Clinton County Fiscal Court, meeting for a little over an hour last Thursday, May 17 for its regular monthly meeting with all members present, approved second reading of the county’s 2012-13 fiscal year budget during a busy session with several issues being either discussed and/or acted on.

After voting to pay claims and bills, the court approved the monthly treasurer’s report; a lengthy fund transfer list that included “end-of-the” year line item close outs; second reading of a budget amendment for state grant funds to the Wellness Center; and, the next fiscal year county budget totaling just over $4.6 million.

The budget included grant funds from Homeland Security for rifles for the sheriff’s department and an additional $60,000 in state funds for the proposed connector road project from the middle school to the US 127 Bypass.

County Treasurer Dallas Sidwell noted the budget had been sent to, and approved by, state officials in Frankfort.

The total $4,663,747 budget is just over two percent less than the current year’s budget and includes $1.1 million in the road fund and $926,000 in the general fund. It also includes the annual allotment to the park and excludes an allotment to the library, since the latter is a taxing district.

Although revenues are allotted per department now, court members have noted that actual expenditures made throughout the year is only contingent to the funds being available to those entities as the year progresses.

Magistrate Larry Hatfield noted after the budget was approved–on a motion by Magistrate Patty Guinn and seconded by Magistrate Phillip Parrigin–the higher percentage cost of everything from electric, gas and other items and said it would be “hat’s off to the court” if they could stay within the budget for the entire fiscal year, adding that if not enough revenue comes in, the county would have to tighten its belt.

During a discussion on the proposed new fire station facility, Director of Emergency Services Lonnie Scott was presented a plaque for the EMS in honor of National Emergency Services Week. (A separate article on projects, including the fire department building, can be found beginning on page 1.)

The court, on a motion by Hatfield, approved a resolution with the Transportation Cabinet for County Road Aid in the amount of approximately $429,000.

Also on a motion by Hatfield, the court voted unanimously to cease deferred compensation for approximately seven county employees who had been participating in withholding some type of retirement plan under their employment compensation.

Following a recent county audit, judge Huff noted that from now on, the only withholding from employee pay would be state mandated. It was also noted that the employees who had participated in having some retirement put back from the workers comp would be allowed to keep the money they had withheld by transferring it to another type savings or investment.

The court then voted to advertise for road materials, with Judge Huff recommending the low bid on each material only be accepted.

Magistrate Mickey Riddle, who made the motion, said he felt the court should not single out a “low” bid if the county received close bids from local companies. The motion to advertise noted the court would accept the “lowest and/or best” bid.

In other business, the court:

* Approved the ALC contract of just over $90,000.

* Judge Huff noted that an application for a new salt storage building for the county had been denied but funds may be available for a low interest USDA loan. Meanwhile, the court voted to contract for 250 tons of road salt at $83 per ton to be stored for next winter.

* Judge Huff acknowledged the recent resignation of former Fifth District Magistrate Charlotte Bernard, who recently was hired as Clinton County Schools’ Superintendent, and noted he had made the governor’s office aware of the vacancy on the court. He also extended best wishes to Bernard.

* On a motion by Magistrate Riddle, the court voted to begin advertising for bids for road diesel used by ambulances and to specify by grade.

* EMS Director Scott then informed the court that a recent $43,000 Homeland Security grant had to be expended by June 30 to allow for future grant applications to be made. Most of the money has been used for its purpose, storage tanks at the EMS facility.

Scott requested new radios that are needed to be purchased with the remaining funds in the amount of $2,358.00.

* Magistrate Guinn moved to amend an earlier motion to stipulate that all county roadways be sprayed for weed control. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

* Magistrate Hatfield moved to have all department heads begin issuing the court a monthly activity report, which also passed unanimously.

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