Clinton County Fiscal Court conducted a lengthy regular meeting last Thursday, February 17, dealing with a variety of issues, including employee health insurance and repairs to the Community Center. All members were on hand for the session which lasted about two and-a-quarter hours.

The court first voted to pay claims and bills and approved the monthly treasurer’s report and two fund transfers–$36,000 to the ambulance service and $50,000 to the jail.

Treasurer Dallas Sidwell also presented a budget amendment dealing with a pass through grant from Homeland Security in the amount of $23,000 to fund a reverse 911 system for the Wolf Creek Dam project. Clinton County will act as an agent for the federal funds to install the emergency system, since it is in the project area. The system would be used in case of any type of disaster as the dam is being repaired.

The court, on a motion by Magistrate Willard Johnson, also voted to approve a resolution pertaining to the Homeland Security funds for the project.

County Judge/Executive Lyle Huff then recommended the court enter into the minutes a KRS (Kentucky Revised Statute), 441.145 pertaining to allowing a portion of a jail inmate’s canteen funds to be used for their medical expenses.

Jailer Gene Ferrill said the jail had procedures in place to allow some funds from the canteens to be used to help pay an inmate’s medical expense and said he had not used that procedure, or taken as much out, as some other jails in the area.

Magistrate Johnson noted a bill was pending in the state legislature that, if approved, may see the state fund up to 25 percent of medical bills for inmates.

Some magistrates questioned the process of taking a portion of an inmate’s canteen funds to use for any medically related bills they or the county may incur.

It was noted that inmate medical expenses cost the county a large amount annually from the jail budget and hopes this measure will help offset some of the high medical related cost.

A motion to enter the KRS into the minutes was made by Magistrate Charlotte Bernard and passed on a 5-1 vote, with Magistrate Patty Guinn voting no.

Guinn, in citing her reasons for the opposition, said that in most cases, an inmate’s family members who work for a living provide the canteen money to the inmates out-of-pocket and she feels like that money given by people not incarcerated should go toward the inmate’s expenses, such as food, etc.

The court then approved final reading of an amendment to its policies and procedures, requiring county employees who operate large trucks in connection with their work to obtain CDL licenses. Road Supervisor Jim Pennycuff told the court that all such drivers had their CDLs now and he had his permit and was working on obtaining the actual license himself.

There was only one bid submitted on up-to-date voting machines the county had advertised for, that being from Kentucky Election Services Company at $58,500. This includes a total of 19 machines, two being for disabled voters and accessories. The court voted to approve the sole bid.

The new voting machines, which will be put in by the May primary election, is being funded via a state grant.

Mark Foster, of the Kentucky Department of Highways, presented the court with the 2011-12 year Rural Secondary Road Program recommendations for Clinton County. A total of $251,516 is available for repair and blacktopping of roads in the county. One road, off Hwy. 553, the Wisdom Dock Road, will be blacktopped at 1.92 miles at an estimated cost of $118,647. Another $132,000 will be available in FLEX funds for further road use and Foster requested magistrates to prioritize roads they would like to see worked on.

The court then opted to re-advertise for bids on some smaller repairs to the Clinton County Community Center, including tile, a new sign and rest room fixtures. On a motion by Magistrate Phillip Parrigin, the court opted to re-advertise all the items that had previously received no bids.

The court then took a rare step in voting to direct County Attorney Michael Rains to file legal action against the “manufacturer, supplier and installer” of the air conditioning unit at the Community Center. The unit was paid for with a federal grant that was used to make repairs to the facility last year.

Judge/Executive Lyle Huff and other court members had apparently asked for a new unit after continuous problems and failed repairs to the existing unit.

Magistrate Johnson noted that the matter “had not been dealt with” saying the bottom line was that $40,000 in federal funds had been spent and suggested filing a suit against the products manufacturer.

County Attorney Rains told the court he would review the contracts and do research into the issue and the motion directing the suit be filed passed by unanimous vote.

The court then approved a punch list of added items that will be put in at the new Albany/Clinton County Wellness Center, primarily smaller type items and furniture.

Pastor Bobby Grant announced at the meeting that if all of the items that would be at the center are available, the opening date will be held on Wednesday, March 16. He also informed the court of the information meeting and public tours that will be given this coming Saturday, February 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Following an approximate 48 minute closed session on personnel, the court approved a list of budget transfers.

Also, Director of Emergency Services Lonnie Scott addressed the court in reference to a current EMT who was requesting the county pay for his Paramedic training, with the stipulation that if he completes the training, he would be under contract to work with the local ambulance service.

Judge/Executive Huff, however, said that due to budget restraints, that procedure (to pay for paramedic training) could not be followed through and no further action was taken.

Grady Wilson, an insurance representative who works locally with Davis & Associates, presented the court with employee insurance plan options for the next year, beginning in March.

He said that after negotiations with Anthem, the insurance provider, they had been able to reduce the originally estimated 12 percent increase to the county to provide employee health insurance.

Options ranged from $500 to $1,500 deductible, the same or higher prescription co-pay and out-of-pocket expenses for employees.

Magistrate Johnson, noting that employees were the greatest asset the county had, further added the decision was tough due to budget cutbacks this year.

He later made the motion to approve the option that will save the county about four percent over last year’s insurance expense. That includes a $1,500 deductible for single county employees ($4,500 for family); a maximum out of pocket at $3,000 ($6,000 for family) and some additional co-pay expenses for higher costs prescription medications, including $30 for Tier 2 and $60 for Tier 3 medications.

The amount of doctor office visits and hospital related services would remain unchanged, as well as the amount monthly the employees pay for the coverage at $80.

The total cost per employee under the plan is $448.61, with the county paying $368.61 of that amount. This translates into the county, based on 55 employees, paying $20,273.55 monthly, or $243,282.60 annually.

The motion to approve the aforementioned plan passed 6-0.

Judge Huff noted that, unless the economy and budget improves in the future, at some point and time some counties may not be financially able to provide health insurance coverage to its employees.

Keith Byrd, a former Independent candidate of judge/executive, then addressed the court for almost a half-hour.

Byrd first encouraged the court to be pro-active in working with the schools to coordinate activities for the county’s youth.

The topic then turned to the Spring Creek Road issue that began in the 1990s and apparently still hasn’t been resolved–although the matter is apparently in the (judicial) court’s hands.

Byrd asked the court to “address the Spring Creek Road issue once and for all,” and added the “Correll Boulevard” was falling apart.

The entire issue began in the mid-1990s when Spring Creek Enterprises altered the entire road in that area and despite a Clinton Circuit Court ruling directing that entity (Spring Creek Enterprises) to restore the road as was, it never took place, having been appealed and apparently remaining in the (judicial) courts.

Magistrate Charlotte Bernard, in noting she could understand how the residents in that community felt about the road being moved, had apparently secured state funding to have the road repaired and Judge Huff said if money could be found, the county would work to replace it.

During the discussion, Byrd did admit that the matter was, in fact, in the court system and that Spring Creek Enterprises was named as the responsible party to have the road restored. But, he added it was never made clear in the court system process just who SCE was, whether it was Ward Correll or Linda Stetler.

Following the discussion, no official action was taken.

Finally, Hershell Key with the Lake Cumberland Community Action Agency told the court that since January, over 1,100 families in Clinton County had been helped with heating costs during the crisis phase of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Key also noted that crisis phase funds were still available to families needing assisting in paying high heating bills and anyone needing help should come by the Community Center or call 387-5880.

The next regular meeting of Clinton Fiscal Court is scheduled for March 17 at 5 p.m. in the judge-executive’s office and is open to the general public.