Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County Fiscal Court met in special session on Monday, September 16th. The agenda awaiting the Court was short, but contained items needing attention ahead of the Court's next regularly scheduled meeting on October 14th.

Butler County Clerk Shirley Givens presented tax figures to the Court for the 13 special taxation districts within Butler County. Those districts are; City of Morgantown, City of Woodbury, City of Rochester, Health Department, Library, Extension Service, Butler County Schools, Ambulance, Big Muddy, Big Reedy, Caney Creek, Mud River, and Fire Protection.

Clerk Givens presented the rates, reporting that only one district, Caney Creek Watershed, had changed or increased for Fiscal Year 2013-14. In 2012 the tax rate for The Caney Creek Watershed was 8.2830 cents  per $100 assessed value on both Real Property and Tangible assets. The 2013 rate will be 8.61 cents per $100 assessed.

The rest of the rates are; Health Department 2.25, Library 6.7 real estate 12.75 tangible, Extension 6.13 real estate 8.98 tangible, Butler County Schools 37.70, ambulance 8.8, Big Muddy 10.0, Big Reedy 4.2, Mud River 1.35, Rochester 10.0, Woodbury 9.5, and Morgantown 10.5. The Fire Protection rate is 3.0 cents per acre.  The ambulance tax actually dropped for 2013 to 8.8 cents from 8.9 cents per $100 assessed value.

First District Magistrate Stevie Givens moved to accept the rates and incorporate them into the County's 2013 tax bills. Third District Magistrate Chad Tyree seconded the motion, and the motion carried by a 5-0 vote.

The Court next received a recommendation from magistrates Stevie Givens and Johnny Tuck, Second District, to fill the recently vacated position of Animal Shelter Director. The magistrates recommended Susan Meredith for the job. Givens moved to hire Meredith, with Tuck seconding. The motion passed 5-0. Meredith will take the position after giving two-weeks notice at her current job, at the probationary pay rate of $10.50 per hour, with an increase to $11 per hour after 60 days. The position will be full-time with benefits.

In other business related to the Animal Shelter the Court voted 5-0 to adopt a new procedures manual.

The Court next voted 5-0 to accept an agreement with Harding Benefits for additional health insurance coverage. Harding Benefits works with Hocker Insurance to provide health insurance for the county.

Filling two full time Tier III operator positions on the Butler County Road Department. The positions will be posted in-house. Magistrates voted 5-0 to fill the positions.

The Court next handled three agenda items pertaining to buying a John Deere tractor for the Butler County Road Department. First the magistrates voted 5-0 to advertise for bids on a 7220 John Deere tractor with a Tiger Slope mower. County Road Supervisor Timmy West found a 2004 John Deere 7220 tractor with Tiger slope mower for sale at the State surplus sale. However, because the $30,050.00 price is higher than the County can legally buy without advertising for bids. The Court voted 5-0 to advertise the bid.

Next the Court voted 5-0 to authorize Road Supervisor Timmy West to buy a 7220 John Deere tractor with Tiger slope mower. Finally the Court voted 5-0 to authorize the County Road Supervisor and County Treasurer to pay not more than $30,050.00 to buy the John Deere tractor.

The survey for the McKendree Chapel road project was next on the agenda. At the special called meeting on September 9th the Court agreed to pay Henderson Land Surveying $4,500.00 for survey work on the road project. Since that time Cody Henderson asked that his bid be nullified because of a potential conflict of interest. Henderson's wife, Deneatra Henderson, works as a design engineer for the Kentucky Department of Transportation District Three.

The Court moved to turn the survey work over to Bryant Engineering. Bryant Engineering was awarded the design portion of the McKendree Chapel Road project at the September 9th Court meeting. County Attorney Dick Deye told the Court that it would not need to advertise bids for the surveying because the $4,500 price is below the minimum amount requiring a bid. The measure passed 5-0.

The Court moved 5-0 to approve routine bills and transfers, and then adjourned.

Story by Joe K. Morris, Beech Tree News/WLBQ 1570AM