Clinton Fiscal Court met in regular session last Thursday, May 20, with all members present and several issues on the agenda, some of which included split votes on issues related to the new Justice Center project, which is underway.

Justice Center issue

On a motion by magistrate Riddle, the court voted unanimously to approve a partnership agreement with Cumberland Workforce, which works with the 10 counties in the Lake Cumberland Area Development District on workforce related planning and policies.

The issue that took up the majority of the court’s time was related to the item of Articles of Incorporation, Clinton County Public Properties Incorporation, pertaining to the ongoing Clinton County Justice Center project.

Assistant County Attorney Gary Little was on hand to try and explain the need and process to form the corporation, saying it was basically “it’s own person” that spends funds, etc. He said it was the start of the process and it was noted funds used in obtaining property, construction and so forth would be handled by the corporation, with the county only as a pass- through entity.

Attorney Little noted that all such counties create a corporation for such projects and noted it was a non-profit corporation created by KRS statute.

He further explained the corporation would raise the money, but then spend it back on the project, but would not raise more funds than the project actually costs.

The proposed project, which already has a Planning Development Board in place (that body met last Friday morning), is a $4 million project funded primarily through the Administrative Office of the Courts, and the Justice Center will be used primarily for judicially related offices.

Clinton County Judge/Executive Ricky Craig told the court the planning board had already secured an architect for the project and would soon be holding public meetings on the project. He also invited court members to join the Zoom meeting of the PCB last week.

After Little’s explanation of the Articles of Incorporation, court members had some questions and there was some opposition to the document as written.

Magistrate Buster questioned why the fiscal court members were listed as “Board of Directors” for the project, saying they knew little about the project thus far.

Little responded that officers would eventually have to be elected and judge Craig said a corporation would have to be formed as that is the first step.

Following the discussion, the judge asked for a motion to approve the Articles of Incorporation for the project, which was made by magistrate Riddle and seconded by magistrate Johnny Russell. The vote, however, ended up in a tie of court members, with magistrate Ferguson also voting yes. Magistrates Buster, Marcum and Lowhorn voting no, and judge Craig breaking the tie with a yes vote, the motion passing 4-3.

Magistrate Lowhorn, who opposed the project at the start, gave his reasoning for voting no, saying he felt 90 percent of the people in the county, other than when getting driver’s licenses, would not even use the building. “It’s only going to help a few (like some judges and others) and cost the county down the road,” the magistrate stated.

On a related issue, that being approval for reimbursement for the Articles of Incorporation cost, that motion passed 5-1, with Magistrate Buster noting since the measure had already passed, he felt the county should be reimbursed for it.

All magistrates voted for the reimbursement with the exception of Lowhorn, who voted no.

In other business

The court first received the treasurer’s report and voted to approve the monthly report and three separate cash transfers, all from the occupational checking account. They included $40,000 to the jail account, $28,000 to the ambulance account and $77,000 to the general fund.

County Treasurer Cindy Thrasher also requested, and the court approved, pre-approving the payroll for the next pay period to avoid having to hold a special meeting, this being due to the Memorial Day holiday coming up.

Thrasher noted the higher than usual transfer amounts were due primarily for the payroll and utilities expense.

Votes were unanimous on all transfers except the transfer to the jail account, with magistrates Ray Marcum and Mickey Riddle voting no.

The court also voted 5-1 to approve claims and bills, with magistrate Gary Ferguson making the motion to approve. Magistrates Marcum, Terry Buster, Jerry Lowhorn and Johnny Russell also voted yes, with Riddle voting no, saying the jail was $30,000 over payroll last month.

On a motion by Russell, the court voted 6-0 to advertise for bids on road materials and culverts.

Three representatives from the Clinton County Skills U, formerly known as the Adult Education Program, addressed the court about the county now having its own GED testing center.

Skills U personnel and administrators have been getting the word out about the program, which recently began in Clinton County with the help of donations and backing of the Clinton County Board of Education.

The group made a similar presentation earlier this year at a board of education meeting.

The first local GED test was given on March 17 and there have been 17 local or area residents to actually take their GED exam at the local site, the old Clinton County Board of Education (Superintendent’s Office) Building, in the basement of that facility.

Prior to Clinton County getting its own testing site, the adult education program only offered preparation for the test, with the then nearest site being in Somerset, where people had to go to actually take the test.

The test generally costs $120 for the four-tier test, but do overs only cost $10 for each test. And, now through June 1, GED testing here in the county is free.

Testing is done Wednesday of each week. For more information on the program, or for information about preparation and registration, please call 606-387-6648.

The court also unanimously approved a 2020-21 budget amendment to add extra revenue that has to be budgeted; on a motion by Lowhorn, approved the viewers report of Edgewater Drive; and heard department head reports from Jailer Tracy Thurman and Road Foreman Danny Abston.

Prior to adjourning the almost hour long meeting, magistrate Lowhorn made a motion to check on the price of a 5500 series Dodge truck for the road department.

Magistrate Marcum also noted the state may have some surplus vehicles to check into soon and Sheriff Jeff Vincent also offered to check with some dealerships to assist the county on finding the type vehicle they would need.

Following a brief discussion, the motion to check on prices of such a truck passed by unanimous vote.

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