Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County Fiscal Court met in special session on Monday evening, January 5th at the Butler County Courthouse. It was the first meeting for new 5th District Magistrate Bobby Moore.

First on the agenda was a blanket rehire of all county employees, as mandated by state government. After a motion to accept the rehire by 2nd District Magistrate Johnny Tuck, and a second by 1st District Magistrate Stevie Givens, the motion passed by a 5-0 vote.

Next, the Court moved to advertise for bids on courthouse lawn maintenance for 2015. Judge-Executive David Fields explained to the Court that a private contractor had handled lawn work around the courthouse for approximately six months in 2015, and it had been decided to bid the work in 2015. The motion to advertise passed by a 5-0 vote.

The next agenda item also dealt with courthouse property maintenance. Citing some dangerous trees and the overall effort to 'redo' the courthouse lawn, the Court decided by a 5-0 vote to advertise for tree-trimming.

New County Clerk Sherry Johnson presented her 2015 budget and deputies salaries to the Court. Johnson said she based her budget on 2014 figures, and presented projected income at $3,210,765.55, with expenditures estimated at $3,160,014.00 for the year. The budget was passed by a 5-0 vote.

Johnson then presented the salaries for her deputies. Total deputies salaries for 2015 will be unchanged from the 2014 total of $167,000.00. The motion to accept the salaries passed 5-0.

Sheriff Scottie Ward presented his salaries for his deputies as the next order of business. Ward told the Court that his salaries will once again remain the same as in 2011, totaling $381,000.00. Ward told the Court, "All I did was just white-out the year." After limited discussion, most between Ward and 4th District Magistrate David Whittinghill, the motion to approve the salaries passed 5-0.

Next, as requested by 3rd District Magistrate Chad Tyree at the last Fiscal Court meeting, a discussion was opened concerning a Right-To-Work ordinance in Butler County.

Tyree opened the discussion by introducing Ron Bunch, President of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, and April Kuzas, Director of Grassroots Organization for Protect My Check, a non-profit organization working to promote Right-To-Work efforts nationwide. Right-To-Work legislation gives an employee a choice as to whether or not to join unions, and protects their jobs should they decide not to join.

Kuzas told the Court that so far four Kentucky counties have passed Right-To-Work ordinances. They are Warren, Simpson, Fulton, and Todd Counties. Todd County passed the second reading of their ordinance on Monday. According to Kuzas, only one no vote has been cast so far in the four counties that have adopted the Right-To-Work ordinances.

According to Kuzas and Bunch, a Right-To-Work ordinance makes counties more competitive in the recruitment of industry. Bunch said that Kentucky is at an overall competitive disadvantage because it is surrounded by states that have passed Right-To-Work legislation.

Most of the discussion on Monday night concerned the possible costs of legal challenges to the new county ordinances. Kuzas told the Court that grassroots fundraising was being undertaken to pay possible legal expenses, and that the more counties that passed the legislation would reduce any potential costs to participating counties. No action was taken on the matter.

The meeting was then adjourned.