Beech Tree News Network

Butler County Fiscal Court met at the courthouse on Monday, February 12. All magistrates attended: Stevie Givens, Kevin Phelps, Allen Smith, David Whittinghill and Dillon Bryant.  

In old business, Judge/Executive Tim Flener announced that the recently-purchased Mack truck will be delivered to the county road department this week. The total cost is $164,847.   The county paid $50,000 down and is financing the balance with Morgantown Bank & Trust. The magistrates did vote to purchase an extended warranty at the cost of $1,925.

Wayne Hatcher addressed the court concerning removing a small portion of Little Muddy Church Road from the county maintenance. In last month's meeting, the court tabled the motion to remove the road. According to Hatcher, he owns four-fifths of the road and wants to stop people from coming into the cemetery after dark, leaving trash, beer and whiskey bottles, and clothing all over the cemetery.

"I have to clean up the mess daily," said Hatcher.

Third District Magistrate Allen Smith said a former road employee had told him the county had kept up the entire road for years.

"I beg your pardon," answered Hatcher. "They have never put a rock or taken care of my part of the road."

Hatcher stated he did not want to stop anybody from going to the cemetery, but nobody needed to be there before daylight or after dark. The court denied Hatcher's request by a 3-2 vote.  Smith, Dillon Bryant and David Whittinghill voted against the measure, while Kevin Phelps and Stevie Givens voted in favor of it.  

Following the vote, Hatcher reminded magistrates before leaving the room that their portion needed to be graded and rocked.

In new business, Leah Thompson of the Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center (BRACAC) addressed the court concerning funding for the 2025 fiscal year. According to Thompson, the center served 52 children from Butler County in 2023, costing approximately  $76,220.00. The center has received substantial cuts due to recent declines in federal Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) funds. Thompson asked the court to increase their donation from $2,500 to $6,500 to help counter the cuts and to support protection, healing, and justice for child victims of sexual abuse in Butler County. The court took no action on the request.

Butler County Sheriff Scottie Ward gave the court a check for $38,441.52 in excess fees from his office. He also asked for a budget amendment to reflect the actual salaries for his office as set by the state. Ward told the court that the computer program Tax Master, used in his office, had several issues. The system is often down and the program has no fixes.  

"We need a new system, which costs $10,048," said Ward.

The court agreed and approved purchasing a new computer program to run the taxes.

Butler County Clerk Sherry Johnson asked the court for a budget amendment to reflect the salaries set by the state. She also asked the court for permission to apply for a $92,000 election grant to purchase election equipment. The court approved her requests.  

Butler County Jailer Wayne Russ presented an invoice for shirts for the jail employees for $1,107.75.

The court agreed that the county would clean up the eight illegal dumps: County Road, Doyle Dockery Road, Hwy 70E, Hwy 1083, Oak Ridge Road, Region Reedyville Road, Voting House Road, and Waverly School Road.

The court also accepted the 5th District VFD Treasurer's.

The Court approved the following additional items:

--Transfer $100,000 from the HRA fund to the General Money Market account

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

--Bills and transfers

--Budget Amendment

--Monthly Treasurer's Settlement

--Transient Tax payout $2,547.37

--Payment to elected officials completing 40 hours of training required by the state

Advertise for lawn care for the courthouse.

--Apply for KY 911 Services Board Grant, 2024 Rubber Asphalt Grant, Crumb --Rubber/TireDerived ProductsGrant, and Weather Radio Grant ($154,400)

 --E911 Generator Grant Funds-$37,000 remains to ask FEMA to spend