Beech Tree News Network

Butler County Fiscal Court met in regular session on Monday, January 25, with all magistrates present:  Stevie Givens (1st), Johnny Tuck (2nd), Chad Tyree (3rd), David Whittinghill (4th), and Bobby Moore (5th).

A light agenda was on tap and magistrates moved through the various items with relative ease and efficiency.  

Judge-Executive David Fields called the meeting to order and under "Old Business" brought up the topic of the county's policies and procedures.  Magistrates and county officials have been reviewing current policies and procedures and making notes on possible changes.  County Attorney Dick Deye told the court he had been reviewing road procedures, making notes, and looking at policies and procedures for employees ..."things to think about and consider," stated Deye.

Magistrate Chad Tyree said he had been looking at road procedures, as well, and specifically the prospect of having different classifications for county roads (gravel, chip and seal, blacktop, etc.), which would then help the county with maintenance requirements.  

No action was taken on the county's policy and procedures.  According to Judge Fields, this review process is ongoing as magistrates and county officials study the documents.

Under "New Business," County Clerk Sherry Johnson provided magistrates with a report on the local option (wet-dry) election scheduled for Tuesday, January 26.  As county clerk, Johnson's office is responsible for conducting the election.  According to Johnson, the estimated cost of the election is $21,575.  Johnson provided the court with the following breakdown of estimated election expenses:

1.  Harp Enterprises (Lexington, KY)$11,000

(This includes setting and programing of voting machines, printing ballots, election day service, etc.)

2.  Election Officers$9,000

(This includes precinct election officers, alternates, election board, etc.)

3.  Rent$75

(Facilities at Little Bend precinct)

4.  Mileage (delivering machines)$100

5.  Advertising Costs$1,500

Total Estimated Costs$21,575

Johnson said she spoke with Harp Enterprises and negotiated a $4,000 discount since this was a special election.  She also thanked the county road crew for their work on parking lots at voting locations.  

Magistrate Stevie Givens asked Johnson about the possibility of moving the polling sites from local schools.  Johnson suggested that moving the locations was possible in the future but approval would be needed from the state Board of Elections and that new sites would be have to be handicapped accessible and properly equipped.  

Judge Fields thanked Johnson for her hard work in making sure the election is conducted "as fair and honest as it can be done."  Fields also pointed out that the $30,000 figure for county elections that has been widely reported was a figure derived from an average of previous elections.  Johnson indicated that with only one question on the ballot countywide, the programming and printing of ballots was likely less than for previous elections.  Harp Enterprises will provide and itemized list of expenses once the election is complete.  

County Road Supervisor Jonathan Deweese gave a brief report on road conditions following the recent winter storm.  According to Deweese, county road workers weren't able to do much on Friday during the height of the storm but made a lot of progress on Saturday and Monday.  Deweese said county blacktop roads are in good condition, while a few chip and seal and gravel roads may need a little more work.  Magistrates praised Deweese and county road employees for their work clearing roads.  

Jailer Terry Fugate spoke about two bad water leaks involving pipes that had burst in the jail.  According to Fugate, Junior Kelley (fabricator/welder) helped with the first leak and Randell Gaskey (Morgantown Utilities Superintendent) with the second one to avoid having to possibly close the courthouse.  Fugate thanked the Morgantown Fire Department for bringing in its brush truck to help with water in the jail.  Fugate said he and Gaskey inspected the pipes (3 1/2 inch, metal) and noticed potential problems in the future.  

"We got lucky this time," said Fugate.  "In time, the courthouse will get shut down if we have another pipe burst.  This is something to think about."  

Magistrate David Whittinghill and Corey Raymer, Solid Waste and Recycling Coordinator, spoke briefly about recent activity of the Butler County Recycling Center.  

Below are some highlights from the report Raymer presented to the court:

 - All equipment up and running except loading dock.

 - Office not completed - phone, computer, office supplies, etc.

 - Purchases in last two weeks - 175,000 BTU heater ($300); 100 gallon kerosene heater ($245)

 - Numerous hours cleaning on building

 - Have dumped all but one trailer in last two weeks and replaced

 -  Placed trailers at all schools except high school; working on Belmont, Oak Ridge, and Cool Springs.

Based on Raymer's report, there are currently 15 total locations for the recycling trailers:  Courthouse, Jumpin' Jacks, Pizza Zone, Morgantown Elementary, Butler County Middle School, Little Muddy, Rochester, Reedyville, Fourth District Fire Department, Fifth District Fire Department.  Of the four trailers at the center, one will be dispatched to the high school and one to a site in Provo.    

According to Raymer, recycling inventory as of 1/25/16 is as follows:

 - 4 bails cardboard; approximately 1,200 lbs.. each - 4,800 lbs. total

 - 4 bails plastic; approximately 700 lbs. each - 2,800 lbs. total

 - 3 1/2 boxes aluminum; approximately 100 lbs. each - 350 lbs. total

 - 1 box steel; approximately 150 lbs. each - 150 lbs. total

 - 1 box miscellaneous; approximately 400 lbs. = 400 lbs. total

 TOTAL:  8,500 lbs.  

Butler County Emergency Management Director Richard Henderson presented magistrates a "Report of Status Post Winter Storm (19-25 January 2016).  Henderson's report detailed multiple activities of emergency management personnel as the winter storm moved into Butler County and after declarations of emergency had been made at the state, county, and city levels of government.  Henderson listed daily activities, accidents worked, and his efforts at providing status updates locally and coordinating with officials at the state level. Henderson also provided information regarding the Rescue Squad and fire departments.  According to Henderson, the county had no reports of power failures, no reports of communication failures, no reports of city utilities or gas line failures, no shelters were required, and no weather-related fatalities from Butler County were reported.

To view Henderson's complete report, click on the link below:  

Winter Storm Report out.docx

The court unanimously approved a $25,000 transfer from the General Fund to the Jail Fund, as well as all bills and transfers.   

The next meeting of the Butler County Fiscal Court is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday, February 8, at the Butler County Courthouse.