Clinton Fiscal Court finally passed budgets for the sheriff’s and county court clerk’s offices, as well as making a tentative decision on health insurance coverage for county employees at a call meeting last Friday morning, March 2. All members were on hand for the approximate one hour meeting, in which other issues were also on the agenda.

After approving fund transfers presented by County Treasurer Dallas Sidwell, the court heard from insurance representative Grady Wilson, who presented court members with health insurance plans and options for coverage, including plans that would reduce the county’s cost over an annual period.

Wilson told the court that the Anthem renewal policy would increase by about 14 percent over last year’s rates and explained alternative options on deductible, co-pays, etc.

He also presented a plan from Bluegrass Family Company, which he noted was at an eight percent lower rate than the Anthem plan and only about five percent higher than the rates currently being paid by the county. However, with various plans available, including higher deductible and co-pay plans for employees who take the insurance, it could actually save the county money over a 12-month period. He also said if the county acted by March 7, the policy could become retroactive to March 1.

Magistrate Mickey Riddle asked if the policy would be locked in for a year or could be cancelled at any time. Wilson answered that the rates under the plan would be basically in place for a year, but that the county could cancel the policy with proper notice.

Following a brief discussion, Magistrate Willard Johnson moved to cancel the Anthem policy and accept the Bluegrass Family policy under “option four.” This would still leave, at least for now, employees paying $80 per month out-of-pocket and would cost the county $180,525.12 per year–or around $60,000 less than what the county was paying under the past plan.

Under option four of the plan, which the court approved, the deductible for single employee would be $3,000 and $6,000 for a family plan, with the maximum out-of-pocket being $6,000 for single employee, or $12,000 for family. Other office visits, co-pays and so forth would be about the same as the current rates for employees’ out-of-pocket costs.

With the county continually looking for ways to cut expenses and/or raise revenues, they left open the possibility of having employees pay up to 50 percent of their own insurance premiums, which some court members estimated would save the county over $140,000 on an annual basis.

The court then turned its attention to two office budgets, which the state had recommended be passed by mid-January. However, concerns and questions about the county budget itself had caused official action on those budgets–the sheriff’s and county clerk’s–to be delayed at least twice.

After Magistrate Johnson moved to approve the county clerk’s office budget as presented, with the county continuing to pay health insurance for the office’s employees, a discussion ensued about whether fee offices such as the clerk’s and sheriff’s, could pay their own employees’ insurance.

Judge/Executive Lyle Huff read from a KRS statute that indicated excess fees collected by the county clerk’s office could be used to purchase (employee) insurance, but asked County Clerk Jim Elmore’s input.

Elmore told the court that he would be turning over about $19,000 in excess fees to the county and the excess amount should more than cover the cost (the county pays) for insurance on the employees in his office. When questioned about the portion of the budget for office supplies and maintenance, Elmore questioned, “if I have a computer go down, what do I do then?”

Although the county clerk indicated that if he paid his employees’ insurance, there would be no excess fee amounts left to turn over to the county.

Magistrate Charlotte Bernard, however, said her constituents had indicated they did not want to see taxes raised, but rather cuts made and indicated she felt the clerk’s office should be asked to fund their own health insurance from the clerk’s budget.

Magistrate Phillip Parrigin said that it would not be fair to ask one office to pay for health insurance from its budget without asking the rest to do so.

Following a brief discussion, the court eventually voted on Johnson’s motion to approve the clerk’s office budget as is, which passed 5-1 with Magistrates Parrigin, Ricky Craig, Mickey Riddle and Patty Guinn voting yes and Bernard voting no.

The court then turned its attention to the sheriff’s office budget, again with Magistrate Bernard indicating her feeling about that office paying its own insurance for its employees out of its budget.

Sheriff Rick Riddle told the court he would find and pay for his own insurance, if necessary, but was concerned about finding the money in his budget to pay his employees’ health insurance. He again noted the higher operational cost associated with running and staffing the sheriff’s department, especially the higher rising price of fuel, saying “gas (prices) is eating us alive.”

The sheriff continued he was already down to using a part-time court officer and possibly facing ‘rolling lay-offs.’

Magistrate Johnson also made the motion to approve the sheriff’s office budget as presented, which again passed on a 4-1 vote with Magistrate Bernard voting no and Magistrate Riddle abstaining.

Judge Huff and County Attorney Michael Rains then discussed a Litter Abatement program, in which the county has close to $19,000 in grant funds to use.

Apparently Clinton County officials, including Rains, have been negotiating with Wayne County officials, including jail officials and the Wayne County Judge/Executive, about using Wayne County Detention Center inmates to pick up trash along state highways in Clinton County.

Those inmates, some of which are felony offenders, would require supervision.

If inmates from that facility are used, Clinton County would use funds from the Litter Abatement grant to pay an employee, primarily a sworn deputy, to supervise the inmates during their work hours. The funds would also be used for supplies such as gloves, trash bags and so forth.

The program is at no expense to the county if the funds are used for litter abatement–in other words, if not used in programs such as cleaning roadways or other projects–the money would have to be given back.

Most court members agreed that the program would be beneficial to Clinton County, noting that several state roads that are not maintained with trash pick-up by the state, are in need of being cleaned up.

The court agreed to allow County Attorney Rains to proceed with drawing up a contract with Wayne County to carry out the program.

The court then entered into a brief closed session on personnel with jailer Gene Ferrill.

Upon returning to open session, Judge Huff recommended Angie Melton be employed at the jail part-time at $8.50 per hour to replace an employee who recently quit. Magistrate Johnson noted the court would only be setting the employee’s salary, since under state law, the jailer hires his own personnel.

Magistrate Charlotte Bernard made the motion to employ Melton part-time at $8.50 per hour and the vote resulted in a tie, with Magistrates Johnson and Guinn voting in favor and Magistrates Riddle, Craig and Parrigin voting no. Judge Huff broke the 3-3 tie with a yes vote.

After the meeting, Magistrate Riddle said he voted no because the county needed to cut back.

Kentucky laws pertaining to jail staffing recently mandated that a certain number of jail staff be on duty at all times to meet state staffing requirements for all county jails which house 80 or less inmates. Some of that staff include female deputy jailers who have to be on duty when the jail has female inmates.

The next regular meeting of Clinton Fiscal Court is scheduled for Thursday, March 15 at 5 p.m. at the courthouse and is open to the general public.