Remedying the county's litter problem and better cell phone service were two of the main topics of discussion Wednesday during the Harlan County Fiscal Court's monthly meeting.

Will Clem of the Harlan Rotary Club informed the court of the concern his organization has about the litter problem in the county.

During his presentation, Clem gave several possible strategies to help control the flow of litter.

"While there is some discussion as to the effectiveness of controlled dumpster sites in our area, we think this is an alternative worth investigating. Harlan County also needs a revitalized K-16 education program which focuses strongly on prevention of these problems," Clem said on behalf of the Rotary Club. "We recommend that garbage bills be attached to water bills as a way to increase participation and raise revenue. The solid waste department should become more active in developing a public awareness program."

Harlan County Judge Executive Joe Grieshop said there is no single answer to the litter problem and that it will take a group effort to help with the problem.

"The question is, how do you stop people from throwing garbage out?" added solid waste coordinator Lakis Mavinidis. "The effort needs to be on educating children about littering."

Brian Young and Josh Scott, from Appalachian Wireless, also attended the meeting to inform the court on the progress of improving cell phone reception in the area. Young said he expects the Evarts area to have cell phone service by the summer.

Young said customers who have Cingular cell phone service will not be able to use the Appalachian Wireless towers.

"Cingular will not work on our towers. They are on a different network," he said. "It isn't fair to us to invest half a million dollars in a site then allow Cingular to make money off of our investment."

He also spoke of the visible role that Appalachian Wireless will have in the communities of Harlan County.

"We are not a company that is going to come in here, throw a tower up and leave. We are here to stay," Young said. "We are here to help you. We are not here to take your money and run. We will be throwing basketballs out at your basketball games and footballs out at your football games."

In other action, the fiscal court:

-- Accepted a bid from Kentucky Mine Supply for the purchase of galvanized coated gabion baskets, steel rebar and metal tile culverts;

-- Approved a motion requesting that the expansion of U.S. 119 to four lanes and completing both ends of U.S. 421 be placed on the six-year road plan;

-- Accepted bid from Harlan County Concrete for the purchase of ready-mix concrete;

-- Accepted Harlan County Clerk's statement of receipts, disbursements and excess fees

-- Accepted the Harlan County Clerk's final settlement for 2006;

-- Accepted a MOA for voting machines between the Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Electronics and the county of Harlan for the amount of $157,500 and authorized the judge-executive to sign any and all documents;

-- Accepted Burnett Sons Roofing (contractor) alternate one bid pricing for the amount of $299,690 to generally provide replacement of cornice metals, cornice roofing and masonry restoration at the parapet area of the Harlan County courthouse as outlined in the architect's contract documents. (The alternate would be added to the contractor's contract in the form of a change order);

-- Accepted resolution between T.L. Bayne, Harlan County IDA and state;

-- Accepted resolution between Hurberry, Harlan County IDA and state;

-- Approved a motion to give Cloverstreet Church of Christ a piece of property adjacent to the church;

-- Accepted an agreement from Homeland Security ($15,00) for the sheriff's department for interoperable communication equipment, authorize the judge executive to sign any and all documents (retroactive to January 30, 2008);

-- Heard report from Sari and Bud Yordy regarding statistics for Swap program for 2007;

-- Reflected hiring date of William Howard Enix as Nov. 26, 2007;

-- Approved various reports as follows: animal control officer, road/bridge department, recycling/solid waste, PRIDE, inmate work program and Stone Mountain Boat Dock (boat slip rentals);

-- Approved a motion to pay election officers retroactive for Feb. 5, 2008, and for March 18, 2008, if that special election occurs;

-- Approved a motion to advertise for white beach sand and asphalt;

-- Heard report from Harlan County Treasurer Ryan Creech regarding the court's taxable fringe benefits;

-- Approved budget transfers to road and general funds.