What began as a routine regular meeting ended with some verbal exchanges and disagreements and a quick motion to adjourn the half hour session of Clinton Fiscal Court last Thursday evening, February 18 with all court members present.

During the meeting, the court approved what would clear the way for a long-sought after fee that would be charged on the rental of motel and hotel rooms in Clinton County and would fund promotions of the area tourism opportunities through a Tourism Commission.

The second reading of the ordinance establishing a Tourism Commission and imposing a transient fee on lodging establishments in the county was held.

The final reading and adoption was approved, again on a split vote. Magistrate Hershell Key made the motion to approve the ordinance, seconded by Magistrate Johnny Russell, with Magistrate Terry Buster also voting yes. Magistrates Mickey Riddle, Ricky Craig and Patty Guinn voted no and judge Armstrong broke the tie with a yes vote.

The initial reading of the ordinance was made during a meeting of the fiscal court on January 21 and was approved on a 3-2 vote at that time.

The ordinance calls for a three percent fee to be charged on hotel/motel rentals.

During an earlier meeting of the court, the makeup of the new Clinton County Tourism Commission was announced and those members are: Brett Gibson, Charlotte Dick, Jim Soma, Larry Hatfield, Patrick Padron, Penny Jo Stearns and Willard Johnson.

The new commission was slated to have an initial organizational meeting on Monday night.

Additional details of that meeting, as well as coverage of future meetings of the commision will be included in future issues of the Clinton County News.

In other business:

The court began the meeting with routine business, approving the monthly treasurer’s report, fund transfers and voting to pay claims and bills. The court, on a motion by Magistrate Mickey Craig, also voted to make the annual $2,000 contribution to the Albany Fire Department.

Jacob Chaney, a staff engineer with the Kentucky Department of Transportation, presented the court with the department’s Rural Road Aid program recommendation for the 2016-17 fiscal year. Due to the legislature still being in session and budget amounts unknown, he said the dollar amounts were estimates based on current year figures.

The state plans to repave a portion of Kentucky 1076 at an estimated cost of $234,938. Chaney also said last year’s FLEX fund amount for the county was $187,000, for a total of $422,000.

Judge/Executive Richard Armstrong said he had heard that due to the state budget, there may not be any FLEX funds available for the coming year and Chaney agreed that even if there was it may not be as much.

The state maintains 109 miles of roads in the county.

The court, on a motion by Craig, voted to advertise for bids for clean-up of the Blue Ridge dump site. The county has obtained an approximate $190,000 for the work. Meanwhile, some smaller dump sites are being cleaned up by county road department employees.

The court then took steps to close out the Ewing Bridge Repair project after engineers had found a couple of areas that needed to be graveled.

The court voted to pay Arnold Engineering a total of $4,875 for additional changes and work getting easements, this on a motion by Magistrate Riddle. On a motion by Magistrate Key, they voted Scott Murphy Construction $139,680 toward construction of the project, with $34,000 being withheld pending final inspection.

The original cost of the project came in at $213,000 but was negotiated downward to $176,400.

The court also voted to pay $2,100 for consulting work to the Lake Cumberland Area Development District for its work on getting the project started.

Following those business items, the floor was opened for public discussion and that is when some verbal disagreements began.

Trisha Jones, the wife of a road department employee, attempted to address the judge/executive and court with some questions and possible complaints of some nature. However, judge Armstrong said that was a personnel issue and could not be discussed (in public), further advising her to contact the county attorney, who was not present at last week’s meeting.

Magistrate Guinn then addressed the judge and court about some apparent phone conversations between herself and the judge that had occurred during the most recent winter storms.

Guinn said that “all (county) roads are important” and inferred the judge had indicated he would not send a crew out to take care of a “piddly” road like that.

She further indicated that although the judge had hung up on her on one occasion, she dispelled apparent rumors he had called her back and cursed at her, saying she wanted everyone to know that did not happen.

Judge/Executive Armstrong only countered that during the aforementioned snow storm, he had received 60 calls with good comments about the county road crews work during the storm and only a couple of negative calls.

Following the exchange between Guinn and Armstrong, Magistrate Riddle made a motion to enter into closed session, apparently on personnel to discuss the previous issue. He also said that the current road foreman did not have a CDL license, as required by policy, saying at one point “it’s not good for the sixth district.”

Armstrong said road foreman Michael Craig did have his permit and was going to be re-tested for his CDL Monday (of this week).

The judge also rejected the idea of going into closed session, saying he didn’t like closed sessions because people didn’t know what was being said. Riddle then suggested having the conversation in public, but without the county attorney present, he later withdrew the motion.

Jones was again advised to contact county attorney Michael Rains about the matter.

After the exchanges, Judge/Executive Armstrong called for a motion to adjourn, which was made and passed by unanimous vote.