Clinton County Fiscal Court spent over an hour of its one and-a-half-hour call meeting Tuesday morning, April 10 discussing issues pertaining to the Twin Lakes Wellness Center. All court members were present for the session, as well as Pastor Bobby Grant and several members of the Wellness Center Board of Directors and Center Director Pam Ostertag.

The long discussion surrounding the facility was somewhat two-fold, with part of the discussion centering on how to use the remaining $294,444.64 left in grant funds for the building.

Also on hand to discuss the grant funds and problems associated with some of the construction work that has already been completed–which was another lengthy part of the discussion–was Judy Keltner with the Lake Cumberland Area Development District, the agency that is overseeing the use of the funds for the project.

Pastor Grant noted the primary need at the Wellness Center right now was to install a wood furnace to supply the heating source to the pool and other areas. He said the currently installed gas furnace, which he added was too large, used upwards to 110 gallons per day and is costing a fortune. He noted by switching to a wood furnace source of heating, it could reduce daily costs in that area from $200 down to $20 per day.

He added he was upset about the type of gas unit that was installed at the facility, adding “no one within 250 miles can work on it.”

A second priority for use of some of the remaining funds is a combination child watch area and storage building (about 1000 and 600 feet, respectively), an all-purpose cleaning machine, mats and added security cameras.

Often during the discussion, Grant noted he and the board were “frustrated” by the contractors inattentiveness in making repairs to several areas in the facility, including drains, the pool area and several other areas.

Magistrate Mickey Riddle at one point asked, “Why don’t we just file suit against this company? They’re still under warranty.” He also questioned if the same contractor and same architect would have to be used for the recommended projects.

Following some discussion, the court voted unanimously, on a motion by Riddle, to have County Attorney Michael Rains contact the project architect to get the problems with the facility resolved and state they (county) may possibly take legal action if they aren’t corrected.

Keltner told the court that if they didn’t use the same architect as they began with, they may have to go back and re-advertise and negotiate with someone else. This process could take some time.

Grant further commented that “I feel like we’ve been cheated.”

Ostertag also has been keeping up with and sending emails to contractors almost daily about problems associated with some phases of construction and problems at the facility, but apparently to no avail. She also noted that the ceiling portion around the office area, it was later learned after the building was complete, had no insulation.

There was also a question as to when the grant funds had to be used, as the original deadline was thought to be June 30 of this year.

During the discussion, Judge Huff, Keltner and Grant had a telephone conversation with Commissioner Tony Wilder with the Department of Local Government, who informed the local officials that due to the new state budget being in the works, they could probably get an extension on that June 30 deadline for use of the remaining state grant funds.

Following that conversation, Judge Huff and Pastor Grant both commended the DLG commissioner for his assistance on the project throughout the construction process.

Eventually, Judge Huff recommended to the court to proceed with the aforementioned recommendations made by Grant and the board members. Magistrate Ricky Craig made the motion, which passed by unanimous vote.

The court also decided on how to use the remaining $21,272.40 in grant money toward upgrades and repairs to the community center. On a motion by Riddle, the court voted to use the funds to install kitchen cabinets, a walk-in type freezer and an outside sign for the building.

The court, on a motion by Craig, also voted to declare a long list of items at the county maintenance building surplus items and have Neal Realty conduct the surplus auction sale on a Saturday, after the surplus sale items have been advertised. The date of the sale will be announced later.

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