Nola Sizemore

Staff Writer

During a meeting of the Lynch City Council on Tuesday, council members expressed concern over the city’s water plant operator, Wendy Brashears’, failure to attend council meetings. Missing the last four meetings, council members agreed to make department heads’ attendance to council meetings mandatory.

“I’ve got questions about the water/sewage report submitted that only Wendy can answer,” said council woman Anne Carr. “Was she asked to come to this meeting? Did she say anything about why she is not attending our council meetings?”

Mayor Johnny Adams said Brashears has not offered any reasons why she is not attending council meetings. He said he asks every department head to attend all council meetings to answer questions council members may have.

“They all know we want them to be here,” said Adams. “We could send the police down and bring them up here.”

Councilman Winston Yeary said after reading Brashears most recent report where she reports failing her certification test saying, “I will not go into detail as to what happened and what had to be done, but rest assured I have took care of the situation and hope that something will be done about it,” he would like to ask her what she meant by this statement. She states in her report she is making plans to re-test in Frankfort at the end of August.

“For the last four months in a row we’ve asked her to come to these meetings and she has refused to come,” said councilman Carl Collins. “At the last meeting I suggested we put a little sting to that request to get our department heads here. What does council want to do about this?”

All council members agreed to make it mandatory for department heads to attend council meetings as requested by the mayor and council members.

“Let it be known to her (Brashears), the city paid for her first test and she failed it. We are not paying for another one,” said Collins. “The city just can’t afford this.”

Adams said the next test Brashears takes will be at her own expense whether she passes or fails.

Brashears was contacted by phone on Wednesday and she said the only comment she has is that, she was not feeling well on Tuesday evening and that is why she didn’t attend the meeting.

In other council action:

* Had first reading of the city’s proposed 2012-2013 budget;

*Approved a resolution supporting a new veterans hospital facility in the Fifth Congressional District;

*Approved a resolution allowing access to all city streets for their firehouse project;

*Noted the city will be taking applications for their Walk of Legend 2012 nominee. Nominations may be made through Aug. 31. Applications may be picked up at city hall and submissions must include a statement as to why the individual or group is being nominated.

*Bids received for their firehouse project were received and opened and the lowest bid from DWB Builders Inc., of Barbourville, was $10,000 over budget. Negotiations are being made to reduce their bid.

Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510 or at nsizemore@heartlandpublications.com