Magistrates give all county employees 2.3% raise; consider private partnership for animal shelter

Wed, 06/10/2020 - 9:33am — John Embry

Butler County Animal Shelter Director Ruby Fooks addresses the court.

Butler County Fiscal Court met in regular session on Monday, June 8, at the Butler County Courthouse. All magistrates - Stevie Givens, Kevin Phelps, Timmy Givens, David Whittinghill, and Dillon Bryant - were in attendance.

The court approved bids for Leonard Oak Church Road Boat Ramp repair. Once the FEMA funds to repair the ramp are received, the work will begin. Caneyville Crushed Stone will provide the rock at $20-23.50 per ton delivered. Green River Equipment's bid was approved for the placement of the rock for $22,890.

Butler County Clerk Sherry Johnson shared the different ways to vote in the June 23 election. She also asked the court to amend her budget to reflect the COVID-19 additional grant election funds. The court also approved the payment of election officers for the June 23 primary election.

Butler County Animal Shelter Director Ruby Fooks addressed the court about developing a contract with Friends of Butler County (FOBC). According to Judge-Executive Flener, several counties operate their shelters in this manner so that non-profit organizations can be eligible for a variety of grants. Fooks asked for the $101,000 the county currently provides the shelter to continue. According to Fooks, this contract would save approximately $13,000 that is spent on employees' benefits. After a brief discussion, the court decided to conduct more research into the proposal before making a decision.

The court approved a 2.3 percent cost of living raise for all county employees. Magistrate Dillon Bryant questioned why three employees, two new dispatchers, and a mapping individual were left off the raise list. Judge Flener said the reason was that those individuals were new hires who had not completed their training. The court voted to add those three employees to the list. The court also approved a pay raise of fifty cents per hour for one employee at the road department in order to equalize salaries in the department.

The court approved Resolution -06082020-1 the Coronavirus Relief Fund and to give Judge Flener the authority to sign. The relief fund is $438,431. According to Flener, there are various ways the money can be used, however, the list changes daily.

The following bids were approved for annual materials:

-Plastic Tile- Drake's Farm Service

-Mental Tile- Primary Metal Culvert and Secondary Drake's

-Crush Stone- Primary Road Builders and Secondary Martin Marietta- 4-1 vote with Fifth District Magistrate Dillon Bryant vote nay because it was not clear if road builder's price was delivered.

-Coal Mix- Martin Marietta

-Black Top- Scotty's

-Chip & Seal- Asphalt Materials

The court approved the following:

-BRADD annual dues of $5,107

-Payment to Barren River Area Development District for the Aging Services $1,700

-An annual appropriation of $2,500 to the Green River Museum

-Fifth District Fire Department financial report

-Bills and Transfers

-Monthly Treasurer's Report

-2nd reading of the Budget Ordinance

-Reimburse city of Morgantown for jail work crew for May $3,736.40