Clinton County Fiscal Court met for the last time in 2018 last Thursday, December 20 with all court members on hand, and although the session lasted only about 10 minutes, there were three split votes along the way.

Some regularly routine items saw three different 4-2 votes being cast at the start of the meeting.

The first split votes was on the approval of the previous meeting minutes, with magistrates Mickey Riddle and Ricky Craig voting no, saying they had just received a copy of them. Magistrates Hershell Key, Terry Buster, Patty Guinn and Johnny Russell all voted yes.

The monthly treasurer’s report resulted in the exact same vote, with Riddle and Craig citing the most recently released audit report.

Magistrate and judge-elect Craig also questioned some road work in some areas, on the issue of claims and bills, asking if the work included blacktopping.

Following a brief discussion, magistrate Key made the motion to pay the monthly claims and bills which was seconded by magistrate Buster, with again a 4-2 vote with Riddle and Craig voting no, citing they felt some roads should not have been blacktopped when others were not.

The court did vote unanimously on the only two other items of business that was on the agenda, including approving fund transfers and the county clerk’s office budget for the upcoming calendar year.

With no further business nor public comment, the meeting was adjourned.

The county’s annual employee Christmas dinner, which was held at the Community Center, followed the court meeting at 6 p.m.

The next regular meeting of Clinton Fiscal Court is scheduled for January 17 at 5 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom of the courthouse and is open to the public.

Most county office holders will take the oath of office during a ceremony scheduled for this coming Sunday, December 30 at 2 p.m. at the Clinton County Fairgrounds building, with the ceremonies being open to the public.