Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County Fiscal Court met on Monday, February 9, at the Butler County Courthouse.  All magistrates were in attendance: Stevie Givens, Kevin Phelps, Allen Smith, David Whittinghill, and Dillon Bryant.

The Court decided to keep the county electrical inspector position closed. They appointed Jason T. Sharp as the inspector.  Since the county is closed, Sharp will be the only inspector for Butler County.

The Court approved the 2026 amended county clerk budget, which reflected the change in the clerk's and deputies' salaries as set by the state. According to Clerk Sherry Johnson, quarterly receipts for October through December 2025 were $1,300,261.13.  January 2026 receipts totaled $1,259,369.46, and receipts for the first five working days of February totaled $450,140.98.

Butler County Sheriff Scottie Ward’s excess fees, subject to audit, are $112,447.17.  His 2026 budget was also amended to reflect the salary change approved by the state.

Jerry Bluhm and family came before the Court to inquire about their driveway on Belcher Road, as they question whether it is a County Road.  They purchased the property in 1997 from Jerry Stepp and said the driveway was private.  They researched records and could not find when the road was put under county maintenance.  Judge Tim Flener, County Road Foreman Jonathon Deweese, and Magistrate Kevin Phelps say it has been maintained as a county road, and a Butler County School bus uses their circular drive as a turnaround.

The Bluhm family documented multiple incidents of damage caused by heavy trucks, low-boy trailers, and dump trucks, resulting in asphalt loss, ruts, and yard destruction. They asked the Court to remove their drive from the County Road Maintenance.  Judge Flener explained the process for removing the section from county maintenance and the required public hearing.  

 

Door repair to the Butler County Animal Shelter- Bluegrass Commercial Door $479

Renewal of five Cd’s at Morgantown Bank & Trust

Replace four fuel injectors and the injector pump on the Rochester Ferry for $5,140

Bills and transfers

Transfer of $1,967  to the transit tax/tourism committee

Transfer of $10,000 from the general fund to the E911 fund

Transfer of $35,000 from the general fund to the jail fund

County-wide clean up for March 26-28