Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County Fiscal Court held a special session on Friday afternoon, April 19th, to handle some routine business matters, and hold a work session to address the county’s proposed nuisance ordinance.

In matters of general business the Court dealt with several items. A resolution approving Butler County’s Solid Waste 5-year plan passed 5-0. A transfer of $137,487 was made from the Road Fund back to the General Fund. Judge Fields explained this transfer reimbursed the General Fund for road expenditures. Butler and Ohio Counties were each reimbursed $7,500. This was for monies used as start-up funds for the Rochester Ferry. Five-thousand dollars was also reimbursed to the Rochester Ferry Fund from the Reed’s Ferry Fund to cover monies spent on the tug boat.  Payment was also authorized to Barton Machine, Inc. for refurbishment work on the Rochester Ferry tug boat. Road Supervisor Timmy West reported that the tug was working well, and that Barton Machine had done a fine job.

In other business the Court approved a payment of $19,000 to Norman Burdin for courthouse painting and repair. The payment represents half the cost of the painting. Magistrate David Whittinghill asked if the work was half-finished and was told by Judge Fields that it was close to halfway, and that the entire job would be finished ahead of a May 31st deadline. If the deadline is met the Administrative Office of the Courts will pay a portion of the repair and painting costs.

Sheriff Scottie Ward spoke to the Court concerning a Countywide ‘push-notice’ messaging system. Ward explained that a smartphone app is available that would send ‘push’ notices to subscribed users such as ferry closings, local ‘amber’ alerts, etc . Ward said if the system had been in place recently that a notice concerning the jail escapee could have been sent to users along with a photo. Users can also send tips back to the Sheriff’s office. Ward asked that the court pay for three months of the service, which will cost $1,289 the first year. The Court approved paying $247.50 for their portion of the annual operating cost of the system.

The Court then opened the floor for a work session on the Butler County Nuisance Ordinance. County Attorney Dick Deye presented the Court with a working copy of an ordinance he has drawn based on a Ballard County ordinance. Much discussion was had concerning the nature of a nuisance and how one should be defined. Of particular concern was wording in the ordinance about ‘noxious weeds and grasses’ and abandoned mobile homes.

Woodbury City Commissioner Joe K. Morris talked to Judge Fields and Deye about possible ‘vendetta complaints’ that could happen as a result of the ordinance, and how to prevent those occurrences.  Discussion also centered on enforcement procedures, fining, and responsibility for final clean-up expenses for properties in violation of the ordinance.

After close to an hour of discussion Judge Fields asked for an adjournment and the meeting ended. No action was taken on the nuisance ordinance. The next meeting of the Fiscal Court will be May 12th at the Provo Rural Development.