Clinton Fiscal Court held a lengthy regular meeting last Thursday evening, June 21 with all five of the current members present. The one-hour and 40-minute meeting also included another session dealing with personnel/possible litigation and lasted approximately 35 minutes.

The court first voted to pay claims and bills, approved the monthly treasurer’s report and end of the fiscal year fund transfers prior to opening various road material bids.

Two bidders, Gaddie Shamrock and Albany Quarry, submitted on various grades of stone and gravel and on a recommendation by Judge Executive Lyle Huff, the court voted, on a motion by magistrate Mickey Riddle, to split the bids equally between the two local companies as needed and only use certified grade stone as needed for certain projects that specify such.

Gaddie-Shamrock was the only bidder on chip and seal and hot mix and Albany Building Center was the sole bidder on tile and culverts, with the court approving each of the lone bids on those materials.

Two bids were then opened on diesel fuel to be used in ambulances, one from Bertram Oil and the other from Hunley Gas.

Following a brief discussion, it was recommended that both bids be rejected and that the court explore purchasing their own storage tank and place it at the EMS facility.

A motion to reject both bids was made by magistrate Larry Hatfield and passed 4-0 with magistrate Patty Guinn abstaining. Hatfield also made a motion to check on prices of a 1,200 to 1,500 gallon storage tank the county could place at the EMS building to house fuel to be used in ambulances.

Magistrates and Judge Huff reasoned that with the county having its own storage facility, it (county) could purchase its own fuel at the lowest possible rates and save revenue in the long haul.

The court then voted unanimously to adopt the 2012-13 budget presented by the Lake Cumberland Area Development District. It was noted that the AD district in the coming fiscal year is facing about a 20 percent overall budget cut due to the economy.

Hershell Key, who works with the local Lake Cumberland Community Action Agency, also told the court that the LCCAA’s budget for the fiscal year ahead was also cut by some 8.4 percent.

The court then voted to approve a Homeland Security grant for the purchase of five rifles for the sheriff’s department. The total amount of the grant is $4,500, which will be reimbursed by the Department of Homeland Security. The sheriff’s office will be responsible for around $2,400 of the total costs of the weapons, which was listed at $4,740.00.

In relation to the sheriff’s office, the court also voted to approve CPA Ed Lanham to once again do the sheriff’s office 2012 tax settlement.

As requested last month by Magistrate Hatfield, department heads turned in various reports for each department they oversee. The reports were for the past month’s activity.

The court then voted to allow Judge Huff to sign documents pertaining to a resolution seeking another Homeland Security grant which would be used for, among other items, more tornado warning sirens in the county.

Director of Emergency Services Lonnie Scott said the deadline for the current round of funding for Homeland Security grant money is July 13.

The court then entered into a 35-minute closed session to discuss personnel and “possible litigation.”

Upon returning to open session, they voted to hire Floyd Thacker and Joshua Inman as EMT’s with the ambulance service at $9.50 per hour and Stacy Summers as Paramedic at $12.50 per hour. All of the hires will be part-time on an as needed basis and will replace employees who have recently left the local ambulance service.

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