Clinton County Fiscal Court, meeting in special session Monday evening, February 23, dealt with several issues in lieu of its regular meeting that had been cancelled the previous week due to the winter storm. All magistrates were present for the 50 minute session that included a full agenda.

The court first voted to pay claims and bills, approved the treasurer’s report and cash and expenditure transfers involving the ambulance service and jail. Magistrate Terry Buster also questioned a bill from Zee Medical that refilled first aid kits for the ambulance service, saying it cost the county around $400 per month and noted the court had previously voted to have those refilled locally by the EMS Director. The court voted to approve the invoice by opting to send the company a letter asking the refilling by the company not be continued.

The court then heard from Mark Foster with the Kentucky Department of Transportation, who presented state recommendations for the county’s Rural Secondary Road Aid program for 2015. He noted magistrates who had roads in their districts they would like to see work done on should submit their requests to the county judge in writing or by email.

The total amount in road funding is $870,562 with a total of $496,706 for actual use for county road improvements, that counting $65,000 that was carried over from 2014 funds.

Foster also noted the county would receive an estimated $174,000 in FLEX fund money after July 1 to use for county road repairs.

The state’s recommendation for the use of the funds included repaving 4.47 miles in Clinton County and would involve the following: Wolf River Dock Road from MP (mile point) 5.645, 0.126 miles east to the intersection of the 127 bypass to MP 6.706 intersection of 127 X (business), of 1.061 asphalt resurfacing at a cost of $98,151; Wolf River Dock Road from MP 4.225 just east of the intersection of Wright-Parrish Road to MP 5.372 pavement joint at the end of new construction on west of U.S. 127, 1.147 miles asphalt resurfacing at a cost of $84,631 and KY 3065 Martha Stockton Road from MP 0 beginning at the KY 738 intersection to 2.266 the intersection of KY 553, 2.266 miles of asphalt resurfacing at a cost of $139,892.

The aforementioned FLEX funds that may be available this summer in the amount of $174,112 is from recommendation for county and state maintained roadways for a total project cost of $496,786.

A motion to accept the Rural Road Aid recommendations as proposed was made by Magistrate Hershell Key and passed by unanimous vote.

Later in the meeting, the court also adopted a resolution being pushed by state legislators aimed at putting a cap on road fund money. Due to the lower cost of fuel, it has put the state in a bind with less gas tax to help fund the transportation cabinet and without a cap, revenues could be lost at a high rate all at once, filtering down to counties not receiving much state road aid for the next several years.

With a cap, Judge/Executive Richard Armstrong said counties won’t suffer as much and said officials have estimated it may take up to the year 2021 before funding in the area of transportation would get back to where it was just last year.

The motion to approve the Road Fund Stabilization resolution, which supports its passage in the 2015 General Assembly to ensure adequate funding for state and county roads, passed unanimously.

The resolution says, for the most part, that Kentucky’s motor fuel tax is vital to continued safe roads in every county and is based in part on the rise and fall of the average wholesale price of fuel, calculated four times per year.

The formula which regulates the balance available in the fund has taken a severe blow as the price of fuel has dropped; its statutory “floor” of 1.768 is deemed as the lowest rate that can be used to calculate the average wholesale price. The calculated rate dropped 0.6 cents in October and another 4.3 cents in January. Every penny reduction equates to an approximate $30 million annual loss to the state road fund.

The drops in October, January 1 and the decrease projected again in April, has resulted in an estimation by the Transportation Cabinet of a loss of as high as $70 million for the remainder of this fiscal year, and $190 million in FY 2016, should that April project become reality. The addition of the April project would result in a $12.8 million loss to the County Road Aid Fund and $15.5 million in the Rural Secondary fund for FY 2015.

The Kentucky House and Senate leaders have acknowledged the need for action, this session, and the crisis inaction will cause state and local road safety issues.

Senator Ernie Harris, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, has filed Senate Bill 29 to rest the floor at $2.354, the level used to calculate the rate that took effect January 1, in order to keep the tax the same as it now stands and stabilize the Road Fund. Road Fund Stabilization is one of the top priorities for the Kentucky Association of Counties for the 2015 and 2016 sessions.

The resolution predicts lack of action during the 2015 Regular Session would worsen the situation and place increased strain on state and county road projects through the state.

Also during the discussion with Foster, some magistrates questioned the process of getting guardrails in some dangerous locations in the county. However, Foster indicated the process was a lengthy one and depended on state funding and how such projects were prioritized.

