Beech Tree News Network

Monday, September 9th was the regular meeting night for the Butler County Fiscal Court. Per tradition, the meeting was made a called meeting and moved to the Reedyville Rural Development Center, as it is every September. Several members of the Reedyville RD were on hand for the meeting, which was preceded by a potluck supper prepared by the ladies of the Reedyville RD Club.

After the attendees had enjoyed the meal, the formal meeting was called to order with all Fiscal Court members and County Attorney Dick Deye present. After the routine approval of minutes from other meetings, the Court began to work through the short, but busy agenda for the September meeting.

Cody Henderson, of Henderson Land Surveying, and Jason Baker, from Bryant Engineering Incorporated, spoke to the squires concerning the ongoing McKendree Chapel Road improvement project. Henderson spoke first and explained that a detailed predesign survey would be needed by Bryant Engineering before they could begin the design phase of the project.

Henderson and Baker then presented the Court with options concerning design work by Bryant Engineering. Bryant presented three options to the Court, labeled A, B, and C. According to Baker and Henderson, Options A and B were probably adequate for this project. Together Options A and B would provide the county with a detailed preconstruction bid sheet for potential contractors, and would also include predesign work by Bryant Engineering. It was explained by Baker that the county would be able to advertise for local/regional bidders on the project by using the bid list prepared by Bryant. If the county should decide to let the bid out statewide, it was suggested by Baker that a more detailed bid sheet be prepared by Bryant, which was presented to the Court as Option C.

After hearing the presentation, the Court first gave the approval to Henderson Land Surveying for survey work on the project at a cost of $3,500. The measure passed 5-0. The Court next voted 5-0 to give approval to Bryant Engineering to prepare designs and bid sheets using the options A, and B as presented to the Court.

Continuing to deal with the McKendree Chapel Road project, the Court next addressed a plan for a bridge on the road. The magistrates voted 5-0 to approve a resolution and agreement with the Kentucky Department of Transportation for construction of the bridge.

Next on the agenda was the final approval of Flex Fund road monies for the 2013-14 Fiscal Year. Flex Fund monies are granted to counties by the Kentucky Department of Transportation for state highway projects within the county, with the projects selected by magistrates and approved by the state. After receiving state approval, a final resolution was needed to finalize the Flex Fund projects, and the measure passed by a 5-0 vote.

The squires next voted 5-0 to approve a half-payment of $29,985.00 to Metal Works for recycling trailers that will be placed at various locations around the county. Judge-Executive David Fields told the magistrates that the half-payment was needed up front by Metal Works before they could begin the project. He also reminded the Court and visitors that most of the money for the project was attained through a state grant. Fields also said that the preliminary plan is to place the trailers at county fire departments if the departments will agree to maintain the trailers. He said that Solid Waste Coordinator Timmy West would have the trailers hauled to StarTek Recycling for processing, and that any money made from the sale of the recyclables would then be donated back to the fire departments. The measure passed by a 5-0 vote.

Stan England and Bruce White spoke to the Court to give a report about the Boys and Girls Club of Butler County. England opened his remarks by thanking the Court and the community for their continued support of the Club, saying, “There are about 60-some kids that couldn’t be here tonight that want to thank you, too.” England continued saying that one mission of the Club is to “make taxpayers, not tax burdens,” and to help make young people college or work ready. He also invited everyone present to attend the Boys and Girls Club annual dinner, on October 24th at 6 p.m. at the Butler County Education Complex. Butler County Schools Superintendent Scott Howard will be the guest speaker at the dinner, which will be hosted by James Runion.
England then gave a brief presentation on the Boys and Girls Club. The Club, which opened in Butler County in 1996, is open to any student in grades K-12 and costs $24 per year, with an extra fee for summer programs. The Club is open during after school hours and all day during the summer and the Butler County School District provides transportation to the Club immediately after school. England said the stated mission of the Club is, “To inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.”

To demonstrate the long term impact of the Club on the lives of members, England presented statistics to the meeting that were derived from a national Harris survey of former members. According to the Harris figures; 40% said the Club helped them graduate high school. 85% of respondents said the Club taught them right from wrong, 67% said they developed goals and aspirations because of their involvement with the Club, and 67% said the Club taught them to respect law enforcement. England reported that 75% of those surveyed are actively involved in their communities, with 81% saying the Club taught them a sense of responsibility to give back.

England wrapped up his remarks by inviting anyone interested to become involved in the Club and to consider sitting on the Club’s board of directors. Bruce White then took a moment to thank the county’s RD Clubs for their continued support of the Club and to encourage people to become involved.

The magistrates next approved occupation tax refunds due to overpayment. Coleman Construction will be refunded $1,000.00 and the Batesville Casket Company will receive a refund of $538.68. The measure passed by a 5-0 vote.

Judge Fields then turned to the next agenda item, concerning sponsoring a chair in the State Capitol. Fields said the centennial of the Capitol is coming up and that the existing chairs are old and dangerous. The state has asked all 120 counties to sponsor a chair in the capitol at the cost of $1,000 each. Fields said he will ask the City of Morgantown if they want to split the cost of the chair. Magistrates voted 5-0 to fund the chair.

Next final payments were approved for Norman Burdin for courthouse painting. A total of $12,493.50—half the cost—was approved in payment to Burdin, with another $850.00 approved for additional painting and work on doors at the Courthouse. Fields urged anyone at the meeting to visit the Courthouse to see the improvements, and said the new doors “look really nice” at night. The payments to Burdin were approved 5-0.

Filling four vacancies on the Butler County Ambulance Board was next on the agenda. At the August meeting of the Court magistrates had asked if they could submit the names of potential board members to Judge Fields. On Monday night Fields presented his nominations based on the magistrates suggestions. Mark Hood, Bill Sweatt, Don Sullivan, and Debbie Worley were approved unanimously by roll call vote to fill the vacancies. In a subsequent motion, Hood and Sweatt were given one-year terms on the Board with Worley and Sullivan given two-year terms.

Judge Fields briefly explained to the Court that questions concerning a conflict of interest on the board had been addressed by the Department of Local Government. According to the DLG’s Robert O. Brown, it was not a conflict for Mark Hood to sit on the board even though his business, Hood’s Market, submits bids to the board for ambulance fuel. In Brown’s opinion, it is not a conflict for Hood to sit on the board as long as his company follows prescribed bidding procedures and Hood recuses himself from voting on the bids.

Sheriff Scottie Ward was next on the agenda. The Sheriff came to the meeting to show the Reedyville RD members samples of the new property tax postcards. Ward briefly explained that the cards will be mailed near the end of the month and said he is trying to make people aware of the change so they will know to look for the cards in the mail.

After approving routine bills and transfers and transferring funds from the general fund to the jail fund, the meeting was turned over to magistrates for comments.

Judge Fields spoke on behalf of the Court in thanking the Reedyville RD for hosting the meeting and providing the meal, and said he hopes the traditional yearly meeting at the RD can continue. The meeting was then formally adjourned.

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Story by Joe K. Morris, Beech Tree News/WLBQ