Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County Fiscal Court met in their final regular session for April on Monday night, April 25. All members were present, as well as a few interested visitors.

The first agenda item was passage of several BRADD mandated resolutions pertaining to the Community Development Block Grant for the new senior citizen center. The resolutions were; Cost Overrun Resolution, Fair Housing Resolution, Procurement Standards Resolution, Program Income Resolution, Residential Anti-displacement Letter, Residential Anti-displacement Resolution, Section 3 Plan, Signatory Resolution, Title VI Resolution, and Written Assurances.

A motion was made by Fourth District Magistrate David Whittinghill to accept the resolutions. Third District Magistrate Chad Tyree asked that the issue be postponed until the next Fiscal Court meeting, citing the large volume of material to be reviewed. Magistrate Whittinghill moved to postpone the resolutions until a special session planned for Thursday. The measure passed 5-0.

County Extension Agent Greg Drake II came before the court to present the Extension Service budget for fiscal year 2016-17. Drake reported that revenue for the Extension Service special taxation district is $323,000.00, which is virtually unchanged for fiscal year 2015-16. Drake told the court that presentation of the Extension Budget had been delayed this year because of the lengthy budget battle in the state legislature. No action was required other than noting in the minutes that the budget was presented.

Magistrates were presented with the budget for 2016-17 on Monday night. The total budget for the next fiscal year is $5,952,386.00. Of that $2,349,373.00 is earmarked for the General Fund, $1,813,149.00 goes to the Road Fund, and $872,264.00 is budgeted for the Jail Fund.

Magistrate David Whittinghill asked if monies had been allocated for regional economic development with the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. Whittinghill was told by Judge-Executive David Fields that $3,000 was in the working budget for that purpose. The judge said that is down from $3,700.00 in this year's budget, and was down over $23,000.00 since fiscal year 2014-15.

No action was taken, but the budget will be discussed during the special session on Thursday night.

Solid Waste Coordinator Corey Raymer gave a brief report to the vourt about County Cleanup Days. Raymer said 26 dumpsters totaling 131.5 tons of trash was collected. He said that approximately 10 tons of scrap metal had also been collected. The court voted 5-0 to authorize Raymer to sell the scrap metal, with a check to be made to the Butler County Fiscal Court General Fund.

Approval was given to Judge-Executive David Fields, to sign a renewal with Anthem for insurance coverage through the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACO). The rate will increase by 4% for Fiscal Year 2016-17. That increase is less than the 5-7.5% increase expected by the court. Judge Fields said that KACO's size gives the organization bargaining power, and that led to the lower than expected increase.

After a closed session of 25-minutes to discuss personnel matters and the acquisition of property, the court returned to open session.

Magistrates voted 5-0 to change Solid Waste Coordinator Corey Raymer's position to part-time with no restriction on hours. The change stems from the long hours Raymer has had to put in to coordinate County Cleanup Days, manage the Butler County Recycling Center, and clean-up and pursue legal action against illegal dumps.

In open discussion, Magistrate David Whittinghill asked if the county would consider joining two roads in the Fourth District, Andrews Circle and Holly Trail.  Whittinghill said the two roads were only 1,200-feet apart, and that joining the roads would provide a detour route when replacement begins on the Lock 5 Road Bridge. It was also pointed out that joining the roads would provide an alternate route during flooding.

No action was taken, but the matter will be discussed further at a later date.

Whittinghill also asked County Attorney Dick Deye if he had made any progress on the proposed mandatory fire dues ordinance. Deye said that the changes given to him by the court had been made, but rates and districting lines still had to be finalized. The ordinance will be presented and discussed in a special session scheduled for Thursday evening at 5 p.m.

First District Magistrate Stevie Givens asked Judge Fields if something could be done about a persistent wasp problem near the handicapped entry to the courthouse, across from the Extension Service.

Judge Fields said that he had talked to Richard Embry from E-Pest--who has the pest control contract for the courthouse. Embry told Fields that when the blooms leave the bushes near the entry that the wasps shouldn't be as active, but there could be nests inside the bushes. An employee of the Butler County Clerk's Office was stung last week entering the building and had to have medical treatment because she is allergic to wasps.

According to Embry, spraying the bushes will only alleviate the problem for a couple of days, and then the wasps will return. Magistrate Givens asked if the bushes could be removed.

Judge Fields said he will have Embry spray the bushes again, and if that doesn't help the problem the court will discuss other solutions.

In other business the court approved placing a residential dumpster at the Rochester Boat Ramp. Judge Fields said the dumpster will be chained to a tree to prevent theft. The court also authorized advertising for bids on construction of the upriver Leonard Oak Boat Ramp, and approved Judge Fields to sign a reimbursement with the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) for $52,793.48. The court voted 5-0 to give the annual allotment of $2,500 to the Woodbury Museum.

There will be a special session of the court on Thursday, April 28th at 5 p.m. to interview applicants for the vacant Rochester Ferry position. The meeting will also feature discussion of the budget, and the proposed fire dues ordinance, and adoption of the CDBG resolutions for the new senior citizens center.

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Story by Joe K. Morris, Beech Tree News