ONLY ONLINE: Williamsburg firemen honored for saving resident trapped during fire

During their monthly meeting July 12, Williamsburg City Council members commended the work of the Williamsburg Fire Department in helping to save a trapped resident during an apartment fire last week.

"They got people out that were trapped. They were very professional. This could have been a lot worse," noted Mayor Roddy Harrison.

On July 5, a Williamsburg firefighter helped rescue a trapped woman on the second floor of an apartment at 80 North Sixth Street.

Firefighter Dorman Patrick, one of the first firefighters to arrive on the scene, helped Hope Grubb go down the ladder head first to safety.

Grubb was one of two people injured during the blaze, which authorities believe was intentionally set.

During the meeting, Harrison also updated the council on two maintenance projects that are underway.

Paint has been ordered for town fire hydrants, which will soon all be painted the same color except for the top portions, which will be color-coded depending on the water pressure, Harrison said.

Councilwoman Laurel West noted that one town in Indiana has the fire hydrants painted artistically and noted that it would be nice if some artsy people could do the same with Williamsburg fire hydrants.

Harrison also noted that four new brushes had been ordered for the street sweeper, which should be back up and running next week.

In addition, the council postponed the second reading of the proposed pawnshop ordinance.

Harrison said pawnshop owners and their attorney met recently with himself, Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird and Commonwealth’s Attorney Allen Trimble about the ordinance.

Harrison said that city officials agreed that portions of the ordinance were worded ambiguously, and agreed to rewrite part of it causing the delay.

In other business, the council:

• Received its new membership plaque from the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

• Heard an update from Councilman Richard Foley about a utility rate increase that the city will be feeling in coming months. He said that Kentucky Utilities recently received approval for a 12.5 percent rate hike, and cautioned that more money should probably be allocated for utilities in next year’s budget.

"It is going to go up at least 50 percent probably in the next few years," Foley added.

• Heard a request from West that a green sign be placed near Exit 11 to inform travelers that Williamsburg was the boyhood home of Roy M. Chappell, who was a member of the Tuskeegee Airmen, the first all black fighter squadron in WWII.

She said that the marker would be particularly appropriate since much of I-75 has been renamed Tuskeegee Trail in honor of the group.

West said that she got the idea after seeing a sign in London that noted it was home of Little Miss Kentucky. She added that she means no offense to Little Miss Kentucky, but that Chappell’s accomplishment is a little more important than that.

In 2006, a state historic marker was placed along Second Street near the entrance of Briar Creek Park to honor Chappell.