Meade County Fiscal Court May meeting – part one By CINDY HENNIG The regular monthly meeting of the Meade County Fiscal Court had to be spread over two nights to cover all of the items. The hour long public session preceding the business session on May 9, began with an update by David Pace on the industrial parks. Pace displayed a map of the Buttermilk Falls Industrial Park with potential improvements including changes in the access road approach and the addition of a 17-acre lake with an extended walking trail. The dozing contract was awarded to Sim Richardson and Agri Fuels had placed a $2,500 option on 57 acres until the end of this year. Magistrate Theresa Padgett asked Pace about promised options on the Buttermilk Falls Industrial Park, and questioned why the deal in the Bill Corum Industrial Park was not completed. Pace replied that the previously mentioned prospect had not come up with the money, but another one planned to close this week. Pace explained, “You can get them to the trough, but sometimes they drink and sometimes they don’t.” Residents of Johnnie Pack Road spoke about the problems caused by heavy trucks being driven on their gravel road. Kenneth Osborne expressed his satisfaction with the gravel and grading done by the county, but wanted to make sure everyone in the road taxing districts were paying their fair share in order to get the roads chipped and sealed. The magistrates explained how the process worked and promised that the county attorney’s office has begun to aggressively pursue people who are not paying. Magistrate Jamie Staples agreed to assist the residents. Resigning park director Todd Clanton recommended Casey Dawson as his interim replacement. The court accepted Dawson with a 50-cent per hour wage increase from his previous park employment. Clanton was moved to part-time work at the Flaherty park. Magistrate Don Callecod again appealed to the public for help in umpiring and other assistance at the parks. He explained that the need is so critical the ball seasons may have to be shortened to meet expenses. Padgett read a resolution for a matching $10,000 grant from the Kentucky Land and Water Conservation Fund which would be used to light the Babe Ruth field in Flaherty. The Flaherty Ball Association agreed to pay $5,000 and $2,500 was coming from private donations, so Padgett requested the remaining $2,500 from the Court. Secretary Shirley Fackler determined the money was available in the special projects budget, so the Court approved Padgett’s application. Mark Burnett reported to the Court on the countywide ball park expansion plan previously suggested by Padgett at last month’s meeting. He listed a wide network of people representing various aspects of sports, financing and development who are willing to donate their time on a $70,000 community fundraiser for matching grant money. Padgett emphasized that the severe shortage of playing fields will only be getting worse with the arrival of BRAC families. Callecod agreed that the community could make a big difference and gave Hardin County as an example. Hardin County government, which has no parks and recreation division, successfully relies on community organizations such as the Optimist Club, churches, schools and towns to provide parks and fields. County Attorney Darren Sipes reported to Grandview Estates resident Benny Hardesty that the insurance company has not given an official response about the county’s responsibility for their road problems, but felt the lack of an answer indicated they would not be paying. Padgett suggested since the foreclosed lots have now been sold by the bank, the new owners be put in a road taxing district to cover the cost of the roadwork. The court agreed that would be an option if the owners requested it, but it could not be forced on anyone. Nothing was resolved. Sipes told Hardesty he would keep him informed. No other public concerns were presented so the Court proceeded to fill or extend positions on various county boards and commissions. The appointment of Lamar Jones to the Ethics Commission was tabled at the request of Padgett until the Court had the opportunity to question him. Callecod added that each fire department should have a person up for reappointment at the end of June, but they had only received Payneville’s and Ekron’s nominations. More appointments would be made at future meetings. Planning and Zoning Administrator Barbara Campbell presented three zoning recommendations. The first two were easily approved. Andy and Melinda Givans requested a change from R-1 to B-1 for a daycare on Gaines Road. Sam Mattingly’s property on Whippoorwill Road was rezoned for a lawn mower sales and repair shop. The third rezoning was a request that had been tabled at the last meeting to allow Padgett time to view a lot in the Starwood Subdivision belonging to Doug Stiff. After a lengthy discussion of subdivision rules and government involvement, legal interpretations, a letter from a lawyer for a current resident, and past versus present zoning changes; the majority of the Court requested that the P & Z board rehear the case based on the new findings and present their recommendation at the next meeting. Developer Gene McGehee had the finished portions of three roads in his Farmington subdivision taken into the county system. Jordan Road in English Estates was also taken into the system and approved for repairs to be paid by owner Sue Cummings. Meade County Clerk Katrina Fitzgerald requested $9,944.24 in election fees for Election Clerks and Precinct workers for the May 16 Primary. Bryan Claycomb presented the Meade County Sheriff 2007 salary cap request for approval of $520,000. Callecod stated that though the department was stretched thin, he felt it was doing a good job. Claycomb agreed and emphasized the county detective position funded in April, 2005 was really becoming an important part of the program. Magistrate Harold Davidson said the biggest complaint he was hearing was speeders, especially on gravel roads. The newly instituted 10 mph speed limit does not seem to be doing the job. EMT Jason Fore answered procedural questions about payment for the new ambulance which was approved. The court rejected paying $65 per hour to have dirt hauled from the Hwy 448 roadwork to St. John’s property. MCMAC representative Jessica Brown’s request for $2,000 from the Court to help pay for bluegrass acts and advertising for the River Heritage Festival on July 15 was approved after discussion. A letter signed by Skills USA president Stephen Holbrook and adviser Faye Campbell requesting financial help for the fourteen high school technology center students who qualified to go to the national competition in Kansas City, Mo., resulted in $1,000 support from the Court. Davidson asked to speak to a representative of the group but no one was available. Ronald Henry offered a 15-foot right of way on the Simpson Road to be deeded to the county at their expense. Sipes said he would handle the deed work and the Court accepted the offer. The Court approved the County Road Aid Cooperative resolution and contract for the Fiscal Year 2006-2007. $462,938 is the initial 60 percent apportionment of Meade County’s share of its total allocation based on revenue estimates, less 3 percent set aside for an emergency fund. This money aids the county in the maintenance, reconstruction and construction of county roads. The Conservation District was unanimously rehired by the Court for dead animal pickup as budgeted. The Ekron Fire Protection District budget, with total appropriations of $136,950, was submitted to the court in accordance with state requirements. Solid waste submitted financial statements for the Court’s perusal. No problems were discussed. Davidson and Padgett recommended passing over the abandoned property ordinance agenda item for later and the Court agreed. Magistrate Herbie Chism requested the Court’s approval of the resolution to forward a request to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways for authorization to re-open the decision making process with the Federal Highway Commission on the access road to the 551-acre industrial development area. Padgett asked if it was a waste of the $300,000+ study for the original road study done by the Riverport Authority. Chism explained that it was a way of developing a master plan in the best interests of the county, rather than on a preapproved corridor. Padgett’s request to table the vote for more study was rejected and the resolution passed. After the Court approved claims and transfers, the meeting was suspended due to time constraints. The remaining nine items on the agenda were to be addressed when the meeting resumed at 7 p.m. May 10. Click Here to Go Back
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