Snow forces city to average monthly water bills

The recent snow has affected Marion water customers’ bills, according to City Administrator Adam Ledford.

For the billing period of Dec. 15-Jan. 15, the city is using a 12-month average usage to bill water customers. That is due to snow and ice covering most meters during the time they would normally be read. This temporary action will be reflected on February bills mailed at the end of January and due for payment by Feb. 10.

Ledford said the city’s utility billing software has the ability to conduct the process seamlessly. He said reading meters after the snow had cleared late last week was considered, but it would have had an adverse impact on low-usage customers since several cost factors are based on usage during the typical 28- to 31-day billing period. Extending that period could push some customers beyond 1,500-gallon minimum, upping usage charges and an incremental environmental assessment fee.

“By using the average usage method, we are avoiding those financial impacts to low use customers,” the city administrator said.

Since water usage can vary widely month to month for some customers, it is possible the 12-month average will be noticeably different than a typical February bill. There has been no change to either water rates or fees, and sewage billed will remain at 75 percent of water usage.

Ledford said the city’s software has a built-in function to adjust March bills when actual readings from mid-February are used for billing. So a customer on March 10 will pay only the difference between total usage over the two-month period beginning Dec. 15 and what they were billed in February based on average usage.

“It is designed to factor in what usage was paid during the month of averaging and adjust the new usage amount to compensate for usage paid since the last reading on the meter,” he explained.
For example, a customer’s bill is for 5,000 gallons based on the average, so on Feb. 10, they will pay that amount. However, actual usage was 4,000 gallons during Dec.15 to Jan. 15 and 6,000 during the current billing period that ends in mid-February for a total of 10,000 gallons. Ledford said the system will automatically recognize that the customer paid for 5,000 gallons in February, so the March 10 bill will be for only the remaining 5,000 gallons of the two-month total.

If a water leak adversely affected the 12-month average, like the previous example, the system will adjust to bill for only the difference between actual two-month usage and what was already paid.
This is not the first time the City of Marion has been forced by some unavoidable circumstances to use this process.

“However, we wish to make the public aware of what is going on,” Ledford said. 
For anyone with further questions, they may call city hall at (270) 965-2266.

Basketball, homecoming are on

Crittenden County's varsity basketball doubleheader tonight against Todd Central is on despite school being out today.

Also, the homecoming dance will be held after tonight's second game.

Phil sees his shadow; 6 more weeks of winter

Bad news. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow earlier this morning, sending him crawling back into his hole and predicting six more weeks of winter.

No school today

There is no school in Crittenden County today Friday, February 2.

The school administration checked pre-dawn roads and found too many icy areas on secondary roads in the county.

Blood drive Monday

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All after-school activities cancelled

Due to inclement weather, all after-school activities are canceled for Crittenden County Schools today.

Block Scheduling is coming to CCHS

Crittenden County High School will be changing to a non-traditional block scheduling concept next school year, aiming to benefit student education as a whole, say administrators.

Referred to as A/B block scheduling, the system offer students more time each period across two days rather than having the same seven-period schedule each day.

Crittenden County Board of Education members appear to agree that transitioning to an A/B Block Schedule will bring about positive change, but are concerned about challenges for faculty and students alike.

"We have been talking about this for two months, and at our last meeting ... more than three-fourths of faculty decided that was the route they wanted to go in," CCHS Principal Curtis Brown told board members during a recent working session of the board. "Since November, the most recent conclusions we have come to is that overall, the faculty want to go this route. That is the direction Crittenden Schools are headed in for next year.”

Beginning with the 2018-19 academic year, CCHS students and educators will meet for classes every other day for 90 minutes, rather than daily for sessions of 45 minutes. With a block schedule in place, there will be fewer classes each day, rather than seven a day. The schedule will alternate from day to day.

Each day of the week is designated an A day or a B day, hence the term A/B block scheduling. Each Day A will have certain classes, and each Day B will have others. What classes students attend on Monday will be different on Tuesday, and so on.

Strategies for implementing block schedules will help make changes easier and more effective.

Faculty are working to make the transition as smooth as possible... For the rest of this article, which was originally published in The Crittenden Press printed edition on Jan. 18, 2018, visit the newspaper office on East Bellville St., in Marion.

Job Corps has employment openings

Get Ready for the Big Game with this Deal

What's news this week in Crittenden County...

Forty winters have come and gone since a handful of Amish men and their families migrated to rural Crittenden County. They initially settled on an 1,800-acre tract of property that had one small clapboard house, then systematically populated a greater portion of the landscape in the northern section of the county. Today, John Detweiler says that by his count, there are more than 30 Amish homes on that original farm where the Christian group’s settlement began in December 1977.

