Clinton County Fiscal Court dealt with several general items of business, including approving first reading of the proposed 2014-15 year budget, at its regular meeting last Thursday evening, May 15 with all members present.

After approving the monthly treasurer’s report and fund transfers, County Treasurer Dallas Sidwell presented court members with the upcoming year’s budget for first reading, which was passed by unanimous vote on a motion by Magistrate Mickey Riddle. The budget totals just over $4.6 million, just slightly higher than a year ago. The document will now be forwarded to the Department of Local Government and upon that agency’s approval, the court will hold final reading and adoption.

The court also approved, along with the budget, a standing order giving approval for some claims and bills to be paid prior to court approval.

The court then voted to pay claims and bills, and later amended the motion to include all 2014 primary election expenses, including precinct officers pay.

The court then entered into a less than 15-minute closed session on possible or pending litigation but took no action upon returning to open session.

County Clerk Shelia Booher then presented the court with a check in the amount of $3,896.23 as final payment to the county from the clerk’s office excess fee account. Booher had previously turned over $25,000 in fees making a total of just under $29,000 total.

Prior to acting on second reading of an ordinance to close a portion of the Talbott Road, Road Foreman Jim Pennycuff addressed the court about a cemetery located on the property and whether or not the public would have access to the grave sites. He questioned whether closing the road would mean the cemetery would be blocked off and suggested making arrangements with the property owner to post a sign with their name and contact information in case someone wanted to visit the site.

County Judge/Executive Lyle Huff stated that a KRS statute required that there be access to the cemetery and the property owner had also agreed to make the cemetery accessible for ingress and egress to the public. Pennycuff added he wasn’t opposed to closing the portion of the road but rather wanted to make sure the public would still have access to the burial grounds.

Following discussion, a motion was made by Magistrate Ricky Craig to close the portion of the road, which passed unanimously.

Judge Huff then announced that the county had received a $23,000 grant from Homeland Security to be applied to a reverse 911 system.

On a motion by Magistrate Terry Buster, court members voted to enter into an agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for County Road Aid funds. The total amount for the year 2015 is just under $900,000, minus a three percent contingency withheld by the state. The funds will be awarded the county in three separate increments for road work throughout the year.

The court then approved a memorandum of agreement with the Commonwealth and State Board of Elections for the county to be reimbursed for the purchase of voting equipment under the federal HAVA (Help America Vote Act) and the 2006 amended Kentucky State plan.

Clinton County’s funding share, based on the number of precincts in existence in the county as of the 2006 general election, multiplied by $4,500 per precinct, totaling $58,500. The county has already been reimbursed $57,490 for equipment already purchased and has a balance of $1010.00.

The court then voted to advertise for bids for road materials for the coming fiscal year; approved the Soil Conservation District budget in the amount of $336,167.22; discussed requesting the Transportation Department look into putting up additional guardrails in some hazardous locations on some county roads, and discussed the need to have a door at the Community Center widened for better access, especially on days when commodities are distributed.

Magistrate Patty Guinn then voiced a complaint about some roads in her district that had been disturbed and cut through when water line breaks occurred. She said repairs to the roads weren’t sufficient and felt the city should be responsible for making proper repairs to the roads after repairing water lines.

This led to some other magistrates also voicing the same concerns about some roads in their districts, indicating the repairs that were made weren’t holding up and agreed the city should pay to have those roads fixed right.

Judge Huff said he would discuss those concerns with Albany Mayor Nicky Smith and report back to the court.

The next regular meeting of Clinton Fiscal Court is scheduled for June 19 at 5 p.m. and is open to the general public.