BENTON – [VIDEO FOLLOWS REPORT] Marshall County Fiscal Court met in regular session on Tuesday, June 7, 2016. Several quests were on hand Tuesday to address the court.
Russ Pogue with Big Rivers Electric Corporation in Henderson, Ky., spoke to the court about the Marshall County Solar Energy Demonstration and Education Project. Pogue was joined by Kyle Johnson with Harvest Energy Solutions, Dennis Cannon – President and CEO of Jackson Purchase Energy Corporation (JPEC) and Lee Beardon – JPEC Board Member.
Big Rivers is the wholesale power supplier to JPEC and together they are proposing the development of a 10 KW solar array to be constructed near the entrance of Mike Miller Park for educational and analysis purposes.
Big Rivers will assume responsibility for leasing the property as well as maintenance and operation.
Pogue said this will be a great educational tool for the next generation when solar energy will be a big part of our electric system.
“The future mechanical, electrical and architectural engineers will be able to see the technology and the way it works, communicates and production profile”, Pogue said. “Students will be able to monitor it’s production, calculate cost-benefit analysis and do everything that they are studying in high school.”
Plans are to have the solar array approval process to take 9-10 months then they will construct the array.
Eric Brady with Enterprise addressed the court in regards to the county vehicle fleet. Brady handed out a summary and overview to the court hoping to help the county drive down fleet costs, maintenance and become more fuel efficient.
Enterprise works with many other counties in Kentucky as well as nationwide. Brady explained the cost going forward over the next five years after purchasing six vehicles in the first year.
Maintenance will be done through Enterprise on light-duty vehicles through a local vendor. Maintenance on existing vehicles will be tracked to see where areas of opportunity are to reduce cost.
The county has a fleet of 37 vehicles, Enterprise currently manages two million vehicles in North America. Brady said this gives Marshall County the opportunity to tap into the resources of a company that manages two million vehicles.
KACO provides funding for pursuit vehicles and maintenance but Enterprise can apply the same pro-active management of those vehicles.
“We have been re-active in regards to our fleet maintenance”, Judge Neal said. “By having a pro-active approach we can monitor our fleet maintenance and our vehicles that we’re bringing in.”
There is no contract and at any time during the lease of the vehicles, the county can stop their relationship with Enterprise and pay off the lease vehicles.
The program can be fully implemented in five years with the entire Marshall County fleet becoming a part of the Enterprise system.
Josh Tubbs gave an update on the Champion Homes job fair at the Joe Creason Center. During the two-day period, 416 applicants applied to Champion Homes for employment. Of those 416, roughly 252 were Marshall County applicants with others coming primarily from Calloway County, Graves County and McCracken County. Several applicants are former Fleetwood employees.
Randy Newcomb presented the Kentucky Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau 2016-2017 fiscal year budget. They are anticipating a total income next year of $471,750. Newcomb said starting July 1, they will begin a brochure rack service and will be taking over an existing service from Kentucky Western Waterlands who are dissolving. There will be 41 rack sites with estimates of an increase in budget from the service at $27,000 per year.
Newcomb said they will be building a separate storage facility on their Gilbertsville property to store the racks at a cost of approximately $22,000. Because of the KWW liquidation, they will receive some of their assets which could amount to a one-time payment of $30,000 which brings the budget up $57,000 over the previous year.
In expenses, $96,350 goes toward administration, $81,350 toward advertising, $102,700 for advertising support which includes fishing tournaments and other events they fund, $161,350 for payroll of two full-time employees and the addition of a part-time employee in the coming year for the rack service.
Newcomb said that leaves them with a $30,000 surplus for the possibility of another event coming to the area or gives them money to pull from if needed.
Newcomb reported on the state’s numbers released for economic impact for tourism for 2015, Marshall County went from $123.6 million to $132.9 million, a 7.5% increase while the state increased 5%.
CORRESPONDENCE
Judge Neal said the Chamber of Commerce Breakfast that is scheduled for June 15th at 7:30 am at Ponderosa in Draffenville will have Mike McGregor from the Kentucky Department of Transportation as quest speaker. Neal said this might be a good opportunity for citizens to ask questions about state roads or the two bridges that are out in Marshall County.
OLD BUSINESS
The court approved the minutes from the May 17th meeting, May 24th annual bids and May 31st special-called meeting.
