Clinton County Fiscal Court held a short, yet busy regular meeting last Thursday, September 16, with five of six magistrates present.

Among actions discussed or voted on were a pay increase for the four sanitation services, discussion on jail transportation, an announcement pertaining to a major paving project in the city limits, and accepting tax district rates.

Phillip Boils of Boils Sanitation Service spoke on behalf of the other trash pick-up services in requesting a rate increase, which would be comparable to other areas the same size of Clinton County, and the need to off-set rising costs to haulers.

Boils noted that most areas of this size charge commercial users an average of $15 to $18 (per quarter) for pick-up. He requested the court increase local rates from the current $12 for every three months to $15 and $10 per yard for commercial customers.

Even with that requested rate, Boils said it was still a little lower than some other surrounding counties.

He also added dumping fees to haulers back in 2008 were $39 per ton and have increased to $66 currently, some $27 higher than 13 years ago, fees that local haulers have been absorbing.

Boils also said the cost of fuel and insurance have increased over the years, noting that the requested rate increase amount would represent only about .69 cents per week for the average residential customer.

Following Boils’ request to the court, Magistrate Johnny Russell made a motion to grant the increase in the amount requested, which passed by a 4-1 vote with magistrates Micky Riddle, Gary Ferguson and Ray Marcum also voting yes and Magistrate Terry Buster voting no.

Buster noted the reason of his no vote was that he felt the sanitation service should have been re-bid earlier in the year, but did add he felt all the haulers were deserving of the raise.

In an issue concerning both the jail, specifically in the area of transporting inmates, and law enforcement, Albany Police Officer Brad Cross addressed the court about inmate transport, first asking if the jail had reopened.

Apparently, the jail had been closed several days recently when several local inmates had been in contact with COVID, forcing the jail to not let those prisoners out, and on the other side of the scale, not allowing other inmates arrested to be booked at the jail until the quarantine was lifted–which apparently was last Thursday.

Officer Cross asked why the city was doing transports of prisoners (who had been arrested by county or other law enforcement.)

The officer indicated having to transport inmates was leaving the city short handed as far as law enforcement, which is a problem for the sheriff’s office as well.

Judge/Executive Ricky Craig told Cross that he would have the jailer attend next month’s fiscal court meeting to answer their concerns and invited them back to attend that session.

Later in the meeting, pertaining to the same issue, Magistrate Marcum noted that the county provides funds for the jail, but is not directly involved in the day to day operations, directing his questions to Assistant County Attorney Gary Little on the matter.

Attorney Little said both the magistrates and the public had the right to inspect the jail, and even noted that years ago, the late Circuit Judge Eddie C. Lovelace had asked a grand jury to inspect the facility.

“What the officers mentioned impacts the entire community,” Little said. “If the jail fails, they may need contingency plans,” he added.

The attorney continued, “Transporting prisoners is not the job of law enforcement…there needs to be a contingency plan.” He further recommended the court form a committee to look into the situation.

It was also noted that jailers have the responsibility, apparently using their own staff, for prisoner transport. For example, counties that have no open jails rely primarily on the county jailer to ensure inmates are transported to other facilities.

Also during the meeting, Judge Craig announced a major paving project that covers a vast area of the city streets, which the county and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials have been working on for some time.

The judge issued a written statement about it, which reads as follows:

“We talked to the Kentucky Department of Transportation in 2019, meeting with them in our conference room about resurfacing Hwy. 1590 from the hospital (Med Center of Albany) to U.S. 127 and from White Street extending north to U.S. 127, a distance of 3.96 miles. We want to thank the magistrates for their work on this project. We also want to thank Secretary Gray for meeting with us last week, and also thank James Jones, Engineer of District 8-Somerset office, for making this happen.”

The project calls for a completion date of June 30, 2022.

In regards to the project, Little questioned if asphalt areas where water leaks occur during winter had been fixed and whether or not the city has plans to replace pipes.

Judge Craig replied, “Not to my knowledge.”

The court also acknowledged receiving tax rates from three different taxing districts.

Christy Stearns presented the Extension Service rates, telling the court that entity had taken the compensating rate, but the amounts received in taxes under the compensation rate would remain the same.

The rates set by the Extension Board was 9.1000 on real property; 11.6100 on personal property; and, 2.00 on motor vehicle.

The Clinton County Soil Conservation District rate for fiscal year 2021 will not change and will stand at 0.0182.

Also, the school district rates, as previously reported, is unchanged at 45.70 on both real and personal property.

Also during the meeting, Emergency Management Director Lucas Abner gave his monthly report, including the number of ambulance service runs made during the month.

Abner also reported that collection rates thus far have been higher since switching collection companies earlier this year.

He also noted the new ambulance is now on the road, making a total of two additional trucks, and work on installing software at the 911 dispatch center was to begin this week.

At the onset of the regular meeting, the court acknowledged receiving the treasurer’s report; voted, on a motion by Magistrate Russell, to approve the monthly report, and on a motion by Magistrate Buster, approved payment of claims and bills.

On separate motions, the court approved four cash transfers, all from the Occupational account.

County Treasurer Cindy Thrasher noted the transfers were higher than usual because they contained transfers for the next two payroll periods, since the court will not be able to meet later in the month due to a judge/executive’s conference in Lexington.

The following four transfers totaling $141,500, were approved, all on unanimous votes:

* Occupational to General account, $50,000;

* Occupational to Jail account, $45,000;

* Occupational to Ambulance account, $45,000;

* Occupational to DES account, $1,500.

Judge Craig also told the Clinton County News that, due to the aforementioned judge’s conference, the judge/executive’s office would be closed the following times and dates: Wednesday afternoon, September 29, and all day on Thursday and Friday, September 30 and October 1.

The judge’s office will reopen during normal business hours on Monday, October 4.

The next regular meeting of Clinton Fiscal Court is scheduled for Thursday, October 21, at 5 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom of the courthouse and is open to the general public.