Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County Fiscal Court met for over two-and-a-half hours on Monday night in their regular meeting for May. The meeting included an 80-minute closed session which resulted in discipline for one county employee, and termination for another.

Maureen Carpenter from the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce spoke to the court about renewing the contract the county has with her group. Carpenter is the new economic developer for the chamber, replacing Miller Slaughter. Carpenter reported that the renewed contract would run through 2015. She explained benefits that the county receives from the partnership including industrial recruiting and development, and marketing. Carpenter said that her group met with 86 companies and 35 site developers last year, and said that she has a group wishing to tour the county’s industrial property near the Natcher Parkway. After limited discussion the court approved renewing the contract by a 5-0 vote.

VFW Ladies Auxiliary President Linda Knight was next to address the magistrates. Knight proposed that the Ladies Auxiliary take over maintenance of the existing war memorials on the courthouse lawn, and expand on the monument in the corner of the courthouse lawn. Knight said that the Ladies Auxiliary wanted to add more bricks recognizing local veterans and want to add memorial walls to the monument. Their proposal includes repairs to the Civil War statue, and bricks recognizing Civil War veterans. Knight asked that the county contribute by providing the jail crew to do some of the restoration and upkeep, and pay the cost of replacing damaged bricks. Jailer Terry Fugate said he could supply the jail crew as long as no acids or other caustic chemicals were used to clean the bricks. The court voted 5-0 to accept the proposal.

County Road Supervisor Timmy West asked the court to hire a cleaning lady for the County Road Department offices. West said that he and his crew do a passable job of day to day cleaning, but since the offices are new he would like a professional monthly cleaning. Said West, “My guys are more backhoe and grader than broom and dustpan.” Shirley Neighbors was contacted by West and agreed to clean the office for $150.00 per month. West said that the county would supply the cleaners, etc. After a brief discussion where it was agreed that the arrangement would be reviewed in six months the court voted 5-0 to hire Neighbors.

The next item was a resolution agreeing to pave portions of Hickory Camp Creek Road and Hidden Valley Drive in cooperation with the State Highway Department. Road Supervisor Timmy West explained to Beech Tree News that only the two steep hills would be paved. He said that preliminary work has been completed on Hickory Camp Creek Road to help divert water and hopefully lead to a longer life for the pavement. Stevie Givens moved to accept the resolution, with Chad Tyree seconding. The measure passed 4-1 with David Whittinghill casting the lone ‘nay’ vote.

Yearly bids for Fiscal Year 2012-13 were awarded at the meeting. The only contested bids were for crushed stone and cold mix. Competing bids were submitted for each by Green River Materials, Inc. and Bluegrass Materials, LLC. The crushed stone and cold mix bids were won by Green River Materials, Inc. with Bluegrass Materials, LLC made secondary supplier. Road Supervisor West explained that Bluegrass Materials had a lower quote on some sizes of rock and would be used to supply those. The remaining bids went to Hood’s Market for petroleum, Asphalt Materials, Inc. for emulsified asphalt, Hagan and Stone Wholesale for road tiles, and Scotty’s Contracting and Stone, LLC for bituminous concrete asphalt.

The first reading of the budget for Fiscal Year 2012-13 was next on the agenda. After moving to accept the budget Fourth District Magistrate David Whittinghill expressed his objections to the $23,000.00 budgeted for utilities on the building housing the Morgantown Fire Department, Butler County Ambulance Service, Senior Center, and Nutrition Center. Whittinghill maintains that it is unfair to the other county fire departments and other special taxing districts that utilities are provided for the Morgantown Fire Department and Ambulance Service. He also questioned if cable TV bills were paid as part of the utilities. The treasurer reported that electricity, water, sewer, and gas were the utilities paid by the county on the building. Whittinghill then made a suggestion that the building be leased to the four entities and they be made responsible for their own utilities. Judge David Fields explained that the court was only accepting a first reading of the budget and changes could be made. He also told the court that monies allotted in the budget are not required to be spent and would be retained in county coffers if another arrangement was reached at a later date. The first reading passed by a 5-0 vote.

The magistrates moved into closed session for 80-minutes to discuss a personnel issue. When they returned Chad Tyree moved that a formal letter of reprimand be placed in the permanent file of Road Supervisor Timmy West. Furthermore Tyree moved that West be required to take a Human Relations class at the county’s expense. David Whittinghill seconded the motion and it passed 5-0 without further discussion. Second District Magistrate Johnny Tuck then moved to immediately dismiss Ferry Operator Tony Howard from county employment. David Whittinghill seconded the motion and it carried by a 5-0 vote. Magistrates would not elaborate on the circumstances leading to the personnel actions.

In other business the court accepted the budgets from the county’s special taxing districts, disbursed funds to the Butler County Ambulance Service in the amount of $10,169.49 from a Senate Bill 66 Block Grant, accepted the sheriff’s quarterly report, and approved routine bills and transfers.

The next regular meeting of the Butler County Fiscal Court will be Monday, June 11th at 6 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom of the Butler County Courthouse. All Fiscal Court meetings are open to the public. Individuals wishing to be added to the agenda can do so in the Butler County Judge Executive’s office.