Beech Tree News Network

On Monday January 9th the Butler County Fiscal Court met for its monthly meeting at the Butler County Courthouse.  All members - Stevie Givens, Johnny Tuck, Chad Tyree, Bobby Moore, and David Whittinghill - were in attendance, as well as Butler County Attorney Dick Deye, and several visitors.

First on the agenda, visitor Robert Cron addressed the court briefly with many of the same concerns he had previously spoken about regarding the ambulance board.   Mr. Cron read from a prepared text (Cron's Comments 1-10-17.docx).  Once done reading his letter, he exchanged words briefly with Judge-Executive David Fields and then abruptly left the courtroom. 

Emergency Management Director Richard Henderson gave a report on the damage sustained to the Morgantown Fire Department, Senior Center, and Rescue Squad building.  The damage occurred from a ruptured pipe due to heating issues.  Heating issues arose from not having enough gas pressure,  therefore not enough heat flowed, causing the pipe to rupture.  Multiple walls and three ceilings have collapsed due to the flooding.   ServPro is currently working to clean the debris.  Once the full extent of the damage can be assessed, the next step of taking bids for repairs will begin.

Roger Southerland of the Butler County Tourism Board presented a form to use for the monthly return of the transient room tax for Butler County.  Mr. Southerland discussed the success of the tax and how it was benefiting the board in their efforts to improve tourism within the county.  The form was approved with no opposition.

Butler County Jailer Rocky Tyree sought approval for the following and received such with no objections:

 - Inmate medical co-pays increased.

 - Nurse Tessa Lee replaced by Nurse Doris Tyree.

 - Travis Fugate is now Chief Deputy Jailer.

 - Anthony Arnold was promoted to State Work Crew Supervisor for the jail.

The following items of business all passed unanimously with no discussion:

 - Approval to issue a check to the Kentucky State Treasurer in the amount of $12,000 for a Freightliner Truck for the Road Department. (This was changed from the previous approval for an International brand due to the truck having the same cost and less mileage).

 - Approval to issue a check to the Kentucky State Treasurer in the amount of $1,000.00 for snow plows.

 - Monthly Treasurer’s report.

 - Treasurer’s Quarterly report.

 - Bills and transfers.

Moved to the last item of business was the hiring of the Rochester Ferry operator.  The court dismissed for a closed session to review this matter.  Once the magistrates and Judge Fields returned, Chad Tyree made the motion to hire Greg Renfrow as the full-time ferry operator with a salary of $24,000 year with benefits.  The motion was seconded by Fourth Magistrate David Whittinghill and passed with a 5-0 vote.  The relief operator chosen was Jarrod Basham with pay of $10.00 an hour not to exceed 100 hours a month.  The meeting was then adjourned.

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Story and photos by Amber McIntosh, Beech Tree News