The Clinton County Library and Rec/Park Board will each receive $10,000 that had been allotted to those entities in the current fiscal year budget following action taken–in a split decision–by Clinton County Fiscal Court. The court took that action, among others, at its regular meeting last Thursday, March 15 with all members present.

The move to go ahead and give the park board and library the total $20,000 came during paying of the claims and bills, as those allotments were added in those claims. The vote to fund the entities didn’t come until some discussion and disagreement among court members.

Magistrate Patty Guinn made the motion to approve the claims and bills, including each entities’ amount, saying that “half of Clinton County uses the park.”

Some magistrates, however, disagreed in allotting the funds at this time, including Magistrate Mickey Riddle, who agreed with Magistrate Guinn about the usage of the park but said, “but we don’t have the money…you can’t use it (money) if you don’t have it.

When questioned by Magistrate Willard Johnson about just how much of the park the county owned, it was noted they owned everything behind the fenced-in portion of the park.

County Judge/Executive Lyle Huff stated it was his opinion that the county “needs to pay the park and library.” He added the funds were allotted in the current year’s budget and that the funds were there to pay it.

Magistrate Ricky Craig said that “it doesn’t mean we have to give it just because it was budgeted.” Magistrate Riddle also said about the budget that it (budget) was simply a plan for a fiscal year. Both he and Magistrate Craig each voiced their support for the park and library, but each indicated they felt the county didn’t have the funds.

On a roll call vote, the motion to approve the claims and bills, including paying the park and library this budget year’s allotment, passed 4-2 with Magistrates Guinn, Johnson, Phillip Parrigin and Charlotte Bernard voting in favor and Magistrates Craig and Riddle voting no.

The court then approved the monthly treasurer’s report and a list of fund transfers, as well as approving the planned budget for the Clinton County Jail. The budget plan will be incorporated into the final 2012-13 jail budget presented later this spring.

Magistrates estimated that the upcoming jail budget reflected about a $67,000 decrease of the current year’s budget.

The library budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year was then approved unanimously by the court on a motion by Johnson. It was also noted that Clinton County Librarian Gayla Duvall had informed officials the library was not asking for the $10,000 allotment in the new budget, due to the county’s financial shortfalls.

The court, on a recommendation from the TOUR Southern and Eastern Kentucky program, voted to proclaim the month of April as Red Bud Month in Clinton County.

Mark Foster of the Kentucky Department of Transportation presented the court with the Rural Secondary Road Aid recommendations for this year.

The total allotment is for $810,737, with Clinton County to receive an actual $312,907 for local improvements following the state allotment for routine maintenance and administration for the 103.374 rural road miles in the county.

Of the local total, improvement projects selected include 1.479 miles of asphalt resurfacing on Ky. 969 (Bug-Tennessee line), from mile point 1.970 at intersection of Ky. 1076 to MP 3.449 intersecting Ky. 968 and Ky. 639, the Brown’s Crossroads-Wago Road, from MP 4.119 intersection of the Old Burkesville Road to MP 4.958 to the intersection of Ky. 1590.

This year, Clinton County will receive a larger amount of FLEX funds, $162,147, to be used for county projects.

An official with the Lake Cumberland District Health Department then presented the court with more statistics on cancer rates in the county. (A separate article on the cancer rate discussion appears on page 1.)

Road Supervisor Jim Pennycuff addressed the court pertaining to road equipment, expressing the need to change out a 6610 Ford tractor, having the mower removed and purchase a front end loader and box blade for the back of the equipment.

Pennycuff noted this was needed by the road department due to the high amount of hauling they have to do year-round, especially removing debris during and after storms. “We have a common task of doing a lot of loading and hauling,” Pennycuff noted.

Magistrates also suggested a list of older, unused equipment at the county maintenance building be put together and hold a surplus auction sale, with the proceeds to go toward helping purchase newer, more needed equipment for the department.

Magistrate Craig also recommended the location where rock and tile is used in the county be specified in each month’s listing of claims and bills.

The next regular meeting of Clinton Fiscal Court is scheduled for Thursday, April 19 at 5 p.m. and is open to the general public.