Clinton County Fiscal Court, meeting in special session last Tuesday afternoon, May 28, dealt with three items of business, including another brief discussion on the jail. But once again, no up or down vote on the opening or closing of the facility was taken in the short session which saw five of six magistrates present.

The court first dealt with deeding a parcel of property in the Clinton County Industrial Park on Hwy. 90 back to the Industrial Development Authority (IDA).

Judge/Executive Lyle Huff said that back in 2006 the IDA had deeded the county and city enough property in the industrial park to construct the current Twin Lakes Wellness Center facility. However, that facility site was switched to its current location near the EMS and Air Evac buildings across from the high school.

The judge told court members that now the Industrial Authority has a “potential industrial client” that may want to locate in the industrial park and the IDA has asked the county and city to revert the property back to that body, since it wasn’t used for the intended purpose of the Wellness Center.

Magistrate Ricky Craig made a motion to deed the county’s share back to the IDA and it passed by unanimous vote.

After having had the budget to review the past few weeks, magistrates were officially presented the document for first reading approval by County Treasurer Dallas Sidwell, who told the court it was “practically the same as the current fiscal year budget.”

The total budget amounts to $4,884,246.00 with a little over $1.1 million of that amount in the road fund. Other major amount totals are $946,000 in the general fund; $586,000 in the jail fund; $993,000 in the ambulance fund; and $320,000 in the 911 fund.

Magistrate Phillip Parrigin made a motion to approve the budget on first reading, which passed on a 4-1 vote with Magistrate Craig voting no.

In relation to the budget, the court voted, on a motion by Magistrate Hershell Key, to approve the annual standing orders to pay between meeting claims and bills, such as postage, required court member training, grants, billing services, and so forth.

Court members then had another brief discussion on the jail and whether to close the facility or keep it open.

Magistrate Patty Guinn, an advocate of keeping the facility in operation, said, “If you get a hang-nail, are you going to cut your finger off?,” apparently referring to the jail’s economic problems but questioning whether closing it would solve the problems.

Magistrate Terry Buster then made a motion for the county to take proposals from other jails, especially jails within the immediate area, on costs they would charge for housing local inmates. The motion, which was seconded by Craig, passed 3-2 with Magistrate Key also voting yes and Magistrates Parrigin and Guinn voting no.

Guinn also questioned about situations where there is a local prisoner that another jail simply will not accept for some specific reason.

County Attorney Michael Rains said things like that, such as a right of refusal clause, would have to be addressed with any outside facility in which Clinton County would sign a contract with and indicated that would be an important issue. It was also noted that in most cases, it is up to the respective judge who handled sentencing to make final decisions in certain cases.

No further action regarding the jail was taken last week.

The court then entered into a brief closed session on personnel that lasted just over 10 minutes but took no action upon returning to open session.

The court also held another short call meeting Monday morning of this week, June 3, with only one administrative item of business listed on the agenda, to open bids for road equipment.

Following some discussion, the court voted to purchase two extendible option tractors at $72,841.89 each or a total of $145,687.78 from Wright Equipment Company.

After the meeting was adjourned, however, it was learned those tractors wouldn’t be available for delivery until August, more than two-thirds into the mowing season. Court members then unofficially discussed the possibility of revisiting the issue on purchasing the equipment at its next regular meeting later this month.

The next regular meeting of Clinton Fiscal Court is scheduled for June 20 at 5 p.m. at the courthouse and is open to the public.