BENTON – [VIDEO FOLLOWS REPORT] Marshall County Fiscal Court met in regular session on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 hearing from several guests, opened bids for county park surplus items, received the Sheriff’s 2015 Annual Report and Audit and accepted Audits from East Marshall and Possum Trot/Sharpe Fire Protection Districts.
Attorney Zack Brien asked the court to close an ally way, an access road that doesn’t exist and never adopted into the county road system, but Brien wanted to get the matter cleared up to make sure it doesn’t affect the marketability and development of this strip of land.
Part of the roadway has been used for parking lot purposes for S & S Muffler, paved privately. Documents that Brien presented show ownership of the tract to date back to early 90’s.
The small ally way strip would need to be abolished, that is platted but never a part of the county road system.
A public hearing will be set in this matter and will take place following the next Fiscal Court meeting on January 15th.
Becky Cornwell gave a report to the court on this year’s Christmas Light Show in Mike Miller Park. Cornwell reported that 36,724 canned goods were received and in monetary donations $58,998. These amounts exceeded the previous year in canned goods by 2,328 and monetarily $2,849 over 2014.
Cornwell thanked all those responsible for the work and volunteering that goes into the preparation and running of the Light Show, especially the work of the park employees.
Sheriff Kevin Byars spoke to visitors from the Cincinnati area that were very impressed with the park’s light show and plan to make it an annual trip. Cornwell said people come from all over to view the show.
Bobby Gifford informed the court of Monday’s bid opening for lift station rehabs for Sanitation District #1. The bids were over what the budget quote was for the project and they negotiated with the only bidder to do four of the five stations for $198,000, which Gifford said is within their budget.
Following much discussion as to go with the negotiated price or rebid the project, the court agreed to rebid it at the risk of possibly losing the negotiated bid price.
It was Gifford’s suggestion to not rebid, saying if they do rebid, it will not come close to the amount already negotiated. Judge Executive Kevin Neal suggested reaching out to other counties to see who has done similar work for them and getting bid proposals to those companies.
Scott Brown, ABC Administrator, gave the court an update saying that the county currently has eight licensed facilities. Package store status paper work has been completed that applicants will have to fill out, then it will be decided who will receive the 14 package store licenses.
There are 17 applicants for the 14 licenses, which the state will approve and make the final decision. Package stores could be open as soon as March. Brown will make a quarterly report to the Fiscal Court.
Pat Beadles appeared before the court to petition the county to assume responsibility of the roads in the Kerry Landing Subdivision. Beadles presented the court a packet with information for the petition.
Beadles prepared the history of the Kerry Landing roads and tax bill records that were mailed in 1998-1999. She has spoken to all utilities as well and assured that bills were mailed and paid in 1998-1999 which means the roads have been in existence for 17 years.
Beadle and her husband built the first house in Kerry Landing Subdivision. She is offering to pay half of what the estimate is to get three roads ready and up to specifications for the county to take over.
She called an ambulance in September of 2015 and was informed by them that she was not on the 911 system which Beadle then questioned where her and Kerry Landing residents, tax dollars have been going.
Beadle proposed that since their tax dollars have not been used for emergency help, then why can’t the rest of the county, who Beadle said “had been using our tax money all these years, give them back a little of it.”
County Attorney Jeff Edwards suggested the petition be filed and reviewed before moving forward.
CORRESPONDENCE
The Benton Women’s Club is inviting residents to “Puttin On the Mitz” to help raise funds for the Exceptional Center on January 23rd at 7:00 pm at Kentucky Dam Village. Tickets are $50 each or $350 for a table of eight.
OLD BUSINESS
Ambulance Building Lease
The county will draft a letter to enter into a lease agreement and come up with an amount the county will pay monthly for the lease with Calvert City for the building.
CSI Telecom Group, Inc.
Andy Lepisto informed the court that the agreement allows CSI to provide the incoming phone lines to the courthouse under the new phone system.
Park Surplus
Bids were received and opened for surplus park property and awarded to the highest bidder.
RFP Bid
Emily Martin, County Treasurer is researching software options and would like to not accept the bid at this time to make sure it is the right fit for their needs. The bid was tabled until further research can be done.
NEW BUSINESS
Sheriff’s Budget
Sheriff Kevin Byars presented budget amendments and his audit ending 12/31/14, which Byars said will be a work in progress as things change. The budget is $1,286, 475 and the dispersement will be the same amount which the court approved both the changes.
Audits and Budget
The East Marshall Fire Protection District audit, Possum Trot/Sharpe Fire Protection District audit and Jonathan Creek Water District 2016 Budget were all approved by the court.
Treasury Report
The court approved the Appropriation Transfer Report, Intrafund Transfer, Sheriff’s Deputy Hire for 2016 and Agility Cancellation.
Agility is a company the county has partnered with for five years following the ice storm that gets county government agencies up and running after a disaster. A company that partners with KACO will serve the counties interest in this area as well so the services of Agility will no longer be needed.
Sheriff’s Office Vehicle
Sheriff Byars informed the court about two instances over the holidays with one of their vehicles that was struck by a deer and the same vehicle was rammed by a four wheeler. Estimates are that the vehicle will be totaled.
Byars said they are now down a vehicle and questioned what the court would like for him to do. The vehicle is used in the busy afternoon shift so it was suggested that the deputy get a car from someone on the morning shift until the budget is approved and arrangements can be made to replace the vehicle.
The court convened into Executive Session to discuss a property acquisition and litigation.
~ The next meeting of the Fiscal Court will be January 15th at 9:30 am.