At least three areas in Clinton County were mentioned, including on Hwy. 639 near the Old Burkesville Road intersection; one on Hwy. 350, the Old Monticello Road; and another in the Piney Woods community on Hwy. 558.

Several board members and regular user members of the Twin Lakes Family Wellness Center were also on hand at the meeting, with Roger Barber acting as spokesperson for the group, as well as the center’s director, Charlotte Dick.

Barber noted that the pool heating issue was again at the front, adding that the current unit would cost over $6,000 just to repair and $9,800 to replace with the same type system.

He and Dick have been researching the matter and located a newer, high tech unit that would cost around $18,000, with a total price tag of between $24,000 and $25,000 to install and do necessary plumbing work associated with the installation. However, he estimated the new unit could save the facility “at least” $5,000 per year in energy costs.

The unit, according to Barber, would have a one-year warranty, with a 10-year warranty on parts and could be purchased locally through Sun Pools.

Judge Armstrong noted that the current unit was placed in the wrong location of the building to begin with and in an area making it susceptible to chlorine damage. He further recommended the court give the Wellness Center approval to replace the pool’s heating system. However, it would have to be done via a loan in the county’s name.

It was noted a zero percent interest could be obtained through South Kentucky RECC and the Wellness Center, Barber noted, would be able to pay back the loan in energy savings alone.

Barber also noted that just over a year ago, the Wellness Center was in debt a little over $100,000 and now that is down to just under $10,000 and membership has risen from about 700 to over 1,000 current members.

Magistrate Ricky Craig first attempted a motion to “get the city involved,” indicating he felt the city was still half responsible for the building since it had co-signed the original loan for construction.

Barber said, however, “we have,” going on to say Nicky (Mayor Smith) don’t want it.

Judge Armstrong also told the court he had discussed the issue with Mayor Smith twice in the prior week, and the mayor had given no answer, indicating he felt the city was not responsible. “It’s not going to help,” going to the city, the judge continued. “We shouldn’t hold back the Wellness Center” because of it, he added.

The question of liability and ownership between the county and city has been going on for the past few years, as the Wellness Center project began as a joint venture between the two governments when the facility was first to be constructed in the former county industrial park. However, when the location was changed to the current site, the City of Albany, in name, was not put on the deed.

Armstrong indicated the situation, if drawn out, would have to be resolved in court and that could take years, he noted.

Eventually, a motion was made by Magistrate Key to secure a loan through the county at zero percent if possible and allow the Wellness Center to proceed with switching the pool’s heating system, at no cost to the county, except the loan being in the county’s name with the Wellness Center responsible for payment of the loan. Magistrate Terry Buster seconded the motion, which passed 5-1 with Magistrates Craig, Johnny Russell and Patty Guinn also voting yes and Magistrate Mickey Riddle voting no, saying the county didn’t have the money in case the Wellness Center couldn’t re-pay the loan..

Also during the meeting, the court voted to amend the County Clerk’s budget and County Clerk Shelia Booher presented the county with a check in the amount of $22,000 in excess fees from her office. A final payment of $4,000, or $26,000 total in excess fees, will be turned over pending a final audit.

The court also voted to accept outgoing Sheriff Ricky Riddle’s 2014 Tax Settlement, which also showed clean settlement totals for the year, also pending the final audit.

Magistrates also approved a resolution declaring the week of February 23, 2015 UK Week in honor of the University of Kentucky’s 150th anniversary and voted to approve an inter-local agreement with the Workforce Investment Area offices locally based at the Community Center.

Finally, Judge Armstrong read the following signed statement pertaining to the work of the Clinton County road department during the recent winter storm:

“I would like to take this time to thank our road crew and all who helped in the hard work and long hours it has taken to clear our county roads. I want everyone to know that they have worked around the clock with over 50 hours of overtime they have spread over 150 tons of salt over the county of 290 miles of road. While I know that we have not been able to keep up with the weather, and I know that we have not got every county road, we were faced with a 30-year record-breaking snow fall and a 60-year record low temperature. This, with the limited resource in equipment and supplies, I think we have done a great job. I believe with the increase in revenue from our occupational tax that we will be better equipped to handle the needs of our county in situations such as the one we have just faced. Your patience during this crisis is greatly appreciated.”

Thank you,

Richard C. Armstrong

Clinton County Judge Executive