BENTON – [VIDEO FOLLOWS REPORT] Meeting in regular session on Tuesday, September 20, 2016, Judge/Executive Kevin Neal reminded the Fiscal Court that the county surplus auction will take place Saturday, September 24th, 8:00 am at the Road Department.
Tracie Prather, owner of Brewers Grocery and Brewers Liquors, asked the court to vote on Sunday alcohol sales. Prather sited the recent passage of Sunday sales in Mayfield, and as a Marshall County business owner, as the reason she would like that same opportunity to sale on Sunday. Calvert City businesses can also sell on Sunday in Marshall County.
Prather said, “I would like to see our tax revenue dollars stay in Marshall County and not leave the county on Sunday to go to Mayfield.” Judge Neal asked Prather if she knew what revenues may be leaving the county on Sunday. Prather said if every store is given the opportunity to sell on Sunday it could be close to an additional $50,000 a year in tax revenue for the county.
Judge Neal agreed with Prather that he would like to see all the revenue for sales stay in the county, but doesn’t think Sunday sells would deprive businesses of revenue on just Sunday due to the fact that Marshall County citizens can travel out of the county any other day to purchase alcohol.
An amendment to the ordinance would have to be made to allow Sunday store sales.
CORRESPONDENCE
Rapid Response
Kentucky Career Center departments will join together in rapid response activities to assist individuals in employment transition. The event will take place at Gerdau North America in Calvert City, Tuesday October 18th at 6:00 am, 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm and Wednesday October 19th at 6:00 am, 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm.
Exceptional Center
An Open House will be held at the Marshall County Exceptional Center, Sunday October 16th at 1:00 – 4:00 pm.
OLD BUSINESS
Letter to Sheriff Byars
Judge Neal addressed a formal letter that was sent to Sheriff Kevin Byars dated September 2, 2016. In the letter, Judge Neal addressed the recently adopted new administrative code governing various areas such as personnel policies and procedures, which Sheriff Byars has received a copy of.
Eleven issues were addressed in the letter as problem areas that are of particular concern at the Sheriff’s Office, which Judge Neal read during Fiscal Court.
Judge Neal said they were directed by council to notify Sheriff Byars of those issues and felt they gave him plenty of time to take action or give a response.
Neal said his concern was that the issue was initiated in January when the court and staff sat through hours and days of administrative review and that all department heads were notified and complied except the Sheriff’s Office.
In the letter, Byars was asked to strictly limit his policies and procedures to law enforcement policy only, for example pursuit policy, dress code, use of force, etc. Policies and procedures like those of a financial or human resources nature, the letter said, should be identical to what the Fiscal Court has adopted.
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NEW BUSINESS
Ordinances
The 1st Reading of Budget Amendment Ordinance #2016-11 and Drainage Construction Ordinance #2016-12 were read.
Judge Neal requested some numbers from Road Superintendent Wendy Greer that showed in 2015, 402 driveways had rock placed at the expense of 87,200 and currently this year, 385 driveways at $72,200 for a total of $159,400 has been spent on rock only. This is a huge expense for culvert maintenance.
Greer feels a piece of equipment called a Jetter, a high-powered water blast system, will help to maintain culverts and cut down on the expense of maintenance and manpower by the Road Department, allowing these culverts to drain properly.
Sanitation District #1
The current operator, Mike Layden and his wife are moving. Layden’s wife is also the financial manager for the district. District #2 is also losing their operator after work is completed. An operator has stepped up to take over in District #2, so the long-term plan is to have one operator for District #1 and #2. Each district will be billed by the county for the operator. Neal asked for permission from the court to hire this operator which they approved.
District #2 is currently using someone to do their books and plan to have the same person doing the books at District #1 as well.
Brine Tanks at Road Department
Judge Neal would like to see the county begin their own brine operation to pre-treat roads and store at our own facility. This would cut back greatly on the amount of salt the county purchases. They are looking at doing this next year which would require adding a brine mixing machine and building.
This operation would cost the county only a quarter of the expense for salt, and typical purchase is a minimum of 1,500 tons of salt at a cost of $94,000 each year. It would take 51 tons of salt to fill a 31,000 gallon storage tank. A motion was made and approved to advertise for bids to purchase the machine.
Announcement
The Sheriff’s Ranch Golf Tournament will be held on October 8th. Shot gun start at 8:00 am. If you would like to play or be a hole sponsor contact Sheriff Byars or the Boys and Girls Ranch. The Ranch operates solely on donations and served approximately 600 kids this year.
The next meeting of the Fiscal Court will be Tuesday, October 4, 2016.