Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County Fiscal Court held its monthly meeting for June on Monday night. The meeting was designated as a ‘special called’ meeting so it could be held at the Little Muddy Rural Development Center. After a potluck meal provided by the ladies of Little Muddy the meeting was turned over to Judge-Executive David Fields and the rest of the Fiscal Court.

Rob Brown with KACO--Kentucky Association of Counties--and Gina Tynes with Hocker Insurance were on hand to present the court with a dividend check for $7196.07. The dividend was from 2006-07 Workman’s Compensation premiums. Brown told the court that this is yet another example that “. . . when KACO does good you do good.” Brown said that Butler County has received just over $15,000.00 in dividends in the last two years.

Tynes and Brown also presented the court with the yearly Workman’s Compensation insurance package. The total premium for 2012-13 fiscal year will be $55,002.00, or if paid by August 1, 2012 the court will receive the discounted rate of $54,451.98. The court voted 5-0 to accept the package.

The court next voted to issue litter abatement payments as follows; $612 to the Reedyville Masonic Lodge, $600 to the Methodist Men, $612 to the Butler County Rescue Squad, $600 to the MCC Mission Team, and $609 to the Butler County 4-H Horse Club. Magistrates passed the payments in a blanket motion by a 5-0 vote.

Next a discussion opened that carried over to the question and answer portion of the meeting. Road Supervisor Timmy West was asked to address the court and clarify the use of crushed stone and coal mix on county roads. The matter in question was why Green River Materials, Inc. did not supply all the coal mix and stone to the county when they were the winning bidder. West explained that the #9 grade rock supplied by Green River Materials had a poor success rate when used with RS-2 oil to make coal mix.

Adam and Andrew Gabbard from Green River Materials were at the meeting and told West they had been stockpiling clean #9 gravel and would like to see if the rock would work in the coal mix process. It was also asked why the low bidder isn’t automatically used on all rock contracts. Judge Fields and West answered that Bluegrass Materials, LLC were given the secondary provider contract and that West used them at his discretion.

 After much discussion that carried into two segments of the meeting West and Gabbard agreed to work more closely and West stated that he would look at the gravel stockpiled by GRM.

Chad Tyree and Timmy West told the court about their plan to use herbicides to stop grass and weeds from “un-graveling” some county roads. Tyree, the magistrate for the 3rd District, said that many of the county’s chip-sealed roads would be in good condition if not for grass and weeds pushing up through the road surface. Tyree and West have developed a workable plan that would cost the county only the amount for a pump for an applicator truck and the licensing of operators. West and Tyree both said that care will be taken to assure that the herbicides aren’t used close to gardens or flowerbeds and stressed that only the center of the roads would be sprayed. Magistrates approved going forward with the project by a 5-0 vote.

On a busy night for Timmy West he next addressed the court to give a quarterly report on the Road Department. West said that his crews had made two full rounds through the county mowing, and a round and a half grading and pulling ditches. West said that ditches are in better than usual condition this year because of the lack of hard rains in the spring. He also said that the state had asked for help from the county on easements onto state roads. Because of a contracting problem the state is behind in mowing and needs the county to mow each side of state approaches for the time being. West and his crews were praised by those in attendance for doing such a good job on Butler County road mowing, and more than one person stated that roads in Butler County are neater and better maintained than those in surrounding counties.

West also reported that the widening project on Adam Flener Road is finished and that about four feet of roadway was added. Judge Fields also reminded Magistrates that the county has been allotted $272,000.00 in road ‘flex funds’ and that each Magistrate needed to get with West to finalize projects in their districts.

After approval of routine transfers and reports the meeting was adjourned after a citizen question and answer session.

Gabe Keen reminded everyone that the Little Muddy RD meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. with a potluck meal and everyone is invited. The Magistrates and Judge Fields praised the fine cooks of Little Muddy and thanked them for their hospitality for hosting the meeting.

The Fiscal Court meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom of the Butler County Courthouse. All meetings are open to the public.