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Fiscal Court members on ‘honor system’
Angie Neace and Dave Thibodeau at the Wilkat Tavern.
Volume 135 Number 11 © 2010 The Community Recorder ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Share your favorite sledding spot
Have a favorite place to go sledding in Boone County? The Recorder is compiling a list and we’d like to hear from you. When snow has fallen and school is canceled, what spots do kids enjoy the most for sledding? Send us a note describing the location and why this site is so good for sledding. Include your name and the community where you live, along with your phone number in case we have questions. E-mail your response to ndaly@nky.com, call us at 5781059, or mail your note to: Sledding, Community Recorder, 228 Grandview Drive, Fort Mitchell KY 41017.
By Paul McKibben pmckibben@nky.com
Among the perks of being a Boone County commissioner are pay and benefits for doing a job that could be considered part-time. Currently, commissioners earn a salary of $35,993.62. New commissioners will earn the same amount. Commissioners Cathy Flaig, Charlie Kenner and Terri Moore all signed a document in 2009 stating they “swear or affirm that I work at least an average of 100 hours per month per fiscal year. In the event the average hours I work per month as a commissioner falls below 100 per fiscal year, I will immediately notify the Boone County treasurer.” The treasurer, Lisa Buerkley, said no commissioner has ever notified her about working less than 100 hours a month.
PATRICIA A. SCHEYER/CONTRIBUTOR
Santa visits Walton
Rilee Kuderer, 6, visiting her aunt and uncle in Walton, tells Santa exactly what she wants for Christmas at the annual Walton Christmas on Main Friday night. More photos, Page A9.
Flaig not going anywhere Burlington hosts holiday kickoff
Featuring everything from a Lionel train display to a Gingerbread House Contest, the Historic Burlington Business Association was a winter wonderland Dec. 3-5 as it played host to “A Burlington Christmas.” Restaurants and shops had special hours, and Santa visited on Friday for a tree lighting. PHOTOS, PAGE B6
Stay on top of Boone Co. news
The Recorder comes out on Thursday, but there are several ways to get your Boone County news fix the rest of the week. The community pages on NKY.com are filled with the latest stories by Recorder staff. For the Postmaster
Published weekly every Thursday. Periodical postage paid at Florence, KY 41042 USPS 0060780 Postmaster: Send address change to The Boone County Recorder 3635 O’Hara Rd., Erlanger, KY 41018 Annual Subscription: Weekly Recorder & Sunday Enquirer In-County $18.02; Weekly Recorder only all other in-state $23.32 Out-of - state $27.56; Kentucky Sales Tax Included
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pmckibben@nky.com
Cathy Flaig is leaving the Boone County Fiscal Court later this month but she won’t be completely out of the public eye. In July, Flaig took over the reins of the Northern Kentucky Tea Party and became the organization’s president. She plans to keep doing that and be involved in the community. As for running again for elected office, she said “never say never.” She said she’s not looking at any office but all of her options are open. During Flaig’s tenure as a commissioner, the county opened a new justice center, jail and sheriff’s department. She said you’re always proud when a building is finished but she’s also proud of work that was a lot less grand. “I’m proud of the fact that during the years I was able to make a difference in the small things,” she said. “Whether it was helping some family that needed something done for their son that was in jail to helping someone obtain a sidewalk in front of their yard.” A major state road project – the rehabilitation of North Bend Road near Interstate 275 in Hebron – is another source of pride. Flaig, 64, Hebron, has lived in Boone County most of her life except two years when her husband served in the Navy. Flaig was first elected in 1998, the same year that voters put Republican Gary Moore into office as county judge-executive. Flaig has been an outspoken
WIN
HOU$E CA$H!
PAUL MCKIBBEN/STAFF
Boone County Commissioner Cathy Flaig sits on a forklift inside Flaig Welding Co. Inc. in Hebron. conservative on the Fiscal Court. She often was the lone vote in the court’s 3-1 decisions on various issues. On fiscal issues, she points to successes in getting the county to reduce the number of takehome vehicles and defeat of a special parks property tax in the 2008 general election. She said she has no regrets about her 12 years in office. “I leave with great happiness,” she said. Flaig challenged Moore in the May primary, losing by only 74 votes. She asked for a recanvass and recount but neither changed the primary election result. The recount was only partially completed when Flaig stopped it because of the cost and she wasn’t gaining any votes. She said she regrets not finding those 74 votes and she didn’t win. She said
HEBRON BREW HAUS 2030 Northside Dr. – Hebron, Ky.
her campaign “was never a negative on Gary Moore, it was the spending of the county’s money.” Flaig is being replaced by Republican Matthew Dedden in the District 1 seat. Republican Charlie Walton will be another newcomer to the Fiscal Court, joining Republican Charlie Kenner who was first elected a commissioner in 2000. Flaig’s advice for the new Fiscal Court: “Don’t vote for anything until you’ve read it five or six times and ask a lot of questions,” she said. “And do not be afraid to ask questions no matter if they seem ridiculous or whether they don’t because at the end of the day it’s the taxpayer that you’re representing. It’s not you. It’s not Gary Moore or the other members of the court. You sit up there alone.”
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In order to receive health, dental and retirement benefits, commissioners have to sign the forms. New commissioners Matthew Dedden and Charlie Walton will be asked to sign the forms next year after they take office. In addition to regular Fiscal Court meetings, there are other events and commissioners can also take calls from residents. “You honestly can put in as many (hours) as you want because there’s lots of meetings that you can attend if you’re on certain committees,” Flaig said. Commissioner Charlie Kenner, who will be returning next year, said he far exceeds the guidelines and he’s monitored it before. “You do a lot of stuff,” he said, later adding that he’s basically always on call. Flaig said some weeks she puts hardly any hours into the job and some weeks it is easily 45-50 hours. Moore said e-mails can average 25-30 a day. She said she easily works every bit of the 100 hours a month and considers the job to be full-time.
Honor system
But there is no check to see if the commissioners are doing the hours they promised to work. They’re on the honor system. “I can’t make them do a time card,” Buerkley said. Kenner said the pay is fair. Flaig said the salary is not as much as some other counties but
See HONOR SYSTEM on page A2
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