Beech Tree News Network

Butler County Fiscal Court met in regular session on Monday, August 28, at the Butler County Courthouse.  All magistrates were in attendance.  Several visitors were also present due to the anticipated ambulance board appointments.  Three seats - those of Don Sullivan, Debbie Rose Worley, and Bill Sweatt - were up for reappointment.  According to Judge-Executive David Fields, Sweatt chose to not return to the board.  The ambulance board recommended Don Sullivan, Debbie Rose Worley, and Kyle Moore, while the magistrates recommended Teresa Johnson, Chad Johnson, David Taylor, David Whittinghill, and Don Jenkins.  Judge Fields decided to allow the magistrates to select the board members by the process of voting.  Debbie Rose Worley, Teresa Johnson, and Chad Johnson were elected to the ambulance board by a vote of the magistrates.

Magistrates also voted to turn the utilities on at the annex building and to accept bids on the heating and cooling.  The annex building will now be known as the Butler County Community Center and will be home to a Zumba/Exercise program operated by Heather Keown.  Additional space will also be available for other services.

Next, the Court turned to tax rates for three special taxation districts in the County. Kenna Martin, from the Butler County Public Library, told the Court that the library rates would stay the same; 6.7-cents per hundred dollars assessed on real property, and 12.75-cents per hundred dollars assessed on personal property.

The Extension District tax rates were submitted to the court in writing. The Extension Board approved a tax rate of 7.038-cents per hundred dollars assessed on real property, 10.5107-cents per hundred dollars assessed on personal property, and 5.85 on motor vehicles.

Susan Johnson presented the tax rates for the Butler County Health Department:  Real Property 2.25, Personal 2.25, Motor Vehicle 2.25, Aircraft 2.25, Water Craft 2.25

The Court adopted the County tax rates for the fiscal year 2017-18. Taxes on personal property, motor vehicles and watercraft, bank assets, and fire acreage will remain the same as last year. The Court approved the rate of 8.2-cents per hundred dollars assessed value on real property.

Judge Fields appointed Sandy Keown, Sharon Wood, and Corey Raymer to the Solid Waste Advisory Board for two-year terms.

The court approved Butler County Jailer Rocky Tyree's request to hire Jaret Henderson and Michelle Hunt as full-time employees with benefits and an increase in pay ($13.45) for Ralph Spohn, Chief Deputy.

The court approved the following by a 5-0 vote:

•   $123,250 payment to Kinser Heating AC & Sheet Metal

•  Check to Butler County Ambulance Service $10,000 KBEMS Grant

•   Butler County Sheriff Tax Settlement subject to audit
•   Application for KY Homeland Security Grant for the Butler County Sheriff Department

•  Budget Amendment $110,000 (General Fund $50,000, Road Fund $40,000, Jail Fund $20,000)
•   Bills and Transfers

The court went into closed session to discuss personnel; no action was taken.