BENTON – [VIDEO FOLLOWS REPORT] Marshall County Fiscal Court met in regular session Tuesday, September 13, 2016, getting an update from Marshall County Parks Director Dennis Foust on the vandalism the park suffered in the early morning hours of September 11th.
Kristi Tucker, Marshall County Public Library Director, gave the court an update on their year and announced the 2016 tax rates.
Scott Brown, ABC Administrator, gave the court the Quarterly ABC Regulatory Report which showed numbers that have doubled since the previous report.
CORRESPONDENCE
Country Road Refund
A refund in the amount of $3,265.50 was received from the Division of Drivers Licensing, an amount of County Road Fund monies collected in Marshall County for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016.
Nuisance Board
Carolyn Johnson was recommended to represent Hardin on the county’s Nuisance Code Enforcement Board by Mayor Randall Scott.
Soil and Water Conservation District Public Meeting
The meeting is taking place at 7:00 PM on September 27, 2016 at the Marshall County Public Library at Calvert City.
TVA Community Development – Strategic Planning Session
The session was held at the courthouse with leaders from Calvert City, Benton, Marshall County and within the utilities as well as private businesses. Judge Kevin Neal said important issues for the community were discussed. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) were identified and then prioritized. This was the first meeting with TVA Community Development and Marshall County Economic Development that Judge Neal felt went very well.
OLD BUSINESS
2016 County Tax Rates
The Compensating Rate for Real Property is 9.7%, Tangible Property 9.8% which the court approved.
Nuisance Agreement
Assistant County Attorney Jason Darnall summarized the Ordinance for the 2nd Reading. A discussion was held on how nuisance properties will be handled. The Ordinance sets perimeters and is required by law and the county and City of Hardin will act on these on a case by case basis as they see fit upon Nuisance Board recommendations. The 2nd Reading of Ordinance #2016-10 was approved.
Solar Lease
A lease agreement has been drawn up between the county and Big River Electric for the solar panels to be placed at Mike Miller Park for educational purposes. The term is for a 25 year lease and at the end of each 12 month period, the agreement can be terminated.
TVA Agreement
Ground maintenance for the Sledd Creek public access area beginning September 1, 2016 and going through the year 2026 was approved by the court. TVA is in the process of agreements like this with all county public access areas.
2016 County Audit CPA Selection
Information was sent out with four responses with bids from Pearcy & Gray ($13,800), Tichenor & Associates ($17,000), Dean Dorton Allen & Ford ($24,000) and Romaine and Associates ($10,500). A discussion was held about a concern with Romaine and Associates which led the court to agree on the approval of Pearcy & Gray from Louisville.
Sanitation District #2 Update
Judge Neal gave the court members an update on Sanitation District #2 and their progress. The board is working with R & R Piping to help the operator in that district and Judge Neal is confident that the work that is needed will get done in a timely manner. The time-line given to the Department of Water is July 2017 but they hope the work will be done much sooner.
NEW BUSINESS
Drainage Memorandum of Agreement
Five more areas with drainage issues have been identified; Hughes Road, Kuntry Hollow Estates Subdivision (Lots 22 & 23), Sharpe-Elva Rd., Henry Sledd Rd. and Wildcat Lane and have been put in the form of a Memorandum of Agreement.
2016 Tax Rate Order
The court adopted the 2016 County Tax Rate Order.
Maintenance Department
Randy Henson will be moved from the Parks Department to the Maintenance Department to help with the increase in work load. The court approved the transfer.
Sheriff’s Office/E-911 Access
Current NCIC (National Crime Information Center) and CJIS policy is the current standard of operation for access of individuals to 911 and the Jail areas. Under the CJIS policy, a Level 1 clearance employee can enter those premises and escort a non-authorized county employee into these areas for purposes such as maintenance work.
According to E-911 Director Misti Drew, the Kentucky State Police standards are above the FBI standards in regards to non-authorized persons that might not have access, in Kentucky they would not have access. Judge Neal’s concern is that people are allowed access to these facilities and he would like to see a higher security level or precautions taken ahead of time when a person needs to enter these areas for maintenance or other purposes.
Neal’s concerns are situations where a county maintenance employee enters these areas, the FBI minimum standard allows that to happen, and that the certificate training and background check that currently meets minimum standards sets them (the county) up for liability issues and risk certificates being pulled.
County Maintenance employees will go through the process to obtain Level 1 access with the documents and certificates maintained at E-911 and Sheriff’s facilities as well as with the Judge’s office. The State Auditor wants a certificate on every person who enters facilities such as the E-911 dispatch area. Judge Neal is not happy with the State Auditor citing an issue that no one knows about or has access to the documentation pertaining to this issue.
Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) for E-911
Two mobile CAD products have been field tested, the current Geo Conex CAD system and InterAct system. The E-911 software with InterAct would work well together with the Sheriff’s Office and would not need to be bid due to their current state contract. The mobile CAD system with InterAct is very important in first responders day to day operations and allows other counties and cities to merge or consolidate with. InterAct will work with multiple agencies which Geo Conex is not able to do.
The court voted to move forward with the InterAct Public Safety System.
Approvals
The County Clerk’s audit for year end 2015 and the 2014 Sheriff’s audit were accepted by the court.
The court approved the Treasurer’s Report and Payment of Bills then went into Executive Session concerning possible litigation.
Commissioner Bob Gold spoke to the river levels that will be dropping due to problems with Dam 52 which could affect the Calvert City Industry but hopes that the repairs will be done quickly.