Clinton Fiscal Court held its regular monthly meeting Thursday, July 17, with all magistrates present. Sixth District Magistrate Mickey Riddle again chaired the half-hour session in the absence of Judge/Executive Ricky Craig, who was absent due to illness.
The court, after approving previous meetings minutes and acknowledging the treasurer’s report, voted to approve the annual treasurer’s report closing out the 2024-25 fiscal year.
The court also approved the monthly treasurer’s report and claims and bills, all by unanimous votes.
A total of five cash transfers, all from the Occupational Fund account, totaling $277,000, were approved unanimously on separate motions, as follows:
* Motion by Magistrate Jason Pitman to approve $40,000 to the jail checking account; motion by Magistrate Tony Delk to approve a $125,000 transfer to the ambulance checking account; motion by Magistrate Gary Ferguson to approve a $30,000 transfer to the general fund checking account; motion by Magistrate Terry Buster to approve an $80,000 transfer to the 911 account; motion by Magistrate Pitman to approve a transfer of $2,000 to the DES account.
Clinton County Sheriff Ricky Marcum then gave his department’s monthly activity report for the month of June, noting his office had received a total of 690 calls, which he noted was a higher than average number.
The sheriff also noted his department investigated about twice the usual number of traffic collisions and made a total of 46 arrests last month.
The sheriff also presented the Clinton County Sheriff’s Tax Settlement for the year ending 2025, with the court voting to approve the settlement by unanimous vote.
The court then voted unanimously to approve the county tax rates, with Magistrate Buster making a motion to take the compensating rate for the next tax year.
The rates will be 6.50 per $100 assessed value on real property and 7.80 per $100 assessed value on both watercraft and motor vehicles. The real property rate is expected to generate just over $305,000 in tax revenue for the county, with watercraft and motor vehicle being a little over $73,000 combined revenue.
Two representatives from Mediacom Cable then addressed the court, pertaining to a request for a renewal of its contract with the county for cable and internet service.
Mediacom, which has owned the cable franchise for the city and county for many years, is now apparently supplying the service on a “month to month” basis, and said the court had options of renewing for periods of time, from three or four years, up to 15 years.
However, several magistrates and some members of the public had concerns and questions for the representatives, beginning with 3rd District Magistrate Buster.
The magistrate said in his area, on Hwy. 3045 (Denney Road), there were about 30 residents in the area without cable and questioned the number of homes in any given area it takes for the company to supply cable and internet services to a particular area.
One representative said they would be happy to “look at the area,” and referred to the area director to also tour the area and make recommendations.
Magistrate Riddle also said there were several residents in the south end of Albany without cable or internet, saying around 100 households were included.
The magistrate said Mediacom had (over the years) kept saying they would look at it, but nothing has been done yet.
The representatives told the court the company is applying for both state and federal grants to help fund the cost of running more lines to underserved areas, and said every county they serve in the state have similar problem sites.
Magistrate Delk asked the representatives, “What is in it for Clinton County (residents) if we sign a contract?”
Magistrate Pitman also asked if the company had plans to expand service if the county did agree to a contract renewal.
The representatives implied they needed an agreement with the county to help push for grants they were applying for.
One citizen asked if a contract was awarded, would the company guarantee more than what the county is getting now. Another questioned whether or not any grant money would go toward other areas or counties, or would be used specifically for Clinton County.
The representatives said that any grants that pertained to Clinton County would have to be used here, but did not know specifically, when the last grant for the county was applied for.
Magistrate Buster then inquired as to whether County Attorney Michael Rains had seen a copy of the proposed contract with Mediacom, with Rains saying he had not.
At the end of the discussion, Magistrate Buster made a motion to table the issue on the proposed contract request until next month to give the County Attorney time to review the contract and Mediacom time to get more information together. The motion passed unanimously.
DES Director Lucas Abner then gave the monthly EMS report, reporting the ambulance service had made 52 ALS (Advanced Life Support) and 56 (Basic Life Support) transfers last month and the EMS billing company had collected $79,022.56 in fees during the month of June.
Abner also informed the court the old camera system at the EMS facility had gone down and presented a quote for a new camera system for the facility, which includes the dispatch center, ambulance service bay area and entire building.
A total of 16 cameras are needed and the cost for the cameras, DVR system and labor was $2,952.68.
The Emergency Services Director also gave reasons why a camera system was vital at the facility, including, among other factors, that the court system allows child exchanges ordered by the court to take place at the facility, and sometimes that creates a dangerous situation.
Other reasons were for the safety of dispatchers on duty, monitoring the ambulance bay areas, and since narcotics are kept at the facility, cameras are needed to maintain that area, where they are under a minimum of two locks.
Magistrate Buster made the motion to approve the payment for the camera system at the EMS facility, which passed unanimously.
An SBA (Small Business Administration) representative then addressed the court in reference to Clinton County being in an area contiguous to recent natural disaster areas, and the assistance SBA may be able to offer to any business that suffered any type of loss due to those disasters.
Recent flooding and a tornado that touched down in neighboring Russell County, as well as Pulaski County, deemed those areas as disaster areas.
The representative said counties contiguous to those counties, primarily small businesses that suffered any type of loss, may be eligible for low interest (4 percent) loans to help offset their costs.
The representative said he would be working with local government officials, including the DES Director and county officials, to “get the word out” about the loan program available from the SBA.
He said this year alone, three natural disasters have occurred that indirectly affected Clinton County by hitting bordering areas, making the county eligible for assistance.
Any business that suffered damage as a result of either disaster – flooding, tornado – would have to show proof of damage that was caused by the disaster and could apply for the low interest loan, up to $2 million, the representative said.
Following the SBA presentation, the meeting was adjourned.
The next regular meeting of Clinton Fiscal Court is scheduled for Thursday, August 21, at 5 p.m.