Clinton County Fiscal Court met in regular session last Thursday, July 16 with all members present. About half the meeting dealt with the Veterans Administration assistance officer position which can be found in a separate article in this week’s issue. The court did carry through with its plan to give pay raises to all employees of the Emergency Services and Clinton County Jail, an issue that had been on the table for the past few months.

When the current 2015-16 fiscal year budget was unveiled this past spring, which did show increases in some county employees’ pay, it prompted some court members to call for the need for higher pay as well to the rest of the employees, especially the ambulance service, which they deemed as about the most needed service in the county.

During the June meeting, how to fund raises for EMS and jail employees was discussed, and the court agreed to work to come up with a workable solution that the county can afford.

Judge/Executive Richard Armstrong unveiled the plan that had been put together for consideration. It would call for all jail employees to get an across-the-board 50 cents per hour; all EMS employees who had worked less than two years 50 cents; and all EMS employees who has worked over two years 75 cents.

There was an exception for seven EMS employees, which Armstrong recommended receive $1 per hour raises due to the fact they had trained and become Advanced EMTs, which is a higher grade than a regular EMT, almost to the grade of a paramedic. This certification would also allow ambulance runs with those individuals to be charged as if a paramedic were on board. He further noted those individuals had paid the $500 to take the advanced classes out of their own pockets.

Director of Emergency Services Lonnie Scott also said having the additional advanced EMTs available would help cut down on overtime at the emergency services facility.

The raises would also be in addition to the two percent cost-of-living increase already given all employees in the new budget and apparently be funded with additional revenues expected from the increase in the occupational tax fees.

A motion to accept the pay grade proposal and approve the raises was made by Fifth District Magistrate Hershel Key and passed by unanimous vote. The pay increases will become effective August 1.

The court also voted unanimously to accept the sole bid received on inmate home incarceration monitoring from D-TRAX, LLC Home Incarceration Company out of Burkesville.

The GPS monitoring for Clinton County, which defendants themselves will have to pay, will be $10 per day and a $50 hook-up fee; indigent fees will be either $8 or $10 per day with the hook-up fee waived and juvenile defendants will be $10 per day with the hook-up fee waived.

Currently, the individual incarcerated costs the county approximately $30 per day. The new cost for incarceration will be $10 per day, thereby saving the county $20 per day per individual.

The company also performs random in-home visits and phone calls to defendants, and the District Judge will be notified of any violations. Also, the GPS tracking devices are capable of tracking in “real time.”

In other business, the court:

* Approved the monthly, quarterly and annual treasurer’s reports, expenditures and cash transfers and voted to pay claims and bills.

* Approved the 2015-16 fiscal year budget for the Clinton County Industrial Development Authority.

* A check to the county of $4,800 and $5,700 to the sheriff’s office was presented as part of the former sheriff’s final 2014 Tax Settlement, with a motion passing to approve the final fee audit.

* The court, upon request of the family, voted to turn over a picture and plaque of the late Clinton County Deputy Sheriff Max Angel which had been housed at the courthouse.

* Magistrate Terry Buster noted that two balers had been received as part of the county’s recently funded recycling program and Judge Armstrong noted a building for the recycling center was now in the process of being constructed.

* Judge Armstong then noted the road department had completed a second round of mowing on county roads and that he had contacted the state about doing another round of much needed mowing on state highways in Clinton County.

The next regular meeting of Clinton Fiscal Court is scheduled for Thursday, August 20 at 5 p.m. and is open to the general public.