BENTON – Marshall County Fiscal Court met in regular session on Tuesday, March 3rd, beginning the meeting with a special recognition for Marshall County Emergency Management Director Frank Murphy. Judge Executive Chyrill Miller presented Murphy with a certificate of recognition for his work going above and beyond the call of duty during recent storm emergencies and on February 21st, rescued a family from their vehicle that had overturned in a creek off of Dog Town Road.
Miller commended all emergency personnel and county road department workers on their efforts during the recent snow storms.
GUESTS
Tim York
Marshall County Clerk, Tim York, turned in his settlement to the Fiscal Court in a meeting last month. York reported for the calendar year 2014, the Clerk’s office took in $9,425,852.19 and dispersed $9,224,114.04. A check in the amount of $201,738.15 in excess was given to County Treasurer Emily Martin.
York also spoke to the court with concerns where the voting machines are housed. The roof was recently repaired because of leaks, but water is accumulating on the floor during rain and snow and would like to find a way to re-route the water away from the building.
Purple Heart Proclamation
Several members from the Military Order of the Purple Heart were on hand during the reading of the proclamation for the men and women have selflessly given of themselves in this country and in Marshall County. Many citizens of Marshall County have earned the Purple Heart and the month of March has been designated in Marshall County as a Purple Heart Month.
Benjamin L. Cooper, Department Commander, said the Military Order of the Purple Heart began in Kentucky in 1988. Cooper presented a plaque to the Fiscal Court in recognition of becoming a Purple Heart County.
Need-line
Totals from the 2014 Light Show at Miller Park in food amounted to 34,396 which was up around 2,500 from last year. Monetary donations were $56,149, also up from last year. Number of cars through the park were 22,716 with total cash/cans donated for 2014 amounting to $559,805.
Happy Feet = Learning Feet
Rachel Vaughn with the Leadership of Marshall County class, is taking monetary donations to put brand new shoes on kids with a contract through Shoe Carnival called “Happy Feet = Learning Feet”. This is a project the Leadership Class is taking on and hope to see continue from year to year. Four elementary schools are participating in this program; Sharpe, Calvert, Central and Benton. In those four schools, over 100 kids could benefit from this program. The Fiscal Court agreed to donate $500 to this program.
Bonnie Kincannon
Bonnie requested to change the official name of the Aurora-Jonathon Visitors Center to the Aurora Community Park.
They have come up with a plan to block off the sun from one side of the pavilion with a wall and would like to also build a stage for events that take place. The park has money from the Fiscal Court and plan to pay for the materials and hope to come up with labor help. The court approved those projects and the name change of the park.
Many electrical issues at the park need to be addressed and brought up to code. The total to do this will be $6,850. The court approved the amount to be taken from $12,000 in an account for the county’s day-use parks.
Many events are scheduled in Aurora this spring and summer which utilize the pavilion.
Two major Bow-fishing tournaments are coming to Aurora. The Tough-man will be held on March 21st and the Bow-fishing Extreme Shoot on June 27th with another planned for April 8th.
The court agreed to donate again this year to the Bow-fishing Extreme Shoot in the amount of $500.
North Marshall Water District
Jerry Miller, Board Chairman and Bobby Gifford, Superintendent of the North Marshall Water District gave a report on the state of the district.
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Jean Jennings
Jennings is a resident of Quail Hill Subdivision and wanted to ask the court the status of the subdivision roads being taken into the county road system. In July they asked that their roads be grandfathered into the road system. The roads do not meet the 40 foot easement and 20 foot pavement requirements of the county. They have 30 foot easement and 16 foot pavement due to homes being so close to the roads.
Jennings asked the court to consider their special circumstances and allow the 30 foot easement. Many roads throughout the county do not meet the 40 foot right-of-way requirements and the court feels that if they make an exception for one, then many throughout the county that do not meet the requirements that were set in 2006 will also expect their roads to be taken in.
Josh Tubbs, Economic Development
Tubbs presented the court with a Work-Ready In-Progress Community certificate.
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Kathy Johnston
Johnston is a concerned citizen who opposes the building location of the new Purchase Youth Village Psychiatric Treatment Center which will be built behind her home. The center was originally planned to be housed in the old Marshall County Hospital Building but that building was deemed not fit for the center.
Richard Price of Murray own the land on 1230 Oak Level and plans to construct the facility. It is being built by a private contractor but and will be leased to the state for $1.5 million per year.
The center will provide 24-hour in-patient treatment and rehabilitation to children between the ages of four and 21 with severe emotional disabilities according to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
Johnston is concerned over security and safety due to her grandchildren and other children who play there as well as property values. She asked the court what she can do to oppose the facility and possibly get it relocated.
Sheriff Kevin Byars said he had been assured that it will be a secure facility.
According to Assistant County Attorney Jason Darnell, there is nothing that can be done to stop the construction but gave Johnston suggestions as to avenues she could pursue.
OLD BUSINESS
Mowing bids
Mowing bids were received to mow county property with seven bids received. The low bid by Adkins Lawn Care in the amount of $17,250 was accepted.
Pirates Cove
A discussion was held concerning nuisance properties at Pirates Cove. Commissioner Gold took pictures of four different properties but due to other situations with the property owners, according to Sheriff Byars, a decision on cleaning up some of the properties was put on hold.
Veterans Van
Emily Martin suggested that the $3,060 offered by the American Legion to continue the Veteran’s Van services would be a good idea and save the county money. The court was paying an administrator $433.33 per month.
Robert Chandler uses some those funds as needed for the service and Martin feels it would be best to work through the American Legion to provide the expenses for this service and not give the funds directly to Chandler which requires him to pay taxes on or cause excess paper for him.
Audio/Visual Equipment
A bid was received from Crossroads Audio and Visual last month for $29,835.53 which the court requested additional time to review. The court chose to reject the bid and will come up with a new proposal for just audio with hopes to add the video equipment in the future.
Sheriff’s Amendment
The Sheriff’s amended budget was presented to the court with disbursements in regards to the return of funds and what those funds will be used for.
Old Calvert City Road Bridge
In January, a bill was received about a change-order from Vick Enterprises, turned into Timber Bridge in the amount of $5,291.40, The change-order was forwarded to Russell York, Road Department Superintendent.
The bridge was bid, the amount was accepted and completed without any change orders therefore the court feels they are not going to pay the change-order.
The change order was issued due to extra work when an old bridge was found during the construction of the new bridge and the court felt that should have been brought to their attention then and not three months later.
NEW BUSINESS
Old Gilbertsville Drainage Issue
Commissioner Rick Cocke addressed an old on-going drainage problem in the old Gilbertsville area. On a map, Commissioner Cocke pointed out the area with the issue with a proposed expense of $5,500 for work to alleviate the problem. Contacts will be made with the Corp of Engineers, property owners and other entities that could be associated with the property in the area before work proceeds.
UK Proclamation
The University of Kentucky celebrated it’s Sesquicentennial Anniversary and the Marshall County Fiscal Court adopted the resolution and proclaimed the week of March 17th as UK Week.
Library Audit
The Marshall County Library Audit has been received and accepted by the court for the year ending June 20, 2014.
Briensburg Fire Protection Audit
The department’s audit has been received and accepted by the court.
Sheriff’s Audit
The Sheriff’s Audit for 2013 taxes was received and accepted by the court.