BENTON – [VIDEO FOLLOWS REPORT] Marshall County Fiscal Court met in regular session on Tuesday, March 17th with a full agenda.
Randy Newcomb, Executive Director of the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, addressed the court concerning the Tourism Board terms that are expiring of board members Kathy Fennel, President of FLW Outdoors and Mark Wood, owner of Moors Resort and Marina. The court approved to renew the three-year terms these board members.
Rural and Secondary Road Recommendations
Michael Oliver, with the Kentucky Transportation Department of Highways gave his yearly report on the Rural and Secondary Road Recommendations for Marshall County.
Tentative Allocations for Marshall County is $1,498,136 with a balance left in the account of $22,286.00.
Priorities include maintenance of 130.004 miles at $3,500 per mile which amounts to $455,014 and County Judge/Executive Expenses in the amount of $3,862 for a sub-total of $458,876 with the balance left for improvements amounting to $1,061,546.
The county’s Flex Fund is 15% of $1,498,136 which amounts to $224,720.40.
Recommended improvements for resurfacing is a 3.941 mile section on KY 962-Old Olive Road in the amount of $334,985.
A 2.446 mile section on KY 1413-Patterson Ferry Road in the amount of $207,910.
A 1.677 mile section of KY 1836-Virgil Lyles Road in the amount of $142,545.
Also a 1.757 mile section of KY 2606-Jackson School Road in the amount of $149,345.
All total, these resurfacing sections amount to 9.821 miles at $1,059,505.40.
Several more road projects will be taking place throughout the county over the coming months.
Jail Budget
Marshall County Jailor, Roger Ford, submitted his 2015-2016 budget for the up-coming fiscal year which the court accepted.
Ford also needs approval of his annual Policy and Procedures manual. A recommended change has been made concerning a transportation issue and approval will take place at the next Fiscal Court meeting after new County Commissioners can view the manual.
Kentucky Changers
Richard Stallions with the Kentucky Baptist Convention Kentucky Changers reported to the court that starting in June, approximately 200-300 student volunteers will be in our county to do exterior work on homes in need and will be housed a Marshall County High School.
Stallions said currently he has 45 applications, but plan to do 20-25 projects with 10-15 member crews on each.
Stallions was asking the court for a donation for this project which he estimates will cost anywhere from $40,000-60,000. They are soliciting donations from churches, cities and other organizations to make this possible.
It has been 14 years since the Kentucky Changers last did work in the county.
The court approved a donation of $1,000 as well as providing dumpster boxes at the project sites.
Recycling Department
John Keith Miller with the Marshall County Recycling Department updated the court on their activity the last few months.
They have received $26,081 during the fiscal year from cardboard, plastic and metals.
Miller said they have purchased their new baler with grant money received to bale cardboard and possibly aluminum cans.
Miller provided a slide show with pictures of the new baler as well as from their trash sculpture contest held in February for Marshall County students elementary through high school. Contest winners were awarded $50 for first, $25 for second and $10 for third place in four divisions.
Miller said their future plans are an Earth Day Celebration on April 22nd at the Children’s Art Center.
They plan to purchase, if funds can be secured during the next grant cycle, a compactor on a pull-behind trailer that will cut down time and number of trips to get recycled items collected. They also plan to purchase 10 new recycling bins that will be used at each transfer station.
Miller introduced high school students, Shanea Roberts and Mackenzee Kemp in the childhood development program, who have been working with their preschool kids on the importance of recycling and how to protect their world.
They presented their “Super hero” program to the Fiscal Court and will be competing in the state FCCLA competition March 29 – April 1 in Louisville.
Water Issues
Lannie Fisk and David Hendrickson spoke to the Fiscal Court with concerns over the quality of their well water and encouraged the court to take action to get the 100’s of county residents good, clean water by running lines out to their properties.
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Conservation District
Kyle O’Dell and Vicki Boatright with the Marshall County Conservation District spoke to the court to familiarize the new court members their work at the District.
O’Dell presented information to the court about the four watersheds they maintain and two that have been classified at “high hazard priority”.
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Fleetwood Property Update
Attorney Marty Johnson updated the court on their participation with Huntington National Bank on the sale of the Fleetwood property. Johnson said the contract was worked out then realized some costs had been included they wanted the county and city of Benton to be responsible for, which according to Johnson, was not the agreement they entered into with Huntington National Bank.
The agreements have been modified and Johnson plans to bring them to the Judge Executive to be signed. The documents authorize a real estate firm in Nashville that specializes in these types of sales, but if not successful the property will be sold at auction.
CORRESPONDENCE
The Marshall County Arts Commission has requested the court to consider putting them back in the budget. The court will make a decision on this following their budget workshop.
Correspondence from Josh Tubbs informed the court of the Wacker Chemical Corporation announcement on their expansion plans.
OLD BUSINESS
Audio Proposals
County Treasurer, Emily Martin, met with Mr. Walston on audio quotes for the remodeled courtroom. One quote was for hanging speakers for $9,925 and one for speakers mounted in the ceiling in the amount of $9,375.
Commissioner Bob Gold would like to see another quote that adds the running of cables for video equipment when they are able to add that in the future, which could be a cost savings to run those cables now.
The consensus was among court members that the hanging speakers would be best for acoustics in the courtroom.
Industrial Park Site Study
Wendy Baxter asked the court for their approval to go forward with the site study which has already been budgeted.
Commissioner Cocke was concerned that information on potential property owners remain private and wished to discuss this information during Executive Session.
The court agreed to table a decision after a discussion was held in Executive Session.
Following the Executive Session a motion was made to approve the study for a site location of a possible new industrial park in the county.
Commissioner Rick Cocke informed them in Executive Session that he is aware of a 158 tract of land that is available at no cost to county citizens.
Approval was made to go forward with the site study with the exception of Cocke who voted no but clarified he is not against an industrial park and thinks it’s a great idea but feels there are other directions they could take to save the county a considerable amount of money.
NEW BUSINESS
LBL Logging Resolution
The court accepted the resolution for a temporary halt to logging at Land Between the Lakes due to major landscape changes as a result of this logging.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The court recessed into Executive Session to discuss a personnel and property matter.
They addressed in the session a pay increase for Casey Tubbs requested by Tony Henson, Property Valuation Administer.
One of Henson’s employees is moving to a state position which leaves Tubbs as the remaining employee in his office and the increase will bring her salary closer in line with the state employees in the office.
The court approved the raise with the exception of Commissioner Rick Cocke who voted no to the 45.6% pay increase due to 170 other county employees that can only receive a state proposed increase in salary of .755%.
No action or discussion was made concerning the property issue.
Animal Shelter Report
For the month of February 2015, animals in the pen as of 1-31-15 was 31, 19 brought in by wardens, 45 by citizens for a total of 64 taken in. Forty-two were adopted, five reclaimed and four euthanized for a total in the pen as of 2-28-15 at 44. Adoption fees taken in were $1,000.30.
Psychiatric Treatment Center
Dr. Shahid with the planned Purchase Youth Village Psychiatric Treatment Center, will be at the April 21st Fiscal Court meeting to address concerns and questions regarding the facility.