Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County Fiscal Court met in regular session on Monday night at the Butler County Courthouse. Several visitors and all the magistrates were present for a meeting that featured several agenda items.

After approving the minutes from earlier meetings the Court turned to tax rates for two special taxation districts in the County. Kenna Martin, from the Butler County Public Library, told the Court that the Library Board met on August 18th and decided to set their tax rates at; 6.7-cents per hundred dollars assessed on real property, and 12.75-cents per hundred dollars assessed on personal property. The Court approved the rates by a 5-0 vote.
Next the Court heard from Greg Drake II about Extension District tax rates. Drake told the Court that the Extension Board had adopted the state compensating tax rate of 6.8-cents per hundred dollars assessed on real property, and 10.66-cents per hundred dollars assessed on personal property. The Court approved the rates by a 5-0 vote. A compensating rate is used to prevent an increase in tax-bills.
Later in the meeting the Court adopted the County tax rates for fiscal year 2015-16. Taxes on personal property, motor vehicles and watercraft, bank assets, and fire acreage will remain the same as last year. The Court approved the compensating rate of 8.2-cents per hundred dollars assessed value on real property. The rate was approved by a 5-0 vote.
Jacob Williams and Brandon Keown from the Butler County Rescue Squad asked the Court for an additional $2,300 in funding for the fiscal year, making the entire county contribution for the Squad $5,800. Williams told the Court that the Squad's Jaws of Life equipment is outdated, and in need of repair or replacement. Williams said that the cost to fix the current equipment would be more than the cost of replacing them.
The Rescue Squad has a loaner set of Jaws right now, for two months, but Williams said that they will have no way to extricate accident victims once the loan expires. He told the Court that the Squad worked 98 wrecks last year, and that 77 of them required the Jaws. The set currently used by the Squad is incapable of cutting some parts of a vehicle, and he said repairing them would be prone to failure and more repairs.
The Squad presented a quote for a new set of battery powered Edraulic cutters and spreaders, at a combined cost of $8,800 ($4,800 for cutters, $4.000 for spreaders.) They said the quote would be good for two months. Williams told the Court that the Squad could probably fund $3,000 of the purchase, and would need $5,800 total from the County, counting their annual $3,500 allotment.
Outgoing EMS Director Terry Hunt told the Court that the Rescue Squad also does traffic control for EMS and fire departments, and are required to do so by the state. He said they also do all the land and water search and rescue for the county. Hunt said that the cost of fuel alone is very high for the Squad.
Fourth District Magistrate David Whittinghill suggested the matter be tabled until a later date. That prompted Sheriff Scottie Ward to give his opinion on the matter. Ward pointed out that the Squad will have no way to remove victims from wrecked automobiles after the loan of equipment expired. "You don't understand what these guys do, and they do it for free," said Ward to Whittinghill.
Third District Magistrate Chad Tyree moved to give an additional $2,300 in funding to the Rescue Squad. Johnny Tuck seconded and the motion passed by a 5-0 vote.
Magistrates then agreed to get quotes for insulation for the Butler County Animal Shelter. Magistrate Whittinghill said he had checked the insulation at the Shelter and thinks insulating the building will help with utility rates.
Litter abatement payments were approved for: Butler County Rescue Squad-$573, MCC-$610, MCC Mission Team-$600, BCHS Girls Basketball-$600, and Oak Ridge Christian Academy-$603. The Court also approved the reappointment of Don Sullivan, Bill Sweatt, and Debbie Worley to the Butler County Ambulance Service Board. The Sheriff's 2014 tax settlement was accepted subject to audit. A KCTC Grant payment to the Butler County Ambulance Service was approved. The pass-thru payment is for $10,000 total.
A 2% cost-of-living increase was given to county employees by a 4-1 vote, with Magistrate Chad Tyree casting the only nay vote. The monies for the raises were already in the 2015-2016 budget. Magistrate Whittinghill also asked that the motion state that the raise includes the Occupational Tax Administrator and that her pay be raised to $12.50 per hour, the same as other employees.
Approval to add new Financial Officer/Deputy Judge Amy Deweese to all county accounts at Morgantown Bank and Trust was also given by a 5-0 vote. The Court also approved posting to fill the Road Supervisor Position in-house until September 11th.
After approving routine bills and transfers the Court briefly discussed reviewing the personnel policy for possible changes.
The Court also discussed cutting the amount of cold-mix made for road patching in order to free up more oil for chip-sealing. Jonathan Deweese from the Road Department said that cutting cold mix would allow for another half-tanker per district of chip-seal oil.
The meeting was then adjourned.