© Clinton County News

In Thursday, August 26, 2010 issue

Clinton County Fiscal Court met last Thursday evening, August 19 with five members present, minus Judge/Executive Lyle Huff and Third District Magistrate Willard Johnson, who were each attending the meeting in Russell County pertaining to the U.S. 127 road project.

The court, in the absence of the chief executive, carried on business as usual with Magistrate Billy K. Smith chairing the approximate 50 minute regular session.

Judge Huff had made a statement to the Clinton County News earlier that he was confident, due to the court’s continued cooperation, that Magistrate Smith and the court could conduct the county business in his absence. The meeting was the first that judge/executive Huff had not been able to attend thus far in his administration.

Magistrate Johnson also informed the News that the reason he would not be attending was because part of his district is involved in the U.S. 127 road project and he was also going to attend the Transportation Cabinet’s public hearing to represent the people of his district.

The court first voted to pay claims and bills, approved the treasurer’s report and two fund transfers and a budget ordinance amendment to include a federal grant and last year’s carryover amount to the current fiscal year budget.

County Treasurer Dallas Sidwell then opened two bids that had been received on the heating and cooling system and related work to be done on the Clinton County Community Center (Senior Citizens Center) that is being paid for from a grant the county was approved for last year.

The low bid was submitted from Jerry Mason, Family Heating and Air of Albany in the amount of $37,500. The other bid, which was also close, was submitted by Albany Plumbing and Electric at $40,360.00. Magistrate Ricky Craig moved to approve the low bid from Family Heating and Cooling and the motion passed by unanimous vote.

Actual work on the project, which will mostly be done in the night time hours as not to interfere with day-to-day activities at the facility, is expected to begin in a couple of weeks.

On a motion by Magistrate Mickey Riddle, the court approved a resolution authorizing the judge/executive to apply for a grant to construct a county salt storage building. If approved, a building would be constructed to house road salt to be used by the county road department during the winter season.

Following a request by pastor Bobby Grant, the court unanimously approved a change order to have a sign constructed at the entrance to the YMCA’s Wellness Center. According to Grant, the sign will read Clinton County Wellness Center, with a large “Y” at the end.

Grant further informed the court that the facility should be basically complete, as far as construction is concerned, by mid-September, or a few weeks ahead of schedule.

Although the Wellness Center Board has yet to set a grand opening date for the new facility, Grant said they would soon be raising funds to operate the facility and that donations are welcome. More information on the fundraising venture will be published in the coming weeks.

The court then conducted a public hearing pertaining to the proposal to close the Huff Road near the Duvall Valley and Beech Bottom area in eastern Clinton County. No one from the public addressed the court with any opposition and no court action was required.

The court had previously voted to close the road, pending the public hearing or any opposition. Apparently the road will now be posted as being closed.

Magistrate Ricky Craig also made a motion to approve first reading of an ordinance to include the J.B. Burchett Extension into the county road system. The motion passed 5-0, with second reading scheduled for the court’s next regular meeting.

County employees, beginning this month, will begin receiving a cost-of-living increase in pay.

Craig made the motion to bring the county employees pay in line with the 2.7 percent CPI cost of living adjustment, beginning August 1. The motion further stated that the annual state CPI increase automatically takes effect for county employees beginning January 1 of each year. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Under department head reports, there was a brief discussion on whether or not county jail inmates were currently helping pick up trash along county roadways and mowing cemeteries, etc.

Jailer Gene Ferrill said the extreme heat over the past few weeks had kept the inmates from working outside for a while, but indicated they would probably continue with that type of work soon.

Hershell Key, representing the Clinton County Farm Bureau, then invited the county officials to the annual Clinton County Farm Bureau dinner meeting, which will be held on Thursday, September 9 at 6 p.m. at the fairgrounds building. The court then entered into a short, 12-minute closed session on jail and EMS personnel. Upon returning to open session, they voted to hire Kathryn Jones as part-time cook at the jail at $8.50 per hour and Tyler Dicken, Travis Denney and Dustin Jones as part-time EMTs at the ambulance service at $9.50 per hour. The next regular meeting of Clinton County Fiscal Court is scheduled for Thursday, September 16 at 5 p.m. and is open to the general public