Beech Tree News Network

Butler County Fiscal Court met on Tuesday, December 26, at the courthouse. Magistrates Stevie Givens, Allen Smith, David Whittinghill, and Dillon Bryant were in attendance.

Under old business, magistrates approved the purchase of tires from Chad's Body Shop and Wrecker Service for $826.48 for the county road department.

Judge/Executive Tim Flener appointed magistrates Stevie Givens and Allen Smith to view the part of Little Muddy Church Road that the court is considering removing from county maintenance.

In new business, Sheriff Scottie Ward asked for a budget amendment to reflect the purchase of a new truck and to set the maximum amount in raises for deputies ($25,000), as required by state law. The court approved his request.

County Clerk Sherry Johnson asked for a budget amendment to reflect the increases in her 2023 budget.  

2023 Project Budget                                     2023 Actual Budget

Receipts          $5,061,106.42                                     $6,983,100.00

Disbursements $4,904,955.06                                   $6,826,948.64

Excess               $156,151.36                                        $ 156,151.36

In the last meeting, the court agreed to purchase 100 chairs for the courtroom and allotted $3,000 for that purchase. Judge Flener informed the court that the chairs have to be interlocking, thus increasing the cost to $5,000. The court approved the additional cost for the purchase.

Judge Flener informed the Court that the heating unit at the Morgantown VFD and Rescue Squad Building needs to be replaced. The bid is $2,600. The County owns the building, and Morgantown VFD uses the building rent-free. After a lengthy discussion, the Court agreed to pay half the cost and plans to ask the VFD to pay the other half.

Magistrates approved a bid from VEI Communications for $32,952.96 for the repeater project.

The county received $20,005 from FEMA for the windstorm damage in March of 2023. The money will be divided between the departments that completed the cleanup.

The court agreed to pay $5,000 toward the purchase of a fire truck for the Fourth District VFD. The VFD had purchased a truck for $4,500 that was later totaled in an accident. The truck only had liability insurance. The VFD has found a used truck to purchase for $7,500.

2024 Holiday and Fiscal Court Dates: 2023_Holidays_and_FC_Meetings.docx

The court approved the following items unanimously:

--Bills and transfers

--Transfer $10,000 from the General Fund to E-911

--Transfer $35,000 from the General Fund to the Jail Fund

--Litter Abatement payment to jail

--Advertise for a 911 dispatcher