Talk of upcoming bicentennial events filled the courtroom during a Harlan County Fiscal Court special-called meeting on Aug. 15. Multiple events and happenings are planned as a way to celebrate Harlan County’s 200 years.

Harlan County Judge-Executive Dan Mosley said the Bicentennial Ball will take place at the Harlan Center on Saturday. Tickets are being sold at the Harlan Center for $50 per couple.

“Also, on Sept. 21, the fire departments in our communities are going to try to install 200 smoke detectors in each district as a way to mark the bicentennial and also as a way to encourage people to protect life and property,” Mosley said. “Then, on Oct. 10-12, we’ll actually celebrate the bicentennial with a kind of mini festival.”

Mosley said it will be almost like a “mini Poke Sallet Festival,” involving a carnival, vendors, lecture series at the Harlan Center, music and more.

“We’ve also received a grant to construct a permanent stage where the Poke Sallet stage normally goes,” Mosley said. “Construction on the stage will start in the next couple of weeks. The grant is through Appalachian Region Commission Flex-E-Grant Program, which presented us with $10,000 for the stage’s construction.”

Mosley added the stage will be referred to as the Harlan County Bicentennial Stage. People wishing to become a bicentennial club member can contact the treasurer’s office at 606-573-4771 or 606-573-2600 for more information.

“There are different levels of participation and we’re doing this to raise money to pay for the bicentennial event and festival,” Mosley said.

Individuals wishing to join the club can pay $100 and will receive a shirt commemorating the event, a lapel pin and a brick with their name placed onto the foundation of the stage. Couples will receive two shirts, two pins and their names on a brick paver for $150, and businesses will receive the same with their business’ name on a paver for $200.

“This is a great way to commemorate our event and also tie in people from our community,” Mosley said. “People will have the opportunity to put their names on a stage that will be sitting here forever.”

Mosley added the permanent stage will help the community expand on their arts and cultural elements and give a venue for concerts throughout the year.

“I’m really excited about the stage,” Mosley said. “It will be able to mark individuals and businesses that have been a part of our community and their presence here.”

Forms are available at the Harlan County Courthouse and can also be mailed per request.

“We’re on a tight timeline,” Mosley said. “We need to have all the forms back by Sept. 11 for club membership.”

Also addressed in the meeting were the 2019 tax rates. For the fourth consecutive year, the court decided to not raise property taxes.

“We left the tax rate at 0.415,” Mosley said. “We feel like we have adjusted our budget enough here to do what we set out to do — serve the citizens the best we can.

“I appreciate the court for standing with me and deciding not to pass on additional burdens to our taxpayers.”

Property tax bills will be sent out to Harlan County residents during October.

In other fiscal court activity:

• The court accepted a quit-claim deed for the Fifth Street extension and authorized the judge-executive to sign any and all documents;

• The court heard an update on the Blackjewel bankruptcy case and were informed of the hearing taking place Aug. 23;

• The court passed a motion to open a CD for LGEA funds at Home Federal Bank (1.75 percent for nine months), authorizing the judge-executive to sign any and all documents;

• The court discussed providing funds to go toward a gym for the Harlan County Boys & Girls Club;

• The court approved a change order with Irvine Contracting for HCBP turning lane ($24,046), authorizing the judge-executive to sign any and all documents;

• The court approved a health services agreement for Sept. 17 through Sept. 16, 2020, with Southern Health Partners for the Harlan County Detention Center, authorizing the judge-executive to sign any and all documents;

• The court approved a grant agreement for Tucker-Guthrie Memorial Airport (AIP) in the amount of $216,725 to update Airport Master Plan Study, authorizing the judge-executive to sign any and all documents;

• The court approved the CSX Transportation Amendment to increase rent for a parcel of land in Benham amounting to $975 annually, authorizing the judge-executive to sign any and all documents;

• The court approved the CSX Transportation Amendment to increase the rent for parcel of land in Baxter amounting to $8,075 annually, authorizing the judge-executive to sign any and all documents;

• The court approved the time-only modification to extend the contract through Aug. 31, 2020, for MOA relating to the Portal 31 enhancements and other improvements, authorizing the judge-executive to sign any and all documents;

• The court approved Scope of Work for 2019 Flex-E-Grant amounting to $12,500, authorizing the judge-executive to sign any and all documents;

• The court approved a resolution of the Harlan County Fiscal Court, authorizing the filing of a Regional Development Agency Assistance Program (RDAAP) proposal/grant application for an allocated amount in RDAAP funds with the Department of Local Government (DLG) and authorizing the designated Harlan County Industrial Development Authority to act as the authorized correspondent for the project, authorizing the judge-executive to sign any and all documents;

• The court approved a resolution recognizing the dispatchers of Harlan County as first responders and as being a part of the critical infrastructure of the public safety framework, authorizing the judge-executive to sign any and all documents;

• The court approved an application for 2020 Litter Abatement Grant funding, authorizing the judge-executive to sign any and all documents;

• The court approved an application for 2020 Illegal Dumping Grant, authorizing the judge-executive to sign any and all documents;

• The court accepted the county clerk’s excess fee check amounting $1,871.50 for a 2018 audit (total for 2018 is $51,871.50);

• The court accepted the Harlan County Sheriff’s Office 2018 final settlement for gas, subject to audit;

• The court accepted the Harlan County Sheriff’s Office 2018 final settlement for oil, subject to audit;

• The court accepted the Harlan County Sheriff’s Office 2018 final settlement for limestone, sand and gravel, subject to audit;

• The court approved permission to advertise for RFP for design, construction and implementation for Portal 31 communication and A/V equipment;

• The court reviewed various reports, including reports from the treasurer, animal control, roads/bridges, recycling/solid waste, PRIDE, inmate work program and solid waste enforcement/flood plain. All reports were accepted.