With the opening of the Twin Lakes Family Wellness Center now just days away, the Wellness Center Board and fiscal court, with guidance from the Lake Cumberland Area Development District, are scrambling to use the remainder of the funds available on the project prior to the time for using the grant money runs out.

Clinton County Fiscal Court dealt with those issues at a special meeting Tuesday morning with Pastor Bobby Grant, chairman of the Wellness Board and officials with the AD District. All court members as well as Albany Mayor Nicky Smith were also on hand for the meeting.

Judge/Executive Lyle Huff opened the meeting by informing those on hand that he had recently been in a meeting with state officials on the project and had learned that uncommitted funds for the project, which totals just over $340,000 at this point, needed to be used swiftly. Apparently the state has extended the time frame for using the funds on the Wellness Center project to June 30.

The court did approve funding in the amount of $57,000–including $50,000 base plus a $7,000 carryover that wasn’t totally spent from a prior change order.

Grant explained those funds would be used for all office and building supplies from brooms and mops, to a defibrillator kit and other items that will be needed. Also, included will be a Direct TV package for up to 20 television sets, DVD players and software.

Judge Huff said that additions to the project could be designed by Taylor & Associates Architects at a lesser rate with those fees being around $16,500.

The main priorities for the use of the remaining funds were also discussed and include a picnic shelter/playground area, storage building, fencing in of the facility and grounds, a skate board rink and, if funds remain available, a basketball court.

Martina Keltner and Judy Loy of the AD District discussed the options with the court and stressed that after the current phase of work on the inside of the building, including security cameras and the aforementioned work, the remaining items needed to be prioritized so quotes for the cost of the work could be obtained.

It was noted that fencing was almost a mandatory necessity for the safety and security of the building and property and a storage facility is also a must.

Judge Huff said he was sticking with his original suggestion of a playground area for the children and a family picnic area. He also said he was in favor of Mayor Smith’s suggestion of a skateboard area. The mayor said he had been asked about such a skating area by several local youth.

Judge Huff asked the Area Development personnel to look into the cost of the aforementioned items and noted those would be the top priorities for using the remainder of the funds prior to the end of June.

The court did approve the $57,000 amount for supplies, Direct TV system and software on a motion by Magistrate Willard Johnson, with the motion passing 6-0.

No official action was taken on the prioritized list at this time but price quotes for the materials and construction costs will be obtained and presented to the court in the near future.

Grant said the facility, prior to its’ official opening next Wednesday, March 16, would be open again this Saturday to the public from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., allowing citizens a chance to tour the facility, sign up for membership, volunteer their help or just gain general information about the Wellness Center.

(An announcement of the Wellness Center opening appears elsewhere in this week’s Clinton County News.)

The court also entered into a 35-minute closed session on personnel but took no official action upon returning to open session, then adjourning the, just over one-hour, meeting.

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