Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County Fiscal Court met on Monday night.

Two items of old business needed attention from the Court; the removal of JR Huff Road from the county road system, and enrollment in the AlertSense emergency notification service.

Fourth District Magistrate David Whittinghill informed the Court that consideration of the removal of JR Huff Road needed to be tabled until both landowners could come to an agreement about the road's removal. A motion to table passed 5-0.

Emergency Management Director Richard Henderson presented a cost breakdown for the AlertSense system. Enrollment for a year would cost the county a total of $5,725. Henderson said that half the cost could be reimbursed from the Special Projects Fund, and an additional $1,000 could be reimbursed from LEPC funds. He said there is a good chance an additional $1,000 will be matched, bringing down the cost for a year to $862.50.

The AlertSense system uses cell phones, tablets, and other electronic devices to provide real-time warnings in the event of emergencies. Third-district Magistrate questioned Henderson if feedback from citizens and/or government officials indicated that the county needs the system. Henderson pointed out that the county has no mass warning capability such as sirens.

On a motion from the First District Magistrate Stevie Givens, the matter was tabled until a special session scheduled for Thursday evening.

Once the agenda shifted to new business much of the discussion concerned ongoing cooling problems in the courthouse.

Certain areas of the courthouse have serious cooling problems, including the jail, sheriff's office, PVA office, and spaces occupied by the Occupational Tax Administrator, and County Treasurer. There have also been complaints about the temperature in the upstairs courtroom.

The jail presents the most pressing problem because state regulations say that prisoners can't be housed in spaces where the temperature is over 85-degrees. Portable cooling units have been installed in the jail to bring the temperature into the acceptable range.

Judge-Executive David Fields said that much of the problem is caused by the courthouse having four separate heating and cooling systems.

Fields also said the chiller system in the courthouse is forty years old and needs to be replaced. The Judge has talked to Tommy Drake with Advanced Heating and Cooling for options to replace the chiller.

Third District Magistrate Chad Tyree said a meeting with HVAC consultants is scheduled for July 11th. An audit of the current cooling system will be conducted, and options--including funding options--will be discussed.

Magistrate Tyree brought two other items of cooling concern to the Court. He said that the operator of the County's old John Deere grader has asked if cab air conditioning can be added to the machine. He also reported that the County Recycling Center has no heating or cooling system.

No action was taken about the problems, but they will be discussed more at a future meeting.

In other business, the Court approved an annual $100 payment to the members of the Board of Assessment Appeals. The board members are Rick Scott, Donna Wilson, Scott Flener, and Sherry Johnson. Half of the $400 total payment will be reimbursed to the county.

Payments from the $100-Mile Litter Abatement Program were approved for; Banock Lodge #824-$600, White Ridge Church Youth-$671, Butler County Board of Education/BCHS Renaissance-$600, Fifth District VFD-$650, and Butler County Board of Education/BCHS Lady Bears Basketball-$600. A blanket motion made by First District Magistrate Stevie Givens and seconded by Second District Magistrate Johnny Tuck passed by a 5-0 vote.

Judge Fields told the Court that it is finally time to advertise for final construction of both the upriver and downriver boat ramps in Leonard Oak. Bids will be advertised for two weeks beginning July 6th, and will be due on July 25th by 4 p.m.  At the suggestion of Third District Magistrate Chad Tyree, there will be a pre-bid meeting and site-showing with potential bidders on Monday, July 11th.

Fourth District Magistrate David Whittinghill reported that the Butler County Recycling Center had been approved for a grant of $48,000 to purchase a skid-steer loader. Whittinghill asked that the Court approve an additional $18,000 to upgrade the loader to a tracked machine with cab air. No action was taken, but it was suggested the County look into a reverse auction for the loader. A final decision will come at a later date.

Whittinghill also mentioned that the Recycling Center needs a pickup truck. Solid Waste Enforcement Officer Corey Raymer said that enough funds are available through in-kind grant funds to buy a Chevy 3/4-ton 4WD truck on the state contract. He said the price would go up on July 8th when the model year of the contract changes to 2017. No action was taken.

Magistrate Chad Tyree challenged his fellow magistrates to bring ideas to the Court's next meeting concerning the proposed mandatory fire dues ordinance, and 9-1-1 dispatch funding. Specifically, Tyree would like to discuss putting a $2 per month fee on utility bills to fund 9-1-1 dispatch to spread the funding burden to more people than just those that still have landline phones.

Carlis Raymer, a visitor at the meeting, asked Judge Fields if funds for the $100-Mile Litter Abatement Program came out of the solid waste budget, and if organizations were paid by the mile or by the number of bags collected. He also mentioned that few if any individuals are being ticketed for littering.

Fields told Raymer that the program is a state-funded program and pays groups by the miles of roads cleaned.

Raymer has concerns that the funds could be put to better use. He cited an example where a group recently completed cleanup of their assigned road but collected fewer than five bags of trash.

Judge Fields told Raymer that how the funds are allocated can be reviewed by the Court. No action was taken.

The meeting was then adjourned.

There will be a special session of the Court on Thursday evening at 5 to open and consider bids for petroleum fuel for the fiscal year 2016-17.

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-Story by Joe K. Morris, Beech Tree News