Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County Fiscal Court met in special session on Monday night, in what is likely to be one of the last special sessions needed by the Court. It was decided unanimously at the meeting to expand the meeting schedule to two regular meetings, on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.

Much of the agenda on Monday night pertained to routine business that has to be handled in a timely manner. Judge Fields addressed the Court and asked them to consider adding a second regular meeting each month, citing regulations that preclude county or municipal governents from putting off the payment of bills and the accrual of late fees. Fields also told the magistrates that it would make accounting and record-keeping easier if there were two meetings each month.

Magistrate Stevie Givens made the motion to hold two regular meetings per month, with a second  coming from Johnny Tuck. The motion passed by a 4-0 vote. Magistrate Chad Tyree was absent from the meeting.

The Court approved the final payment of $43,987.50 to Metal Works for new recycling bins for the County. They also approved paying Joey Givens $1,350.00 for lettering on the bins. Some discussion was also had on the status of the County's new recycling center near the County Barn. Magistrate David Whittinghill reported that the new siding should be installed on the building by County Cleanup Days in April.

Judge Fields reported that he had talked to federal officials concerning tree removal at the site of two new boat ramps on the Green River in Leonard Oak. Fields said that he learned that the County can move forward with tree removal, and can pay for the work, but cannot use the grant money to reimburse the County for the work. The Court voted unanimously to pay Green River Equipment $9,500.00 to remove the trees, and to pay Cody Henderson $1,000.00 to flag the trees. The move stems from a requirement that the trees be removed by March 31st in order to avoid disturbing a population of endangered Indiana bats at the site of the ramps.

In other business Jailer Terry Fugate presented his 2015 budget to the Court. State laws require the budget to be submitted by March 31st. No action was required or taken by the Court.

Payment was approved in the amount of $3,130.00 to Tichenor's Tree Service for trimming and removal of trees on the Courthouse Lawn. Judge Fields said that the final bill differed from the original bid of $2,680.00 because one tree was found to be hollow and unstable, and required removal instead of trimming.

Dates for 2015 County Cleanup Days and Tire Amnesty Days were announced at the meeting. Tire Amnesty Days will be April 16th-18th at the County Barn. County Cleanup Days will be the following week, April 23-25th, and will also be at the County Barn, but there will be collection bins set up at various locations across the county.

Judge Fields told the Court that the National Association of Counties (NACO) has designated April as County Month. With that in mind he asked Magistrates to come up with status and progress reports for their respective districts to be given at the April 13th meeting of the Court.  He also said that would be a good time to bring up any projects or issues that the Magistrates would like to voice.

Specs were also handed out by County Attorney Dick Deye for bidding Courthouse lawn mowing and maintenance. No action was taken on the specs, but will be considered at the next regular meeting.

Judge Fields also told the Court that Charles Hutcheson had spoken to him about starting efforts to rename the William Natcher Parkway back to its original name of Green River Parkway. Fields distributed materials to the magistrates to read, but no action was taken.

The meeting was then adjourned.

Story by Joe K. Morris, Beech Tree News