Reader Comments

" still do not get why MAYSVILLE IS SUCH A JOKE! When it comes to cruelty, none responses, laws and last but not least a place for them! The lack of concern is inhumane!!!!!!!!!!!! "

" looking at the feb 11 fiscal court meeting in lewis county. sould be a wake up call for all lewis countians .it has been long known. the meeting is a joke .just a show to make things look like there being done in the open.the outcome on anything brought before the court has alreadybeen decided before hand .Bill lewis the sheriff quickly stops any body that has the nerve to stand up and ask hey is this right ? this sounds like russia not the USA beware all lewis countains its only the begging.its been going on for years .how do we stop it ????. the leiws county court the judge the sherrif all half to be acountle to some one.higher up who .and voting doesnt work. "

" just to let everyone know the animal shelter was addressed at the fiscal court meeting today and Mr. Applegate said it should be open soon but would not give a date, I guess spending almost four hundred thousand dollars on new 2008 trucks for the road department was more important. And don't forget that buying a new compact truck for the solid waste department was important to even though there were two citizens with compact trucks wanting to get permits to haul trash, witch would cost the county nothing, and they were denied and adviced that there would be no discussion on this and our sherriff enforced this and adviced them to shut up. glad to see Mr. Applegate is looking out for the best intrest of the county. "

" everyone needs to vote ,if you don't vote your going to have the same bunch in the courthous and the lewis co. jail,we need a whole new bunch in both places,so if you don't vote you need to "

" IT SEEMS TO ME THAT LEWIS COUNTY HAS A WIDE RANGE OF COMPLAINTS TO TALK ABOUT. BUT AS A PERSON WHOM HAS SEEN WITH THEIR OWN EYES. DEAD CATTLE FLOATING IN THE VERY SAME FEILD WHERE THE SHELTER IS SETTING .WATER COMPLETELY UP TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. AND YOU ASK IF IT IS A SAFE PLACE TO HOUSE ANIMALS? LIKE EVERY THING IN THIS COUNTY MONEY TALKS AND PROMISES MEAN NOTHING. "

" I think we are throwing too many questions at Judge Applegate to get any responses. Guess we have to set back and see, keep an eye on the Lewis County Herald and take notes for the next election. "

" This is to Lewis County Citizen, it would not do any good to put your name on the ballot unless you know someone because you would not have an snowballs chance in you know where in winning in Lewis County, I know of people who have ran for office that were very experienced and qualified in the posistion they were running for and they got beat by someone who had no knowladge or experiance of the posistion all because of the name and who they knew, so putting your name on a ballot will not do a thing and I agree their is no such thing as a perfect county in Kentucky but there is no way they are as bad as Lewis County the only way to get anything done here is if you know someone or know something on them. "

" To: 'Animal shelter at the front please!!!!!'...The reason Lewis County is having an issue with the animal shelter to begin with, stems back to 'how the local government (and so on) works in Vanceburg'...There wouldn't be issues like the shelter, the detention center, road crew, and so on, if it weren't for the 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours' attitude of the self-appointed upper class of Lewis County! "

" Lewis County is not a perfect county and I bet you can't name one in the state of Kentucky that is. If you feel you can do better, put your name on the ballot next election. "

" This article was originally for the animal shelter so how did all of you twist it around into something else entirely? There are those of us that would like to hear updates on this matter...THE ANIMAL SHELTER AND THE WELFARE OF THE ANIMALS!!!!!!! Come Ledger, get your reporters out on this and tell the public something. "

" Responding to the question of why "some" are allowed to go to the fiscal court meetings and complain...What do you mean about being allowed? All you have to do is speak up for what is right and what you believe in. The Detention Center employees are sick and tired of being shoved around by Judge Applegate & the County Treasurer. Judge Applegate stated in one issue of the Lewis County Herald that "we are straight forward and fair in anything we do". The Detention Center employees are ready to take a stand. I think it's about time they speak up for what is right. As for the holiday pay...looks like the Judge, Treasurer, and Fiscal Court may have to come up with a little back pay for these employees. Don't put the blame on previous administration. Stand up for what is right LCDC! "

" I worked at the detention center for 17 years and left for another job.I tried for years to get a clarification on holiday pay but never could . I left for a better work environment. It was the best move i ever did. I had to work shifts I didnt want to, every weekend for years, and I know how some people there are treated better than others and get shift preferential. We were never allowed to go to a court meeting and air our complaints for fear of being reprimanded in some way. I wonder why "some" have now been allowed to go there and complain? Is this a way to discredit Judge Applegate, or a laying of groundwork for a run at his office by someone. As for pay differential between jail employees and road dept workers, the road dept starts out almost a dollar more an hour than do any other county employee. And one time long ago, we asked for hazardous duty pay and were denied it. And also we asked for pay increase to match road dept workers pay scale and were told that the road dept jobs were more dangerous than detention center jobs. This was by a previous administration, not Judge Applegates. Nothing is fair about wages in this county. I dont begrudge anyone for getting what they can nowadays. BUt I was Chief Deputy at the jail for approximtely 13 years and made the same hourly wages as the other deputies. I was replaced as Chief Deputy under the new administration and the new Chief Deputy was given a $2.00 an hour raise and other employees got a $.25. Was this fair?
I dont think so. BUt it was allowed and Fiscal Court passed it. Im just glad Im where I am, have a job, make some money, and dont have to worry about being stabbed by a screwdriver left in a cell or for an inmate to get ahold of, or be cussed out every day I go to work. THANK GOD FOR 911 "

