to local manufacturer Sun Pools

Clinton County Fiscal Court held another full agenda at its regular meeting last Thursday evening, March 19 with all members, and several spectators, on hand for the just over one hour meeting.

The court first approved the monthly treasurer’s report, fund transfers, including expenditure and cash transfers, voted to pay claims and bills and was presented the 2015-16 proposed jail budget, which will be incorporated into the county budget late this year. All motions passed, with the exception of the jail budget presentation which required no official action.

Bids were then opened on the Twin Lakes Wellness Center boiler system, with a total of three bids being submitted, ranging from $29,000 to $39,000.

The low bid was submitted by Sun Pools of Albany at $29,300. A motion was made by Magistrate Hershell Key to accept the low bid, which passed by a 5-1 vote, with Magistrate Mickey Riddle voting no.

Representatives from the Wellness Center had addressed the court earlier about the need to replace the boiler system with a newer, high-tech system they claim would save several thousand dollars a year in heating costs. Original plans were to apply for a zero-interest loan in the county’s name with the Wellness Center to repay the funds. Later, the court opted to use LGEA (Local Government Economic Assistance) money to purchase the unit and have it installed with the stipulation the Wellness Center would repay the county at a rate of not less than $600 per month.

After the vote, there was some question as how Sun Pools would be paid as some members of the Wellness Center thought the money would come up front–prior to installation. However, County Treasurer Dallas Sidwell noted that in using LGEA funds, they could not be released until the work was done. Judge/Executive Richard Armstrong urged Roger Barber, representing the Wellness Center, to talk to Sun Pools and explain that process.

The court, on a motion by Magistrate Ricky Craig, then voted unanimously to apply for a 100 percent funded body armor grant in the amount of $2,890 for the sheriff’s department.

The court then discussed school bus turnarounds, including one in Magistrate Riddle’s district that is in need of repairs. It was noted the county does have an easement to that particular roadway and after a brief discussion, Riddle made a motion that all new bus turnaround requests be made to the fiscal court for prior approval. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Judge Armstrong then informed the court he had begun the process to apply for a recycling grant for the county through the Lake Cumberland Area Development District and Magistrate Terry Buster made a motion to approve a resolution authorizing the judge to proceed with the grant application, with the vote passing unanimously.

The court then discussed purchasing a new truck for the road department, with Judge Armstrong recommending the purchase of a Dodge 550 at a base cost of the vehicle at $39,380. He further recommended that added equipment such as a dump, salt spreader and blade be purchased closer to the next winter season.

Magistrates, however, felt that the truck and equipment should all be purchased now while funds from the road department are available and a motion to that effect was made by Key and passed by unanimous vote.

There was then a discussion on some hiring on the county road department, including some differences on just how many actual current employees the department had. It was noted that a couple of employees were no longer working and at least one was currently on workman’s compensation, but apparently still considered an employee until being released to work.

A motion was made to hire Grover McWhorter at $8.50 per hour with that vote being 5-0 with Magistrate Patty Guinn abstaining.

Magistrate Johnny Russell then recommended hiring Jim Gambrell at the same rate, but that motion resulted in a split vote of 3-3 with Magistrates Guinn and Key both voting yes and Magistrates Craig, Buster and Riddle voting no and judge Armstrong broke the tie with a yes vote in favor of the hire.

There was then a brief discussion with Jailer Johnny Thrasher and a few of the deputy jailers and staff that were on hand at the meeting. They were apparently in attendance due to a previous public hearing on the occupational tax rate in which there was again some discussion among magistrates and the public as to whether or not closing the jail would benefit the county financially.

Judge Armstrong told Jailer Thrasher and the employees that he had not said he was going to close the jail and magistrate Riddle said the discussion at the previous meeting dealt with studies that had already been done on the issue last year.

Thrasher told the court that some of his employees had been working at the jail for sometime without a raise, but Judge Armstrong said if that were possible, it would have to be figured into the jail budget, with possible cuts in other areas.

There was also some suggestions of once again having inmates utilized to pick up litter along county roadways and discussions about the need for repairs to the facility, with no action being taken.

Administrative Assistant Penny Jo Stearns then told the court she was working on getting a small grant to get Clinton County “online” as a way to promote the county and activities happening in Albany and Clinton County in the form of a local web page to advertise the community.

The court then voted to approve a grant application through USDA for a new sheriff’s department vehicle through the Lake Cumberland AD, with Director of Emergency Services Lonnie Scott noting the cycle for applying was the end of this month and the process could take up to a year.

Prior to adjourning, during the public comment period, Steve Morrison of Morrison Recycling, questioned whether or not the former Abston Sanitation trash hauling area needed to be advertised for bids as a franchise area since Kenny Abston had ceased operating his business last year.

When Abston announced he would not longer be in the solid waste business, the county was in a dire situation to keep trash pickup going in that area. However, the three remaining franchise holders got together and worked out an agreement to split the Abston area among the three and keep trash service available.

County Judge Armstrong, in the absence of County Attorney Michael Rains, said he couldn’t answer Morrison’s question about the franchise issue but said he would get advice from the county attorney prior to the next meeting.

The next regular meeting of Clinton Fiscal Court is scheduled for Thursday, April 16 at 5 p.m. and is open to the general public.