BG Airport scores new general aviation terminal
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board awarded a 10-year concession agreement to TAC Air to provide fixed-base operations to the airport's general aviation (private aircraft) customers.
TAC Air, which has operated at the airport since 1996, will invest $11.5 million in airfield improvements including the construction of a new executive terminal with a large passenger lobby, two conference rooms with "state-of-the-art" technology, a gift store and art gallery, "upscale" food services, a movie theater, an exercise facility, pilot lounge, quiet room and flight planning area. The facility include 45,000 square feet of additional hangar space.
WEG scores another sponsor
John Deere joins Alltech, Rolex, Ariat, and Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital among corporate sponsors of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games coming to Lexington in 2010.
"We are excited to share our accomplished line of utility tractors, utility vehicles and attachments to keep the grounds and arenas of the Kentucky Horse Park in top condition," said Dennis Stewart, manager of national sales at John Deere Agricultural Equipment Division.
Some of that gear will be left at the Kentucky Horse Park for ongoing use after the event. The company will also support many pre-event elements and serve as the title sponsor of the Reining competition during the 2010 Games.
Forest industry's impact on state explored
There is $2.1 billion worth of timber in Kentucky's forests, but that represents only one-fourth of the value that could have been achieved with improved land management according to a presentation to members of the House of Representative's Forestry Task Force.
Lawmakers heard two hours worth of testimony from people throughout the forest industry about its impact on the state and ways that forest health and the industry's global competitiveness can be improved.
"Kentucky's forests provide amazing natural resources and sustain an industry that's important to local economies throughout the state," said Task Force Chairman Rep. Rick Nelson, D-Middlesboro. "There's significant growth potential if we make sure our state has policies in place to deal with invasive species, fires and other threats to the health and productivity of our forests."
Almost one-half of the state's land is covered in forests. More than 30,000 Kentuckians are employed by the state's $8.7 billion forest industry, which has a presence in 112 of Kentucky's 120 counties.
Representatives of the state's forest industry told lawmakers that the five major issues they face are threats to forest health, timber theft, competitive disadvantages, wildfires and limited markets for low-grade trees.
To deal with those issues, lawmakers were presented with recommendations, including:
∑ Establishment and funding for a Forest Health Task Force attached to the Kentucky Division of Forestry.
∑ Strengthened criminal prosecution of timber theft.
∑ Stronger fine collection efforts and enforcement against repeat "bad actors" in the timber industry.
∑ Establishment of a law enforcement unit of the Kentucky Division of Forestry to increase criminal prosecution of timber theft and arson.
∑ Creation of an incentive program for woodland owners to enhance the production of certified wood using Indiana's Classified Forest System as a model.
∑ Funding for the development of fire lanes on private woodlands.
∑ Rewards for information leading to the conviction of wildfire arson.
∑ Adoption of recommendations issued in 2006 from the Governor's Task Force on Wildland Arson, such as the implementation of public awareness campaign and the education of students about the destructiveness of wildlife arson.
∑ Research into the potential of an incentive package for the utilization of low-quality trees.
∑ Consideration of incentives to encourage co-generation using woody biomass.
∑ Continued Forestry Task Force meetings to further discuss legislative initiatives important to the forest industry.
Legacy trail hits snag
As the city tries to prepare for the Games, hopes for a 9-mile bike and hiking trail between downtown Lexington and the Horse Park ran into trouble when the city's Board of Adjustment tied in a vote on a critical land trade. Trail organizers say without the swap, the project is dead. Because of the tie-vote, the matter comes up again when the board meets in council chambers at 1pm on Dec. 12.
Lawmaker proposes tax shift
Believing it would bring more businesses and jobs to Kentucky, State Representative Bill Farmer (R-Lexington) wants to eliminate the state's corporate and personal income taxes. That would wipe out a significant source of state revenues, so Farmer proposes making up for the loss with a nickel sales tax on currently exempt services such as hair cuts, car repairs, rental of retail space. Present law applies a sales tax to the items used for these jobs but not for the labor. That would change under Farmer's proposal.
Area hospitals put out the no-smoking signs
For more than a decade smoking has been banned inside Lexington-area hospitals, but "I'm sure like you," observes Keith Yarber, board chair of the Lexington chapter of the American Heart Association, "I've always thought it was counterproductive to pull up to a hospital and see a group of people outside on a cold day like today with an IV pole and gown, smoking a cigarette. We've all seen that. What's wrong with this picture?"
Yarber was among the speakers at a press conference to announce that 29 area hospitals including Saint Joseph, Central Baptist and UK as well as their health-related organizations have gone completely tobacco free, prohibiting use on their campuses and on the grounds of their facilities. Many Louisville medical care facilities already are smoke free.
"The impact on Kentucky is potentially up to $3 billion when you look at lost productivity and the healthcare expenditures that come with treating all the illnesses that come with smoke-related disease," said Gene Woods, President & CEO, Saint Joseph Health System. Kentucky has the highest smoking rate in the nation (29 percent).
Gatton student aces Wall Street Journal competition
Jeffrey Howard of Louisville, a Sophomore at UK's Gatton College of Business and Economics, captured first place in the individual competition at the prestigious Wall Street Journal National Biz Quiz. Howard took on 72 competitors from 24 colleges and universities from across the nation. He majors in accounting and minoring in international business.
Statesmanship conference and scholarship announced
The Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship (HCCS) announced that its second Annual Student Congress will take place on the campuses of Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky during the week of June 20-27, 2009. Global Statesmanship in a Changing World will provide a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices of the great Kentucky statesman, Henry Clay, in the modern context of promoting debate, diplomacy, dialogue, negotiation, mediation and the art of beneficial compromise within this nation and around the world. The annual Student Congress brings together 51 rising college seniors, representing every U.S. state and the District of Columbia. Each receives a full scholarship from the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship to attend the course.
HCCS will also sponsor a full scholarship to the University of Kentucky Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce for a graduate of the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship Student Congress. The Patterson School, in partnership with Transylvania University and Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate, helps develop and present the curriculum for the annual Student Congress.
Marriott's Jeffrey relocating
Mark Jeffrey, General Manager of Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Spa has been appointed GM of the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, FL. He will oversee the operations of a 693 room resort, five championship 18-hole golf courses, 120,000 square feet of meeting spa and the Spa at Doral. Jeffrey's board service in Lexington included Commerce Lexington, Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau, United Way. He was president of The Bluegrass Hospitality Association. Jeffrey was the recipient of the 2007 Regional Marriott General Manager Sales Leadership Award.
Point to ponder concerning storm water fees
How many of the cities visited by Commerce Lexington on its annual Leadership Visits have storm-water fees?
The mayor's chief of staff, Shaye Rabold, wanted to know and did some checking.
"Of the 31 cities visited since 1974 (some cities have been visited more than once and the 1973 trip was to Canada), 23 have been confirmed as having storm-water fees and eight do not/have not been confirmed as having one, though they may have other types of sewer fees." Those with fees include the three most recently visited, Oklahoma City, Boulder and Austin as well as the city being visited in 2009, Madison, Wisconsin.
Said Rabold, "It is clear that the cities we seek to emulate and are considered to be economically successful are doing so even with a storm water fee in place."