" I have a question about fairness for our jailor Tim Underwood, can you explain how you can claim to be fair and you schedule your oldest employee at the detention center a 3pm-11pm shift and someone who has been there less years gets to work 7am-3pm Monday thru Friday? I don't know about everyone else but everywhere I have ever worked senority meant something. And this employee does not choose to work that shift they are made to work it. "

" I have a question for Mr. Applegate, can you tell us why you are the first judge in the history of Lewis County to have 2 secretaries. And why one of you secretaries salery is more than other county employees who have over 20 years in. "

" I have a question for Mr Applegate when you ran for election you said you were going to change the time of the Fiscal court meetings so the citizens would be able to attend and correct me if i am wrong they are still held at the same time as always I guess this is another one of your promises we are still waiting on. It makes it hard for working concerned citizens to get to these meetings I guess that may be the point. "

" "I am anxious to hear the results of the raise in the pay scale for the deputies at the detention center,a deputy went to fiscal court to address a raise from Mr. Applegate and fiscal court,it's suppose to be under consideration,while under consideration Mr. Applegate gave his secretary a $2.000.00 a year raise,my question to Mr. applegate, did you think of that employee,that was a slap in the face "

" Since the subject turned toward the Fiscal Court meeting, I am just wondering if Mrs. Dillow could clarify what she meant by " the policy needs to be more clear?" It is my understanding that the county employees are paid for the actual amount of hours worked on a holiday and 8 hours straight time for the holiday. According to the meeting, Mr. Moore stated the policy says if an employee works on a holiday , he will be paid 1 1/2 times regular pay. How could this be described anymore clear? If I am correct I do believe there are only a few county employees that work holidays. Mrs. Dillow and Mr. Applegate work at the court house, which is closed every holiday and are probably working salary positions. I have been told that there are several employees at the jail that have worked all 15 holidays recognized by the county, why shouldnt they recieve time and 1/2 pay for the hours worked? "

" Maybe if you get your CDL you could get a raise at the Detention Center...It seems to work for the road department. "

" Not to change the subject on the matter of the animal shelter but during the last Lewis County Fiscal Court meeting Jailer Tim Underwood addressed the court for a raise in the pay scale for the Deputies at the Detention Center. Judge Applegate responded by saying that the court is responsible for using county funds to the best advantage for the people. He added that he must also consider the salaries and increases in pay, not just for Detention Center employees, but also for all county workers. My question is did Mr. Applegate and the Fiscal Court consider all of the above when they voted to give Mr. Applegates secretary a $2,000.00 a year raise in 2007? And Mr. Applegate claims to treat all county employees fairly. Give me a break Judge. "

" I also wish the Ledger would keep us abreast of just what is happening with the Lewis County Animal Shelter. I think the more the public knows on this issue the better and just maybe, just maybe, it will finally be completed. "

" We need an animal shelter in maysville, that hole they have there....are they kidding, noone wants to go in that place and i gaurantee no animal every gets adopted there...what a waste of space "

" Wish the newspaper would cover the Lewis County Fiscal Court meetings so the citizens would know whats going on with the animal shelter and other business in the county. "

" I am anxious to hear the results of this animal shelter deal. Will the Ledger keep us updated on this story? Why does it take so long to get something done in an area so badly needed as the animals and their shelter? Also, was concerned when I read in a comment that Salt Lick Creek could flood the new shelter. Is this true? And if it is true, is there a plan in place to get the animals there out safely and in time? These are questions that the reporter could expound upon and let the public know. "

" Be thankful you are not in the Mason/Maysville area and have our judge presiding. Try to get him to help in the animal abuse area and you will quickly get a slap in the face. "

" This is exactly the reason we should have kept Judge Plummer in office. If he said something he meant it and would not promise it if he had no intention of it being done. Our current judge seems to make lots of promises but they are seldom fulfilled. If they do happen it takes a coon's age to get them done. "

" I also wish something could be done about abused,neglected,and starving animals in our area.Nobody seems to want to help in any way. The comment about passing the buck certainly applies.Also,is the comment correct in stating that the creek could flood the new shelter?Would be horrible for the sheltered animals to drown.If the ones in charge would be starved and neglected like the animals,see how long help would arrive for them. "

" The Lewis County Animal Shelter should have been completed in Steve Applegate's first year as judge exexcutive in 2003. Funds were left in the budget to nearly complete the project when he came into office. When he wrote his first budget he could have included some additional county funds and not have persued for state grant funds which without a doubt delayed the project and added restrictive rules and regulations. Also Judge Applegate chose to build this facility very close to the banks of Salt Lick Creek which has been known to flood when the heavy spring rains come. Does anybody know if this is in a designated flood plane? Could this be the reason for the delay regarding the sewage permit from the health department? Have Lewis County officials estimated what it will cost each year to maintain this facility? "

" I have the same opinions of all in the area who do nothing, even when asked, to help the starved and abused, unsheltered animals....the animals being all sizes and different kinds. Pass the buck seems to be the case and total disregard is given the animals such suffering conditions. Is there really any one person who can help? If so, will you please step up and do so! "

" This editorial is right on target.It is up to Applegate to make things happen now.Will he?We will see. It would pay the editor to write an editorial on the animal warden/animal abuse..especially dogs and horses../official's lack of concern and help/the newly formed BT Humane Society/and many others in the Mason County/Maysville area.The sheriff seems to be the only one who is concerned about animals here. "