Due to a recent theft at the Tri-City Little League field in Benham, league president Bob Rutherford asked the Lynch City City Council for help with mowing the field during a meeting Monday.

"We need to help them. These are our children out there playing," said council member Melody Coots.

After discussing the issue, Mayor Tom Vicini and council members agreed to post flyers seeking volunteers to mow the field with the equipment donated to the league.

In other action, engineer Leo Miller gave a sidewalk update.

"The sidewalks are proceeding on time and are doing very well," he said. "They're doing a good job. I'm very pleased with sidewalks in the city of Lynch.

"We are also comparing prices between a water tank that would hold 250,000 gallons of water or one that hold 500,000 gallons of water. That way, the town of Lynch could help the other two cities (Cumberland and Benham) in case of water shortage since we are at a higher elevation than them."

Vicini notified council members that he received notice of a chance of losing part of the allocated budget which was designated for vehicles and sewer projects and said it might be going to another city.

Vicini urged all council members to call their local representatives and express their displeasure about the issue.

Council members also approved a proposed project by Boy Scout Bradley Belding, who is working toward Eagle Scout status. He will proceed with a pilot recycling program in Lynch.

The project is one step in the PRIDE program. Participants will receive the proper containers and materials from the Boy Scouts to recycle plastic, glass, paper and aluminum.

After each collection is picked up and weighed, the recyclable goods will then be delivered to the Harlan Recycling Center by the Boy Scouts.

"We have plenty of problems with all of the recyclable garbage in this area," said council member Benny Massey.

In other business, the council:

n thanked council member Terry Lewis and his wife for help rejuvenating the Bulldog Room, where all the trophies collected by Lynch High School over the years are displayed.

n approved the motion for $240 to be given for the carpet for the Bulldog Room.

n discussed a reprimand which was given to Chief Taylor Hall for being non-communicative over two accidents in prior months.

n set cleanup dates along with Harlan County from April 10-24.

n discussed the problem of residents placing garbage other than cardboard in the dumpster next to city hall.

n discussed contacting solid waste coordinator Lakis Mavinidis about emptying the dumpster.

n heard from Main Street Director Elizabeth Powell, who said that it would be very important to answer any questions from the Tri-City Market Analysis.

n was informed by Powell the Lynch Walking Trail received an extension of completion date to the summer of 2005.

n was informed by fire chief Bill Goode that the FEMA grant application for a new fire truck was completed and sent in a day early.

n was informed by Vicini that the final designation of the Lynch Walking Trail will start at Portal 30 and span to Gap Branch.