The May 31st special-called meeting was held for Sanitation District #2. At this meeting, Judge Neal presented to Sanitation District #2, the violation citations from the Kentucky Energy and Environmental Cabinet. Judge Neal recently met with a plant manufacturer representative, Brian Flynn with Rivercrest Engineering and former plant operator Les Landers at Sanitation District #1.
One tank at the Sanitation District #2 plant is now functioning properly and Rivercrest Engineering has been approved by the court to assist in getting the plant back in full operation.
Hollinger Road
A public hearing was held for Hollinger Road with one speaking on behalf of closing the road and no one against in attendance. The court approved the petition to take the road out of county maintenance.
Bid Opening
Two bids were received for the Calvert City property at 511 East 5th Street. Clint Conrad submitted a bid in the amount of $31,007 and United Steel Workers Local 727 in the amount of $50,004. The court accepted and approved the higher bid from the United Steel Workers Local 727.
County Road Aid
A public hearing was held with no participation for or against. The court approved and accepted the county road aid as set forward by the state.
Budget Update
Treasurer Emily Martin reported on updates to the budget from the last budget workshop.
Judge Neal spoke to the projected ABC monies that haven’t come in yet and also addressed Sheriff Kevin Byars concerning employment offered to two deputies. Neal said in the budget workshop, they budgeted for 19 deputies and with the hire offer to one of those brings the total to 20 deputies.
Byars said the two new hires are to replace what the department has lost due to resignation and retirement.
Neal reiterated that during the budget workshop, they budgeted for 19 deputies but employment has been offered to the 20th deputy.
Neal said there was no communication to his office or Fiscal Court concerning the hire. Byars re-stated he is only replacing what he has lost, not adding any new employees.
The issue circled around the number of 19 which Judge Neal said was discussed at the budget workshop with the first reading being approved which set the number of deputies at 19.
“There’s no communication from you as to what your plans are”, Neal said. “More concerning to me is that person that has a job and has dropped his two weeks notice, has a family and a career, we have to get over this non-communication stuff.”
The budget as set, according to Judge Neal, will not handle 20 deputies. Neal said the days of moving monies around are over and expects all departments to come before the court at the budget workshop and tell them their needs.
“I don’t know what we do at this point”, Byars said concerning the hire of the new deputy. “At the time of the budget workshop I didn’t want to disclose what I was wanting to do on that .”
Neal advised Byars to call him and tell him the budget does not support his hire.
Byars’ concern is that he will now be down one deputy and apologized for any mis-communication.
Byars asked if the court would entertain amending the budget so he can replace the existing position but Neal said the budget numbers reflect 19 deputies, a number that was set at the budget workshop and Neal felt understood by Byars.
Commissioner Gold made a motion to not reduce the officer force since it is the number they have had for several years and with the passage of the sale of alcohol felt they should amend the budget to allow it. The motion was not seconded.
NEW BUSINESS
Sheriff’s Department Tax Settlement
Sheriff Byars presented his 2015 Tax Settlement for approval. The 2015 Franchise Tax Settlement adjustments and exoneration is .01 and was approved.
The Supplemental Tax Bill was zeroed out and approved.
The Unmined Mineral Tax Settlement was also zeroed out and approved.
The Property Tax Settlement through adjustments, $40.63 cents is due the Sheriff’s office and approved by the court.
South Marshall Fire Department
Harry Holliday is resigning from the board and the court approved the recommendation of Mona Freeman to complete the term.
Gary Freeman’s term on the board expires June 30th and the board recommends his reappointment which the court approved.
Earthquake Insurance
The court approved the 2016-2017 renewal quote from KACO that covers a limit of $20,000,000 with a deductible of $25,000 and premium amount of $55,862 which is $1,000 less than the previous year.
Refuse Board
Marvin Stokes was approved for a full four-year term on the Refuse Board after filling out the remainder of a vacated term.
Marshall County Extension District
The budget summary from the district was received by the court.
Nuisance Ordinance Revision
Assistant County Attorney Jason Darnall updated the court on revisions made in the last Kentucky legislative session, the state nuisance ordinance was appealed in its entirety. Darnall said he likes how the new ordinance is set up and will begin working on a draft for the county that is in line with the state’s new statutory scheme as a way to combat the county’s nuisance ordinance problem.
Administration Code
The court held the first reading of the Administration Code Ordinance #2016-06.
Treasury Report
The court approved the Appropriation Transfer Report, Intrafund Transfer, Treasurer’s Report and Payment of the Bills.
The next Fiscal Court meeting will be Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 9:30 am.