Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 115, No. 9	February 27, 2008

County re-fires assistant animal control officer – with back pay

By LARRY SEE JR.
Messenger Staff

The county’s assistant animal control officer was fired – again, following a 22-minute closed session last week.

The dismissal originally was discussed during the Fiscal Court’s Feb. 12 meeting, but Magistrate Herbie Chism raised concerns about the process.

During the Feb. 19 special Court meeting, the closed session was held, pursuant to KRS 61.810(f). County Attorney Margaret Matney accompanied magistrates into the room.

Judge Executive Harry Craycroft said the person will receive back pay from Jan. 1 through Feb. 19, with the dismissal effective on the latter date.

During the earlier meeting, Craycroft said he terminated “for failure to perform his duties.”

Craycroft said the person had been warned twice and was relieved and advised of the problems.

Chism, at the earlier meeting, questioned whether the county’s personnel policy had been followed completely, and at the time Craycroft assured him it had been.

“This should have been addressed a long time ago,” Chism said, following a unanimous vote on the matter.

“We have talked about this at the last Fiscal Court meeting and we should have talked about it before,” Chism said.

“That’s water under the bridge,” Craycroft responded.

In other business, members.

• Agreed to accept $81,000 for new voting machines from the state, but are unsure as to the kind of machines to be purchased.

Craycroft said state officials don’t know what kind they’re wanting to purchase, but said if the county agrees to accept the funds, they are earmarked for them until June 30, 2010.

“The state said they have no idea when they’re going to make a decision,” Craycroft said. “They hope to have a decision within the next few months. It looks like the trend is to go toward paper ballots. If that’s the case we are going to have to go to scanners.”

• Appointed treasurer Shirley Fackler as the Federal Emergency Management Agency applicant. Craycroft said the matter was recommended to be re-executed by emergency management director Ron Dodson.

• Approved a request for Craycroft to spend up to $2,000 for BRAC road trips. Craycroft said he would attend the majority of the trips, to be held in Indianapolis, Virginia and St. Louis, among other places, but if he didn’t he would bring a recommendation for his replacement before the Court.

Craycroft said the funding would cover lodging and transportation, adding when he attended he would assume his own meal costs.

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