit from WEG
Organizers of the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games told more than 100 small businesspeople how they too could experience some of the economic windfall anticipated for Lexington when the games come to town.
But the meeting hosted by the Kentucky Small Business Development Center was as much about how businesses can take part in events at the Kentucky Horse Park before and after the equestrian games as it was about involvement during the 16 days of the games in the fall of 2010.
Currently the Horse Park has 70 horse shows annually and expects to see numbers rise when a new arena and proposed open air stadium are completed leading up to the games.
Stats have shown equestrians in town for shows currently exhibited at the park spend an average of $515 per diem, a point mentioned by Bobby Murphy, assistant manager of operations for Kentucky Horse Shows LLC.
According to Jack Kelly, CEO of the 2010 games, local businesses will be able to have products licensed with the Games' logo to be sold on site and around the area. Companies may also set up booths to sell their own products or services. The booths will run between $12,000 and $20,000 for the length of the event and may be made available to nonprofits at a reduced rate. The booth registration will take place soon, so Kelly advised anyone interested in having a presence at the Horse Park during the games to visit www.feigames2010.org
Those interested in learning more or who were unable to attend the sold out forum at the Horse Park will be able to purchase a DVD and resource packet.
DVDs will be available after October 1, for $15 at the Bluegrass Small Business Development Center. Resource packets will also be available for $10. Those interested may contact the Bluegrass SBDC at 257-7666 to put their name on a list to have the DVD, resource packet or both mailed to them.
Hollywood writer teaches in BCTC Film program
Hollywood 'A-List' Screenwriter Charles Edward Pogue (Dragon Heart, DOA, Psycho III, The Fly, etc.) was in Lexington recently to teach at the Bluegrass Community and Technical College Filmmaking Certificate Program. Program founder Arthur Rouse said Pogue offered a 4-day master class on screenwriting, sharing his expertise and personal story with a class of aspiring filmmakers. Students in Pogue's class developed ideas into outline and outlines into scenes, properly formatted and including character development and conflict. Many of these scenes will be refined and produced as the semester-long program goes on.
Pogue demands critical thinking and creative problem solving in his approach to screenwriting and encourages the students to write, criticize and rewrite their work.
"The Filmmaking Certificate Program at BCTC is a full-time undertaking in which students learn about all the aspects of cinematic arts -from script to screen- through hands-on master classes taught by industry professionals from Hollywood, New York, Chicago and the Kentucky region," said Rouse. "Our goal is to energize the filmmaking community in Kentucky and we're pleased to say we've had students commute from Louisville and move from Pennsylvania to participate."