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Reedyville RD Hosts Fiscal Court Meeting

The Reedyville RD Club hosted the September meeting of the Butler County Fiscal Court on Monday night. All members were present. A potluck meal was served by the ladies from the Reedyville RD before the meeting. After everyone had dined the business portion of the meeting commenced.

Brian Franklin
Brian Franklin and Chad Bratcher were at the meeting representing Bluegrass Cellular. Franklin took a few moments to address the meeting about coverage and product offers from Bluegrass. He explained several options offered by Bluegrass for home and business internet, cell phone service, and told the meeting that 4G service will soon be available to Bluegrass customers in the county.
Judge Executive David Fields recommended to the court that Patrick Daugherty be appointed to another 2-year term on the Butler County Ambulance Service Board. Third District Magistrate Chad Tyree moved to accept the appointment with 1st District Magistrate Stevie Givens seconding the motion. It passed by a 5-0 vote.
Next tax rates were accepted for the 2012-13 fiscal year. Rates will remain unchanged from last year at 8.4 cents per $100 on real estate and tangible assets. The motor vehicle and watercraft tax will remain at 10.80 cents per $100 taxable. Stevie Givens moved to accept the rates with 4th District Magistrate David Whittinghill seconding. The rates passed by a 5-0 vote.

4th District Magistrate David Whittinghill
Judge Fields then recommended that Charlie Brown be promoted to Assistant Road Supervisor with a.50-cent raise in pay. Fields said that the county used to have the position and that he and Road Supervisor Timmy West felt the position was necessary again. He further explained that the job didn’t need to be advertised because it was a promotion from within. Second District Magistrate Johnny Tuck moved to accept the recommendation and David Whittinghill seconded. The measure passed 5-0.
Other job openings were next on the agenda. The court voted 5-0 on separate measures to advertise for a full-time ferry operator for the Rochester ferry. That job will be advertised in Butler and Ohio Counties. The court will also take applications for a relief operator to service both Reeds Ferry and the Rochester Ferry. Both items were passed with 5-0 votes.
The court next approved declaring 5 items as surplus property. The items are; a 1999 Chevy crew cab pickup truck, a 1994 Chevy utility truck, a 2-wheel welding trailer, a cutoff saw, and a used ferry barge. Judge Fields and Timmy West explained that several suggestions for the old Reed’s Ferry barge have been made, including donating the barge to the Green River Museum at Woodbury. Fields joked that he wasn’t sure that the museum was interested in a 30,000 pound exhibit. It was agreed that the items, including the barge, would be declared as surplus and advertised for sale, but the county would reserve the right to reject all bids if they were deemed not high enough. Fifth District Magistrate Keith Daugherty moved to declare the property surplus with Johnny Tuck seconding. The motion passed 5-0.

Fifth District Magistrate Keith Daugherty
More ferry related business was next on the agenda. Judge Fields reported that the tug for the Rochester ferry needed to be refurbished and some safety improvements made. The court agreed and voted 5-0 to accept bids for the work.
Sheriff Scottie Ward presented the court with his final fee settlement for 2011. This settlement is post-audit and presented the same figures as he presented last month, but the format was changed by the auditor. The court accepted the settlement by a 5-0 vote.
Discussion of courthouse painting was next on the agenda. Judge Fields reported that the courthouse needed painting, but the old paint first has to be analyzed. Fields stated that if the old paint contains lead then the scrapings will have to be prevented from touching the ground, which will raise costs. He said that the paint had been sent out for analysis and results will be back soon. The court moved to accept bids for the work by a 5-0 vote.
The court next voted 5-0 to advertise the contract for courthouse cleaning. Fields told the meeting that it had been several years since the contract was advertised and it was time to advertise again.
The court then accepted the Treasurer’s monthly report, approved routine bills and transfers, and approved a monthly transfer of up to $45,000 from the General Fund to the Jail Fund.
The final items on the agenda were public questions and answers and comments from the Judge and magistrates.
Mel Bowles asked the court if something could be done about traffic between the courthouse and the law offices across G.L. Smith Street. Bowles said that traffic is much too fast on the street and that it’s dangerous to cross the road. Said Bowles about crossing the street, “When you’ve got to watch for your life it’s kind of bad.” Judge Fields referred the question to County Attorney Dick Deye. Deye told Bowles that speed bumps were a bad idea. It was suggested that a marked crosswalk be added between the two buildings with yellow warning placards similar to those used on crosswalks on the campus of Western Kentucky University. After limited discussion no action was taken but it was agreed that the County Attorney would further explore the matter.

 


Betty Farris took time to thank the magistrates and judge for coming to the Reedyville RD and gave special thanks to Jailer Terry Fugate and his Jail Work Crew for mowing the grass at the community center. She also reminded everyone that the Reedyville Cleanup Day will be September 22nd beginning at 8 a.m. at the Reedyville RD. She also invited everyone to the annual Rural Development fund raiser on October 17th. Mel Bowles reported that the menu for the lunch this year will be bean soup. In the past the Extension Service has served pork burgers, but the menu was changed this year.
Judge Fields and the magistrates were unanimous in their praise of the Reedyville RD for hosting the meeting and especially for the food. Said Magistrate Stevie Givens, “I’ve been coming here for ten years and I haven’t had a bad meal yet.” The meeting was then adjourned.
The next regular meeting of the Fiscal Court will be Monday, October 8th at 6 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom of the Butler County Courthouse. All Fiscal Court meetings are open to the public.

Story by Joe K. Morris, Beech Tree News/WLBQ1570AM

Photos by Jeremy Hack, Beech Tree News/WLBQ 1570AM

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