For the complete, in-depth look a the Amish community in Crittenden County and the following headlines, pick up a copy of this week's issue of The Crittenden Press:

• Crittenden schools keep pupil safety top priority
• Crittenden schools move to address active shooter prevention, reaction
• ABOUT TOWN: Accountability missing in today’s world
• 2nd local seeks seat in House
• Trump’s Tax Act bringing savings to KU customers
• Health department: Flu now at epidemic stage
• LHHS receives 4-star rating with 2017 Hospital Compare
• USDA: Hay, livestock surviving winter well
• Regional economic development group official; includes Crittenden
• Press intern, editor earn top honors in newspaper contest
• ‘Little Miss Bully’ second book for Brantley
• SPORTS: Livingston goes undefeated in Fifth District
• SPORTS: Rockets fall at LCHS, three tied in league
• SPORTS: Courtney always knew he’d be on Rockets coaching staff
• SPORTS: Youth baseball, softball registration coming soon
• VAUGHT'S VIEWS: Recruiting woes ones some schools might love
• OUTDOORS: Cold clipper gives waterfowlers joyful finale
• Bechler applauds Rosebud funding
• Bill would ensure better Kentucky organ, tissue donation procedures
• Bechler files bill to toughen immigration
• Clark earns exemplary rating
• Crittenden jobless rate dips to
• 4 percent in final month of 2017
• Complete Election Filings: Who will be on the ballot in 2018?
• Ky. 1668 closing for surfacing work
• Ky. 1901 closing for cross drain work
• HOUSE REVIEW: Victim protection measures moving ahead
• SENATE REVIEW: Still no pension legislation to consider
• Salem native Taylor retires president’s post
• CCES honor roll
• DEFEW'S VIEWS: Apple a day adage holds some truth
• Kemper benefit planned Feb. 17

Don't forget your pet

Police trying to solve alleged hit and run

Marion Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying a man who they want to talk to about a possible hit and run in Marion.

According to police, a black Lexus was damaged while parked in front of the Crittenden County Courthouse at 1pm today (Tuesday, Jan. 30).

Police want to talk to the man driving a black Chevrolet or GMC extended cab pickup that is seen in these photos. A couple of the pictures show a man, believed to be in his 60s, walking near the black pickup. When the truck left, it headed down Carlisle Street.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Marion Police Department at (270) 965-3500.

Filing deadline is today for candidates

Today is the deadline for potential candidates for Kentucky's May Primary Election to register. Paperwork must be filed by 4pm today with the appropriate filing official. For local elections that means the Crittenden County Clerk's office.

The Kentucky Secretary of State's online "Becoming a Candidate" portal allows potential candidates to use a streamlined web application to fill out much of the paperwork required to become a candidate. At the end of the process, users may save and print a PDF of the required documents for filing with the appropriate filing official. Kentucky law does not currently allow candidates to submit filings electronically.

The 2018 ballot features the following offices:
Kentucky's six seats in the U.S. House of Representatives
All seats in the Kentucky House of Representatives
Even district seats in the Kentucky Senate
Kentucky Supreme Court – 3rd District
District Judges
Commonwealth's Attorneys
Circuit Court Clerks
All county officers will also be on the ballot, including county judge-executive, PVA, clerk and sheriff.

Area deaths

Bertie Thomas, 100, of Marion died today. Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion is in charge of arrangements.

Lois Corley Sheffield, 78, of Marion died Saturday. Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion is in charge of arrangements.

Lynn "Lefty" Boyd Bridwell, 78, of Arkansas died Thursday. Nelson Funeral Service in Eureka Springs, Ark., is in charge of arrangements.

Coyote Contest this weekend

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Area Death

Dolores Janette Travis, 76, of Marion died Friday. Myers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Cave In Rock Ferry closes for fog

UPDATE: Ferry resumed service Sunday morning.


ORIGINAL POST
The Cave In Rock Ferry had halted operation for the night due to heavy fog and drift in the river.

After dark a thick fog lowered visibility at the ferry crossing to a few hundred feet. Rain through the day and rising river levels put a large amount of drift in the river.  

The poor visibility created by the fog and heavy drift have combined to force the ferry to halt operation for the evening.

Stay tuned to see if the ferry can resume on Sunday.

Hometown Heating & Cooling

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It's Tax Time!

Governor orders flags lowered

As a show of support for the Marshall County community following tragic events that transpired at Marshall County High School on Jan. 23, Gov. Matt Bevin has ordered the state flag be lowered to half-staff until sunset Tuesday.

"May this serve as a visual reminder to all of us that we must come together in love and solidarity during this time of heartbreak and mourning and in the months and years that follow," said Bevin. "Together, let us commit to honor the memory of those that were lost and pray for the Marshall County community during the hard days ahead. United we stand. Divided we fall."

Bevin encourages all Kentuckians, businesses, organizations and government agencies to join this show of support for the Marshall County community.